RPG-18 “Fly” (GRAU index – 6G12) is a recoilless anti-tank grenade. It is a disposable weapon that was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1972. Since then, a large number of them have been produced.
This weapon is well-known in the countries of the former Soviet Union, as it became one of the tools and symbols of the bloody battles of bandit groups in the 1990s. The Fly is a Soviet legend in the world of handheld anti-tank systems. The story of creating this grenade launcher is typical for the Soviet Union: to steal an idea and pass it off as one’s own. Essentially, this grenade launcher is a copy of the American M72 LAW grenade launcher, which was in service with the US Army since 1962. In 1967, several samples of the American grenade launcher were stolen during the Vietnam War and handed over to Soviet engineers for study. And already in 1971, the Soviet RPG-18 “Fly” appeared in the armed forces. About 1.5 million copies were produced at a cost on the international arms market at prices of those years at $721 per unit.
The RPG-18 was successfully used by the Russian army and Chechen fighters during both Chechen campaigns. Most of the Russian armored vehicles were destroyed using the RPG-18 during the storming of Grozny in December 1994. However, they were found to be ineffective against modern tanks (such as the T-90) due to insufficient armor penetration.
They are widely used during the war in Ukraine in 2022-2023.
Legend is legend, but the military does not like it very much due to its low effectiveness on the battlefield and the not very good working distance, only 100-150 meters.
Compared to modern RPGs, it is already an outdated grenade launcher from the past.
The grenade launcher tube poses no danger, as it has already been worked out by our soldiers on the front lines in combat and was handed over to us to be turned into art. We can make an interesting thing for you.
Information about RPG-18 in English: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-18
About the RPG-18 in Ukrainian: https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%9F%D0%93-18
You can learn about the history of the RPG-18 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk9sXXjL5yU
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