Carl Gustav recoilless rifle The Carl Gustav ( also Carl - Gustaf and M2CG ; pronounced " Carl Gustaf " ) is a 84 mm man - portable reusable multi - role recoilless rifle produced by Saab Bofors Dynamics ( formerly Bofors Anti - Armour AB ) in Sweden . The first prototype of the Carl Gustaf was produced in 1946 , and while similar weapons of the era have generally disappeared , the Carl Gustaf remains in widespread use today . In its country of origin it is officially named " Grg m / 48 " ( " Granatgevär " or grenade rifle , model 48 ) . British troops refer to it as the " Charlie G " , while Canadian troops often refer to it as the " 84 " , " Carl G " or " Carlo " . In U . S . military service it is known as the " M3 Multi - role Anti - armor Anti - tank Weapon System " ( " MAAWS " ) or " Ranger Antitank Weapons System " ( " RAWS " ) , but is often called " the Gustav " or " the Goose " or simply the " Carl Johnson " by U . S . soldiers . In Australia it is irreverently known as " Charlie Gusto " or " Charlie Gutsache " ( gut s ache , slang for stomach pain ) . History . The Carl Gustav was developed by Hugo Abramson and Harald Jentzen at the Royal Swedish Arms Administration ( KAFT ) and produced at Carl Gustav Stads Gevärsfaktori from where it derives its name . The weapon was first introduced into Swedish service in 1948 as the " 8 , 4 cm Granatgevär m / 48 " ( Grg m / 48 ) , filling the same anti - tank role as the U . S . Army ' s Bazooka , British PIAT and German Panzerschreck . Unlike these weapons , however , the Carl Gustav used a rifled barrel for spin - stabilizing its rounds , as opposed to fins used by the other systems . The use of the recoilless firing system allowed the Carl Gustav to use ammunition containing considerably more propellant , firing its rounds at 290 m / s , as opposed to about 105 m / s for the Panzerschreck and Bazooka and about 75 m / s for the PIAT . The result was superior accuracy at longer ranges . The Carl Gustav can be used to attack larger stationary targets at up to 700 m , but the relatively low speed of the projectile restricts attacks on moving targets to a range of 400 m or less . The Carl Gustav was soon sold around the world and became one of the primary squad - level anti - tank weapons for many West European armies . An improved version ( M2 ) was introduced in 1964 and quickly replaced the original version . The current M3 version was introduced in 1991 , using a thin steel liner containing the rifling , strengthened by a carbon fiber outer sleeve . External steel parts were replaced with aluminium alloys or plastics , reducing the empty weapon weight considerably — from 16 . 35 kg to 10 kg . In recent years , the weapon has found new life in a variety of roles . The British Special Air Service , United States Special Forces and United States Army Rangers use M3s in bunker - busting and anti - vehicle roles , while the German Bundeswehr maintains a small number of M2s for battlefield illumination . Many armies continue to use it as a viable anti - armor weapon , especially against 1950s - and 1960s - era tank s and other armored vehicles still in use worldwide . In a well - documented incident during the Falklands War , a Royal Marine attacked an Argentinian corvette ( ARA Guerrico ) using a Carl Gustav . The Carl Gustav was used against Taliban defensive fortifications by soldiers of Princess Patricia ' s Canadian Light Infantry in operations in Afghanistan . They developed a new system for firing at night in which a spotter with a night - scope fires tracer ammunition to mark the target for the Carl Gustav gunner . Carl Gustav launchers were used by Free Libyan Army during the Libyan civil war in 2011 ; the weapons being used were either captured or provided by defecting members of the Libyan Army . In November 2011 , the U . S . Army began ordering the M3 MAAWS for regular units deployed in Afghanistan . Soldiers were being engaged with RPGs at 900 meters , while their light weapons had effective ranges of 500 – 600 meters . The Carl Gustaf allows airburst capability of troops in defilade out to 1 , 250 meters , and high explosive use out to 1 , 300 meters . While the weapon provides enhanced effectiveness , its 21 pound weight burdens troops . On 28 March 2013 , USSOCOM announced a call for sources to develop a kit to lighten the M3 MAAWS . A minimum of 3 lbs must be cut , with a desired reduction of 5 lbs . A 3 inch reduction in overall length is also sought . The reductions must not affect the weapon ' s center of gravity or ruggedness , including air delivery and salt water submersion . A kit with production configuration is to be delivered within 16 months . Saab has developed a weight - reduced version prior to the SOCOM release . It weighs approximately 15 lbs and is 2 inches shorter . Live fire tests have demonstrated no decrease in performance , no increase in recoil , and nearly equivalent barrel life . It will be ready for government testing in 2014 . Saab has also developed a new high explosive round that has a direct fire range of 1500 meters when using a fire control system . Description . The basic weapon consists of the main tube with the breech - mounted Venturi recoil damper , with two grips near the front and a shoulder mount . The weapon is fitted with iron sight s , but is normally aimed with the attached 3x optical sight with a 17 degree ( 300 mrad ) field of view . The most modern variants fielded to Swedish rifle companies have been fitted with the Swedish aimpoint sighting system . Luminous front and rear sight inserts are available for the iron sights when aiming at night , and an image intensification system may also be used . The Carl Gustav can be fired from the standing , kneeling , sitting or prone positions , and a bipod may be attached in front of the shoulder piece . An operating handle called the " Venturi lock " is used to move the hinged breech to one side for reloading . The weapon is normally operated by a two - man crew , one carrying and firing the weapon , the other carrying ammunition and reloading . M3 MAAWS . The M3 Multi - role Anti - armor Anti - tank Weapon System ( MAAWS ) is the U . S . military designation for the Carl Gustaf M3 recoilless rifle . It is primarily used by USSOCOM forces such as the Army Special Forces , 75th Ranger Regiment , Navy SEALS , Delta Force , DEVGRU and MARSOC . When in use with the 75th Ranger Regiment it is known as the Ranger Anti - tank Weapons System ( RAWS ) . In the late 1980s , the Special Operations Forces Modernization Action Plan indicated need for a Ranger Anti - Armor / Anti - Personnel Weapon System ( RAAWS ) to replace the M67 recoilless rifle in use by the 75th Ranger Regiment . A market survey in 1987 indicated that the Carl Gustaf M3 was the best candidate for satisfying RAAWS requirements . On 29 September 1988 , the M3 was selected as the RAAWS from candidate proposals submitted in response to the market survey compiled by ARDEC . A subsequent review of the contractor - supplied fatigue test data determined that the data did not meet U . S . Army requirements . Benét Laboratories conducted fatigue test of 2 tubes to establish an interim safe service life for the weapon . Tests were conducted in 1993 . The manufacturer ’ s recommended life for the weapon was 500 rounds , but bore surfaces showed no indications of erosion until 2 , 360 rounds . The U . S . Navy SEALs became interested in the program and moved it to a Joint Integrated Product Team . The program name subsequently changed from the RAAWS to the Multi - Role Anti - Armor / Anti - Personnel Weapon System ( MAAWS ) . The M3 MAAWS fires the following ammunition : In late 2012 , the Army fielded 58 M3s and 1 , 500 rounds of ammunition to units deployed to Afghanistan to destroy enemy targets out to 1 , 000 meters . This was because RPG and machine gun teams could attack 900 meters away , while existing weaponry like the M141 Bunker Defeat Munition , M72 LAW , M136 AT - 4 and MK153 SMAW had effective ranges of only 500 meters . The AT - 4 is lighter and cheaper but is made of reinforced fiberglass , while the M3 ' s rifled metal / carbon fiber launch tube allows for reloading . Employing the 22 lb M3 is easier than the 50 lb FGM - 148 Javelin with its launcher with missile and reusable command launch unit , is faster than waiting on mortars , and is cheaper than the Javelin and artillery shells for engaging targets in hard cover . Ammunition . Improvements to the ammunition have been continual . While the older HEAT rounds are not particularly effective against modern tank armor , the weapon has found new life as a bunker - buster with an HEDP round . In addition , improved HEAT , high explosive ( HE ) , smoke and illumination ( star shell or flare ) ammunition is also available . For full effectiveness , illumination rounds have to be fired at a very high angle , creating a danger for the gunner as the backblast from firing can burn him . For this reason several armies have retired the illumination rounds , while the U . S . Army requires that they be fired from a standing position . Note that the following are Canadian designations ( other countries use similar terminology , replacing the " FFV " )