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The Carl Gustaf M3 MAAWS Gets Approved By The U.S. Army For General Use

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It looks like regular infantry units will be able to lay their hands on the M3 Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System (MAAWS), which is the U.S. Army’s designation to the Carl Gustaf (or Gustav) Recoilless Rifle. Selected for use by the U.S. Army Rangers in 1988 as a replacement for M67 Recoilless Rifle, the Carl Gustaf M3 MAAWS until this decision, has been mainly used by USSOCOM Special Operations Forces.

According to Janes:

US Army light infantry units are to be equipped with the Saab 84 mm Carl Gustaf M3 Multirole Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) as a standard issue tactical support weapon, following completion of a Conditional Materiel Release (CMR) authorisation by the army in late 2015. In parallel, the army continues planning and tasking efforts to achieve Full Material Release (FMR) to the service in late 2016.

With the CMR complete, the M3 is now officially an organic weapon system within each army combat platoon, and will initially be fielded within selected Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs), which will now train, maintain, and sustain the M3 as part of the IBCT organisational structure. Going forward, all brigade combat teams will receive 27 Carl Gustaf launchers, about one per platoon.

The Carl Gustaf is a versatile weapon as it can a variety of ammo such as the HEDP, improved HEAT, High Explosive, to smoke rounds, to even firing flares for illumination. It is best manned by a two-man team: the spotter and ammo carrier and the man carrying the launcher. While the AT-4 can be handled by one soldier, I Iit is a single shot weapon as compared to the Carl Gustaf that can be reloaded and fire more rounds. It is also lighter to carry when compared to the Javelin.

Airsofters have been wanting to have a Carl Gustaf that can be used for airsoft games, but so far there is none available from the known manufacturers. In March 2016, there was post about the Tokyo Marui Carl Gustaf but was then debunked and proven as not true. The closest one is a customized potato cannon made to look like a Carl Gustaf and fires fin-stabilized 3 inch foam football projectiles:

Hopefully, one gets made and affordable enough to be acquired by airsoft teams in the future.

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