112 RsKes, Apilas
Disposable light 66 KeS rocket launchers and the 112 RsKes heavy rocket launcher
is the main close anti-tank defence weapons in the brigades. The LAW´s are used
in close defence against armoured vehicles, while the heavy rocket launchers such
as 112 mm Apilas are used to destroy main battle tanks in particular. The most
efficient way to use these large and clumsy weapons is to have a "heavy" squad
in each platoon that are armed with these rocket launchers and allowing the other
squads to be more mobile. The rocket launchers can however be used for other targets
than tanks, such as bunkers, gun enplacements and so forth. Apilas is equipped
with a night vision sight and it has a rather advanced sight also makes it accurate.
The advanced (and expensive) sight is thus the only thing that the gunner takes
with him after he has fired the shot. The backblast of the 112 mm rocket is large,
and the gunner must be carefull when firing the Apilas so that it will not bounce
back.
- Picture © Finnish Defence Forces
Calibre: 112 mm
Length: 1.3 m
Weight 9 kg
Effective shooting range: 25-350 m
Rocket:
- hollow shell
- muzzle velocity 293 m/s
- weight 4.3 kg
- length 92 cm
- armour penetration 650-700 mm
Country of origin: France
