• DefinitelyNotAPhone [he/him]
        ·
        9 months ago

        ...wait, can those things not be reloaded? Did the US MIC seriously make the antitank equivalent of a disposable razor? lea-huh

        • Barabas [he/him]
          ·
          9 months ago

          No, they buy it from Sweden. It is the low cost alternative to the reusable ones. Also easier to use due to the lower weight.

          China and the Soviet Union also use/used disposable anti tank weapons, before everyone gets on their high horses about capitalist inefficiency.

        • wopazoo [he/him]
          ·
          edit-2
          9 months ago

          Only designing for a single use lets it be much more lightweight, durable, and cheap (the components need to only withstand a single shot). It's not a new concept either, the original Panzerfaust from WW2 was a single use anti-tank gun.

          • wtypstanaccount04 [he/him]
            ·
            9 months ago

            Maybe basing your military tech off of an evil military that also absolutely ate shit is not a good idea

            • axont [she/her, comrade/them]
              ·
              9 months ago

              Not defending fascists, but most assault rifles today can trace some design lineage back to the StG 44. Which is usually regarded as the first practical assault rifle.

              • wopazoo [he/him]
                ·
                9 months ago

                Yeah, the design of the AK-47 was strongly inspired by the StG 44. Just because a technology originated in a fascist country doesn't mean that it's necessarily shit.

        • Tunnelvision [they/them]
          ·
          edit-2
          9 months ago

          Yes but it makes more sense when you realize nato is inherently an aggressive and offensive force. You want lightweight and disposable AT because your doctrine is defined by mobility and the reliance on air dominance on the assault. This is in contrast to Russia who mostly relies on multi use anti tank weapons because their doctrine is primarily more defensive based.