THE LIGHTWEIGHT PERSONAL BAZOOKA

ANYONE LOOKING to chart the kind of wars the US Army thinks its infantry will be fighting need only look at the amount of firepower the troops carry. The M3 recoilless rifle is an anti-armour weapon that shoots a highly explosive round that can take out a light vehicle, destroy a small house, or eliminate a defensive bunker. Although the weapon was originally restricted to special ops, fights in Iraq and Afghanistan highlighted the need for infantrymen to bring explosives to gunfights without waiting for artillery or air support. In response, last year the US Army opened the M3’s use to all of its troops. Now the 69-year-old M3 is getting an upgrade, making it three kilos lighter and easier to use while wearing modern helmets that have night-vision fixtures. Saab, the company that makes them, says new M3E1 models, which the Army expects to deliver to soldiers in the spring, are ready for intelligent-sight systems that have rangefinders and are compatible with “smart” munitions. These include explosive rounds that can be programmed for airburst shots that can kill foes who are hiding behind cover. But sometimes it’s the little things that matter most. Soldiers using the current M3 mark each shot by hand in a notebook that stays with the weapon. When the notebook is lost, the weapon’s service life is cut short to avoid battlefield malfunctions. But not so with the M3E1. It has an automatic shot counter. – JP

The M3E1 allows some of the propellant’s gases to escape from the back of the breech when the weapon is fired, instead of everything being routed through the muzzle. That way it won’t knock you over when you fire it.