Infantry Weapons

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle

The M40 106 mm recoilless rifle is a U.S.-origin crew-served recoilless weapon developed from the earlier M27 and commonly mounted on vehicles or ground carriages. It is best known as a 105 mm-class direct-fire anti-armor gun that was widely adapted to light vehicles, including the Al-Jawad carrier used in Jordanian and regional internal-security roles.

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle, 106 mm crew-served recoilless rifle, Infantry Weapons

Image source: M274 with M40 in AAFM.jpg

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Watervliet Arsenal
Type: 106 mm crew-served recoilless rifle
Service note: Cold War design; in service from 1955

recoilless rifle anti-tank portable

Specifications

Caliber: 105 mm (commonly called 106 mm)
Weight: 209.5 kg
Length: 3.404 m
Carriage: Tripod or wheeled ground mount
Muzzle velocity: 503 m/s with M344 HEAT
Effective range: 1,350 m
Maximum range: 6,870 m with M346A1 HEP-T

Carrier Vehicles

The M40 was widely adapted to light vehicles and other mobile mounts; the Al-Jawad page documents one such protected carrier configuration.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

Al-Jawad armored vehicle

Armored vehicle mount

Small Arms Defense Journal describes a compact turret on top of an Al-Jawad vehicle that accommodates a 106 mm recoilless gun, with firing controlled from inside the armored turret.

Sources: Infantry Support and Anti-tank Weapons in Latin America

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle Images

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle, 106 mm crew-served recoilless rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 1 — Source: M274 with M40 in AAFM.jpg

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle, 106 mm crew-served recoilless rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 2 — Source: M40 recoilless rifle at Hoi An Museum.jpg

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle, 106 mm crew-served recoilless rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 3 — Source: M40 recoilless rifle, Greek infantry, 1997.jpg

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Sources

Recoilless WeaponsPublisher: Small Arms Survey | Note: Supports the recoilless-gun family context and the general design role of recoilless weapons, including the 106 mm class. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 106mm M40Publisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports the M40 identification, origin, crew-served type, weight, length, ammunition, carriage, muzzle velocity, and range data. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M274 with M40 in AAFM.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-licensed M274 utility platform carrying an M40 recoilless rifle. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M40 recoilless rifle at Hoi An Museum.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-licensed museum photograph of an M40 recoilless rifle. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M40 recoilless rifle, Greek infantry, 1997.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-licensed photograph showing the M40 in Greek infantry service. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Infantry Support and Anti-tank Weapons in Latin AmericaPublisher: Small Arms Defense Journal | Note: Supports the compact Al-Jawad turret relationship and the 106 mm recoilless-gun mounting context on the vehicle. | Accessed: 2026-06-23