"Bumblebee" (flamethrower): description, photo. Jet flamethrower "Bumblebee". Hand-held infantry flamethrower "Bumblebee" Reactive infantry flamethrowers RPO

A soldier's equipment for urban combat must combine minimum weight and dimensions with guaranteed destructive power. This is exactly what the Bumblebee infantry flamethrower turned out to be.

What is a flamethrower

Usually, when asked about “what a flamethrower looks like”, an image pops up in my head that is familiar from films about the war: a bulky container-cylinder with an incendiary mixture and a bell in the hands of a soldier pouring fire on everything that was not lucky enough to be in the affected area. But the subject of this article looks different and looks more like an RPG-18 - a compact disposable cylinder to which a belt, mechanical sight and trigger are attached.

The history of the creation of the flamethrower "Bumblebee"

The prerequisites for the creation of the RPO-A (a deep modification of the already existing "Lynx") was the specificity of the conduct of hostilities in the mountains of Afghanistan. Afghan fighters used the difficult landscape to their advantage: they arranged shelters and firing points in the folds of the terrain, mountain crevices and caves. The entire range of existing small arms and grenade launchers used by Soviet soldiers often could not help in “smoking out” the enemy from such places, and oncoming fire did not allow you to get close enough to throw hand grenades or fire from a backpack flamethrower.

The development of the Bumblebee begins in the Tula KBP in 1984. The previous RPO, for all its effectiveness, had a number of problems: more weight, a small radius of destruction, a low range of aimed fire and almost complete uselessness against armored targets. The new type of weapon surpassed the "Lynx" in all respects and was put into service in 1988. Among the soldiers who appreciated its striking and psychological effect, he receives the nickname "shaitan-pipe".

RPO design features

Structurally, the details of the "Bumblebee" are divided into three groups:

• All visible parts, collectively referred to as a container. In fact, this is a body, sights and triggers, two handles, as well as a belt and knots for connecting to a pack (two RPOs tied to each other for carrying behind the fighter’s back);
• Ammunition is a projectile that hits the target after being fired. It consists of a capsule with a fire mixture, a fuse and tablets of an igniter-explosive charge;
• An engine that gives acceleration to the ammunition. Separated from him after a shot in the barrel. The work is based on the ignition of powder gases. It consists of an igniter, a propellant charge and a chamber.

The principle of operation and the consequences of a flamethrower

Thermobaric ammunition has not previously been used in infantry weapons, so the "Bumblebee" can be called revolutionary in this way. The projectile is arranged as follows: in the front there is a shaped charge that penetrates the armor and walls of buildings. After the target is hit, a fuse is triggered on a capsule with a fire mixture, which forms an instantly exploding aerosol cloud, which is especially dangerous in enclosed spaces. So, according to the recollections of Afghanistan veterans, a single shot from the Bumblebee is guaranteed to destroy all life in a two-story house, not to mention the caves and improvised mountain shelters against which it was originally developed. The power of the cumulative part of the projectile is about 2.5 kg of TNT, which makes the RPO-A even more related to grenade launchers and allows it to hit lightly armored vehicles.

Specifications

Given in comparison with the previous and subsequent RPO:

Advantages and disadvantages of a flamethrower

The uniqueness of this weapon makes it the subject of frequent discussions. Supporters and opponents make the following arguments:

• The advantages of the "Bumblebee" include exceptional striking ability, a firing range that is many times greater than knapsack flamethrowers, variability for performing various tasks and effectiveness in defeating light armor;
• Of the negative aspects stand out: disposability, danger to the shooter (there were cases of detonation due to bullets or shrapnel hitting the container), excessive "inhumanity" - the possibility of hitting civilians or allied soldiers when used in urban combat.

In the meantime, disputes about the need or uselessness of this system in service with the Russian Federation have not subsided, technical thought has not stood still, and the ideological heirs of the Bumblebee appear.

RPO modifications and shells for RPO "Bumblebee"

To clarify, it is necessary to explain that the "Bumblebee" is a disposable weapon, and the letter after "RPO" means a type of completed projectile.

So, the first model had the following varieties:

The mass of ammunition is approximately four kilograms, and this is a third of the weight of the entire "Bumblebee".

Further work on it was carried out in two directions: on the one hand, an attempt to make the "Bumblebee" as compact and light as possible for the maneuverability of a soldier in urban combat while maintaining combat qualities, on the other hand, a more thoughtful and "complete" refinement of a jet flamethrower for the sake of a sample, comprehensively superior to both RPO-A and its analogues.

MPO

Modification, characterized by reduced weight, length and caliber - instead of 93 mm, a 72.5 mm projectile is used here. Structurally, it resembles the RPG-26 grenade launcher. Like the original, it exists in the configurations MPO-A (aerosol or thermobaric), MPO-Z (“classic incendiary” with a liquid flammable mixture) and MPO-D (smoke projectile).

RPO-M

Also known as Shmel-M, PDM-A. Here the letter M does not mean the type of ammunition, but "modified". In addition to reducing weight, the shooter can now carry three copies with him. A qualitatively new ammunition was developed (according to experts, in terms of power, close to a 152-mm artillery projectile) with a different composition of the aerosol mixture and a reinforced cumulative part. High-quality work has been done on the ballistic component - the new projectile has greater range and accuracy, in addition, it is possible to use a removable sight (optical, night vision or thermal imager). The sight is removed from the container after the shot and can be installed on the next one without the need to zero in. It has been in service with the Russian army since 2004, according to unverified information, it was used during the conflict with Georgia.

RPV-16

Ukrainian analogue, relatively recently entered production. The design is almost identical to the RPO-A.

In addition to the flamethrower under discussion, thermobaric ammunition has been developed for the well-known RPG-7.

In addition to expressing opinions directly about the flamethrower, I propose to discuss in the comments whether such a development makes sense or is it an excess that is inferior to modern flamethrowers in performance characteristics?

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

The last decades have shown that in order to successfully conduct combat operations, infantry units do not have enough familiar small arms, they need a fundamentally new class of hand weapons. Already during the Second World War, the armies of some countries of the world received hand grenade launchers, which successfully performed the functions of light artillery, such as fighting enemy armored vehicles and fire support for an offensive during the assault on fortified points. Despite the imperfection of the first samples, they immediately proved their effectiveness.

Tasks of modern infantry

The increase in the role of each soldier in street fighting and the possibility of inflicting maximum damage on the enemy is ensured by the presence in his arsenal of light, but very powerful weapons of enormous destructive power. The Afghan war revealed the problems that combat units face when conducting active operations in mountainous areas. Any complex terrain with many folds, ruins, residential buildings, industrial buildings or specially built defense facilities with powerful defenses create serious difficulties for the advancing troops to advance. To overcome them, the Tula gunsmiths at the end of the eighties created the Shmel thermobaric grenade launcher.

The backpack-type flamethrower, previously used to suppress fortified points, did not fully meet the requirements for modern assault weapons.

Classic type flamethrower and its disadvantages

A conventional flamethrower is quite simple. On his back, the fighter is forced to carry a volumetric tank with a combustible mixture, in his hands he has a means of direct destruction, which is something like a hose with an igniter, these two main units are connected by a hose. The advantage of this weapon is its simplicity, the large possible area of ​​destruction and the strong psychological effect produced on the defenders, but there are also enough shortcomings. Firstly, it is not very convenient to attack with a heavy tank behind your back. Secondly, the distance of defeat is small, and in order to cause any significant damage to the enemy, you need to get close to him, and this is sometimes very difficult. The impressive size of the device makes it difficult to covertly approach. Thirdly, this weapon is dangerous not only for the enemy, but also for the flamethrower himself, since any damage to the tank or hose will cause spontaneous ignition of the combustible mixture and, as a result, a terrible and painful death. The Bumblebee is spared these design flaws.

A new type of flamethrower

In 1984, Soviet weapons developers received an order from the army for a new means of fire destruction of enemy manpower and equipment. The range of action should be at least half a kilometer. The power required is large, with the ability to suppress well-fortified targets. At the same time, the device must be made light, so that the soldier can not only walk with it, but run and climb mountains. In practice, a hand cannon weighing ten kilograms was needed.

It was difficult to complete such a technical task. But the Tula gunsmiths from the State Research and Production Enterprise "Basalt" worked and created the "Bumblebee". The flamethrower turned out great. Consider its main characteristics.

"Bumblebee": a flamethrower and its deadly flight

The flamethrower, nicknamed the “shaitan-pipe” by the internationalist soldiers, is similar in principle to a conventional rocket-propelled grenade launcher. The main difference is in the rocket projectile with which it is loaded. When it hits a target, the Bumblebee hand-held flamethrower not only generates an explosive wave and fragments, but creates a volumetric explosion on the principle of vacuum ammunition. This quality made it an indispensable means of fighting the Mujahideen hiding in crevices or under jacked-up rock layers. The Bumblebee rocket-propelled flamethrower is also suitable for destroying armored vehicles, the barothermal shock created during the explosion will incapacitate the crew of an unpressurized tank or armored personnel carrier in an area of ​​50 square meters of open area with a total volume of guaranteed destruction of 80 cubic meters.

Tactical and technical data RPO-A "Bumblebee"

The flamethrower is most effective at a distance of 400 meters, but it is possible to shoot accurately at six hundred meters. "Bumblebee" is light and compact, it weighs 11 kg, which is quite a bit for a weapon of such destructive power, and is a cylindrical body 92 cm long and a decimeter in diameter with a protruding pistol grip and sight. Projectile caliber - 93 mm. A charge weighing 2 kg 100 g creates a volumetric explosion, which determines its high efficiency.

New "Bumblebee" RPO-PDM-A

No matter how good the "Bumblebee" is, the Tula specialists were able to improve it. The next modification received an additional RPO-PDM-A index (PDM means "increased range and power"). Now it strikes at 1.7 km with an effective aiming distance of 800 m. The mass of the charge has also been increased to 6 kg, and the flamethrower itself has become lighter, it weighs 8 kg 800g. He has one more feature, the new Shmel-M flamethrower is equipped with a removable control unit with an optical

Weight reduction was achieved through the use of composite materials, in particular, the launch tube is made of heavy-duty fiberglass. To protect the projectile from external influences and mechanical damage, rubber covers are used that fly off when it exits. The rocket is initiated using an electronic ignition system. Another design feature is the integration of a solid fuel engine with a charging compartment.

"Bumblebees" for export

Unique weapons are one of the important items of Russian export, and there is nothing wrong with that. We will not sell - others will do it. It is all the more important to use The world has not yet created portable systems that could surpass the Shmel flamethrower in terms of thermobaric efficiency. Photos and videos sent by correspondents of news channels from hot spots on the planet demonstrate the sad popularity of this weapon even in the most exotic countries. According to military experts, this small device can produce the same amount of destruction as a 155mm howitzer...

fiery somersault If we discard dry facts and figures, then thermobaric rocket-propelled flamethrowers are the most deadly infantry weapons. A new type of ammunition, work on which began during the hostilities in Afghanistan, in the future could provide excellent opportunities for defeating enemy personnel without involving additional forces and means. The essence of a jet flamethrower, in a nutshell, is that causing serious damage to the enemy, the ammunition does not need to wait from the air, requesting aviation, or deliver using cannon or rocket artillery. Many of those who study small arms, in particular infantry, have a question - did the good old RPG-7 not solve 100% of the tasks to destroy fortifications? Certainly he did. However, during the same Afghan campaign, it turned out that the consumption of ammunition to defeat one fortified firing point of the Mujahideen required 5-6 cumulative shots. Veterans of the Afghan war cite this amount of ammunition only as an approximation, since it happened that up to 10 shots were spent on a well-built fortification from RPG-7. The rocket flamethrower that came into service with the Soviet troops replaced the Lynx. A rocket flamethrower with thermobaric ammunition capable of reaching the most powerful enemy in any terrain and any shelters was adopted by the Soviet troops in 1988. At the same time, it became clear that now infantry formations would be able to cope with the task on their own, without involving artillery or air strikes. enemy point. Address work "Bumblebee"
The most massive use, to the surprise of many, was not in Afghanistan, but in the fighting in the North Caucasus. It was during the battles for Chechnya, Dagestan and other regions of the Caucasus that it became clear that it was the “targeted” work of the RPO “Bumblebee” that was his real vocation. If you look for messages from those years (from 1994 to 1999 inclusive), literally through one printed edition you can find in the materials a mention of the "secret vacuum weapon" that the militants were so afraid of. And although the term "vacuum" ammunition itself is fundamentally wrong, the main in those difficult years, when the opposition to radical bandit formations was just beginning, there was another thing left - the effectiveness of the thermobaric munition. Outbuildings, houses, garages - all this was used as firing points. Of course, it was possible to crush such with the help of tanks, but the collateral damage was unacceptable. The use of "Bumblebee" in this case was justified one hundred percent. With one shot, it was possible to “gouge” almost any fortified point - be it a house, a barn or the like, ”says a soldier of the federal troops, Captain Yuri Senkov, in an interview with Zvezda. “Thermobaric ammunition with its fuel-air mixture burned like sticky, the number of bandits inside. The area of ​​work - it is difficult to measure in meters, but in fact ... in two adjacent rooms the militants were simply roasted. 50 meters is obtained if counted,” the captain continues. “An interesting feature of the flamethrower is the characteristic “shift” of the roof of almost any building on which it is used. If, for example, we are talking about a building that was once a residential building in which the militants took refuge, then at the moment of impact, one can observe how the roof of the house "jumps" and slides to one side, if the building, of course, remains intact. Frankly speaking, I watched entire buildings only a couple of times after the shot, ”says Captain Yuri Senkov.
Hand lighter and anti-sniper flamethrower
An aerosol cloud and a shock wave penetrating even the smallest cracks are a universal means for suppressing the enemy. In fact, the destruction of the target occurs even without directly breaking through the barrier. In the case of a hit in a building, a fortified firing point, any type of transport, there will not be much difference for a thermobaric munition. However, an air-fuel mixture exploding with incredible force is not the only way the Bumblebee can greet the enemy. There are other reactive "gifts" in the ammunition nomenclature. In addition to the RPO-D smoke flamethrower, the warhead of which is a mixture that forms up to 80 meters of a dense smoke screen, there is another, no less interesting option - RPO-3. The incendiary version of the jet flamethrower carries a special capsule with fire mixture inside and turns even a capital building into one blazing fire. For example, there was a case when they decided to smoke out a sniper and a group of militants from RPO-3. First, they suppressed it with small arms fire, then they threw VOGs at them, and towards the end, the fighter, who had been preparing for shooting all this time, hit the building with a Bumblebee. The fire was almost until the morning. Then the building was cleared and the surviving militants were not found. All that was found was smoldering incomprehensible lumps and fragments of clothing, ”recalls a veteran of military operations in the Caucasus, Captain Yuri Senkov. According to the military, "Bumblebee" is still one of the most versatile means for the treatment of terrorism in any, even the most neglected form. Recognized power The unique infantry flamethrower is almost the only one of its kind. The unique combination of a reliable shipping container, a reliable descent and sights that any conscript can handle in 10 minutes and special ammunition make the Bumblebee a truly terrifying weapon. This is how they dubbed it in the American edition of Popular Mechanics. It is not in vain that the American edition admires the capabilities of the RPO, because a fiery cloud, reaching seven meters in diameter and carrying out an instant “roasting” of the enemy, can be compared in terms of impact with a 152-mm artillery shell. directed, notes the author of the article in the American edition of Popular Mechanics. However, watching the hits of the Russian "Bumblebee" and admiring its unique abilities is only half the battle. The layout of the building, which was built by two or three drafts on one of the training grounds, had to be conditionally hit with aimed shots. Considering that two or three people are firing from jet "Bumblebees" at once, the shooting turned out to be so spectacular that after the third shot struck, the building of three floors and two entrances was formed. I fully admit that it could have been built in haste, just for demonstration. But even such destruction says a lot, ”recalls Yuri Senkov. The level of high-explosive impact on armored vehicles is another unique indicator booked for. The military admits that a “two-band Bumblebee” (meaning the marking in the form of two red stripes on the front of the flamethrower) can make a hole in light armored vehicles no worse than some 125-mm artillery shell. The use of the RPO "Bumblebee" in the North Caucasus during the first and second Chechen campaigns showed that infantry formations armed with rocket-propelled flamethrowers can not only effectively suppress the enemy's manpower, but also with great success "leak" a significant amount of equipment. The developers of the "Bumblebee" - Tulskoye Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering, despite the resounding success of its product, does not think to stop there. Judging by the RPO PDM-A presented in 2010 (the abbreviation stands for "increased range and power"), Russian gunsmiths not only managed to reduce the weight of the portable flamethrower kit - up to 19 kg (two containers), but also significantly increased the firing range, coming close to the mark of 1700 meters. The mass and power of the warhead of the new RPO PDM-A was increased, and this is a sure sign that a new, very intriguing chapter begins in the history of domestic jet flamethrowers.

The RPO-A 93mm rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower is an individual flamethrower weapon. It is designed to destroy enemy manpower located openly or located in long-term firing and other fortifications, as well as his military equipment and other objects.

Characteristics of the 93-mm rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower RPO-A (Bumblebee)

Maximum firing range - 1200 m

Sighting range - 600 m

Combat rate of fire 2 rounds per minute.

The initial flight speed of the ammunition - 130 m per second

Combat weight - 11 kg

Caliber - 93 mm

Flamethrower length - 920 mm

Application temperature from -50 to + 50 degrees

The given zone of destruction of an openly located manpower is 50 square meters.

Purpose of the 93-mm rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower RPO-A (Bumblebee)

The RPO-A 93mm rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower is an individual flamethrower weapon. It is designed to destroy enemy manpower located openly or located in long-term firing and other fortifications, as well as his military equipment and other objects.

The aiming range of a flamethrower with a diopter sight is 600 m, with an optical OPO - 450 m, OPO-1 - 850 m. The optical sight ensures successful firing at dusk, on a moonlit night and cloudy weather.

The RPO-A flamethrower is a one-time weapon, cannot be reloaded, and is discarded after use.

RPO-A flamethrowers proved to be very effective weapons for fighting in the city. They were used as follows: a group of infantrymen, by their actions, provoked the enemy to open fire. Another group with intense fire forbade the maneuver of the enemy (pressed to the floor), and the flamethrowers deployed at the advantageous line almost destroyed several firing points with one salvo.

The general device of the RPO-A flamethrower

The flamethrower consists of the following components: container, ammunition, collet and engine.

Container designed to fire a shot, direct the ammunition to the target and ensure the hermetic packaging of the shell with equipment and the engine.

Engine designed to report the speed of the ammunition. Powder engine, separated from the ammunition in the barrel, with the expiration of part of the powder gases into the projectile space.

ammunition designed to hit the target. It is a feathered artillery shell that rotates in flight. The ammunition has a capsule filled with fire mixture. The fire mixture is designed to hit the target.

When fired, the powder gases formed during the combustion of the propellant charge disperse the ammunition over the container by the pressure of the gases entering the projectile space. Part of the gases enter the gap between the shell and the container, balancing the pressure of the fire mixture that occurs during the shot on the walls of the shell. The front cover of the container is thrown off by the pressure of the air compressed between the shell and the cover, clearing the way for the ammunition to fly out. At the same time, powder gases, passing through the nozzle holes of the engine, throw back the liners that secure the engine from the container. When the ammunition leaves the barrel, under the action of elastic forces, the wings of the benchmark are straightened. When the ammunition meets the target, the impact mechanism of the fuse is triggered, causing the detonation of the igniter-explosive charge, the combustion products of which break the tube, the shell of the ammunition, ignite the fire mixture and scatter it on the target.

Parts and mechanisms of the RPO-A flamethrower

A flamethrower with proper care, proper storage and careful handling is a reliable and trouble-free weapon. However, as a result of careless handling of the flamethrower, contamination, as well as breakage of the firing mechanism, there may be delays in firing. In the event of a delay in firing, it is necessary to re-cock the firing mechanism and repeat the shot. If the shot did not occur during the re-arming, the flamethrower should be destroyed.

Safety measures when firing from an RPO flamethrower

1. Persons who have thoroughly studied its design and operating rules are allowed to fire from a flamethrower.

2. When the flamethrower is located in an open area near various solid barriers (walls, etc.), including objects of military equipment located in the danger zone, the distance between the flamethrower and the barrier must be at least 3 m behind, at least on the side 1 m. When the flamethrower is located indoors, the distance between the flamethrower and the wall located at the back must be at least 6 m, from the side - at least 1 m; The volume of the room must be at least 45 cubic meters.

3. When firing from a prone position, the legs and body of the flamethrower should be at an angle of 600 to the axis of the flamethrower.

4.When aiming, the eye of the flamethrower should

be pressed against the eyecup of the optical sight.

5. On flat terrain, with an unprepared position, it is prohibited to shoot from the following positions:

Lying at a distance of more than 200 m;

From the knee to a distance of more than 400 m.

- use a pack or a separate flamethrower as a means of protection from bullets and shrapnel

Shoot without making sure that there are no parts of the belt on the rear cut of the flamethrower;

Remove the trigger mechanism from the fuse until the target is detected;

Shoot at targets closer than 20 m.

There should be no obstacles in the zone up to 20 m;

Throw a flamethrower.

7. Carrying, loading and unloading of flamethrowers is carried out in compliance with safety precautions that exclude their fall. In case of an accidental fall of the flamethrower on the ground from a height of up to 0.5 m. And the absence of external damage, the flamethrower is allowed to be used. If the flamethrower is accidentally dropped from a height of 0.5 to 3 m. Its performance is not guaranteed. In case of an accidental fall from a height of more than 3 m, the flamethrower must be destroyed in the prescribed manner.

8. When shooting through any component of the flamethrower with a bullet or fragment, detonation does not occur. However, the flamethrower is dangerous due to the possibility of its ignition or operation.

The experience of using the RPO Shmel infantry flamethrower - primarily in the RPO-A variant with thermobaric equipment - revealed both the advantages of this type of weapon and the need for its modernization. Moreover, the interest of the troops in weapons grew.

A decade and a half after the RPO Shmel was adopted by the Soviet Army, the Russian army received a new rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower RPO PDM Shmel-M.

DEEP MODERNIZATION

RPO PDM "Shmel-M" was the result of a deep modernization of the RPO "Shmel" infantry flamethrower by specialists from the Tula Instrument Design Bureau in the early years of the 21st century. Due to the development of new technologies and the use of new design solutions in the course of modernization, it was possible to solve several conflicting tasks - increasing the firing range and the power of the ammunition (which was reflected in the abbreviation RPO PDM - "reactive infantry flamethrower of increased range and power") while reducing weight and size characteristics. For a flamethrower in thermobaric equipment, the designation RPO PDM-A and the code "Priz" were also mentioned (obviously, it was used at the development stage).

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The maximum firing range of the RPO PDM "Shmel-M", compared to the RPO "Shmel", increased from 1000 to 1700 m, the range of aimed fire - from 600 to 800 m. for all types of targets, except for heavily armored ones, it is equivalent to the high-explosive action of a charge of 5-6 kg of TNT. This is comparable to high-explosive artillery shells of 152-155 mm caliber. That is, in terms of the power of the action of the RPO PDM warhead, it is almost twice as superior to the RPO-A with an increase in the range of aimed fire by 1.3 times, a decrease in mass by 1.25 times, and the possibility of using removable optical day and night sights. Improved accuracy and accuracy of fire.

The trigger mechanism is made separately and is attached to the transport-launch container of the flamethrower before firing. The modular construction scheme of the Shmel-M design allows further modernization of both the transport and launch container and the rocket-propelled grenade separately (for example, when new warhead equipment options appear), as well as the trigger mechanism and sighting devices.

The RPO PDM flamethrower is easy to use and quickly ready for combat use. Shooting is done from the shoulder from a standing position, from a kneeling position or lying down. As in most reactive and recoilless devices, when fired from the RPO PDM, a dangerous zone forms behind the breech. Nevertheless, shooting from a shelter is possible - when moving away from its rear wall, from enclosed spaces - however, the volume of the room should be more than 60 m3. Taking into account the action of the warhead, the minimum firing range is set at 30 m.

MAIN TASKS

The flamethrower is designed to disable enemy manpower and firepower located both in open areas and in structures of various types, as well as to destroy lightly armored and automotive vehicles, destroy fortified buildings, ground or semi-buried structures made of stone, brick or concrete . A weapon with such a powerful warhead, having the dimensions and weight of a hand grenade launcher, portable and serviced by one fighter, adapted for firing from the shoulder, makes it possible to increase the combat capabilities and tactical independence of ground forces units in the “squad-platoon” link. In modern conditions, when small subunits often have to engage in close combat with the enemy suddenly, without heavy support equipment (at least according to terrain conditions), the role of portable, highly mobile and quickly ready to fire fire support equipment is constantly growing.

DEVICE FEATURES

"Shmel-M", like its predecessor, belongs to the class of heavy multi-purpose weapons of the "hand grenade" type with a shot without recoil.

The main parts of the flamethrower design are the launcher, rocket-propelled grenade and trigger mechanism.

ABOUT THE DEVICE OF THE FLAMETHROW

RPO PDM "Bumblebee-M" differs from RPO "Bumblebee" already in the basic scheme. If the "Bumblebee" can be attributed to "recoilless" (recoilless) samples with an active scheme for launching ammunition, then the "Bumblebee-M" has a reactive-active scheme.

The flamethrower launcher is a smooth-walled pipe made of fiberglass. It also serves to store ammunition, that is, it is a disposable transport and launch container. To carry a ready-to-fire flamethrower, a shoulder strap is attached to the launcher.

A grenade (ammunition) is placed inside the launcher-container, including a thin-walled capsule with a head fairing, a solid-propellant jet engine, and a benchmark with a folded four-bladed stabilizer. The capsule holds about 3.2 kg of thermobaric mixture and is rigidly connected to the engine. Centering belts are stamped on the outer surface of the grenade. The final equipment of the transport and launch container of the flamethrower is made at the factory, it is delivered to the troops in a ready-to-use form. During storage, the flamethrower is not subject to maintenance.

Before firing, the disposable trigger is connected to the reusable trigger. The latter is assembled in a plastic case with a pistol grip and a ribbed front part that serves as a forearm. A trigger mechanism with a trigger and a non-automatic flag-type safety mechanism are mounted inside the case - its flag is located on the left above the pistol grip.

An optical sight can be attached to the trigger mechanism on a folding bracket, a night sight can be mounted on a special bar. There is also a mechanical sighting device - a front sight with a fence (fuse) and a folding rack-mounted diopter sight are fixed on the trigger.

Two equipped launchers (transport-launch containers) and one trigger mechanism with an optical sight are connected into a pack with a total weight of 19 kg, adapted to be carried by one fighter.

When fired, the engine charge completely burns out within the length of the starting device, so that the flamethrower shooter is protected from the effects of engine powder gases. The initial velocity of the grenade is 180 m/s. When a grenade leaves the front cut of the launcher, the plates (blades) of the stabilizer open.

ABOUT THE BATTLE

Thermobaric munitions are referred to as "volumetric detonating", but some clarification is required regarding them. After the detonation of the ammunition filled with a thermobaric mixture and the destruction of its body, dispersion (grinding) of the mixture occurs. Its particles, once in the air, burn intensively. The energy released in this case goes to "feed" the front of the air shock wave and the formation of an extended high-temperature region. The afterburning of the unreacted particles of the mixture in the oxygen of the air also occurs intensively. The duration of the impact of the air shock wave and the thermal impact of the ammunition increase. The combination of a high-pressure zone with a significant duration of exposure (the shock wave decays more slowly and lasts longer) and a high-temperature zone determined the high efficiency of thermobaric munitions. In terms of power in TNT equivalent, thermobaric ammunition, which uses atmospheric oxygen during combustion, is several times superior to conventional explosives. A feature of the device allows you to "pack" high-power thermobaric ammunition in a limited size.

The ability of the shock wave formed by the “cloud” of the mixture to “flow” into narrow cracks and leaky shelters makes it possible to hit manpower and fire weapons in enclosed structures. Together with its small size and weight, this makes the rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower particularly effective in battles in rugged terrain and in urban areas - perhaps the most common combat conditions in modern military conflicts.