MAAWS

NOTE: This article is about the Carl Gustav M2/MAAWS in the main ArmA titles. For U.S. military MAAWS launchers in ArmA 3's CSLA Iron Curtain Creator DLC, see MAAWS (CSLA).

The MAAWS (full name: Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System) is an 84 mm rocket launcher featured in ArmA: Cold War Assault, ArmA 2 and ArmA 3.

ArmA: Cold War Assault

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The M2 Carl Gustav is the anti-tank recoilless rifle. The weapon is fitted with iron sights, and it is equipped with a 2 power optical sight with a 17 degree field of view. This is fitted with a temperature correction device, and luminous front and rear adaptors are available for night work. Weapon Description

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Carl Gustav M2
Faction	United States
Type	Rocket Launcher
Calibre	84 mm
Magazine capacity	1
Variants	None
Games

The Carl Gustav M2 is an 84 mm rocket launcher used exclusively by U.S. military forces in ArmA: Cold War Assault.

Overview

The Carl Gustav is a portable, anti-tank recoilless rifle. It is designed to launch unguided 84 mm rockets.

It can load rockets fitted with high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, and has a maximum effective range of approximately ~ 600 metres. The Carl Gustav is equipped with an optical sight that has a magnification strength of 1.5x.

A Soviet T-80 takes a direct hit from the Carl Gustav.

The Carl Gustav serves as the heavy AT weapon counterpart to the lighter M72 LAW rocket launcher used by U.S. forces.

Unlike the M72 LAW, the Carl Gustav's damage output is much greater due to its larger warhead. It can easily destroy Soviet medium tanks like the T-72 in a single hit. Even heavy tanks like the T-80 are not completely safe from the Carl Gustav, and can be disabled from just one rocket; a second will usually outright destroy it.

Its only real downside stems from its excessive weight as rockets occupy up to six inventory slots at once. This in effect restricts the user to firing only one rocket per engagement - assuming that they can't resupply in the field. The M72 LAW on the other hand, only takes up two slots per rocket, and allows the operator to carry up to three while having the same amount of room to spare for their primary weapon (at the cost of each rocket being less powerful).

Nonetheless, its raw firepower more than makes up for this drawback. When used in an entrenched position with a supply crate of rockets nearby, a small group of Carl Gustav operators can bring an enemy tank formation to grinding halt.

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Munitions

Carl Gustav Rocket

The Carl Gustav is only capable of loading one type of rocket. Each rocket requires six free inventory slots:

Damage type	Base damage value
High-Explosive	800

Rockets are always launched with an initial velocity of 30 m/s. They take a further 1.5 seconds to reach a maximum speed of 200 m/s in mid-flight. The warhead itself has a blast radius of 2.5 metres.

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Trivia

• Whilst not technically anachronistic or unauthentic, the M2 model of the Carl Gustav was not actually used in large numbers with conventional U.S. forces during the mid-1980s; contrary to how it is depicted in Cold War Assault.
  • The U.S. military had long since transitioned to using the guided "M47 Dragon" launcher that was first developed in the mid 1970s. Unlike the Carl Gustav, the Dragon was actually employed as the primary heavy anti-tank weapon of U.S. Army infantrymen.
• Despite being completely different weapons, the Carl Gustav shares the same reticle with its Soviet counterpart.

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Gallery

ArmA 2

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The Carl Gustav (US designation MAAWS) is the common name for the 84mm man-portable multi-role recoilless rifle. This weapon was itroduced in 1948 and for that time, it have greatly superior accuracy at longer ranges in comparison with similar anti-tank weapons. All other weapons of that era are long out of service, MAAWS is still widespread used. Armoury Description

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MAAWS
Faction	U.S. Army ACR
Type	Rocket Launcher
Calibre	84 mm
Magazine capacity	1
Variants	None
Games

The MAAWS is an 84 mm rocket launcher used by both the U.S. Army and Czech military forces in ArmA 2. It was added with the release of the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.

Overview

This is a premium asset that requires ownership of the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.

The MAAWS is a portable, anti-tank recoilless rifle that is designed to load and fire unguided 84 mm rockets.

It essentially fills the gap between the U.S. Army's lighter and weaker rocket launchers, while being less bulky and more versatile than its guided ATGM launchers.

Unlike its outdated Cold War-era predecessor, the ArmA 2 MAAWS has the ability to load high-explosive dual purpose (HEDP) munitions in addition to its standard HEAT rockets; with the former's warhead having a larger blast radius that makes it useful against light-medium armoured vehicles as well as groups of infantry.

U.S. Army AT specialist equipped with the MAAWS.

When compared to its USMC counterpart, both it and the MAAWS are fitted with magnified optical scopes (the MAAWS scope has a magnification strength of 3x).

However, the U.S. Army's MAAWS has a slightly higher effective firing range of up to 700 metres as opposed to the approximate 500-550 metre limit of the former.

But like the SMAW, the 84 mm HEAT rocket used by the MAAWS is generally not too effective at taking out the latest Russian-made Main Battle Tanks; the T-90 being a prime example. It is however, sufficient against softer-skinned vehicles like the BTR-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle as well as older, less well-protected MBTs such as the T-72.

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Munitions

The ArmA 2 MAAWS can load and fire two types of rockets. Both require three inventory slots to carry (regardless of warhead type):

HEAT

MAAWS HEAT

Damage type	Base damage value
Kinetic	480

Standard issue rocket. Uses a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.

Comparable to the HEAA rocket used by the SMAW, the MAAWS' HEAT rocket is mostly identical and is designed with piercing through the armour of heavy IFVs in mind. It is also useful for destroying large structures that are armoured or would otherwise be impervious to smaller explosives.

While it still isn't as powerful as dedicated ATGMs like the Javelin, the HEAT rocket still packs more than enough of a punch to destroy anything that isn't a T-90. Since the warhead isn't designed to be used against anything other than vehicles and structures, it has a tiny splash radius that will barely have any effect on a group of infantry targets unless the gunner lands a direct hit.

The HEAT rocket has an effective range of up to 700 metres and an absolute maximum of 900 metres. It has an initial velocity speed of 250 m/s and a top in-flight speed of 750 m/s. The warhead has a blast radius of just 1.2 metres.

HEDP

MAAWS HEDP

Damage type	Base damage value
High-Explosive	150

Uses a high-explosive dual purpose (HEDP) warhead.

Just like the SMAW's HEDP rocket, the warhead for the MAAWS' HEDP rocket is designed to be a multi-role munition that can be used against vehicles and infantry alike. It has a slightly bigger splash radius compared to the regular HEAT rocket, and can be used to bring down non-fortified structures rather quickly after two to three direct (or indirect) hits.

Its penetration power is greatly reduced compared to the regular HEAT rocket, however, so it should not be employed against anything other than light-medium armoured vehicles like the BTR-90 or Vodnik.

HEDP rockets have an effective range of up to 700 metres and an absolute maximum of 900 metres. It has an initial launch velocity of 250 m/s and can reach speeds of up to 750 m/s mid-flight. The warhead has a blast radius of 12 metres.

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Trivia

• Despite being shown as a rather common weapon in ArmA 2, the "M3 MAAWS" in reality was not employed at the platoon level with conventional U.S. Army forces in the early 2010 time period that Operation Arrowhead takes place in.
  • It was only used in limited numbers with select units deployed to Afghanistan, as well as with the 75th Ranger Regiment as a longer ranged counterpart to the disposable "M136" launcher.
  • The MAAWS itself would not actually be approved for deployment at the platoon-level until 2015. The then-latest variant, the enhanced "M3A1" model, remained as the most current up-to-date variant in use (starting in 2018).
• The mid-flight model for its projectiles are not actually MAAWS rounds, but are based on the Russian-made "3M6 Shmel" missile instead. Given that both rounds for the MAAWS have proper "magazine" models when dropped on the ground, it's unclear as to why their in-flight projectiles incorrectly use the wrong model instead.

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Gallery

ArmA 3

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The MAAWS Mk4 (Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System) is the latest member of the originally Swedish-made recoilless rifle family. The Mk4 is lighter, accurate, and more durable than its predecessors. It can fire multiple types of 84mm rounds, with a maximum effective range of 700 meters against static targets. The Mod 1 has a laser rangefinder and integrated night-vision to accurately engage enemy targets at various ranges, at any hour of the day. Field Manual

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MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1
Faction	NATO CTRG LDF
Type	Rocket Launcher
Calibre	84 mm
Magazine capacity	1
Mass	100
Variants	MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0
Games

The MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1 is an 84 mm rocket launcher used by both NATO forces and the Livonian Defense Force, as well as in limited numbers with CTRG operators in ArmA 3. It was added with the release of the Tanks DLC.

Overview

The MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1 is an unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank recoilless rifle that fires 84 mm rockets.

It can load either HEAT 75 high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) or HE 44 high-explosive (HE) rockets. Its optical sight is night vision-capable, and has ballistic markings that are accurate to distances of up to 1,000 metres. The launcher's optical sight cannot be manually zeroed by the operator, but has an integrated laser rangefinder. The front end of the launcher's barrel also has a side rail that supports flashlights and laser pointers.

CTRG Group 15 operative armed with the Mod 1 variant.

Essentially NATO's answer to the CSAT RPG-42, the Mk4 is designed to be a rugged medium anti-tank launcher that can complement the heavier PCML. Compared to its CSAT counterpart, both weigh the same, have almost identical munitions that can be loaded (at least in terms of the types of available), and a similar firepower output.

The main difference with the Mk4 is that it is available in two variants; the older Mod 0 model which is wielded by both the AAF and FIA rebels, and the newer NATO-exclusive Mod 1 model.

While similar to the RPG-42 in many aspects, the Mk4's main advantage lies in its optical sight. The Mod 1 has reticle markers but also utilises a built-in laser rangefinder, which trivialises the need to estimate the distance of a target. Combined with the ability to toggle a night vision mode, this makes the Mk4 one of the most advanced (albeit unguided) AT launchers in-game.

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Variants

MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0

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The MAAWS Mk4 (Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System) is the latest member of the originally Swedish-made recoilless rifle family. The Mk4 is lighter, accurate, and more durable than its predecessors. It can fire multiple types of 84mm rounds, with a maximum effective range of 700 meters against static targets. The Mod 0 uses a simple daytime optical sight. Field Manual

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MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0
Faction	FIA AAF
Type	Rocket Launcher
Calibre	84 mm
Magazine capacity	1
Mass	100
Variants	MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1
Games

The MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0 is simply an older model of the newer Mod 1 launcher. Unlike the NATO-exclusive Mod 1, the Mod 0 is only wielded by AAF troopers and in limited numbers with FIA guerillas.

It is almost identical both visually and performance-wise to the Mod 1 and also loads the same munitions. The most obvious change between the two is the optical sight; the Mod 0's conventionally-designed scope does not possess the advanced fire control system of the Mod 1.

Though the scope's reticle also relies on drop compensation markers (that are accurate up to a distance of 1,000 metres in 200 metre increments), the scope itself does not have a laser rangefinder. This requires the operator to estimate the approximate distance of their targets in order to land a hit, which can be difficult if the target vehicle is moving quickly.

Likewise, it is also incapable of toggling night vision which makes it somewhat inferior to the RPG-42 when bringing it onto missions that take place in low-light conditions.

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Camouflage

• Green (Mod 1)
• Olive (Mod 1)
• Sand (Mod 1)
• Green (Mod 0)
• Olive (Mod 0)
• Sand (Mod 0)

1/6

Both Mod 0 and Mod 1 variants are available in the following finishes:

• Green: Standard ranger green painted tube with black components.
• Olive: Olive green painted tube with matte black components.
• Sand: Desert sand painted tube with black components.

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Munitions

Both variants of the MAAWS Mk4 are capable of loading and firing three types of rockets. The modernised HEAT 75 munition weighs 60 "mass" while its older counterpart (HEAT 55) weighs 50 "mass". Only the anti-infantry HE 44 munition weighs a total of 40 "mass":

HEAT 75

HEAT 75

Warhead	Damage type	Base damage value	Penetration depth (mm)
Primary	High-Explosive	150	N/A
Secondary	Kinetic	495	499.99

Standard-issue anti-armour rocket. Uses a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.

The Mk4's HEAT rocket can inflict the same amount of base damage as the RPG-42's PG-42V grenade. The difference with the Mk4's HEAT is that its splash radius is slightly smaller and also flies significantly faster.

The tandem nature of the shaped charge warhead means that it can be used to some effect against slat cages on armoured vehicles. The initial blast will usually destroy the cage while the penetrator will bypass through to the vehicle's actual armour.

It is still recommended to destroy the cage first with a HE 44 rocket however, so as to maximise the chances of the penetrator successfully cutting through the vehicle's main armour and inflicting more damage.

The HEAT rocket has an effective range of up to 700 metres and an absolute maximum of 1,000 metres. It is always launched with an initial and maximum velocity of 350 m/s. The warhead has a blast radius of 3 metres, whilst the kinetic submunition has a launch velocity of 1,000 m/s and a penetration depth of ~ 499 millimetres.

HE 44

HE 44

Damage type	Base damage value
High-Explosive	200

Anti-personnel munition. Uses a high-explosive (HE) warhead.

Like the RPG-42's TBG-42V grenade, the HE 44 rocket is an anti-personnel munition that lacks a penetrator and can only be used against infantry. Its splash radius is practically identical to that of the TBG-42V and deals the same amount of damage as well.

The main difference is that the Mk4's HE rocket has a greater initial launch velocity speed and will fly much faster post-launch. This lets it strike groups of infantry targets at a distance of up to 1,000 metres (theoretically). However, it should be noted that this still depends on the elevation of the user's current position since the rocket will usually lose most of its velocity after ~ 620 metres.

HE 44 rockets have an effective range of up to 700 metres and a near maximum of 1,000 metres. It has an initial and maximum velocity of 350 m/s. The warhead has a blast radius of 6 metres.

HEAT 55

HEAT 55

Warhead	Damage type	Base damage value	Penetration depth (mm)
Primary	High-Explosive	95	N/A
Secondary	Kinetic	450	400

Alternate anti-armour HEAT-type rocket fitted with a single-stage warhead.

Damage-wise, the HEAT 55 inflicts slightly less damage compared to the modernised HEAT 75 rocket. In all other aspects (i.e. range and velocity) the HEAT 55 remains unchanged, though the kinetic submunition has a lower penetration depth of only 400 millimetres.

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Trivia

• The config name for the Mk4 refers to it as the "MRAWS" rather than as the MAAWS.
• Interestingly, the Mk4 would have (supposedly) made its first appearance in the Apex expansion pack as opposed to the Tanks DLC.
  • Based on the real "M4" model of the Carl Gustav, its model was created by Outsource 2 Us, a third-party artist group based in the Czech Republic.
  • Curiously enough, the image was also removed from the group's ArtStation gallery soon after Apex's official release, though the thumbnail for the M4 still remained on their profile page long afterwards.
• Both variants of the MAAWS Mk4 were added as part of the Tanks DLC. However, they are not considered as premium content and are included as part of the free platform update.
• The MAAWS Mk4 was initially limited to loading the HEAT 75 and HE 44 rockets. The alternate HEAT 55 rocket was only added following the release of the Contact expansion pack.

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Gallery

"M4 Carl Gustav" launcher model originally created by Outsource 2 Us.

External links

• Wikipedia: Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle

See also

Weapons of comparable role and configuration

• AT-4 Spigot (Soviet counterpart, ArmA: CWA only)
• SMAW (USMC counterpart, ArmA 2 only)
• RPG-42 (CSAT counterpart, ArmA 3 only)

United States - Armoury (ArmA: Cold War Assault)
Handguns	92F 9 mm • Glock 17 9 mm • S&W .357
Submachine guns	MP5SD3 9 mm • UZI 9 mm
Carbines	XM-177E2 5.56 mm (XM-177S)
Assault rifles	AUG A1 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 GL)
Sniper rifles	M21 7.62 mm
Machineguns	M60 7.62 mm
Grenade launchers	MM-1
Launchers	Carl Gustav M2 • FIM-92 Stinger • M72 LAW
Static	M2
(Parenthesis) denote variants.

U.S. Army - Armoury (ArmA 2)
Handguns	G17 9 mm • M1911 .45 • M9 9 mm
Submachine guns	PDW 9 mm
Shotguns	M1014
Carbines	Mk16 CQC 5.56 mm
Assault rifles	SCAR series (Mk16, Mk16 EGLM, Mk17, Mk17 EGLM)
Designated marksman rifles	M14 7.62 mm • Mk17 Sniper 7.62 mm
Sniper rifles	M107 .50 • M110 7.62 mm • M24 7.62 mm
Squad automatic weapons	M249 SAW 5.56 mm
Machineguns	Mk 48 Mod 0 7.62 mm • M240 7.62 mm
Grenade launchers	M32 • Mk13
Launchers	FGM-148 Javelin • FIM-92F Stinger • M136 • MAAWS
Static	M2 • M252 • Mk19 • M119A1 • Searchlight • Stinger • TOW
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Operation Arrowhead

ACR - Armoury (ArmA 2)
Handguns	CZ 75 9 mm • G17 9 mm
Submachine guns	CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1 9 mm
Carbines	M4A3 5.56 mm (M4A3 M203)
Assault rifles	CZ 805 BREN A1 5.56 mm (CZ 805 A1 G1, CZ 805 BREN A2, CZ 805 B1 G1) • Sa-58V 7.62 mm (Sa-58P)
Sniper rifles	CZ 750 S1 M1 .308 • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm
Squad automatic weapons	M249 Para 5.56 mm
Machineguns	M60E4 7.62 mm • UK-59 7.62 mm
Launchers	MAAWS • RPG-7V
Static	DShKM • RBS-70
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Operation Arrowhead | Army of the Czech Republic

NATO - Armoury (ArmA 3)
Handguns	4-five .45 • P07 9 mm* • Spectrum Device
Submachine guns	Vermin .45
Carbines	MXC 6.5 mm*
Assault rifles	MX series (MX*, MX 3GL*) • SDAR 5.56 mm • SPAR-16 series* (SPAR-16*, SPAR-16 GL*)
Designated marksman rifles	Mk-I EMR 7.62 mm • MAR-10 .338* • MXM 6.5 mm • SPAR-17 7.62 mm*
Sniper rifles	M320 LRR .408
Squad automatic weapons	MX SW 6.5 mm* • SPAR-16S 5.56 mm*
Machineguns	SPMG .338
Launchers	MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1* • PCML* • Titan MPRL • Titan MPRL Compact
Static	Mk6 Mortar • Mk30 • Mk32 • Remote Designator • Static Titan Launcher (AA, AT)
(Parenthesis) denote variants. * denotes weapons also used or are exclusive to the CTRG sub-faction. Marksmen DLC | Apex DLC | Tanks DLC

AAF - Armoury (ArmA 3)
Handguns	ACP-C2 .45
Submachine guns	PDW2000 9 mm
Carbines	Mk20C 5.56 mm
Assault rifles	Mk20 5.56 mm (Mk20 EGLM) • SDAR 5.56 mm
Designated marksman rifles	Mk18 ABR 7.62 mm
Sniper rifles	GM6 Lynx 12.7 mm
Squad automatic weapons	Mk200 6.5 mm
Launchers	MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0 • PCML • RPG-42 • Titan MPRL • Titan MPRL Compact
Static	M2 • Mk6 Mortar • Mk30 • Mk32 • Static Titan Launcher (AA, AT)
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Apex DLC | Tanks DLC

FIA - Armoury (ArmA 3)
Handguns	ACP-C2 .45
Carbines	TRG-20 5.56 mm
Assault rifles	Mk20 5.56 mm • TRG-21 5.56 mm (TRG-21 EGLM)
Designated marksmen rifles	Mk14 7.62 mm
Squad automatic weapons	Mk200 6.5 mm
Launchers	MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0 • RPG-42
Static	M2 • Mk6 Mortar
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Marksmen DLC | Apex DLC | Tanks DLC

LDF - Armoury (ArmA 3)
Handguns	4-five .45
Submachine guns	ADR-97 5.7 mm
Assault rifles	Promet series (Promet, Promet GL, Promet SG)
Designated marksman rifles	Promet MR 6.5 mm
Squad automatic weapons	Mk200 6.5 mm
Launchers	MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1 • PCML • Titan MPRL • Titan MPRL Compact
Static	M2 • Mk6 Mortar • Mk30 • Mk32 • Static Titan Launcher (AA, AT)
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Apex DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC