The STRIM 65 is an anti-tank rifle grenade that the French Army used from 1961 to 1978, under the designation 65 AC 28. This and the older 73mm Modèle 1950 (similar in appearance to an
Energa
Energa SA is a Polish corporate group which deals in the generation, distribution, and supplies electricity to approximately 2.7 million people in Northern Poland. Energa is Poland's third largest distribution network operator serving North and C ...
grenade) were the standard anti-tank munitions in French service.
A
22 mm grenade launching adapter mounted atop the rifle's barrel held the grenade until the firing of a ballistite (blank) cartridge provided the propulsive force to launch the grenade.
Mecar
Mecar is a Belgian weapon and ammunition manufacturing company headquartered in Petit-Roeulx-lez-Nivelles, Hainaut Province. Mecar manufactures weapons ranging from grenades to lightweight anti-tank cannons. It now produces arms for NATO
...
, under licence, also made the grenade in Belgium,
and a licence was also granted to
Armscor of South Africa.
The
AC58
The AC 58 (Anti-Char, 58 mm) is an anti-armour rifle grenade used by the French Army. Its official French Army designation is ''Grenade à fusil antichar de 58 mm Mle F1 PAB''.
Design
The AC 58 comprises a body with a shaped charge wa ...
rifle grenade manufactured by Luchaire replaced the STRIM 65. The AC58 used a new bullet trap form of propulsion, thereby doing away with the need for a special launching round.
The Brazilian M2 anti-personnel and M3 anti-tank rifle grenades bear a strong similarity to the
STRIM 40 and STRIM 65 respectively.
Sources and references
External links
French army manual on rifle grenades dated 1966 with an illustration of the STRIM 65 (65 AC 28) and text on pages 26 to 28*
ttp://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/inventories/inv_pdfo/A3079/A3079-D3-001-jpeg.pdf Recollection of firing a STRIM during basic training in 1979 at Walvis Baybr>
Article (in Spanish) with reference to several French and Brazilian rifle grenades
{{DEFAULTSORT:STRIM 65
Cold War weapons of France
Rifle grenades
Anti-tank grenades
Military equipment introduced in the 1970s