Bazooka

The bazooka was developed chiefly for attacking tanks and fortified positions at short range. It launched a 3.5-pound (1.6-kg) rocket with a diameter of 2.36 inches (60 mm) and a length of 19 inches (483 mm). The rocket carried 8 ounces (225 grams) of pentolite, a powerful explosive that could penetrate as much as 5 inches (127 mm) of armour plate. To escape backblast, the operator held the bazooka on his shoulder with about half the tube protruding behind him. During the Korean War the M20 “Super Bazooka” was used. This was an aluminum tube that launched a 3.5-inch (89-mm), 9-pound (4-kg) rocket carrying 2 pounds (0.9 kg) of combined RDX/TNT explosive.