The Rocket Propelled Grenade [Paperback]

So said General Creighton Abrams, during the Vietnam War. This cheap, easy to manufacture, use, light weapon has proved extremely troublesome to the US Army since the Soviets began exporting this back in the 1960's. Author Gordon Rottman was a Special Forces soldier and has been on both sides of this weapon - the giving and receiving end.

The author condenses the history of the Rocket Propelled Grenade from WW2 to the present in a few, concise pages. The US, Germans and Russians were developing them in the 1940's. During WW2, the Germans had the most success with hand held anti tank weapons. Although the Soviets had access to the Panzerfaust designs, the RPG-2 and further refined RPG-7 were not mere copies. Several myths surrounding the RPG-7 are explored and destroyed. As with many successful designs, the RPG-7 is now used in ways never really intended.

This book provides an excellent description of the technical workings of the HEAT round and why the RPG-7 is so effective. It does have its limitations which are also captured, but used in barrage fire; this weapon is devastating to helicopters, light armored vehicles, trucks, bunkers and even people. Since it is so easy to use and affordable for poorer nations, it has wide appeal in the Third World as an equalizer against the high tech Western Armies. The Soviets found out the hard way what a great weapon they created when the Afghanis and later the Chechen fighters used the RPG-7 so effectively against them.

There are plenty of color photos, cut aways of the Launcher and the Grenades, color plates showing the reticle, how to correct your aim, lead a vehicle and tactics developed by the Vietnamese, Solomilians, Iraqi's, Afghani insurgents. It's almost an owners manual. There are counter measures to the RPG-7 which are discussed here as well, but they are expensive. I enjoyed this book. Recommended for anyone who is curious why this hand held, low tech weapon has had such an impact on modern warfare.

Briefly, this book is a most capable and worthy effort, especially knowing the author and his background personally.
If one were to stumble upon a RPG in the field, and had this book, they would be able to use it.
It is a simple weapon made simple and simple to operate. As illustrated, even a child could operate it.
For a modeler, it provides visual ideas on how to dress up a diorama accurately. For the historian, it provides the basic information on it's design and usage. For the writer, it gives that extra push to make a story plausible.
What is/isn't surprising is that USA companies are making their own versions of the weapon. Of course it will probably be too high tek and over priced. I'd like to do a story on it.

This book is well worth it. First, the book gives an excellent run down on the evolution of the RPG system. The Soviets designed the RPG after being inspired by the very good Panzerfaust and Panzershriek series of weapons. The Panzerfaust Klein was the template for the 1st series of the RPG. Note, the Russian design was superior to the Panzerfaust and it was quite informative to read about this.

Second, the author breaks down the RPGs into the various families and provides the reader with an easy to follow evolution of the weapons system. Of particular note to this reviewer was an explanation that the B-40 rockets used for area bombardment, like in Vietnam, was part of the RPG family of weapons. I distinctly can remember my old USAF crew chief talking of Da Nang and the rocket attacks, never dreamed he was under an RPG attack, but those attacks were quite effective. It was not uncommon for the military to lose a jet or two in the attacks. That's quite a payoff for a disposable weapon system.

The author explains the use of the weapon, individual training, tactics, and employment of the weapon. Also, there are very nice pages of the various warheads. Some of this is so good that a good Marine or Army Infantry Officer or Sergeant might want to pick this book up and give it a read. A G.I. will face this weapon on the battlefield.

While every 3rd rate Army in the world gets the excellent RPG it should be noted that the USA may never really get a copy of the weapon. Oh, we make copies of it and the author shows a picture. We give those to various 3rd world allies. But the US military will never be given a copy of the RPG. Indeed, the Viper and various other "plastic" Bazooka inspired weapons are heavier and less effective than the RPG. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The USA does not want to compliment Russian innovation and American soldiers die. It's shameful.

So, I really liked this book. One learns all about the RPG, it's family, and it's many warheads. It's a fairly small book, at a little more than 60 odd pages and can be studied quite well in about an hour.