M80 Zolja (Wasp)

Disposable Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher [ 1980 ]

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

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/10/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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.©MilitaryFactory.com

Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications

State Factories - Yugoslavia
Manufacturer(s)

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

1980
Service Year

Yugoslavia
National Origin

ANTI-ARMOR / ANTI-TANK / ANTI-MATERIAL
Designed to engage and defeat armor / enemy tanks at range.

1,200 mm
(47.24 inches)
Overall Length

800 mm
(31.50 inches)
Barrel Length

6.61 lb
(3.00 kg)
Empty Weight

Single-Shot; Disposable Launch Tube
Action

64mm
Caliber(s)
May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.

Single-Shot
Rounds

Integrated Iron
Sights

Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

722 feet
(220 meters | 241 yards)
Max Effective Range

1
Rounds-per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

623 ft/sec
(190 m/sec)
Muzzle Velocity

M80 "Zolja" - Base Series Designation

Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon representing special forces

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)

Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

M80 Zolja (Wasp)

Disposable Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher [ 1980 ]

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

Specifications