Ukraine Obliterates Russian Tanks With Carl Gustaf Anti-Tank Attack Weapon

By Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor

What makes the Carl Gustaf special? 

In late February, Swedish manufacturer Saab announced that it expected to increase its ground combat weapons portfolio dramatically in the upcoming years.

CEO Micael Johansson detailed that “In the context of how we have doubled capacity from one year to the next at our Swedish [production] sites…and by 2025 we will have doubled capacity again, then it will be possible to generate 400,000 units from our sites per year,” during a financial results media briefing.

In addition to the Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon systems (NLAW) and AT4, a shipment of Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles are included in that 400,000 figure. As a real supergun, the Gustaf can take out bunkers, thinly-armored personnel carriers and even enemy battle tanks.

This combined rifle and rocket launcher has certainly become a weapon of choice for Ukrainian forces.

Where did the Carl Gustaf “supergun” come from?

Although officially titled the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (MWAAS), the powerful rifle is referred to by many nicknames across the globe. Carl Gustaf is the rifle’s frequently used name in the U.S., while British troops call it Carl G.

The weapon was originally developed in the late 1940’s for the Royal Swedish Army Material Association by the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktor (hence the nickname).