# What type of weapon is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264 "2016-01-05T20:34:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Maeganspop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Maeganspop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeganspop)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/1 "2016-01-05T20:34:20Z")
I was looking at photos taken by Lucian Reed. I came across this one and the weapon caught my eye. I have never seen one of these. What is it? [Afghan Soldier](http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/Afghanistan/article409450.ece) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/2 "2016-01-05T20:43:10Z")
Looks like an RPG that has fired it’s grenade. > **[Rocket-propelled grenade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket-propelled_grenade)** > > A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) is a shoulder-fired missile weapon that launches rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. Most RPGs can be carried by an individual soldier, and are frequently used as anti-tank weapons. These warheads are affixed to a rocket motor which propels the RPG towards the target and they are stabilized in flight with fins. Some types of RPG are reloadable with new rocket-propelled grenades, while others are single-use. RPGs are generally loaded from the front. > RPGs... ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/3 "2016-01-05T20:43:48Z")
I believe it’s an RPG 7 launcher, but I don’t know what sort of rocket is in the tube. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/4 "2016-01-05T20:44:19Z")
RPG-7 loaded with OG-7V rocket. ---
**Author:** ![Maeganspop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Maeganspop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeganspop)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/5 "2016-01-05T20:48:48Z")
Thanks everyone. I was trying to make it out as some type of rifle. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/6 "2016-01-05T21:52:32Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > RPG-7 loaded with OG-7V rocket. Why is that particular round so small diameter? It looks like a rocket-propelled 40 mm grenade. Why not fire something larger? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/7 "2016-01-05T21:57:46Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Why is that particular round so small diameter? It looks like a rocket-propelled 40 mm grenade. Why not fire something larger? Why fire anything larger than you need? It is, in fact, exactly what you say: a [rocket-propelled antipersonnel fragmentation round.](http://gunrf.ru/rg_granatomet_ps-7_OG-7V_eng.html) And the diameter isn’t everything. Looking at the pictures on that website, it looks like the explosive filler and fragmentation coil extends almost 1/2 meter back inside the RPG tube. It’s not small at all. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-weapon-is-this/742264/8 "2016-01-07T00:50:03Z")
When I was looking up the type of rocket, I thought I saw something about the warhead being in caliber (40mm) to comply with a treaty about antipersonnel warheads or something. It was in wikipedia for what it’s worth.