Yasin (RPG) | |
---|---|
Type | Anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade |
Place of origin | Palestine |
Service history | |
In service | August 3, 2004 [1]–Present |
Used by | |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | Adnan al-Ghoul |
Designed | Believed to be in 2004 |
Manufacturer | Al-Qassam Brigades ( Hamas) |
Produced | 2004–present |
Specifications | |
Mass | 7 kg (15 lb) [2] |
Length | 95 cm (37") [2] |
Crew | 1 or 2 |
Caliber | 40 mm (1.57") rocket engine ; 85mm warhead [2] |
Muzzle velocity | 295 m/s [2] |
Effective firing range | 300 m [2] |
Sights | Iron or telescopic sights. |
The Yasin ( Arabic: ياسين), also known as Yassin, [2] or Al-Yassin, [3] is an anti-tank weapon derived from the RPG-7 produced by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and first deployed in 2004. [4] It was named after Hamas' spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yasin, killed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on March 22, 2004. [2]
Primarily used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, [5] it has also been deployed by other Hamas units in Gaza, including the Executive Force, [6] and Naval Police. [7] Other users include fighters connected to Fatah and the PFLP. [2]
Although intended as an anti-tank weapon, the first version of the Yasin was chiefly operated against soft-skin vehicles and personnel. Later models like The Yasin 105 have larger warheads that Palestinian militants claim can penetrate Merkava tanks. [8][ dubious ][ unreliable source?]
Unveiled on August 30, 2004, [1] the Yasin was reportedly developed by Hamas engineers from the Research and Industry Unit, [9] directed by Adnan al-Ghoul, killed in Gaza by the IDF on October 22, 2004. [2]
First used against Israeli soldiers in 2005, [10] after the 2006 Lebanon War, production was accelerated in anticipation of an armed conflict with Israel. [11] During the 2006 Gaza conflict, there were reports of its use against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, [12] as well as at Beit Lahiya. [13] On August 14, 2007, Hamas reported firing a Yasin at an Israeli tank in Khan Yunis. [14] During the Gaza War, Hamas Naval Police officers were reportedly trained in its use. [7]
In 2018, Israeli intelligence claimed Yasin warheads were being converted into as balloon-based IEDs, since improvements to the armor used by Israeli military vehicles made them obsolete in their primary role. [10]
The Yasin's design was influenced by the RPG-2 and RPG-7, [2] made in Gaza. [15] From the former, it used the rocket launcher tube design and the warhead's external shape and rocket motor which are very simple. [2] From the latter, it copied the enhanced warhead and the divergent nozzle at the launcher's rear to deflect recoil generated by launching the rocket with a rocket booster attached to the propelled grenade to extend its range. [2] The large cone at the back end of the Yasin launcher is thus typical of the RPG-7. [3]
The RPG is reported to be made in small underground workshops, with an explosive filler made from molten TNT and powdered ammonium nitrate. [16] While it has a claimed effective range of 300 meters, the Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center suggests between 200 and 250 meters. [17]
According to fighters from Popular Resistance Committees's Saladin brigades, the Yasin was able to take down a Merkava Mk. 3 on an undisclosed date by firing it at a weak point. [2][ dubious ] However, it is more effective in urban warfare, able to destroy brick walls and penetrate a 21 cm steel plate from 150 meters, [2] although the ITIC suggests 200 mm (20 cm). [17]
Continued efforts to upgrade the Hamas-made RPG rocket to penetrate protective armor lead to the development of the more recent "Tandem 85" rocket, using a tandem-charge system designed to be more effective against reactive armor, [10] followed by the more recent yet "Yasin 105" rocket. The Yasin 105 is reported to have first seen action during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. [18] [19]
Yasin (RPG) | |
---|---|
Type | Anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade |
Place of origin | Palestine |
Service history | |
In service | August 3, 2004 [1]–Present |
Used by | |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | Adnan al-Ghoul |
Designed | Believed to be in 2004 |
Manufacturer | Al-Qassam Brigades ( Hamas) |
Produced | 2004–present |
Specifications | |
Mass | 7 kg (15 lb) [2] |
Length | 95 cm (37") [2] |
Crew | 1 or 2 |
Caliber | 40 mm (1.57") rocket engine ; 85mm warhead [2] |
Muzzle velocity | 295 m/s [2] |
Effective firing range | 300 m [2] |
Sights | Iron or telescopic sights. |
The Yasin ( Arabic: ياسين), also known as Yassin, [2] or Al-Yassin, [3] is an anti-tank weapon derived from the RPG-7 produced by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and first deployed in 2004. [4] It was named after Hamas' spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yasin, killed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on March 22, 2004. [2]
Primarily used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, [5] it has also been deployed by other Hamas units in Gaza, including the Executive Force, [6] and Naval Police. [7] Other users include fighters connected to Fatah and the PFLP. [2]
Although intended as an anti-tank weapon, the first version of the Yasin was chiefly operated against soft-skin vehicles and personnel. Later models like The Yasin 105 have larger warheads that Palestinian militants claim can penetrate Merkava tanks. [8][ dubious ][ unreliable source?]
Unveiled on August 30, 2004, [1] the Yasin was reportedly developed by Hamas engineers from the Research and Industry Unit, [9] directed by Adnan al-Ghoul, killed in Gaza by the IDF on October 22, 2004. [2]
First used against Israeli soldiers in 2005, [10] after the 2006 Lebanon War, production was accelerated in anticipation of an armed conflict with Israel. [11] During the 2006 Gaza conflict, there were reports of its use against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, [12] as well as at Beit Lahiya. [13] On August 14, 2007, Hamas reported firing a Yasin at an Israeli tank in Khan Yunis. [14] During the Gaza War, Hamas Naval Police officers were reportedly trained in its use. [7]
In 2018, Israeli intelligence claimed Yasin warheads were being converted into as balloon-based IEDs, since improvements to the armor used by Israeli military vehicles made them obsolete in their primary role. [10]
The Yasin's design was influenced by the RPG-2 and RPG-7, [2] made in Gaza. [15] From the former, it used the rocket launcher tube design and the warhead's external shape and rocket motor which are very simple. [2] From the latter, it copied the enhanced warhead and the divergent nozzle at the launcher's rear to deflect recoil generated by launching the rocket with a rocket booster attached to the propelled grenade to extend its range. [2] The large cone at the back end of the Yasin launcher is thus typical of the RPG-7. [3]
The RPG is reported to be made in small underground workshops, with an explosive filler made from molten TNT and powdered ammonium nitrate. [16] While it has a claimed effective range of 300 meters, the Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center suggests between 200 and 250 meters. [17]
According to fighters from Popular Resistance Committees's Saladin brigades, the Yasin was able to take down a Merkava Mk. 3 on an undisclosed date by firing it at a weak point. [2][ dubious ] However, it is more effective in urban warfare, able to destroy brick walls and penetrate a 21 cm steel plate from 150 meters, [2] although the ITIC suggests 200 mm (20 cm). [17]
Continued efforts to upgrade the Hamas-made RPG rocket to penetrate protective armor lead to the development of the more recent "Tandem 85" rocket, using a tandem-charge system designed to be more effective against reactive armor, [10] followed by the more recent yet "Yasin 105" rocket. The Yasin 105 is reported to have first seen action during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. [18] [19]