The Carl Gustav is a section level anti-tank recoilless rifle and is one of the most widely fielded systems in the army. There are two versions of the Carl Gustav, the older M2 is on issue to almost every regular and reserve army unit and the newer lightweight M3 is held by the light infantry.
Despite its age, the Carl Gustav remains an effective system. The variety of ammunition available for this system and recent improvements in ammunition performance ensure that it will have a place on the battlefield for many more years. The Canadian army has several types of ammunition for the Carl Gustav. The FFV 551 High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round has an effective range of 700m. The FFV 502 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) round, with a range of 500m, was specifically designed to destroy bunkers and fortified positions.
The Carl Gustav is normally fired by a two-man crew. One fires the weapon while the other carries and loads the ammunition. The weapon is fitted with iron sights but is normally fired using the 3x telescopic sight. The Carl Gustav can be fired from the standing, kneeling or prone position. When fired in the prone position a small bipod is normally used to assist in stabilizing the weapon.
Ammunition:
FFV 551 HEAT - weight 3.2kg, range 700m
FFV 502 HEDP - weight 3.3kg, range 500m
TP 552 weight 3.2kg, range 700m (this is a non explosive round used for training)
Specifications:
Length: M2 113cm, M3 107cm
Weight: M2 14kg, M3 8.5kg
Crew: 2, gunner, loader
Sight: 3x Telescopic, 12 degree field of view
Entered Service: M2 1969, M3 1988
