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WASP 58


Shoulder-Fired, Man-Portable Rocket Launcher


France | 1987



"The WASP 58 Recoilless Rocket Launcher was introduced with French forces and some allies in the latter part of the 1980s."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the WASP 58. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,300 ft
396.2 m | 433.3 yds
Max.Eff.Range
3
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
820 ft/sec
250 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the WASP 58. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
800 mm
31.50 in
O/A Length
800 mm
31.50 in
Barrel Length
6.61 lb
3.00 kg
Weight
Single-Shot
Action
58mm
Caliber(s)
Single-Shot
Feed
Integrated Optics.
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the WASP 58 Shoulder-Fired, Man-Portable Rocket Launcher family line.
WASP 58 - Base Series Designation.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/10/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The WASP 58 was a private venture product of Luchaire SA of France which sought to offer a cost-effective alternative to contemporary shoulder-fired anti-tank launchers emerging from the 1970s and 1980s, these themselves attempting to unseat the popular and effective 1960s-era M72 LAW system. The WASP 58 managed success with nearly half-a-million units sold and local production granted in countries such as Greece. The weapon remains in circulation today (2014) and has seen combat service with French special forces elements among others.

The WASP 58 relies on a recoilless action which allows a light launch tube to be used. Propellant gasses are allowed to escape from the rear of the tube while the rocket projectile makes its way out of the muzzle - the result being far less recoil forces at work against the weapon and operator. Luchaire, therefore, created a useful product that was both low-cost and lightweight. Padding was added at both ends of the launch tube and at other support points along the weapon for some comfort with aiming-engagement optics being integrated into its design. Caliber was just 58mm with the projectile being a 615g HEAT anti-armor warhead rocket - capable of defeating both armor (400mm) or concrete faces (800mm) at range in addition to allowing the weapon to be fired from confined spaces.

Time has begun to limit the value of the WASP 58 on the modern battlefield for its penetration value is lessened against more modern combat tanks but can still fulfill its intended role against older tanks/armored vehicles and fortified structures.

The Luchaire SA brand now falls under the Nexter name.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the WASP 58. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Luchaire SA (Nexter) - France
National flag of Belgium National flag of Denmark National flag of France National flag of Greece National flag of the Netherlands

[ Belgium; Denmark; France; Greece; Netherlands ]
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Image of the WASP 58

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