Shoulder - fired missile A shoulder - fired missile , shoulder - launched missile or man - portable missile is a projectile fired at a target , small enough to be carried by a single person , and fired while held on one ' s shoulder . The word missile in this context is used in its original broad sense which encompasses all guided missiles and unguided rockets . In many instances , although not technically defining all shoulder - fired missiles , the name Bazooka is used as an informal name regularly , although the actual Bazooka is a type of original shoulder - fired missile in its own right . Types . There are two kinds of shoulder launched weapons . The first is the recoilless gun , which is essentially an open tube . When fired the reaction gases ( with a momentum equal to the projectile ) expelled out of the back of the weapon compensate the force exerted on the projectile . The other type is the rocket - propelled grenade ; these typically also use a small recoilless charge or compressed gas system to get the projectile out of the barrel and to a distance where the operator will not be hurt by the rocket ' s backblast ; when the rocket ignites at a safe distance , it further accelerates the projectile or at least keeps it from decelerating in its trajectory . Shoulder launched weapons may be guided or unguided . Missiles can either have a disposable launcher ( e . g . M72 ) , or a reusable launcher ( RPG - 7 ) . Roles . Shoulder launched weapons typically fire at one of two main target types - ground targets or air targets . Weapons for use against ground targets come in a wide variety of types and sizes , with smaller , unguided weapons generally used for close range combat and larger , guided systems for longer ranges . Most of these weapons are primarily designed for anti - tank warfare , although they are also effective against structures and a number of weapons have been designed specifically for such targets . Anti - aircraft weapons , known as man - portable air - defense systems ( MANPADS ) , are small surface - to - air missile s . They are typically infrared homing weapons and used to target helicopter s and other low - flying aircraft . History . Rocket - based weapons have a long history , from the black powder fire arrow s used by the ancient Chinese to the Congreve rocket referenced in " The Star - Spangled Banner , " the national anthem of the United States . They have always been prized for the portability of their launch systems . The earliest rocket launchers documented in imperial China launched fire arrow s with launchers constructed of wood , basketry , and bamboo tubes . The rocket launchers divided the fire arrows with frames meant to keep the arrows separated , and were capable of firing multiple arrow rockets at once . Textual evidence and illustrations of various early rocket launchers are found in the 11th century Southern Song Dynasty text " Wujing Zongyao " . The " Wujing Zongyao " describes a portable rocket arrow carrier consisting of a sling and a bamboo tube . Shoulder - launched rockets have a launch tube . In order to prevent the user from being burned by the exhaust , the rocket ( or at least its first stage ) must burn out before it leaves the tube , and if present the second stage must fire once the rocket is well clear of the launcher . Even if the operator is safe , there is a sizeable blast effect to their rear . Also , the rocket must have a reliable ignition system . In modern systems , this is almost always a percussion cap . This system was not fully developed until the German Panzerfaust of World War II , an early one - shot design that however also was the first practical recoilless antitank - gun and thus used no rocket . The Bazooka was an early rocket - propelled development which could be reloaded . Usage . From their first conception during the First World War , many portable missiles have been used to give infantry a weapon effective against armored vehicles and fortified structures . The power of the shaped charge meant that the effectiveness of the weapon was not limited by a gun barrel bore nor size of weapon as for example a conventional armor - piercing shell from an artillery piece . As such these man - portable weapons could be used to equip infantry units with their own anti - tank and anti - aircraft weapons . Shoulder - launched rockets or recoilless guns are a favored anti - technical weapon . They permit otherwise lightly or poorly armed troops ( e . g . militia s ) to destroy modern sophisticated equipment such as close air - support aircraft , helicopters , and lightly armored vehicles . Attacks come from ambush for the element of surprise and attempt to immobilize a convoy of vehicles , then destroy its defenders , then destroy its contents , then escape before air or artillery support can arrive . Normally , the militia will plan to have two to four shooters per attacked vehicle . Reliable attack ranges are 50 to 100 m , although attacks can succeed out to 300 m . Self destruct ranges of common rocket weapons such as RPG - 7 s are about 900 m . The usual response to such attacks is to suppress the shooters , with saturation anti - personnel fire , artillery or aerial barrages in area - denial attacks . Submunition and thermobaric weapon s are often used to clear landing zones ( LZ ) for helicopters . In modern counter - insurgency operations in misty , dusty or night - time situations , advanced optics such as infrared telescopes permit helicopter gunships to observe convoys from beyond human - visible range and still attack insurgents with inexpensive anti - personnel fire . This approach is more economical than area - denial . Protecting as little as 20 % of the convoys rapidly depletes an area of active insurgents .