The Wasp 58 is a 58-mm rocket launcherantitank weapon developed in France in the late 1980s. The weapon was, originally, privately developed by the French firm Luchaire SA, subsidiary of GIAT.[2]
In the early 1980s, Luchaire's sales department had noted the rising costs of light individual anti-armour/assault weapons were to the point that fewer and fewer could be purchased and that there was a need for a one-man anti-armor/assault weapon which could be purchased for a cost slightly higher than that of a rifle grenade, but with the greater accuracy and ease of use of a one-man rocket launcher[citation needed]
The world export markets was the major considerations behind the development of the Wasp 58 by Luchaire.[3]
Descriptionedit
The Wasp 58 is a direct-fire weapon used to attack lightly armored vehicles at ranges up to 300 metres.[4] It can also be used against bunkers or as a fire support weapon.[2] The Wasp 58 is a one-man disposable weapon system based on the recoilless principle. On ignition the propellant fires the 58-mm projectile forward while at the same time ejecting a counter mass of plastic chips to the rear to achieve a recoilless effect.[2] The plastic chips due to their size and weight lose any velocity after 1 metre of travel from the back of the launcher. The projectile is stabilized by six fins that unfold and lock into place after leaving the tube.[3]
The designers of the Wasp 58 made it compact and simple to operate with a small launch signature. This enables it to be fired from enclosed spaces, including from small rooms in buildings, and protects the user from having his position revealed.[2] The Wasp 58 is composed of a sealed launch tube manufactured from fibreglass reinforced plastic. The Wasp 58's HEAT antiarmour warhead is 58-mm in diameter and is based on the Grenade à fusil antichar de 58 mm Mle F1 PAB rifle grenade's warhead, also designed and manufactured by Luchaire and in service with the French military and other armies worldwide.[3]
The anti-armour warhead of the Wasp 58 can penetrate 300 mm of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA).[4] While insufficient in penetration for frontal engagements of today's modern main battle tanks, it can engage other armoured targets (wheeled armour vehicles or light tanks) from both frontal and side.[2]
The Wasp 58 requires no annual maintenance or special storage other than that which would be required for other small arms munitions. The Wasp 58 has a hit probability of over 95% when fired against stationary targets (88% against moving targets).[4]
^"Arming Rwanda: The Arms Trade and Human Rights, Abuses in the Rwandan War" (PDF). Human Rights Watch Arms Project. Vol. 6, no. 1. January 1994. p. 24.
^ abcdefLefort-Lavauzelle, Patrice (1996). "Le système d'arme léger antiblindé "Wasp 58"". Revue militaire suisse [fr] (in French) (141). doi:10.5169/seals-345660.
^ abcdGander, Terry J. (2001). "Giat Industries Wasp light anti-armour weapon system". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 1855–1856.
January 01, 1970
wasp, rocket, launcher, antitank, weapon, developed, france, late, 1980s, weapon, originally, privately, developed, french, firm, luchaire, subsidiary, giat, typerecoilless, rocket, launcherplace, originfranceservice, historyin, service1987, presentused, bysee. The Wasp 58 is a 58 mm rocket launcher antitank weapon developed in France in the late 1980s The weapon was originally privately developed by the French firm Luchaire SA subsidiary of GIAT 2 Wasp 58TypeRecoilless rocket launcherPlace of originFranceService historyIn service1987 presentUsed bySee usersWarsRwandan Civil War 1 Production historyManufacturerLuchaire SANo builtover 450 000SpecificationsMass3 kg 6 6 lb Length800 mm 31 in Crew1CartridgeHEAT antiarmour warheadCartridge weight615 g 21 7 oz Caliber58 mm 2 3 in Rate of firesingle shotMuzzle velocity250 m s 820 ft s Effective firing range20 400 m 22 437 yd External imagesWasp 58Soldier shown with first Wasp 58 designFirst Wasp 58 launcher design Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Production 3 1 Users 4 References and notesHistory editIn the early 1980s Luchaire s sales department had noted the rising costs of light individual anti armour assault weapons were to the point that fewer and fewer could be purchased and that there was a need for a one man anti armor assault weapon which could be purchased for a cost slightly higher than that of a rifle grenade but with the greater accuracy and ease of use of a one man rocket launcher citation needed The world export markets was the major considerations behind the development of the Wasp 58 by Luchaire 3 Description editThe Wasp 58 is a direct fire weapon used to attack lightly armored vehicles at ranges up to 300 metres 4 It can also be used against bunkers or as a fire support weapon 2 The Wasp 58 is a one man disposable weapon system based on the recoilless principle On ignition the propellant fires the 58 mm projectile forward while at the same time ejecting a counter mass of plastic chips to the rear to achieve a recoilless effect 2 The plastic chips due to their size and weight lose any velocity after 1 metre of travel from the back of the launcher The projectile is stabilized by six fins that unfold and lock into place after leaving the tube 3 The designers of the Wasp 58 made it compact and simple to operate with a small launch signature This enables it to be fired from enclosed spaces including from small rooms in buildings and protects the user from having his position revealed 2 The Wasp 58 is composed of a sealed launch tube manufactured from fibreglass reinforced plastic The Wasp 58 s HEAT antiarmour warhead is 58 mm in diameter and is based on the Grenade a fusil antichar de 58 mm Mle F1 PAB rifle grenade s warhead also designed and manufactured by Luchaire and in service with the French military and other armies worldwide 3 The anti armour warhead of the Wasp 58 can penetrate 300 mm of rolled homogeneous armour RHA 4 While insufficient in penetration for frontal engagements of today s modern main battle tanks it can engage other armoured targets wheeled armour vehicles or light tanks from both frontal and side 2 The Wasp 58 requires no annual maintenance or special storage other than that which would be required for other small arms munitions The Wasp 58 has a hit probability of over 95 when fired against stationary targets 88 against moving targets 4 Production editThe Wasp 58 was first sold in 1987 3 It has been a commercial success with over 450 000 produced 4 including licensed production in Greece It is in service in France with the French Commandos de l Air 2 Belgium Denmark France Greece and the Netherlands The Greek Revolutionary Organization 17 November stole a few rockets and used them for terrorist attacks 3 Users edit nbsp Belgium nbsp Denmark nbsp France nbsp Greece Revolutionary Organization 17 November nbsp NetherlandsReferences and notes edit Arming Rwanda The Arms Trade and Human Rights Abuses in the Rwandan War PDF Human Rights Watch Arms Project Vol 6 no 1 January 1994 p 24 a b c d e f Lefort Lavauzelle Patrice 1996 Le systeme d arme leger antiblinde Wasp 58 Revue militaire suisse fr in French 141 doi 10 5169 seals 345660 a b c d e Wasp 58 Single use anti tank rocket launcher military today com a b c d Gander Terry J 2001 Giat Industries Wasp light anti armour weapon system Jane s Infantry Weapons 2002 2003 pp 1855 1856 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wasp 58 amp oldid 1189013907, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
