View source for LRAC F1

{{Infobox weapon
|name=LRAC F1
| image= LRAC F1-detoured-croped.png
| image_size = 300
|caption=An LRAC launch tube 
|origin= France
|type=[[Shoulder-launched missile weapon]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
|is_explosive=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|used_by=See ''[[LRAC F1#Users|Users]]''
|wars=[[South African Border War]]<br>[[Angolan Civil War]]<br>[[Lebanese Civil War]]<br>[[Operation Serval]]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=Société technique de recherches en industries mécaniques<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.avas.free.fr/aventure/militaire/missiles%20tactiques/mt%2045%2058/mt%20ch%2003.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205052639/http://www.avas.free.fr/aventure/militaire/missiles%20tactiques/mt%2045%2058/mt%20ch%2003.htm|url-status=dead|title=De 1945 à 1958 : La création de l'industrie missilière|archive-date=December 5, 2013}}</ref>
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Saint-Etienne the launcher and Luchaire SA the rocket projectile
|production_date=
|number=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight={{convert|5|kg|abbr=on}}, with sights <ref name="TTA">[http://www.ftbe.be/pdf/TTA150_Titre15.pdf TTA 150] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011183913/http://www.ftbe.be/pdf/TTA150_Titre15.pdf |date=2010-10-11 }}, p. 63</ref>
|length={{convert|1.17|m|yd|abbr=on}} <ref name="TTA" />
|crew=2
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=
|caliber={{convert|89|mm|abbr=on}}
|action=
|rate=3 to 4 rounds per minute
|velocity={{convert|295|m/s|abbr=on}}
|range={{convert|300|to|500|m|yd|abbr=on}} <ref name="TTA" />
|max_range={{convert|2300|m|yd|abbr=on}} (at 45° angle)
|feed=
|sights=APX M 290 and passive night telescope
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
|diameter=
|filling=
|filling_weight=
|detonation=
|yield=
}}
{{externalimage
|topic=LRAC F1 STRIM
|width=
|float=right
|image1=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/STRIM/STRIM.jpg LRAC F1 Early Photo]
|image2=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/STRIM/STRIM-AC300.jpg LRAC F1 with Rocket Projectile (top) AC300 Jupiter (bottom)]<ref>note - AC300 Jupiter was a mid 1980s development of MBB of Germany and Luchaire of France where a [[MILAN|MILAN 2]] warhead was mounted to an [[Armbrust]] launcher, but never placed in production</ref>
|image3=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/STRIM/STRIM-DETAILS.jpg Details of LRAC F1]
|image4=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/STRIM/STRIM-ROCKET.jpg Cut-Away of 89mm antitank rocket]
|image5=[http://ordatamines.maic.jmu.edu/images/F0849U01.jpg Drawing of antitank rocket and storage/launcher container]
}}

The '''LRAC F1''', officially called ''Lance-Roquettes AntiChar de 89&nbsp;mm modèle F1'' (89&nbsp;mm anti-tank rocket launcher model F1), is a French reusable [[Shoulder-launched missile weapon|rocket launcher]] developed by Luchaire Défense SA, and manufactured in cooperation with Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de [[Saint-Étienne]] and was, in the 1970s, marketed by [[Hotchkiss et Cie|Hotchkiss-Brandt]].<ref>Luchaire produces the different rocket projectiles for the LRAC F1 and Manufacture Nationale-d'Armes de Saint Etienne the launcher - both firms are now part of GIAT Industries</ref>

It replaced the 89&nbsp;mm [[Bazooka#Rocket Launcher.2C M20 .22Super Bazooka.22|M20A1 Super Bazooka]] in [[French Army]] service. Through the use of fiberglass and plastic in the launcher it is over {{convert|2|kg|abbr=on}} lighter when loaded than the M20A1, while having a greater effective range.  The LRAC F1 is sometimes referred to as the '''STRIM''' 89mm antitank rocket launcher from the abbreviations for the private firm ''Société technique de recherches en industries mécaniques'' that was contracted in 1964 by the French ministry of defence, to research a replacement for the M20A1 Super Bazooka.

==History==
[[File:LracF1greeksfland.jpg|thumb|Greek special forces personnel aiming an LRAC F1 during an exercise]]

In the early 1970s, two antitank weapons were placed in production for evaluation by the French Army to replace the M20A1: the 80 mm ACL-APX, a recoilless cannon with a rocket-assisted projectile, and the 89&nbsp;mm LRAC F1 STRIM rocket launcher.  The STRIM design was chosen as the replacement for the M20A1 based on the higher penetration ability of its antitank ammunition and the much lower overall manufacturing costs compared to the 80 mm ACL-APX system.<ref name="Jane_IW_1976">{{cite book|editor=Archer, Denis H R|title=Jane's Infantry Weapons (Second Edition) 1976 |year=1976 |pages=576–578 |publisher= Macdonald and Jane's |location=London |isbn=978-0354005319 }}</ref><ref>The sight developed for the ACL-APX was adopted for the LRAC F1.</ref>

==Operation==
The launcher is normally operated by a crew of two, a loader and a gunner. The launcher is loaded by attaching a rocket container to the rear of the launcher. When the container is attached, the electrical firing circuit is connected. The rocket container is {{convert|626|mm|abbr=on}} long and weighs approximately {{convert|3.2|kg|abbr=on}}. On the left side of the launcher is a 3× APX M 309 optical sight, which is graduated between {{convert|100|and|1000|m|yd|abbr=on}}. The launcher has a shoulder rest and left hand forward grip, both of which may be adjusted to suit the firer. The right hand pistol grip contains a mechanical safety switch and the firing mechanism. When the safety is off, pulling the trigger generates a charge which fires the rocket.
[[File:LracF1greeksfsea.jpg|thumb|Greek special forces personnel aiming an LRAC F1 during an amphibious exercise]]
The watertight rear plug of the rocket container is removed just before firing, which closes the firing circuit and allows the rocket to be fired. The rocket is propelled by a large number of long sticks of tubular propellant that produce a constant pressure while burning, providing constant acceleration. The engine burns out before the rocket leaves the launcher at a velocity of approximately {{convert|300|m/s|abbr=on}}. As soon as the rocket leaves the launcher, nine fins fold backwards from the rear. These fins provide stability for the rocket while it is in flight. There are two safeties.  The first is a bore-riding pin located mid-body of the projectile that blocks the warhead firing circuit.  After the projectile leaves the tube, the bore-riding pin falls out releasing the second safety which prevents detonation until the rocket has traveled at least {{convert|10|m|yd|abbr=on}} from the launcher. The rocket reaches a range of {{convert|330|m|yd|abbr=on}} in about 1.25 seconds, and {{convert|360|m|yd|abbr=on}} in 1.36 seconds.

The rocket itself weighs {{convert|2.2|kg|abbr=on}} and has an {{convert|89|mm|abbr=on}} diameter [[HEAT|shaped charge]] [[warhead]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/BB04+-+LRAC.html|title=LRAC|website=Weaponsystems.net}}</ref> The warhead can penetrate {{convert|400|mm|abbr=on}} of armour or one metre of concrete at 0 angle impact of the armour plating,<ref name="TTA" /> and is capable of penetrating [[NATO targets|NATO single heavy, double medium and double heavy targets]] while still having enough energy to penetrate multiple {{convert|10|mm|yd|abbr=on}} thick steel witness plates.<ref>''Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991–1992'' gives detail of the penetration as a single heavy target at 65 degrees from the horizontal followed by seven 10 millimetre witness plates, a double heavy target followed by four witness plates, and a double medium target followed by eight witness plates.</ref><ref>Luchaire, in the mid-1980s, developed a new antitank rocket that had the astonishing penetration of {{convert|600|mm|abbr=on}} of armour plating.  However, it was not placed in production, as that was still insufficient to defeat the Russian T-62/T-72 main battle tanks in a frontal engagement</ref>
[[Image:LRAC Lebanon.jpg|thumb|A French soldier holding a LRAC F1 in 1983.]]
After firing, the rocket container is removed, and a fresh one is inserted. The launcher has a life of approximately 130 firings, after which the optical sight is removed and the launcher is discarded. The optical sight can then be fitted to a fresh launcher.

A number of other rockets were developed for the launcher, including a dual purpose anti-personnel-anti-vehicle rocket with a warhead containing 1,600 steel balls along with a smaller [[HEAT]] antiarmour warhead. The steel balls have a lethal radius of approximately {{convert|20|m|yd|abbr=on}} and the shaped charge is capable of penetrating up to {{convert|100|mm|in|abbr=on}} of steel plating. A smoke round was developed, that produces smoke for approximately 35 seconds; and an illumination round that produces 300,000 [[candela]] for 30 seconds.

==Service Use==
Besides the [[French Army]] and the [[Hellenic Army]], numerous other armies have the LRAC F1 in service, especially former French colonies in Africa.  During the French intervention in Lebanon in 1982-83, many journalists in error reported the LRAC F1 as being the [[MILAN]] wire guided antitank missile.

Since 2008, the Swedish [[AT4]]-CS (confined space) individual antitank weapon and the 600 m range [[Eryx (missile)|Eryx]] wire-guided anti-tank missile have been replacing the LRAC F1 as the standard French military's short range and ultra-short range anti-tank and assault weapon. However, a few LRACs were used during [[Operation Serval]] in 2013.<ref name="Serval">{{cite magazine|title=Infantry units fires during OP Serval|first=Thibault |last=Capdeville|pages=55–58|url=https://www.irsem.fr/data/files/irsem/documents/document/file/578/fantassins_32.pdf|magazine=Fantassins |issue=32|date=Spring 2014}}</ref>

==Users==
*{{flag|Benin}}<ref name="Shea2010">{{cite magazine|title=LRAC F1: 89mm Shoulder Fired Launcher|first=Dan|last=Shea|magazine=Small Arms Review|volume=13|issue=5|date=February 2010|url=http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1076|access-date=2018-12-12|archive-date=2019-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018030618/http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1076|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Burkina Faso}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Cameroon}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Cape Verde}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Chad}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Autour du Tchad en guerre: Tractations politiques et diplomatiques 1975 - 1990|first=Ahmad|last= Allam-Mi|language=fr|pages=328, 367|publisher=[[L'Harmattan]]|date=April 2014|isbn=978-2-343-03157-6}}</ref><ref name="Shea2010"/>
*{{flag|Central African Republic}}:<ref name="Shea2010"/> 100 received in 1981-1983<ref name ='SAS 2005'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109192749/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2010|chapter-url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2005/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2005-Chapter-11-EN.pdf|chapter=The Central African Republic: A Case Study of Small Arms and Conflict|title=Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2005|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|page=315|isbn=978-0-19-928085-8}}</ref>
* {{flag|Djibouti}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Gabon}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
*{{GRE}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}<ref>{{cite book|title=South-East Asian Special Forces|series=Elite 33|first=Kenneth |last=Conboy|date= 24 Jan 1991 |isbn=9781855321069|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|page=24}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ivory Coast}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
*{{flag|France}}
*{{flag|Kurdistan}}<ref>{{cite news|title=France sends new military aid shipments to Kurdistan|url=http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/87713004-32c2-42ee-8877-56221b786c42/France-sends-new-military-aid-shipments-to-Kurdistan-|access-date=17 August 2017|publisher=Kurdistan24|date=15 June 2016}}</ref>
*{{flag|Madagascar}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Morocco}}<ref>{{cite book|title = After The Storm: The Changing Military Balance in the Middle East|year = 2016|author =Anthony Cordesman|author-link =Anthony Cordesman|publisher = Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn =978-1-4742-9257-3|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=E3fqDAAAQBAJ&q=AMX-13+polisario&pg=PA112|page = 112}}</ref><ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Niger}}<ref>{{cite web|title=World Infantry Weapons: Niger|url=https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_niger|date=2007–2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124203932/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_niger|archive-date=24 November 2016}}</ref>
* {{flag|Nigeria}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Senegal}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Togo}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Tunisia}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>
* {{flag|Zaire}}<ref name="Shea2010"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book
  | last = Suermondt
  | first = Jan
  | title = Illustrated Guide to Combat Weapons
  | publisher = Grange Books
  | year = 2004
  | location = Kent
  | page = 10  }}
*{{cite book
  | last = Hogg
  | first = Ian
  | title = Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991–1992
  | publisher = Jane's Information Group
  | year = 1991
  | pages = 370–372
  }}

{{commons category|LRAC F1}}

{{Current French infantry weapons}}

[[Category:Anti-tank rockets]]
[[Category:Weapons of France]]
[[Category:Cold War weapons of France]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s]]