M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle: When the Bazooka Just Won't Cut It

Note that this is a rewelded action. It should be inspected by a professional before being fired (the firing footage in the video is a different example).
The M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle was developed starting in 1944 as a replacement for the 3.5” bazooka in an antitank role. It was developed and produced in parallel with a 57mm recoilless rifle (the M18), and both entered service in March of 1945, seeing just a slight bit of combat use before the end of World War Two. It would be a mainstay of US troops in the Korean War, however, along with a 105mm recoilless rifle. The M20 fired HE, HEAT, and WP (smoke) rounds, with the projectiles weighing 20-22 pounds (about 10kg) and having muzzle velocities of about 1000 fps (305 m/s). The shaped charge HEAT warhead could penetrate about 4” (100mm) of armor, and had an effective range of about 400 yards. The HE warhead could be effectively used out to about 1000 yards, and the gun was equipped with both direct fire and indirect fire optical sights in order to effectively use both types of ammunition.
By the Vietnam War, the M20 was on its way out, as were recoilless rifles in general - they were being replaced with wire-guided missiles for antitank use. However, the M20 remains in service today for avalanche control in many Western states - a neat repurposing of obsolete weaponry!
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[@old_guard2431]

A guy I served with was on a Coast Guard 82' patrol boat in Vietnam. Their "artillery" (other than 6 or so .50 cal MGs) was an 81 mm mortar set up for direct fire. Which had issues. So they mounted one of these recoilless rifles (don't ask where they got it) and it worked great. Except the back-blast from the first shot peeled all the paint off of the pilot house.

[@masonlindquist3133]

Where did they get it?

[@thatguybrody4819]

R/MadLad

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@masonlindquist3133 They "acquired" it (probably from someone who wasn't paying attention...)

[@spammortician]

You saw an M-40 106 RR, common to the Ontos, Marine weapons platoon and US Army. Easy 10,000 made at Waterviet Arsenal. Rick Ontos

[@tyngchinchillachang838]

Does the 81mm mortar fire when a round is dropped in?

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

In 1967-68 I was stationed at Phu Cat AFB Republic of Vietnam. While there I, (and many others), had the the dubious pleasure of being on the receiving end of the 75 recoilless. I can attest to it's effectiveness. I had a job ferrying pilots from our personal equipment shop to the flightline, (F-100's, 612th Fighter squadron). I was lucky enough to have use of the step van after duty hours. That made me kinda popular with the other guys because I could drive them to places on the base instead of having to walk. One night we were hit by multiple 75's that landed all over the base. Fortunately, no injuries, but we lost a couple planes, a couple shops, and my beloved step van. After it was over, I went out to get it and found that a round had landed right in front of it. Took out the windshield, and sent a piece of shrapnel through the radiator and clean through the block. to say the least, I was pissed. Now it was personal. We had a small outdoor theater on the base that had a stage in front of the screen for USO shows, and such. On night they started shelling us right in the middle of the movie, (Audie Murphy in "The Texican), I think. Anyway, everybody scattered and in the confusion a shell came down right through the stage and exploded. It put a big hole in the stage, and perforated the screen like a big shotgun. The fact that the stage absorbed most of the explosion saved everybody from being hurt. If Charlie had put one or two more clicks on the sight , it might have been different. The next day I crawled under the stage with the guy from EOD, and he let me keep the detonator and some shrapnel as a souvenir. My wife hated it, and one day it disappeared. A complete mystery. Well, that's my 75 recoilless story. I hope somebody enjoyed it.

[@donaldotjf4894]

Loved the story, and thank you for your service

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

@@donaldotjf4894 I'm glad you enjoyed it, Tom. What war stories I have are of this type. I don't have any horror stories, mercifully, and I tell people that ask, that I was fortunate in that I came back to my wife and baby daughter with my soul intact. I'm grateful to this day. BTW, we're still together after 54 years, and we still love each other. Sorry, I'm old and I tend to ramble. 🤪😁

[@memphiskash]

great story!

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

@@memphiskash Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

@Fenris B I very much appreciate your reply. What stories I have are not of the exciting sort. The stories that I have told to family and friends over the years are more of the funny, humorous variety. I consider myself very fortunate that I was able to return with my body and soul intact. War changes anybody who experiences it. It changes them in many different ways. I'm just grateful that mine did not leave scars.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

"The back end is as dangerous as the front" *trigger is VERY close to the back end*

[@mikespongili8254]

What scared me most was that the trigger is mounted on the handle that you're racking into place to load the round, under duress and possibly wearing gloves while doing so. I just saw accidental discharge written all over this

[@WilliamJones-Halibut-vq1fs]

Fire forward to destroy tank, fire rearward to destroy infantry.

[@XOIIOXOIIO]

Tactical Shoelace to the rescue.

[@allangibson2408]

The blast out the back has way more energy than the blast out the front because you need to balance the weight of the projectile with gas coming out the back.

[@TheFivetimesdead]

When firing, you're basically standing in the eye of the storm!

[@ropeyarn]

This is the second Army weapon that should have a sign that says "This side toward enemy".

[@praevasc4299]

Well, if the enemy is close enough, you could point the other side towards them and be just as effective :))

[@styastya2227]

Well what’s the first army weapon than)

[@Teddy_M]

@@styastya2227 "front towards enemy" is quite famously stamped on the claymore anti personnel mine. Which (I presume) is what donald was referring to.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@SonsOfLorgar oof. Yeah, I bet!

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

I think the best way to signify the danger of using a recoilless rifle would be to stamp a pictogram on it that shows angles behind and in front of it marked "danger" and angles to the side marked "safe", with the "danger" angle behind it ending in a radius with the written minimum safe distance on it, and it says "stand clear of back blast" and "do not fire inside buildings" somewhere. though of course it's a weapon that should really only be used by soldiers who were taught its use in training, given how dangerous it is to their comrades if used wrong.

[@samrussell4065]

The Recoiless Rifle Whan you absolutely, positively want the enemy to know where you're firing from...

[@Seelenschmiede]

Sam Russell wouldn't help the enemy when he's shredded to pieces ;) And if missed, just run away (with your massive gun) ;)

[@jeremystewert4303]

Don't say recoiless to much. Diane Feinstein might think it's some type of concealable assault artillery piece that you have to be 21 to own.

[@frostthefoxxo7192]

The enemy can't know where you are, if you blow them all up.

[@nottherealpaulsmith]

don't disarm me, evil gubbermint I need to concealed carry my anti-tank rifles everywhere so I can intimidate people

[@1014p]

jeremy stewert but we can own one based on the misconception.

[@hashslingingslasher1233]

Controlled avalanche...tall pile of laundry...backyard plinking. I think this has way more applications than described

[@themastermason1]

Fence-mounted to intimidate your neighbor's dog.

[@51WCDodge]

Or just Oh S8it! I've had a bad day, let's spread it around?

[@fix0the0spade]

Backyard plinking, for when you want to shoot at entire backyards.

[@randytrashcan]

@Phil McCrevice Don't forget squirrel hunting.

[@sohomchatterjee]

Epic.....

[@TakNuke]

When the weapon and the crew have to share a significant emotional event each time the trigger is pressed.

[@T3hderk87]

Padmmegh Ambrela I don't know why, but that phrase always brings a smirk to my face when our dear Lord tank Jesus says it.

[@YoungBrave2006]

I wonder if these were issued with brown pants.

[@brianfrakes2703]

...the world turns grey!

[@nicholaspatton5590]

And the enemy too

[@jackmaster3134]

@@campasaurusrex4710 hope no misfire happens

[@davidhyer3404]

I am personally offended that Ian had nothing to say about disappearance of his co-host, the folding table!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

It wanted a raise, so it's gone.

[@MrBioniclefan1]

LOL

[@MegaFloyd100]

Apparently the card table will be replaced.From now on Ian will be disassembling his weapons on the back of a bikini model.

[@kieranh2005]

Oh yeah. Distractions on top of distractions!

[@Klaaism]

Assault tables were finally banned.

[@Scorponox93]

You know soldiers took photos of this posing it right in front of their crotches. War, war never changes.

[@narcoleptic8982]

Probably not loaded though...

[@justinriley8651]

Lol that's what I would have done. Seems acceptable.

[@derp-construction3341]

DickPics or it didn't happen 🍆

[@joedirt7716]

Lol iv had lots of jobs ...

[@battlesheep2552]

Typical humans, putting things between their legs and saying “look at me! I’m so and so dick!”

[@Echowhiskeyone]

Always liked the idea that a designed anti-tank weapon is now used to prevent massive avalanches and save lives.

[@polygondwanaland8390]

I like the idea of antitank weaponry operated by the Parks Service. I think we might have some too in Canada, but I'd have to check that.

[@FrothyFawn]

Savin lives then, Savin lives now

[@jeffbenton6183]

This comment deserves more likes.

[@Drakovin]

most people would just go "whoops i forgot the 2 second clip of the thing being shot" but not Ian, 10/10 would re-upload again.

[@lungshenli]

Douglas Adams Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy : "this gun clearly has one good and one bad end" Ian : this gun has two VERY bad ends

[@jeffreyleonard7210]

Not in 42 mm, tho

[@sammoore9120]

We had the 105 in the CBs as late as 1976. We had a 50 cal single shot mounted on top of it. You would fire the 50, observe the impact, adjust the aim and then fire the main gun (then run like hell because the back blast just announced your position, shoot and scoot at its finest). The 50 was a special round designed to have the same trajectory as the main gun.

[@waddywill5850]

omg i think he made a video about that relatively recently

[@damanyocum149]

served in the Seabees USNR 2007-2010 thanks for your time shipmate ❤️🤍💙🦅🇺🇸🛠️⚓🔧

[@StrohmaniasFlyingCircus]

Gonna need a bigger fireplace to put this over. :- |

[@jeremystewert4303]

This babies going on the roof.

[@MrBioniclefan1]

LMAO too funny

[@seldonwright4345]

@@jeremystewert4303 the modern version of a catapult. Come at me barbarian!

[@TheIcyWizard705]

I can imagine that the person responsible for actually firing it in a combat situation would be doing it at an arm's length, and at great discomfort

[@GurgleOneSixSix]

The picture on the wikipedia page has a guy firing it in Korea: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M20_75_mm_recoilless_rifle_korean_war.jpg Look at his face! That's pretty much the definition of great discomfort.

[@Ray-lf1eo]

gurgle166 at least you can kill t54's

[@GurgleOneSixSix]

T-54s? Probably not from the front: 100mm hull front at 60 degrees. It even had trouble with T-34s. 100mm of steel penetration seems pretty mediocre

[@santinogalassi2558]

Ahh. This weapon reminds me of Jabat Fata Islamia and Jabat Fata Alsham days ;)

[@nicholaspatton5590]

Yeah his hand is still pretty close to the back end.

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

No one expects the Second Ian-quisition!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

I accidentally published the one without the shooting footage and didn't realize it until just now. Oops!

[@theblackprince1346]

Forgotten Weapons Ian you rock!

[@baneofbanes]

TheGoldenCaulk it what about the Gun Crusades?

[@l00t3R]

Forgotten Weapons wondered why I was watching this again deja vous 😂😂

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

+Forgotten Weapons Good thing you did, wanna make sure everyone knows to clear the hell out of that backblast area.

[@Teknophobe]

Tried to explain so many times over the decades to friends what a, "recoilless rifle is. And how it operates. Most civvies can't get past the fact it isn't a," rifle", in the true sense of the word. Then when I explain it's recoilless because of the gas ports at the rear. They ask. "Then how can it fire the shell". Gratitude for ur post sir. It has saved me a lot of explaining. PS: Gratitude for all ur posts. As an ex British army pioneer. I learn a lot. The minute u think u know everything. U stop learning.

[@johnyyonehand]

If this is a rifle, I shudder to imagine what would they classify as cannon.

[@T3hderk87]

johnyyonehand #twelveinchnavalrecoilesscannon

[@FIREBRAND38]

Stop shuddering it just means it has a rifled barrel to launch a spin stabilized projectile rather than a smooth bore firing maybe a fin stabilized projectile. Up into the 106mm recoilless rifle (actually a 105mm) it's a rifle because it's being fired by the Infantry. The Artillery branch fires cannon in various calibers (yeah 75mm and 105mm for instance) and Armor fires out of main guns.

[@teuflhunden]

John Simpson wow that's awesome to see someone else know that tid bit on 105 recoilless rifles. They marked them 106 so idiots wouldn't load them in wrong gun and blow their self's up. Because some people just can't tell the difference.

[@brokenwave6125]

Cannons and rifles aren't size based terms so your comment makes literally no sense. A cannon can be smaller than a rifle.

[@mikialela6664]

16 inches of pure, naval cannon

[@nukewarrior7991]

My father was a machine gunner (M1917) in Europe during WWII. When the war ended in Europe his division was transferred stateside to train for the invasion of Japan. His MG squad was transitioned to the M20 Recoilless Rifle. Fortunately, the A-Bombs ended the war before they had to invade the home islands. Thanks for a bit of history with a personal (for me) aspect.

[@wumpygaming]

Honestly, I love this channel. I get excited every time there is a new video. It’s so fun to not only watch you explain the features on the weapons, but you also explain the reasoning behind them.

[@sparkplug1018]

Its sort of humbling knowing that Ian has probably forgotten more then we will ever know about weapons. Love these videos.

[@wumpygaming]

sparkplug1018 dang, I’ve never thought about that.

[@stephenduffy5406]

This was trailer gun mounted on my Hasbro GI Joe Jeep, Xmas morning, 1966😀

[@angeloftheabyss5265]

No, it wasn’t. That was a 106 recoilless rifle.

[@micahsmith2066]

Note to self: Don't attack the national park service.

[@micahsmith2066]

@Trip Gil I believe that he says somewhere in the video that they had some of these. Something about triggering avalanches? Been a while since I saw the video.

[@micahsmith2066]

@Trip Gil While they have 75 MM anti-tank weapons?

[@thewingedporpoise]

also they have other artillery pieces and tanks from what I know

[@calessel3139]

Up until the early 1990s I believe the US park service still used B-25 bombers to drop water on forest fires (I know they used them in the great Yellowstone fire of '90) and the German forest service still used Kettenrads as off road utility vehicles until the late 1980s.

[@MorningGI0ry]

Re-upload:For when the first video just wont cut it

[@ForgottenWeapons]

I accidentally published the one without the shooting footage and didn't realize it until just now. Oops!

[@eberbacher007]

well this one also has no shooting footage, or am i missing something?

[@SuperCloneRanger]

2:39

[@jcorbett9620]

You are missing something. It's not Ian firing this one, so there is no block footage like there would usually be. He has spliced in some footage from another channel showing one of these being fired. It's only a few seconds long, so easy to miss if you are "scanning" the video for it. It's around the 2.43 and 8min marks.

[@ElagabalusRex]

Now with 20% less recoil

[@gallendugall8913]

That tripod, if you tipped the whole thing up on the end of the barrel, would make a fine hat rack.

[@coreyfellows9420]

Gallen Dugall lmao! This deserves more likes!

[@jcorbett9620]

For those who might miss it, as the spliced in footage is only short, it appears twice - at around the 2.43 and 8min marks

[@matthayward7889]

I’ve read accounts of the 57mm recoilless being used in Korea, firing canister at massed infantry attacks. must have horrific to be on the receiving end

[@matthayward7889]

Laird Cummings good god. On a lighter note, the book also mentioned the recoilless rifles being used to discourage senior officers/ politicians from making ‘sight seeing’ trips to the front line. The troops would fire off a couple of recoilless rounds, and apparently the puffs of black smoke from back blast looked just like incoming artillery impacts, and scared the ‘tourists’ off.

[@garywheeler7039]

Feral hog control.

[@davidtasker9439]

Matt Hayward It’s always better to give canister than to receive.

[@peterscotney1]

would of loved to have seen the faces on those communists bastards as they got blasted by the worlds biggest shotgun !

[@TruthNerds]

In Vietnam they used the M50 Ontos, a light armored vehicle with 6x 105mm M40 recoilless rifles mounted on the turret, and anti-personnel rounds. Imagine being an infantryman facing this monstrosity…

[@Jhulinare]

Love that phrase, "vintage destruction device."

[@mistzy8435]

"...was to use the mount for a Model of 1917A1 machine gun." Does that mean, in theory, it could be mounted on the roof a tank? Asking for a friend.

[@broworm1]

'white phosphorus round which was used to create smoke clouds' Yeah inside of people :')

[@pg396]

Would this work on Feral Pigs?

[@Lily-ut7wg]

P G Play it safe, and get yourself a man's weapon. I recommend starting with 120mm.

[@nillan429]

I don't see why not.

[@lycossurfer8851]

Only 152mm and better. This just pisses them off and the pigs file nasty lawsuits against you.

[@tobyjenny7622]

What pigs are you talking about? The ones that claims to be peace officers, the ones that are the ones that demands for hunting licenses, or the wild animals?

[@lycossurfer8851]

Uhhhhhhh, Feral Pigs

[@johngibson2884]

Extremely accurate weapon. In Korea 1952 they used these to zap snipers who were firing from outcrops or semi fortified positions . They had been fitted and zeroed with Redfield optics 10x .....extremely accurate and long range , a miss still counted with the HE head .

[@MUSEMENT]

I used to work on the 105 mm Recoilless with the 50 caliber spotting rifle on it and the 81mm recoilless at Aberdeen Proving Ground in the 1970s which brings back some memories when I was a small arms repairman.

[@TheJamesthe13]

They are used across the alps too. I had the pleasure of blasting away with one of these in Zermatt one year. Lots of fun! 😁

[@qdaniele97]

"Mounted on jeeps..." Italians and French: "Hold my Vespa" Vespa 150 TAP

[@khaelamensha3624]

When your bike slow fow' in a slope, fire a Roux to accelerate 😂

[@DC_10]

Thank you for the video. Trained on this 75mm before moving onto the 106mm recrilless in 1985 in the Army of Taiwan. Wonderful memories.

[@neilfurby555]

The quality of content and presentation is so good that this series is quite addictive...such a wonderful mix of exhibits...great stuff....thanks.

[@stephenbritton9297]

"where was the Kaboom, where was the earth shattering Kaboom?" - Marvin the Martian. Clearly, he was NOT using one of these...

[@somebloke3869]

I had much use of the Carl Gustav 84mm recoilless rifle back in the 90's. We had an Illumination round that was fun to fire. By fun I mean fun to try to find a volunteer to fire it. You see, illum rounds need to be fired upwards, thus the back blast is trapped in the bottom of the firing pit and cooked the firers arse cheeks quite well.

[@jayjames7646]

That piece was still in the T.O.A of my battalion. Back blast was very heavy which limited its use in certain areas. The flat trajectory was great for bunker busting. Not to bad to clean. Had spotting round capability for training similar to the AT 4

[@MyelinProductions]

Thank You! Excellent! Great History. As a veteran I appreciate your video and your clarity. Be Safe out there. Peace & Health to Us All.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

When I was sent to ITR in 1970, before my company formed, they put me on a week of maintenance and ... one of the things we did was clean 106mm Recoilless Rifle barrels ... which are heavy as hell. It took a dozen of us to pick up one of the tubes (no breach) and put it into a long, low vat of solvent on the deck. This was of course, a vehicle mounted weapon. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M40_recoilless_rifle They had a range there where they fired these at night and ... there would bee this big Flash! that lit up the ridge they were on and then a loud Bang! While I was given familiarization training with other weapons (this is what ITR was for) the 106 was not among them. A story I heard about RR's being captured by the Chinese during the Korean war - was that they didn't understand how the weapon really worked - and were standing behind it when they fired it for the first time. It is my understanding that that back blast is in fact deadly - that is - it can kill you. .

[@newperve]

The round going has a muzzle of 9.3 kgs * (300 m/s)^2 = 418,500 Joule. Comapre this to the mussle energy of an M15 (1843 for the M855A1 round). So about 225 times more. The backblast would have the round's energy divided by how much propellant weighs than the shell. Even assuming that's 10-1 you're still absorbing over 20 times the energy of a assault rifle shot. So yeah it's lethal. Put another way it has enough power to accelerate a 93 kg (over 200 lb) man to highway speeds. And that's not counting that it would definitedly set your clothers on fire.

[@richardtibbetts5020]

Big boomer! I played with a 90 mm recoiless when I was in the Army..

[@wtbanation6268]

Must've been loud! Thank you for your service, sir!

[@frostthefoxxo7192]

Skallia Airsoft WHAT?

[@taijituofdeath2210]

90mm? which one was it Carl gustav or M40?

[@richardtibbetts5020]

Taijitu of death M-40

[@garethfairclough8715]

The Carl was 84 mm ish, not 90.

[@matthewslater6975]

I really enjoy the small documentary vids you put out with these guns, rockets etc etc coming from Australia we do not even get close to shooting these weapons but seeing the info you put out does give me a great insight into these weapons of war. Thanks heaps

[@villagelightsmith4375]

I'm always grateful for the opportunity to learn, Ian.

[@iamzid]

You know, I've been looking for a way to clear snow from my roof.

[@armoredinf]

need to remove the old roof before replacing it.

[@reveniantgoh7868]

Yes with this you won't have snow on roof problems... If you do not have a roof to begin with.

[@MrDgwphotos]

Washington State DOT used to use the 105mm version for avalanche control, but that has since been replaced by an M60 tank. They also use M102 towed artillery guns, as well.

[@k.r.baylor8825]

I did not know that! How cool that WA DOT got two M60A3s surplus from the US Army. "No problem there, Governor, they're just rusting away at Ft. Lewis!" Here's a YT video on their use: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5Tak4WgrZ6Sh8U

[@MrDgwphotos]

Thanks for the video, that's the first time I've actually seen the tanks, they were mentioned, but not pictured, in an article on WSDOT's avalanche control methods in the Seattle Times a few years ago. It appears the artillery pieces are fairly commonly used for avalanche control in other places as well.

[@Piromanofeliz]

Wait... I thought you were joking! Needless to say, I am impresed.

[@FakeSchrodingersCat]

And people complain about the militarization of the Police. Turns out they have nothing on the Department of Transportation who apparently are preparing to defend the Fulda Gap.

[@andrewnelson3276]

@@MrDgwphotos Turns out there is actually a video of them in action too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIuvl5WleMiYfaM Pretty funny seeing a tank operated with high-viz jackets.

[@Cloudwolf40]

Your videos are just spot on. No bullshit just information. I really like these videos

[@mangelwurzel]

Fort Jackson, 1965, in a demonstration of the backblast of this thing, a straw-filled dummy was placed about 10 feet directly behind it. When the rifle was fired, the dummy pretty much flew into flinders. It was awesome!

[@rstevewarmorycom]

That was my Dad's weapon at the Battle of the Bulge, he was a tank killer in the 82nd Airborne, 507th PIR attached to the 101st. He jumped with the bell section and sight and 3 rounds strapped to bags on his waist leg cable jams that he lowered before landing. He weighed 525 pounds and had to be thrown out of the plane at 800 feet.

[@ffjsb]

My first National Guard unit still had one in the arms room into the early 80's. It was never fired as ammo wasn't readily available at the training sites we went too, even though there were ranges that it could've been fired on.

[@paratrooper7340]

Being nearly deaf from my Military Service - I was a 11C and trained on and fired 2 different Recoilless Rifles and 2 different Mortars, the 81mm and the 4.2 during that training. After training I served in the Dominican Republic and in Vietnam and again I served in a Weapons Platoon where our Crew Fired Weapons were the 81mm Mortar and the 90mm Recoilless Rifle, I was the primary Gunner for both these Weapons systems and we fired many Fire Missions with our Mortars. The 90mm Recoilless Rifle was issued to us after several of our smaller Company and Platoon sized elements were nearly overrun by Communist Forces. The 90 as we called it is a shoulder fired Anti Tank and Anti Personal Weapon that makes a amazingly loud bang accompanied by a shock wave which can by itself injure anyone positioned behind the weapon when it is fired. Every time I fired either of these Weapons I lost my hearing, sometimes for a few hours and sometimes for as long as several days before my hearing gradually returned. I'm not the only deaf old Veteran, none of the brave men I served in my Weapons Platoons were issued any sort of hearing protection and so there are many 11C and other MOS Veterans, like Artilleryman who after 50 or so years cannot hear much of anything and that is, "The dying truth" , I wish I could hear half as clearly as non Veterans but I cannot and hearing aids don't help and I have to admit that asking my wife what people are saying is embarrassing for both of us.

[@talltroll7092]

Sadly quite common for a lot of people who served in artillery and heavy weapon units in the Bad Old Days. Most modern armies have at least learned from the experiences of your generation, and do issue proper hearing protection these days

[@ImmaculateM1Garand]

You guys always put out great videos, thanks.

[@dmikulec]

An old military saying: "Recoilless Rifles Aren't"

[@twirlipofthemists3201]

Now I know what to give my avalanche enthusiast friends for Christmas.

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

We may have phased them out in 68, but Charlie loved them. They were light, easy to pack in and out of the bush, and carried a good punch.

[@yeahwhatever1359]

I still use one of these at my winter job! its mounted on a truck and we use it to precipitate avalanches. it's all military but we call it the " avalauncher". fun piece of equipment.

[@AL-nv7hs]

Yeah Whatever you fire a recoilless rifle at mountains to cause avalanches? That’s the coolest thing I’ve heard.

[@lukeman9851]

If you ever get the chance to get a look at a Carl Gustaf and its ammunition, I would be delighted to see more

[@meisterproper8304]

Luke Man I think he already made a video on it

[@lukeman9851]

Ah! Right you are, at least for the old 20mm version. Thanks for the heads-up

[@ronalddeblois4775]

Luke Man pop

[@jimhill4510]

When I was in Vietnam the enemy used the 75 against us. We used the 106 recoilless rifle ourselves.

[@jfleisch365]

Did you ever use the sling? 😂😂😂😂

[@joeboswell8203]

As a Marine in 1978 there was a 102mm recoilless that looked identical except larger and had a single shot .50 cal rifle attached above the barrel for targeting.

[@user-td1zo3tv9p]

Very cool Boomer! As one of my MOS's in the Army I was sent to Small Arms Repairman School where I received (modest) training on this and the 105mm version Recoiless Rifle, along with all kinds of machine guns and other small arms. Sadly, while we watched training films, we weren't able to fire those goodies. Also, we didn't have any actual RR in our Battalion inventory, so it was lost training outside of the Cool Factor. Thanks.

[@morelenmir]

There is a brilliant scene with a recoilless rifle in Black Hawk Down. That was supposed to be a Russian model though. I've heard the Soviets as a whole were crazy for recoilless artillery.

[@MrRenegadeshinobi]

morelenmir I know exactly which scene you're talking about.

[@altergreenhorn]

maybe they use a yugo version : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M60_recoilless_gun

[@tb87670]

I know the scene, just saw the movie a few months ago. Bad guy ended up having it used on him.

[@ElmoUnk1953]

Tyler B 🤣😂🤣😁 I remember. Yeah, stuff happens! 😉😁

[@Camcolito]

A great anti-tank weapon introduced when the Germans had no tanks left.

[@oskarlibner172]

generally nobody liked the soviets cuz they where no different Frome the Nazis . so its a anti t-34/85 gun

[@Camcolito]

@@oskarlibner172 They were very different from the Nazis.

[@oskarlibner172]

@@Camcolito Gulags=extermination camps, Killed own ppl "undesirables" , soviets did this much longer tho .Both suppressed individual thinking , civil rights ,individual freedoms . So yeah ...

[@vultureTX001]

@@Camcolito Molitov-Ribbentrop agreement 1939 says they were on the same page with regard to Poland. both socialists who killed 10+ millions.

[@Camcolito]

@@vultureTX001 The US is on the same page as Saudi Arabia on a whole range of issues. Does that make it a fundamentalist Islamic monarchy?

[@NG-VQ37VHR]

Firing footage was worth a second viewing. 👍🏻

[@anubis432]

I've always wondered how a recoilless rifle worked. Forgotten weapons is the best

[@downhillchris2809]

I'm heartbroken. For once I had a reply that got more than two likes and now it's gone. GONE, I SAY!

[@CThyran]

Same here, my more dakka comment will forever be kill.

[@VonRammsteyn]

Jajajajajajaja... Me too... Gun Jesus gave me a reply and i never get to read it! That's cheating!

[@VonRammsteyn]

Jajajajajajaja... Me too... Gun Jesus gave me a reply and i never get to read it! That's cheating!

[@theterribleanimator1793]

don't worry mate, if he exists you will see him eventually.

[@catlover1986]

I got you to 200

[@bradleym.fhartz2956]

Officer: "Do you have any weapons, knives, anything that's going to harm me?" Me: "I have a destructive device..."

[@robertbeermanjr.2158]

Really Love your presentations. Thank you. I have subscribed

[@tomthx5804]

My uncle was in the army in 1963 and said the worst thing he ever saw during training was when some guy got his head blown clean off when he went behind one of these when it was firing.

[@Mrgunsngear]

very cool

[@1911Thunder]

Also don't forget the M40 106mm recoilless rifle with .50cal spotting rifle.

[@andykilo5167]

1911Thunder had those in 1968 82AB weapons plt. Specially built model M151 with a channel on the rear floor for mounting the gun. The gun mount had a large wheel in the front & the gun was moved into the jeep reminiscent of operating a wheel barrow. The gun was called 106, to differentiate it from 105’s (I believe that it was actually 105). Spotting gun .50 used a cartridge non interchangeable with the .50 BMG. Pop the spotting gun at your target, a hit was very obvious (cartridge was made to display a tell tale indication) immediately fire the main gun before the enemy figures out where the spotting round came from.

[@harveyknguyen]

@@andykilo5167 it was a 105mm cannon, it was just called 106mm because there was already a 105mm recoilless rifle (the M27 i think)

[@aaaaa1957]

Thanks for the great explanation.

[@tmmle7]

Either Ingenious or just plain mad. Madly ingenious.

[@EwalkGT]

Well... I found my carry

[@d.lindsey5583]

In 1968, the jeep mounted 105 had a 30 cal rifle barrel sighting device. See that tank. 1 round of 30 cal tracer. Did it hit the tank? Quick fire the 105 round and Don't miss or you'll get a tank round up your - - - , because, you have just announced your presence with a ping on his armor and his turret is already traversing in your direction. And get the H out of here. because you have just announced your presence to the visible horizon and beyond to all his tanker buddies. The 105 and a tee shirt was not really up to taking on tanks.

[@bradborgelt60]

Interesting how this sort of thing is a commodity to some and to others who have to dig this ordnance up a pain in the ass. The Ft Lewis area in Wa is littered with old 2.35, 3.5 and 75 mm recoil less rounds. I just love 1950 UXOs!

[@davidgreen5099]

Always wondered how those worked. Thanks,Ian

[@chandlermcmahon4984]

I would LOVE to see a video on the AS-VAL, 9x39mm

[@theuncalledfor]

US government: "You can't own an assault rifle." Also US government: "hErE, hAvE aN aCtUaL cAnNoN"

[@theuncalledfor]

@@kiereluurs1243 It's too deep, you wouldn't get it. But no seriously, it's something you do to indicate that something is intended to be stupid, or otherwise has something deeply wrong with it. If I was to assume that you already knew what that way of writing meant, for example, I would conclude that you're making fun of people who don't know, and implying it's an extremely stupid question.

[@JackindaSack]

I like the added firing footage.

[@MaskHysteria]

Thank you Gun Jesus for profiling a recoilless rifle. I have seen sporadic but minimal mention of these weapons over the years and have always wanted to know the history and how they work better.

[@iPervy]

Gotta say, that thing looked a lot smaller then i expected from the thumbnail haha.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

Watching this a second time, it still looks a bit like a portable tank barrel... Massive thing... Too bad it didn't cut it for very long.

[@T3hderk87]

Michael Berthelsen oh, it can still cut it... Can you imagine the havoc this would wreak on your native groundhog infestation?

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

Derek Frankovich I mean, yeah, it would surely get rid of any groundhogs, as well as a majority of your lawn... How much gardening do you feel up for...?😉

[@MrBioniclefan1]

Yeah how ever I would rather own the M18

[@coreyfellows9420]

To be honest I'm not even really that particularly big of a fan of guns however I'm a very curious person and this guy just demonstrates guns on a very educational platform which I find very interesting from a historical sense

[@buckshot4428]

During WWII my Dad was in the Army stationed at Ft. Riley. They used to pack out various equipment on mules and horses (yes) and one was the recoilless rifle trying to determine which was they best way to pack them out.

[@nexus8917]

It turned a jeep into a tank killer, I love it.

[@knutdergroe9757]

Back in the mid 80's a friend/ fellow MARINE was in the last platoon, of M151 jeeps with 105 recoilless rifle. He loved the job..... Looking back, and knowing how dangerous the jeep was.... It is a great job, For 20 year old that does think long enough..... Too understand fear.

[@MayankPrasad111]

In 1965 indo Pakistan war an indian crew with recoilless rifle on Jeep killed 8 Pakistani Sharman tanks.

[@FP194]

CountArtha Actually NATO tactics were to take out command and control cut the head off the snake and the body dies

[@talltroll7092]

@@FP194 Only once ReForGer was complete. The poor bastards on rotation when WWIII started were mostly expected to just throw themselves at the Guards Motor Rifle divisions bearing down on them and slow the Soviet/Pact forces down long enough for the heavy reinforcements to arrive and form up

[@baiatubaiatu2659]

*see thumbnail*: oh a recoilless rifle *video starting*: holy shit this thing bigger than a rocket launcher

[@lagoonlane]

Great video ! I always wondered about these things !

[@RobMcGinley81]

Please do MOAR BIG STUFF like this Ian 👍👍👍

[@dand7196]

how is the powder contained in that perforated shell?

[@kfphillips1]

Dan D in little paper bags.

[@davebell4917]

My recollection is that the ports in the casing are blocked by a metal foil liner, so it's as waterproof as any other fixed round. There are other ways of making a recoilless casing, but there's always some sort of seal that the gas pressure blows out.

[@squireob]

Perfect for home defense!

[@hunter_of_man6613]

And assault!

[@foamer443]

Perfect. Takeout the intruder and burn your house down at the same time!

[@paulgrant7949]

Very informative! Nice work!

[@hellstorme]

I actually had to read up on these when I saw one in the Black-Hawk Down film, had no clue what it was. Looked like a truck-mounted giant RPG, only backwards in operation. It was an interesting read and glad some of these are preserved, shows an interesting adaptation to a difficult problem to solve.

[@rimer82k]

Those sexy Thompson's behind Ian !

[@taggartlawfirm]

It was also important to remember that the driving band on the round was PRE engraved (to keep breech pressure low) so as the A-gunner loaded the round he would give it a little turn until the pre-engraved portion of the driving band slipped into the grooves in the rifling, and you could then chamber the round the rest of the way.

[@miketurley8272]

EXCELLENT! Armory Grand Master !

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

*Thanks for posting this informative video. Liked & subcribed!!!*

[@Reaper4367]

We had these mounted on Land Rovers in Vietnem. Allways loosening every nut and bolt when fired. Lol

[@aighti]

I love this man for multiple reasons, but one of them is his on-the-go conversion from imperial to the far superior metric system

[@kennethquesenberry2610]

Recoilless rifles (at least the 57mm) were in the first edition of "Small Arms of the World," the reference book still being updated. I was stationed in Europe in the mid-60s and Jeep-mounted recoilless rifles were very much still in use. The blast from one being fired was greater than any other weapon I ever saw being fired.

[@rhyandavid2115]

Ok am I the only one that thought this was Megatron’s fusion cannon? Also, always a pleasure to watch you work Ian keep it up!