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Key Points and Summary: The Carl Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifle, a versatile Swedish-developed infantry weapon, has evolved since its 1948 debut. Originally designed for multi-role support, it uses a rifled barrel for greater accuracy and range than earlier recoilless rifles.

-The latest M3A1 (M4) variant, adopted by U.S. forces, is lighter and shorter while maintaining high performance. Its wide range of ammunition includes HEAT, anti-personnel flechettes, and illumination rounds, making it adaptable for modern combat scenarios.

-Proven in conflicts from the Congo to present-day special operations, the Carl Gustaf remains a trusted asset for infantry forces worldwide.

Carl Gustaf: The Evolution of Sweden’s Iconic Recoilless Rifle

The Carl Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifle is a Swedish-developed shoulder-fired recoilless rifle. The Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration developed it in a program that began in World War II as a crew-served man-portable infantry support weapon for close-range multi-role anti-armor, anti-personnel, battlefield illumination, smoke screening, and marking fire.

The Carl Gustaf is a popular multi-purpose support weapon in many nations. Known by US troops as the “GUS” (Goose), the weapon is a lightweight, low-cost weapon that uses a wide range of ammunition, making it both highly flexible and suitable for various roles.

Recoilless Rifle History

The first anti-tank handheld recoilless rifle was the M1 “Bazooka,” produced by the US during World War II. Its innovative design allowed infantrymen to engage in fortifications and armor. 

The Germans captured several in North Africa and reverse-engineered them to form a more powerful charge in the 88mm Panzershreck. Other nations followed suit, and the recoilless rifle competition was on.

During the war years, Sweden, although officially neutral, was developing its own anti-armor recoilless rifle systems. The Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles went through a series of small, lighter calibers, 20mm, 37mm, and 47mm, which all proved to be obsolete with the progress made in tank design and development. 

Carl Gustaf. Image Credit: Saab.

In 1948, the first M1 Carl Gustaf 84mm was developed, and its usage was designed to be similar to that of the US bazooka.  But unlike the other recoilless rifles developed during the war, the Gustav had a rifled barrel, with its spin-stabilization rather than fins. 

The tube’s construction and venturi system allowed the ammunition to pack more propellant, giving it far greater range and accuracy. The M1 was used with great effect during the 1961 war in the Congo.

Development continued with the M2 and M3 MAAWS (Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System), exported in 1991 and used by US Army Green Berets, Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment, and the British SAS. These were viewed as replacements for the M67 90mm recoilless rifle the Rangers had been using since the late 1970s. 

The latest development is the M4. USSOCOM asked for a design that would lighten the M3MAAWS kit without sacrificing the ruggedness and handling of the GUS. SAAB developed the M4, which is called the M3A1 MAAWS, in the US. The variant is seven and a half pounds lighter and two and a half inches shorter. It continues to fire the same ammunition as the M3.

The Army ordered 1,111 weapons (a strange amount), and the Marines ordered 1,200 of the M3A1.

Carl Gustav Specs:

The Carl Gustaf M3A1 is the latest development in the family of weapons since 1948. The weapon has gotten progressively lighter and shorter without sacrificing any of its capabilities. 

Caliber: 84 mm

Weight: 15 lbs with bipod and sight

Length: 37 inches

Backblast danger area: 60 m rear, 82 cm side

Ammunition types: High explosive anti-personnel, high explosive anti-tank, illumination, non-explosive practice

Rate of fire: 6 rounds per minute

Muzzle velocity: 754–836 feet per second

Ammunition for M3A1 Carl Gustaf:

The M3A1 Carl Gustaf uses a variety of ammunition, but some of the more common rounds are:

FFV401: The FFV401 is an Area Defense Munition designed as a close-range anti-personnel round. It fires 1100 flechettes over a wide area. There are 5-10 flechettes per square meter over a 100-meter spread. It is a devastating round for mass attacks against massed troops in the open. 

Carl Gustaf

A Marine Special Operations Command member fires a Carl Gustav Recoilless rifle system on a range during training in Washer district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 16, 2013. Coalition force members review their weapons handling and firing techniques to increase safety, accuracy, and familiarity with the weapon system. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin Tuck/Released)

FFV551: The FFV551 is the primary HEAT round and rocket-assisted projectile (RAP). The effective range is 700 m (400 m against moving targets), and penetration is 400 mm of RHA. The ammunition weight is 3.2 kg, and the muzzle velocity is 255 m/s. More types of ammunition are available at the Carl Gustav website. 

About the Author: 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.