that blast permitting firing from any enclosure. The 9.2 kg (21 lb) weight of the M-3 model is a concern in dismounted carry, although as pointed out by Jack Murphy, a former US Army Ranger, “it’s along the lines of a M240 (medium machine gun), but easier considering you can have it slung over your shoulder [plus] having the advantage of putting an HE round into a house around 1000 meters away and putting this fight to an end quickly” is a major advantage. The newest M-4 model reduces the load appreciably to 6.6 kg (14.5 lbs.). The ultimate determination of the value of any weapon system remains the opinion of the frontline fighters that have used them. In this Carl-Gustaf is held in high regard. Sergeant Raymond Miller, a small arms master gunner at the US Army 82d Airborne Division, told MilTech “in Afghanistan combat the capability that the Carl-Gustaf brought to play was a game changer in that it gave us something to reach out past 600 meters… Carl-Gustaf gives us the capability to deal with any threat that comes our way.” Marine Corps CWO5 Joshua Smith shared in a video “MAAWS (the Corps name for Carl-Gustaf) provides a new multi-purpose/multi-target capability.” In essence, it offers for the first time at squad level immediately responsive high explosive/air burst, smoke and illumination capabilities that previously had to be requested from company mortars. Yet uniquely it also provides anti-armour and bunker-busting/urban combat direct fire support. The introduction of the GMM precision guided round further expands the reach and effectiveness of the squad in addressing battlefield situations to its favours. As another spokesperson simply said, “The Marine Forces love these (weapons).” The evidence in Ukraine’s successful use of Carl-Gustaf in combat reinforces the validity of that feeling. more suited to squad level use. Carl-Gustaf, by engaging and taking-out lighter vehicles, troops and emplacements, allows the more expensive guided missiles to focus on main battle tanks. Its mission versatility and design approach make it difficult to easily compare Carl-Gustaf M-4 with other current individual shoulder fired support weapons. Many of the other such weapons are generally optimized for specific mission roles, typically anti-armour as in the Dynamit Nobel Panzerfaust 3 (PzF3), or anti-structure “bunker busters” like the M141 SMAW-D although each offer capability for each use. The SMAW using a reusable sight/launcher is most similar to Carl-Gustaf, yet the US Marines, the largest SMAW user, chose in 2017 to replace them with the M4 (US designation M3A1) due to its greater range and available munition types. The PzF3 and MATADOR are shoulder-fired weapon hybrids with reusable sights that mount to a disposable munition. There are also single-use munitions intended for squad use. A Dynamit Nobel MATADOR munition can be used in both roles. Others include the Nammo 3 kg M72 LAAW with 200m range and 7 – 8 kg Saab Dynamics AT-4 munitions with 300500 m reach. Although offering somewhat comparable anti-armour and anti-structure capabilities Although operated by a single gunner the M-4 typically employs a team of two soldiers unlike single-use disposable munitions like the AT-4 or M72 LAAW. This takes two of the squad to carry and employ the weapon. However, being reloadable with the team likely carrying four to six rounds allows engaging multiple targets as a fight progresses. Like many recoilless weapons the Carl-Gustaf has a backblast area that prevented firing from inside a structure. This limitation has been eliminated with the introduction of CS (Confined Space) ammunitions that significantly reduce 26 · MT 5/2022 Feature The US Army and Marines joined the list of forty-five world militaries which have fielded the Carl-Gustaf. A key reason was its ability to fill the need demonstrated in Afghanistan to engage and neutralize threats beyond the range of squad small arms including those in defilade using its airburst ammunition. (Photo: USMC)
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