Cypriot Bazooka

[Petrus]

Here you've got a few photos of what is supposed to be an anti-tank rocket launcher in hands of the Cypriot National Guard's soldiers. The photos I assume were taken prior to the Turkish invasion in 1974.

To me the rocket launcher looks similar to the M9A1 Bazooka, but it seems to be shorter than that and has a foregrip (which Bazooka didn't have). Its sights in turn resemble those of Czechoslovakian P-27 Pancerovka.

Perhaps someone knows more on that?

Piotr

 

[Foo Fighter]

To me it looks more like an rpg minus the round/ammunition.

 

[TomS]

Some M1 Bazookas did have a foregrip. The odd feature here is the stepped down tube at the back end. Never seen that before and it would really be a problem for a launcher loaded from the back like the Bazooka. Which makes me suspect this is some sort of simulator or training device.

 

[Jemiba]

I don't think, there's a step in the launcher tube. There's just a pad around
the launcher, I think.

 

[Lascaris]

Time wise the photos are from the veterans association of the 286th mechanised infantry battalion, Cypriot National Guard. So sometime between 1964 and 1974.

 

[TomS]

I don't think, there's a step in the launcher tube. There's just a pad around
the launcher, I think.

Yep, you're right.

So it looks like an M1 copy of some sort. I'm sure there were plenty around.