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M80 Zolja (Wasp)


Disposable Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher


Yugoslavia | 1980



"The M80 Zolja appeared around 1980 under the flag of what once was a unified Yugoslavia."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the M80 Zolja (Wasp). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
722 ft
220.1 m | 240.7 yds
Max.Eff.Range
1
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
623 ft/sec
190 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the M80 Zolja (Wasp). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,200 mm
47.24 in
O/A Length
800 mm
31.50 in
Barrel Length
6.61 lb
3.00 kg
Weight
Single-Shot; Disposable Launch Tube
Action
64mm
Caliber(s)
Single-Shot
Feed
Integrated Iron
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the M80 Zolja (Wasp) Disposable Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher family line.
M80 "Zolja" - Base Series Designation
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/10/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Young readers may not remember that at one point in world history there stood a unified Yugoslavia. The nation also built up a fine local arms industry that provided many durable and effective solutions to the Yugoslavian military as well as foreign customers. One such development became the M80 "Zolja" ("Wasp"), a disposable, shoulder-fired Anti-Tank (AT) rocket launcher comparable in most respects to the American-made LAW series (including its general appearance and function). Design of the M80 fell to the Military Technical Institute of Belgrade with production coming from Sloboda Cacak.

The M80 fired a 64mm rocket-boosted projectile with armor-penetrating warhead out to effective ranges of 722 feet. The launch tube was a two piece system which was pulled (through a telescoping action) to full length from its compact, collapsed travel form. The tubes were pre-packed with the 64mm projectile already inside, made ready-to-fire in seconds. The system, as a whole, was a lightweight anti-armor solution with good range and armor-defeating capabilities for the period. A shoulder strap facilitated transport and weight was a manageable 3 kilograms.

The popularity of the M80, and weapons like it, has been attributed to their relatively low production cost, ease-of-operation, and general battlefield effectiveness. The projectile maintains penetration values of up to 300 mm of steel and several of these launchers could be set over the back of a single infantryman ready to deal with enemy armor the moment it was identified. Due to its local availability during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, the M80 was extensively featured in the conflict by all parties.

Despite its 1970s origins, the M80 is still manufactured in Serbia today (2015) as well as Macedonia. Global operators have gone on to include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Indonesia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Singapore, and Slovenia.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the M80 Zolja (Wasp). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): State Factories - Yugoslavia
National flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina National flag of Croatia National flag of Indonesia National flag of Iraq National flag of Macedonia National flag of Montenegro National flag of Serbia National flag of Singapore National flag of Slovenia

[ Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Indonesia; Iraq; Macedonia; Montenegro; Serbia; Singapore; Slovenia ]
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