ENERGA anti - tank rifle grenade The Energa anti - tank rifle grenade is a rifle - launched anti - tank grenade that is propelled by a ballistite - filled blank cartridge . The name " Energa " comes from the firm in Liechtenstein that designed it , the " Anstalt für die ENtwicklung von ERfindungen und Gewerblichen Anwendungen " , based in Vaduz . First produced in the 1950s , by Mecar in Belgium , it was in front - line use by European armies until replaced by disposable tube - launched anti - tank rockets such as the M72 LAW . Although no longer in production , stocks of the grenade still exist and the Energa grenade remains in service with Third World countries . Denel Munition of South Africa manufactured the R1M1 , an improved version of the Energa grenade . The original Energa grenade could penetrate 200 mm ( 7 . 8 inches ) of armor or 500 mm ( 19 . 6 inches ) of concrete at an angle of impact of 90 degrees . At an angle of impact of 45 degrees , the figures dropped to 100 mm ( 3 . 9 inches ) and 250 mm ( 9 . 8 inches ) , respectively . Energa grenades are credited with a fragmentation range of over 90 meters . The " Super Energa " used a rocket booster to extend the grenade ' s range to 550 meters . The Super Energa could penetrate up to 275 mm ( 10 . 8 inches ) of armor and 600 mm ( 23 . 6 inches ) of concrete . US Service . Early in the Korean War , U . S . forces found their World War II - era anti - tank rifle grenades were ineffective against the frontal armor of T - 34 tank s . This led the U . S . to produce their own version of the Energa , the M28 rifle grenade , from 1950 until 1960 . Originally the M28 was fired from Mecar ' s proprietary T119 ( M1 Garand ) and T120 ( M1 Carbine ) launchers . The T119 was soon replaced by the improved M7A3 launcher ( M1 Garand ) from September 1952 onwards . The M29 TP ( Training Practice ) round remained in service until it was replaced in 1961 by the improved M31 TP . The M28 was eventually replaced in US military service by the M31 HEAT rifle grenade and the M72 LAW rocket . UK Service . In British service , the Energa was known as the " Anti - Tank Grenade , No . 94 ( ENERGA ) " . It was designed to be fired from the Projector ( No . 4 Rifle ) Mark 5 ( c . 1952 ) , an attachment for the Lee - Enfield No . 4 Rifle . The later L1A1 Self - Loading Rifle could also fire the Energa , but it was not commonly done . It was made obsolete by the adoption of the 84mm L14A1 Medium Anti - tank Weapon ( MAW ) and the 66mm LAW . The Energa was introduced to infantry units of the British Army of the Rhine from 1952 when it replaced the PIAT . It was issued one per person and attached to the waist belt and fired from the Lee - Enfield No . 4 Rifle . Still in use within some units of the Territorial Army to the early 1960s and fired from the L1A1 Self - loading Rifle . It was also used to train infantry soldiers and junior tradesmen up until the early 1970 ' s and was fired from the hip . South African service . The South African 75mm R1M1 version was used during the South African involvement in Angola during the 1970s and 1980s . It was launched from standard R1 ( FN - FAL ) rifles . Indian service . Indian - trained Bangladeshi Commandos used the Energa during Operation Jackpot References . ( JIW ) Ian Hogg . " Jane ' s Infantry Weapons 1984 - 85 " , London : Jane ' s Publishing Company Ltd . , 1984 .