Leichtgeschütz 42: the Dawn of Recoilless Weapons 

During my training in the Army a 106 mm recoilless rifle was fired with a huge stack of wood pallets behind it. That entire stack of pallets was reduced to splinters, and I couldn’t see any piece of wood any larger. This was to show how dangerous it was if you did not to keep troops far back from the weapon. Great video!

The invasion of Crete was Operation Merkur and it happened in May of 41. The war in Italy saw high concentrations of Fallschrimjäger units and they continued to use recoilless rifles throughout the war. Italy being a peninsula transversed by rivers and mountains provided the perfect environment for use of German recoilless weapon designs.

Singaporean here. During my mandatory national service, I got to fire the Matador (mentioned at 14:01 of your video). The firing position at the range was a shipping container with a window cut into it, to impress upon us the indoor firing capability. When it was my turn and I stepped into the container, the inside wall behind the window looked like a rocket launchpad- the paint was worn off to bare metal in a radial pattern. Firing one of these indoors is quite a violent experience... I emerged caked in a fine white powder (the countermass hit the wall of the container and turned into a fine powder that got everywhere). Super fun experience... I hit the simulated target easily at 150m. We were told each round cost about USD5,000 (in 2005 dollars) so only I think 10 live ones were indented for a course of 30 of or so of us. The rest had to make do with sub-calibre training rounds. Lastly I also got the opportunity to shoot the 84mm Carl Gustav during my time in service... that was an even more intensely violent experience, especially as the gunner's assistant. When the thing fired a giant pressure wave hits you from all around (I suppose one from in front and one from behind) so it felt like being hit in the chest and back with a thick phonebook. Got the wind knocked out of me for sure.

Rheinmetal actually made a 30mm rotary barrel recoilless gun with a 1200m/se muzzle velocity and 300 RPM rate of fire in 2008. The Rheinmetall RMK30. It was extremely accurate since no vibration from recoil. Designed for AT use from Tiger Helicopters it was also tested on submarine masts.

Either this guy has one heck of an outstanding memory, a teleprompter, or he is a fantastic editor! No matter the answer, I am impressed; he just went through a 15-minute video, seemingly without any sort of a break or any flubs, mistakes, etc.. Plus, he mentioned Ian: yeah, I will subscribe!

The U.S. M67 90mm recoilless rifle was used in Vietnam. It had a flechette round that made it an effective anti-personnel weapon for perimeter defense.

8:45 What a brilliant solution to the torque problem. I knew the German engineers were pretty clever but to actually see it in application is something else.

the blast-out disc is bakelite, not really plastic.

Far out, never knew recoiless guns saw use in WW2. I also say those guns should be indoors, protected from corrosion etc. Great video!

Those guns should be under cover, not rusting in a field.

14:08 The IRA produced a domestic anti-armor weapon on a really similar principle called the PRIG but instead of using plastic bits to counter the recoil they found that digestive biscuits (cookies) worked just as well and were way cheaper.

I give all your videos a thumbs-up the second they start because I know they're going to be that good. I have never been disappointed.

Wow, I've been looking for a video like this on this specific weapon, thank you for this

The displays seems well preserved, and you nailed the history of the RCL, at least as I learned it from Ian Hogg. I like the fashion statement.

Wasn't the Davey Crockett nuke fired from a recoilless gun also?

very good video. Very precise and well explained. Thank you

Outstanding video; highly informative, pleasant to watch. Well done! Just subscribed and will forward it. looking forward to the next one.

I'm so glad I found your channel! It's amazing!!!!! Thank you for existing!!! Your videos are great!!!

Fantastic! Very interesting. Thought I was in for an easy watch, but so much information! I need a little rest now 😊. I look forward to seeing your next video 👍

Excellent video, and an excellent channel overall!

Great channel with interesting content. You answered a 30+ year question of mine, why would you drill holes in artillery brass casings? My childhood barber had a big one that he used as a door stop on hot days. Always wondered😊

I've hit gold with this channel. Subscribed.

I've recently discovered your channel and really like it. Excellent technical content. I hope it rapidly grows.

Awesome! Thank you! I never understood recoiless weapons until now. Well done, keep going!

I just discovered this channel and all I can say is... you've got my subscription. Very informative videos and outstanding content.

Great video, Gilles...👍

Need to verify further. the MATADOR Recoilless Anti-Tank. The Gas pistons are not trapped within the barrel as like with the ARMBUST launcher.

AT4CS uses salt water as it's counter charge allowing it's use inside cover.

My new favorite channel

Great video, way more info than you can find on Wikipedia

Thank you for the info. I subscribed after I watched your first video. I hope you get more subscribers/likes

Good brief, thanks!

Great video thank you

Great video

The Royal Canadian Artillery Museum in Shilo is an amazing place!!!!

I'm impressed!

Good day sir! You my friend have earned a sub.

One of the longest serving recoilless weapons in military service is the M2/M3 Carl Gustav 84mm recoilless rifle. I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned.

Nice one

Why so few subscribers? Amazing content 👌

As soon as i found this I knew worth the time to watch. I was hoping you would have mentioned that nifty looking Portuguese recoilless light rifle? Bazooka? Used during their colonial wars.

The last life of WWII recoilless rifles in the US and Canada were in our mountain passes for avalanche control. They've been replaced by drones dropping concussion grenades.

The Sweedish AT4-CS (a version of the AT4 84mm single shot disposable recoilless anti-tank weapon) also uses the "shredded plastic countershot" system. This is why it has the -CS designation, which stands for Confined Space. By using the shredded plastic counter-shot system, it avoids the significant backblast issue that plagues "counter-force" type anti-tank recoilless weapons such as the Bazooka, RPG-7, and M3 Carl Gustav (now in use by the US Marines as the M5 Marine Anti-Armor Weapon System or MAAWS). This enables it to be fired from a Confined Space without the user suffering the effects of the shockwave of the backblast reflecting off the surfaces of the inside of something like a bunker or other type of room, allowing for much better use in and against guerilla tactics-based warfare.

14:12 the worlds largest confetti gun! Perfect for New Year’s celebration.

The Red Army adopted a recoilless weapon in the 1930's. There were 2 variants for the same gear, one to be installed on small boats, another to be portable for people, like the later Bazooka or Panzerfaust. The Finns captured two pieces during their war with the Soviets, 1939-1940, and offered one to Germany.

The Percussion of firing a carl gustav. Is no joke. Its quite painful

How much does the drilled shell deform? Was extraction an early issue?

Wait, that's right outside the front door of the RCA museum

Loving your videos -- I found your channel a couple days before (IIRC) Simon Whistler recently plugged it. J'ai un peu de confusion cependant; votre nom est écrit comme « Gilles », mais quand je vous entends le prononcer, j'entends « Gène »?

Very good video, although you did miss two American designs. The processor to the 105mm M40 (labeled 106mm to prevent use with the M27 ammo) the 105mm M27 and the 90mm shoulder fired M67 recoilless rifle. The latter of which (M67) is still in use by the US Army Rangers and Special Forces as trainers.

With the advent of drones, miniature recoilless weapons have become feasible. You can easily adapt rockets like the gyrojet to be launched with a recoilless system. You can even use the lead shot idea as there is likely nothing behind the drone. A system with a venturi nozzle could easily be made out of thin titanium tubing, just crimped near the rear. The gyrojet was no toy, it could kill you.

Somewhat disappointed you didn't talk about the ridiculously large (9 inch+) recoilless rifles tested by the Soviet Navy. Was found to be effective but could only be fired to the side.

You pulled off your German pretty well. I was hoping to find out why the barrel moves back on a ship's gun.

Carl Gustav is that you?

8:38 That's super clever.

Not only could the Davis gun take out a submarine, but it was also able to bag a whole brace of geese flying behind the plane for the fliers' dinner at the same time.

What, no Chuckie G..?!

Thx for the great presentation! FYI: german word "leicht" should be pronounced as long "I", as in pronouncing english words "light" or "eye".

Nice to know that these existed. But that about modern rocket launchers, are they ballanced the "same" way?

Very interesting. Didn't they have solid rocket propellants that they could use instead? Would seem a lot simpler.

Me: I should probably go to bed now Also me: DOOM TUBE

What I don't understand about recoilless rifles is that some of the energy is allowed to escape backwards right? But then that energy can't be used to propel the projectile forward either, so how then can you still fire a heavier projectile from a smaller package than a conventional gun?

I had no idea they had a museum out at Shilo, is it open to the public?

At 8.56,,,,,the vanes are not "spiral" they are "helical" ,,,,actually "conical helix"

Interesting.

Was this the carl gustov make by germans or American navy. Very interesting. WWI aircraft recoiless gun. Scary how the old one worked.

@5:37 looks like a smaller infantry version. Not whats shown. Any info on that assualt type recoiless rifle?

I think there was a room for a light, very low profile tank destroyer using recoilless gun as its main weapon. The gun should be placed on 1-1.5 meter mast and be aimed by periscope.

And then Carl Gustaf recoilless gun came and many have to thanks this weapon for so much tanks it took out on the battlefield

If you have the resources, it's a lot of firepower for its weight.

I think of the Bat type as a rocket launcher in which the rocket motor stays with the launcher, rather than shooting off with the warhead.

Could have also mentioned the Soviet PG-9

Nice way to spread a bunch of microplastics all over the place. Very interesting as always

A 10.5cm Likestoshoots. Nice!

Learned a lot... cuz frankly, about this, I didn't know doodly squat.

I can see why recoil less weapons like the Bazooka and Panzershreck were so much better,cheaper and simpler that these contraptions. Rockets being much better for a light weight anti armor system.

10:30, shoulder firing a punt gun in a goddam suit. With a scope. "aah, Yes James, bring me a Tungsten Core, there's a good chap. About 300 yards, I dare say. Cover yourself, good fellow! **WHUFPUMP** HA, that'll show the sods!

Carl Gustaf M/48, you missed something kinda big

Before frisbies golfed when i was a kid i thought pneumatic 1/3 scale field artillery replicas that shot golf balls could reinvigorate "golf"...

Instead of shredded plastic, salt water is used for the same purpose. It surely disperses even faster. When fired in a building, it leaves a salty taste in your mouth😉😅

So that Irish cookie bomb launcher thing wasn't a totally unique idea, apart from the cookies

This video got recommended to me after I watched severel "Vacuum kanon" videos ... hmmm

13:31 - Trust my Hun relatives to complicate matters

VW wheels ?

The German invasion of Crete occurred in May of 1941, not 1942.

For goodness sake get the gun properly conserved - you have just said how rare it is! Otherwise a great video - thank you

What is the carl Gustav ? A recoiless man portable weapon ... So... For the end of recoiless weapon ... It's not for today ! 😂

PAH 1000.

You dont want to be standing within 50 ft of any of these firing. See brain trauma studies after 2015.

hey, i really like this video, but as a non native english speaker i've found it a bit hard to follow sometimes, if it's possible please go a little bit slower, and i know it's a ton of work but subtitles would help a TON. the auto generated ones are not that good.

U.K. I don't often subscribe to an American channel due to adverts and so often being shouted at. I enjoyed your video immensely. Did you miss the Bazooka ? Incidently, I have seen what a squash head round can do. It was against the hull side of a target tank, around 50mm thick. There seemed to be a very shallow dent, but the paint (deep bronze green) was almost intact. However, when I looked inside the tank, the carnage was horrific. No neat round hole, but a scab around 300mm in diameter had exploded all around the crew compartment. No doubt the tank could have been repaired, but none of the crew could possibly have lived.

Love to see a you do a video on Nazi taper bore guns like the sPzB 41!

A video where a dude talks about recoilless guns for 15 min and manages not to mention two of the most famous recoilless guns. 1. Panzerfaust, a legendary anti-tank weapon from WWII. 2. Karl Gustav 8.4 cm recoilless rifle. The most common recoilless gun in the world today. In use even in the US Army. And more: 100mm recoilless cannons for aircraft and heavy 320mm recoilless cannons for ships were built in the Soviet Union in 1924-36. For the sake of truth, it must be mentioned that they were complete flops.

It legit looks like a bigger crew serviced Carl Gustov

Thanks for an excellent military history video, I really enjoyed it! BTW, it's funny, Hitler "cared" about soldiers dying in battle? More like Hitler was cheap and didn't like all the air assets getting destroyed, IMO.

Cool, but all these ideas have one common flaw: they use unusual ammunition. Creating a recoilless weapon that uses a standard cartridge would require a slightly different approach.

13:36 So the post war design for the M40 106 went with the American design invented by Bernie. A foreigner. A nice backhanded compliment BUT Isn't that called cultural appropriation. Something the US would have us believe only the Chinese military do. 😅

Volkswagen suspension

Talk too much, boring..

the gun that shoots out the rear reminds me of an old politicly incorrect Polish joke