Dynamit-Nobel Panzerfaust 3

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The Panzerfaust 3 (PzF 3) is a 60mm single-shot shoulder-fired anti-tank rocket launcher (only the sights and launch parts are reusable). It was developed from 1978 to 1985 as a short-range anti-tank/fortification solution to defeat hard targets such as tanks and bunkers in urban environments where close combat was expected.

German development of such weapons ranged from the earliest anti-tank rifles in World War I to the Panzerfaust series of disposable rocket launchers used by German military and civilian forces during the Soviet invasion during World War II. The Panzerfaust 3 was manufactured by Dynamit-Nobel, Germany and entered service with the German Armed Forces in 1992.

It is also produced under license in Japan by IHI Aerospace.

The Panzerfaust 3 had some early design flaws when it entered service. Disadvantages include the excessive weight of this one-man portable battlefield system, resulting in weapons that are considered uncomfortably bulky.

Additionally, early production batches were prone to jamming during firinga serious flaw for a weapon system expected to work every time. Another downside is the weakness of the original missile, which cannot compensate for the advertised latest advanced armor, resulting in a product redesign.

The redesign plan also considers minimizing the inherent "recoil" that occurs at launch (a design requirement for any rocket launcher today), making the system slightly safer to launch within building confines. The main change in the improved model is the development of a tandem shaped charge warhead that allows the use of an initial explosion to detonate blocks of Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) used to provide additional protection to the main battle tank, as well as the main battle tank's armor surface charge to follow free.

The PzF 3 has a 60mm caliber while firing a rocket with a 110mm warhead. The missile has a shaped charge and weighs about 9 pounds. The missile is capable of penetrating 28 inches of armor protection and 5 feet of reinforced concrete-like structures. All told, the entire system weighs nearly 34 pounds and is 4 feet long. Muzzle velocity is approximately 500 feet per second when aimed through the UP-7V telescope attachment.

The maximum effective range is 1,300 feet (approximately 400 meters), while the minimum useful range is 65 feet (20 meters) for safety reasons.

The Panzerfaust range consists of three different model variants, starting with the original PzF 3. The PzF 3-IT is an upgraded version with a tandem shaped charge warhead to counter ERA block protection, while the PzF 3 "Bunkerfaust" has a suitable special development for light armored vehicles and fortifications. Other names for the variants are PzF 3-T, PzF 3LW, and PzF 3LW-HESH.

PzF 3 operators outside of Germany and Japan include Austria, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Peru, South Korea and Switzerland.

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