"Bazooka" is a term commonly applied to a series of recoilless launchers used by the US military during WW2 and the Korean War. It was a slang term adopted by the GIs based on the device's resemblance to a comedy 'instrument' popularized by Radio Comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s & 1940s.
Today the term is often used by the general public as a generic term for any tube-like rocket launcher; this cannot exactly be called incorrect, since "Bazooka" was only ever a nickname for the original weapon, but on this site it should only be used to refer to this particular series of launchers.
Bazooka rockets are often depicted with burning engines and smoke trails in fiction, which is incorrect: the rocket motor burns out while the projectile is still inside the launch tube, except for early-production rockets at extremely cold temperatures where it may still be burning for a short time on exit. Later rockets used a new propellant, Blastless Bazooka Propellant (BBP) that eliminated temperature-related burn time issues.
The following weapons are in the M1 Series of Rocket Launchers:
M1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)
- 1941 first model adopted from Capt. L.A. Skinner's prototype rocket launcher. First used in combat in 1942, on the Russian Front via lend-lease and by American forces during Operation Torch in November 1942.
- Had two pistol grips (one with trigger) and a shoulder step which contained the battery.
- Contact box located on top of the tube just back from the shoulder rest is only present on this variant.
- 18 lbs unloaded weight.
- Introduced in June 1942, used until August 1943 when replaced by the M1A1 variant.
- Not particularly popular due to the unreliable M6 rocket, use of substandard steel for production expediency rendering tubes prone to rupturing on hot days when the rocket propellant would burn extremely quickly, and lack of a bore gauge for launch tube production, resulting in tubes with very poor dimensional tolerances: frequent accidents involving rockets getting stuck in the tube and exploding: these issues were compounded by US troops in Operation Torch having received little or no instruction in the use of the weapon. Issuing of the M1 was suspended in May 1943.
Television
Title
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Actor
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Character
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Note
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Air Date
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Mail Call |
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Season 1 |
2002-2009
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Video Games
M1A1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)
- Fully introduced in August 1943, with small numbers issued in July. First used during the invasion of Sicily in July-August 1943
- Replaced "On/Off" switch with the 'ready' light
- Removed second pistol grip
- Rear section of the launch tube wrapped with 0.5 in steel wire to prevent ruptures on hot days.
- Wire wrapping required reworked electrical system and redesigned rocket: instead of the top-mounted contact box that created a connection to a brass ring on the rocket's nose, a wire was stowed in the tailfin of the rocket and connected to a contact clip at the rear of the launcher. This means the wire on this launcher goes from the shoulder rest to the back of the tube, rather than up to the contact box as on the M1.
- Unloaded weight 13.26 lbs
- Added optional wire blast shield in front for cold weather use. Not particularly effective and largely ignored by troops: later a more effective solid cone was developed.
- Optional solid blast cone in back to replace wired cone.
- Improved M6A1 rocket. "M6A2" rocket appears to have been an informal designation for original production M6 rockets upgraded to A1 standard.
- Many original production M1s were upgraded to the A1 standard
- Later issued with a larger battery, and after complaints of it getting stuck inside the shoulder rest, were re-reamed to better accommodate it
The M1 series of Rocket Launcher can be seen in the following films, TV series, anime, and video games used by the following actors:
Film
Television
Video Games
M9 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)
- Introduced in October 1943 and replaced the M1A1 in production, operating alongside it in the field
- Battery ignition (which had proved unreliable in wet weather and caused many complaints about life and availability of batteries in the field) replaced by Magnavox T6 trigger magneto
- Wooden furnishings replaced with metal and plastic
- Used improved M6A3 HEAT rocket and M10 Bursting Smoke (WP) rocket. M6A3 had a blunt, rounded nose rather than the pointed nose of earlier rockets, which had been found to deflect off sloped tank armor. Both rounds could be fired from the earlier M1A1 model as well.
- Early production used T43 folding bar sight, later replaced by T90 optical reflex sight
- Could be disassembled into two halves for easier carrying.
- Unloaded weight 15.14 lbs
- Forward blast cone added.
Film
Television
Video Games
M9A1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)
- Introduced in September 1944 replacing the M9
- Improved coupling mechanism for the two-part launch tube
- T90 optical reflex sight
- Unloaded weight 15.87 lbs
Video Games
Film
M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)
M20 "Super Bazooka" with rocket - 3.5"
- Larger warhead for greater armor penetration
- Usable range was extended by an additional 150 meters.
- Replaced the M9A1 in 1950.
Film
Television
Title
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Actor
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Character
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Note
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Air Date
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Viper |
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Vigilante gang leader |
Ep. "Turf Wars" |
1996-1999
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Sanctuary |
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U.S. Airborne soldier |
Ep. "Normandy" |
2011
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Video Games
Anime
Title
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Characters
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Notation
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Date
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Hyper Police |
Naoko Kondo |
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1997
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Animation
M20B1 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)
M20B1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5"
- Lighter weight version - made of cast aluminum.
- Used as a supplement to the M20
Film
Anime
Title
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Characters
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Notation
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Date
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Mad Bull 34 |
N.Y.P.D. S.W.A.T. officer |
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1990
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Television
M20A1/A1B1 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)
M20A1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5" Rocket
M20A1B1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5" Rocket
- Entered production in 1952 - issued to troops after end of Korean War
- Improved connector latch assembly.
- Standard AT weapon until advent of light weapons (LAW) and heavier weapons (Dragon) for AT use in the 1960s.
Film
Anime
Video Games
Spanish M-65 Rocket Launcher
Spanish M65 Rocket Launcher 88.9mm
- Spanish Upgrade of the Bazooka
Film
See also
Panzerschreck (The German copy of the M1 Bazooka)
PIAT (British equivalent)