Infantry Weapons

Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle

Also known as
  • Carl Gustav
  • Gustaf
  • MAAWS
  • M3A1

The Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle is Sweden's 84 mm, reloadable, multi-role shoulder weapon family. Saab says the M4 is under one meter long, backward-compatible with legacy rounds, and used with anti-armour, anti-structure, anti-personnel, smoke, illumination, and programmable high-explosive ammunition.

Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, Recoilless rifle, Infantry Weapons
Image source: M3A1 MAAWS firing HEDP 502

Role in Conflicts

Official Versions

Saab describes the family by Swedish version names, while the U.S. Army uses the M3A1 designation for the M4.

VersionSwedish designationReader note
M1GRG m/48The original version tied to the system's 1948 history.
M3GRG m/86The mid-generation Swedish version.
M4GRG m/18Latest Swedish version; the U.S. Army designation is M3A1.
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Sweden
Built by
Saab
Type
Recoilless rifle
Service note
Cold War-era design still in service and fielded in modernized M3 and M4 variants
Designer
Bofors
Designed
1946
Unit cost
Varies by variant and contract
Produced
1948-present

Specifications

Caliber
84 mm
Crew
2
Weight
About 7 kg for the M4; earlier M3 variants were about 10 kg
Length
Less than 1 m for the M4
Sights
Open sight, red dot sight, telescopic sight, and advanced fire control device
Ammunition
Anti-armour, anti-structure, anti-personnel, support rounds, and programmable HE 448
Range
Up to 1,500 m with HE 448 and a fire control device
Variants
  • M1
  • M2
  • M3
  • M4
Compatible Ammunition

Saab's Carl-Gustaf ammunition family includes HEAT 758 for anti-tank work, HEAT 655 CS for confined-space anti-armour use, HEAT 751 for tandem anti-armour use, ADM 401 for close-in protection, HEDP 502 for built-up-area fighting, and ASM 509 for anti-structure work.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
HEAT 758, 84 mm anti-tank round, MunitionsHEAT 75884 mm anti-tank round

Saab says the Carl-Gustaf M4 fires the HEAT 758 round, and every Carl-Gustaf munition is compatible with every version of the weapon.

Sources: Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page, Saab launches new Carl-Gustaf anti-tank round

HEAT 655 CS, 84 mm confined-space anti-armour round, MunitionsHEAT 655 CS84 mm confined-space anti-armour round

Saab says HEAT 655 CS gives Carl-Gustaf units confined-space capability for urban warfare while remaining an anti-armour round.

Sources: Saab HEAT 655 CS fact sheet

ADM 401, 84 mm area defence munition, MunitionsADM 40184 mm area defence munition

Saab says ADM 401 carries about 1,100 flechettes for close-in protection when fired from the Carl-Gustaf system.

Sources: Saab ADM 401 fact sheet

HEDP 502, 84 mm high-explosive dual-purpose round, MunitionsHEDP 50284 mm high-explosive dual-purpose round

Saab says HEDP 502 is an 84 mm Carl-Gustaf round optimized for fighting in built-up areas.

Sources: Saab HEDP 502 fact sheet

HEAT 751, 84 mm tandem anti-armour round, MunitionsHEAT 75184 mm tandem anti-armour round

Saab describes HEAT 751 as Carl-Gustaf M4 ammunition with a tandem warhead for defeating modern armour and explosive reactive armor.

Sources: Saab HEAT 751 fact sheet

HE 441D/441D RS, 84 mm high-explosive anti-personnel round, MunitionsHE 441D/441D RS84 mm high-explosive anti-personnel round

Saab's ammunition app lists HE 441D/441D RS in the Carl-Gustaf family and describes it as an 84 mm anti-personnel round with impact and airburst modes.

Sources: Saab ammunition app

HE 448, 84 mm programmable high-explosive round, MunitionsHE 44884 mm programmable high-explosive round

Saab says the Carl-Gustaf M4 fires HE 448 as a programmable high-explosive round, and the U.S. Army ordered the round in 2023.

Sources: Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page, Saab Receives Order for Latest Carl-Gustaf Ammunition Type from U.S. Army, Saab Firings Showcase New Programmable Carl-Gustaf Munition

ILLUM 545C, 84 mm illumination round, MunitionsILLUM 545C84 mm illumination round

Saab lists ILLUM 545C as Carl-Gustaf ammunition and describes it as a battlefield illumination round for the family.

Sources: Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page, Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

ASM 509, 84 mm anti-structure round, MunitionsASM 50984 mm anti-structure round

Saab's handbook places ASM 509 in the Carl-Gustaf family and describes it as an 84 mm multi-role/anti-structure round with impact and delay modes.

Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

MT 756, 84 mm multi-target round, MunitionsMT 75684 mm multi-target round

Saab says MT 756 is a Carl-Gustaf multi-target round that uses a tandem warhead to punch through a wall and detonate behind it.

Sources: Saab battleground hero story, Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

HEDP 502 RS, 84 mm high-explosive dual-purpose round, MunitionsHEDP 502 RS84 mm high-explosive dual-purpose round

Saab lists HEDP 502 / 502 RS in the Carl-Gustaf ammunition family and describes it as an 84 mm high-explosive dual-purpose round with impact and delay modes.

Sources: Saab ammunition app, Saab HEDP 502 fact sheet

HEAT 551, 84 mm anti-armour round, MunitionsHEAT 55184 mm anti-armour round

Saab's handbook lists HEAT 551 as Carl-Gustaf ammunition and says it is a rocket-assisted 84 mm round for armoured vehicles and MBTs.

Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

HEAT 551C RS, 84 mm anti-armour round with reduced sensitivity, MunitionsHEAT 551C RS84 mm anti-armour round with reduced sensitivity

Saab describes HEAT 551C RS as Carl-Gustaf ammunition and an evolution of HEAT 551 with improved insensitive-munition properties.

Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2023

Timeline

Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle Key Events

  1. Family history reaches back to 1948

    Saab says the Carl-Gustaf system has a long history that stretches back to 1948.

    Sources: Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page

  2. The U.S. Army adopts the M4 as M3A1

    Saab says the U.S. Army announced it would adopt the Carl-Gustaf M4 and use the M3A1 designation.

    Sources: Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page

  3. The U.S. Army orders HE 448 ammunition

    Saab announced a roughly USD 10 million U.S. Army order for the HE 448 programmable high-explosive round, with deliveries during 2024.

    Sources: Saab Receives Order for Latest Carl-Gustaf Ammunition Type from U.S. Army

Ammunition And Fire Control

The M4 is built around an 84 mm ammunition family and can use both legacy rounds and newer programmable munitions.

RoundRoleSource-backed note
HEAT 758Anti-tankSaab says it can defeat explosive reactive armor and penetrate up to 700 mm of armor.
HE 448Programmable high explosiveSaab reported a U.S. Army order worth about USD 10 million in 2023; the round is effective to 1,500 meters when paired with a fire control device.
ILLUM 545CIlluminationSaab lists the round as Carl-Gustaf ammunition and says it provides battlefield illumination during night operations.
Legacy 84 mm roundsBackward-compatible loadoutThe M4 works with all legacy Carl-Gustaf ammunition.

Cost context: The public 2023 HE 448 order value gives a useful reference point, but Saab did not publish a per-round price in the release.

Media

Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle Videos

Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle Images

Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, Recoilless rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 1
Source: Weapons practice in Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Related Weapon Systems
M136 AT4, Disposable shoulder-fired light anti-armor recoilless weapon, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsM136 AT4Disposable shoulder-fired light anti-armor recoilless weaponThe M136 AT4 is the U.S. designation for an Americanized Saab AT4, a single-shot 84 mm shoulder-fired anti-armor weapon issued as a disposable launch tube. It gives infantry a lightweight close-range option against light armor, bunkers, gun positions, and buildings, while the wider AT4CS family adds confined-space variants for different target effects. Ukraine has received AT-4 systems through U.S. security assistance during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Sources

Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product pagePublisher: Saab | Note: Supports the Carl-Gustaf system's 84 mm man-portable recoilless-rifle design, multi-role ammunition mix, official version names, U.S. Army designation context, and technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-22Saab HEDP 502 fact sheetPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEDP 502's 84 mm Carl-Gustaf family placement, built-up-area role, impact and delay functions, combat-proven status, 3.3 kg complete-round weight, and 40-500 m effective range. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab launches new Carl-Gustaf anti-tank roundPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEAT 758 as a Carl-Gustaf round and the M4 compatibility context for the weapon family. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab Receives Order for Latest Carl-Gustaf Ammunition Type from U.S. ArmyPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports the HE 448 programmable round, its reported USD 10 million U.S. Army order value, the 1,500-meter engagement context, and the M3A1 designation context. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Saab HEAT 751 fact sheetPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEAT 751's Carl-Gustaf M4 ammunition-family context, tandem-warhead role, 3.8 kg weight, and 700 m effective range. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab Firings Showcase New Programmable Carl-Gustaf MunitionPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports HE 448's firing showcase, 2.7 kg weight, airburst behavior, Firebolt/FCD 558 context, and Carl-Gustaf ammunition-family background. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab ADM 401 fact sheetPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports ADM 401's 84 mm Carl-Gustaf family context, about 1,100 flechettes payload, and close-in-protection ammunition role. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab HEAT 655 CS fact sheetPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEAT 655 CS's Carl-Gustaf confined-space capability and anti-armour purpose. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026Publisher: Saab | Note: Supports MT 756's Carl-Gustaf family placement, fielded anti-structure role, 4.4 kg weight, 300 m effective range, and the handbook's Carl-Gustaf ammunition-family context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab battleground hero storyPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports MT 756's Carl-Gustaf family placement and the tandem-warhead description that punches through a wall and detonates behind it. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2023Publisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEAT 551C RS's Carl-Gustaf ammunition-family placement, 3.5 kg weight, 700 m effective range, and evolution from HEAT 551 with reduced-sensitivity properties. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Saab ammunition appPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports the Carl-Gustaf ammunition app listing for HE 441D/441D RS and its 84 mm anti-personnel role, impact mode, airburst mode, and family context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Army acquires recoilless, shoulder-fired weaponPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the 2001 War in Afghanistan because the U.S. Army said several Carl Gustafs were already fielded in Afghanistan during a limited operational assessment. | Accessed: 2026-06-22M3A1 MAAWS firing HEDP 502Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the gallery image provenance for a public-domain Carl-Gustaf M4 / M3A1 photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Weapons practice in Helmand Province, AfghanistanPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the gallery image provenance for a Carl Gustav recoilless rifle photo taken in the 2001 War in Afghanistan theater. | Accessed: 2026-06-22