Canadian M20 Rocket Launcher

Angelswithdirtyfaces1944

Angelswithdirtyfaces1944

Member
Rating - 100%
51   0   0
Can any one advise what the name for these were when they were in CDN service? Is it the same as the US, M20A1? And is this one a M20A1 or a M20A1B1?
As well, on the photo of the manufacturer, R.F.I. 1971. Were they still makeing these as late as 1971? Who is R.F.I.?





















 
I have only heard of these refered to as 3.5 inch RLs and freely admit my knowledge on them is pretty much limited to that alone. Looks cool, nice piece.
 
During my service in the regular infantry, a buddy of mine that served previously in the North Saskatchewan Regiment said they qualified on these as late as, in and around 1978. In the PPCLI, I'm pretty sure there had to be a few older soldiers that had experience with these in the distant past. But as a private/corporal, one rarely had the one-on-one opportunity to discuss this subject, with presently serving CSMs/RSMs. (Much due respect here!)
 
So they were not referred to as the M20 in Canada? Would be intersting to find out the actual Canadian Military nomenclature for these.
Is it possible they were makeing them as late as 1971?

Quite an impressive wall hanger for sure.

XRCD011 said:
I have only heard of these refered to as 3.5 inch RLs and freely admit my knowledge on them is pretty much limited to that alone. Looks cool, nice piece.
Click to expand...
 
Cool launcher.

RFI is that mysterious company (Rifle Factory Ishapore, 'ya know, the (in)famous "Ishapore screw") who are likely still manufacturing Lee Enfield 2A1 and the Pistol Auto 9mm 1A, which is a copy of the Inglis-Browning suspected to be manufactured with the original Inglis factory equipment...
 
Well, believe it or not, that's what it is... they manufactured these until the '80s...
 
Last edited:
Yep I fired them back around 1977 -78. We just called it the 3.5. We were using up the last of the ammo that the base had.
 
If I recall correctly they are electrically fired. The pistol grip trigger is a generator when u squeeze it , it sends an electrical charge to the copper band around the base of the ammo
 
Komodo said:
If I recall correctly they are electrically fired. The pistol grip trigger is a generator when u squeeze it , it sends an electrical charge to the copper band around the base of the ammo
Click to expand...

so I guess the fact that it strongly resembles a Panzerschreck is not just a coincidence, it uses the same source of ignition. it looks like they could have copied a captured example. but the Germans copied the American made bazooka, why didn't Canada just use bazooka's?
 
The manual said 300yards against stationary targets, 200 yards against moving targets.
Stationary 300yds is realistically possible but 200 yards against movers is overly optimistic.
Old tank hulls spaced out at 75yds, 150yds, a mover on a railroad track at 150yds, and tank hulls at 200, and 300 yds were normal on rocket ranges.
The NCO supervising a team of 2 young soldiers would start them off at closer targets and then give them a challenging longer range tank hull if the team was shooting well. Its done the same way today with the M72.
The danger template for the 3.5 RL on old Canadian Army maps was 1000yds long. The maximum distance the rocket could possibly ever fly.
The m72 66mm rockets that replaced it have very similar flight properties.
 
It's a super bazooka, the next weapon in the development of the original. It was given a larger warhead to defeat more modern armour then the regular bazooka. It was a US weapon that was the mainstay of NATO platoon anti-armour weapons during the early Cold War.

IIRC Canada did develop their own weapon of this type, but found it easier and cheaper to adopt the bazooka.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom