122mm Free Rocket

Notes: These rockets, still in their shipping containers, are simply propped against some handy object and fired by a fuse or electrical ignition. Often, the rockets are placed in position and fired by a time fuse to prevent effective counterbattery fire. Maximum accuracy for these rounds is 4 (aiming is largely guesswork), and deviation distances are doubled, and no corrections are allowed. Aiming these rockets for direct-fire work is impossible. These rockets are also fired by MRLs such as the BM-14.

B-10

Notes: The B-10 is a recoilless rifle that has been largely replaced in Russian service by antitank missiles and the SPG-9 recoilless rifle. The B-10 is normally aimed using a simple sight, though several optical sights may be mounted. The B-10 has largely been replaced in Russian units by ATGMs and lighter rocket launchers, though Airborne units still use it mounted on light vehicles. It is also in widespread use by former Soviet client states.

Notes: This bulky and difficult-to-handle weapon has largely been replaced in Russian service by antitank missiles. It can still be found in category 2 and 3 units. The B-11 is also used by Airborne units as a light field gun and bunker buster. It is equipped with a simple iron sight, but may mount other type of sighting equipment.

RPG-2

Notes: This is the forerunner of the RPG-7, and rivals that weapon as the most widely used rocket launcher in the world. It is now found only in Third World nations and in China, though it is found in those countries in droves. The warhead, though large, is an old design and very inefficient.

Notes: This weapon was for long time thought to be out of production (dropped in favor of the RPG-7 and improved warheads), but after the fall of the Iron Curtain it was revealed to still be in use by certain Russian troops as well as being sold to some former Warsaw Pact countries and certain "unnamed parties." It generally resembles the RPG-7 in appearance, but the warheads are more efficient. In addition, the RPG-16 has an integral passive IR sight and a folding bipod.

Notes: Noting the utility of the US M-72 LAW disposable AT launcher as a bunker buster in Vietnam, the Russians set about to copy it. And they did, almost to the letter, right down to the cartoon-type instructions on the side of the collapsible launch tube. Like the M-72, the simple sights spring open when the launch tube is opened. (The warhead is a bit smaller, at 64mm vs. the M-72’s 66mm.) The RPG-18 Mukha began issue in 1972, and issue continued until 1990, when it was replaced by the RPG-22. The RPG-18 was primarily issued to heliborne and light infantry units.

The RPG-18, however, does not have a very important feature that the M-72 does have – once the RPG-18 launcher is extended to the launch position, it cannot be put back on safe and re-collapsed. Once you extend the RPG-18, you have a live round that stays live, even if you find out you don’t need to use the RPG-18 after all. Therefore, you simply have to abandon the RPG-18 or carry a rocket that could go off at any moment. Not a pleasant thought!

The RPG-22 Neto was an improved version of the RPG-18, issued to Soviet units in 1980. Production of the RPG-22 stopped in 1993 in favor of the more effective RPG-26, but since large stocks of the RPG-22, it is not uncommon to find Russian units that still have them; it was also exported to other countries. The warhead is larger at 72.5mm, with a more powerful rocket motor to propel it. The Soviets did realize their mistake at providing no way to safe the RPG-18 is use was found to not be necessary, using a safing and re-collapsing method similar to that of the M-72.

The RPG-26 Aglen was a further improvement of the RPG-22, adopted by the Soviets in 1985, and still in production. Warhead diameter is the same, but the warhead is more effective than the RPG-22’s. The RPG-26 is otherwise the same as the RPG-22 for game purposes.

The RShG-2 is derived from the RPG-26, with a thermobaric warhead instead of a HEAT warhead. It is designed for multipurpose use, against soft-skinned and light armored vehicles, as a bunker buster, and to kill troops in the open and inside caves. The Russians adopted this weapon in 2000, though it existed in test form about 3 years earlier.

Twilight 2000 Notes: In the Twilight 2000 timeline, the RPG-18 and RPG-22 are fairly common, the RPG-26 fairly rare, and the RShG-2 nonexistent.

Notes: Essentially a heavy disposable LAW (perhaps MAW would be more appropriate), the RPG-27 is based around a modified form of the RPG-7’s PG-7VR tandem HEAT rocket, and is quite a powerful weapon in a relatively small package. The RPG-27 was adopted by Russian forces in 2000. It is offered for export, but customers (if any) are unknown).

Externally, the RPG-27 looks like an overgrown RPG-26. The endcaps are not opened during before launch, and no extending of the launcher into launch position is necessary; the rubber endcaps are destroyed once the firing bar is depressed. The firing mechanism is readied by raising the rear sight, which interlocks with a safety; putting the sight back down re-engages the safety.

The RShG-1 is a derivative of the RPG-27 that has a thermobaric warhead instead of the HEAT-T warhead of the RPG-27. Operation is essentially the same as the RPG-27, except for the warhead effects.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Notes: This weapon is similar to the RPG-16, but has a straight exhaust instead of a flared exhaust, and is larger. It fires a round with a tandem warhead, similar to the RPG-27 above. There is also a ground mount for the RPG-29; this consists of a tripod and laser sights.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

Notes: This is rocket launcher designed to fire incendiary projectiles. Four types of warhead are available: a conventional white phosphorus warhead, a thermobaric fuel-air explosive to destroy bunkers, a smoke round which produces very dense smoke screens, and a warhead that combines a light HEAT warhead with a thermobaric warhead to provide a limited antiarmor capability.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The RPO-G does not exist.

SPG-9

Notes: The SPG-9 is similar to the 73mm smoothbore gun used on the BMP-1 and BMD-1. The ammunition is identical to that used in the 73mm gun of the BMP-1 and BMD-1 except for the propelling charge. The SPG-9 is common among Bloc airborne forces and is also found among many Third World nations.

Notes: The TEMP-10 is a highly-modified RPG-7, with an enlarged launch tube, advanced sights that incorporate a sighting telescope and limited night vision capabilities (as an image intensifier, but only 75% normal range), and only one type of round: the first EFP (Explosively-Formed Projectile) light antitank weapon round. This round may be set for impact, delayed, or proximity detonation, and can be used for antivehicle, antipersonnel, antibunker, or antihelicopter use. It is a very fast round; after its soft launch, it quickly (within 0.2 seconds) accelerates to 14,000 meters per phase (2,800 meters per second). As of 2003, this was just getting into production, though the Russians had found few buyers.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This experimental rocket launcher was issued in limited quantities to Russian forces during the Twilight War, particularly to Airborne, Air Assault, and special operations forces.

Merc 2000 Notes: Budget cuts stopped the development of the TEMP-10.