2001 War in Afghanistan

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle in the 2001 War in Afghanistan

The M40 106 mm recoilless rifle is documented in Afghanistan through reporting on U.S. Special Forces, Danish, and Australian use and video of a 106 mm recoilless rifle at Firebase Naray in Kunar Province.

Weapon profileM40 106 mm recoilless rifle
SideUnited States, NATO, and Afghan government forcesRoleFire Support
M40 106 mm recoilless rifle, 106 mm crew-served recoilless rifle, Infantry Weapons - 2001 War in Afghanistan
Image source: M274 with M40 in AAFM.jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
U.S. Special Forces units put M40 106 mm recoilless rifles to use in Afghanistan.

Sources: WIRED M40 Afghanistan Use

Danish and Australian armies used 106 mm M40 recoilless rifles during ground operations in Afghanistan.

Sources: WIRED M40 Afghanistan Use

A 106 mm recoilless rifle was shown in use during training at Firebase Naray, Kunar Province, circa 2004.

Sources: Naray 106mm Recoilless Video

The public sources used here do not establish a rifle count, complete operating-unit list, or full engagement chronology.

Sources: WIRED M40 Afghanistan Use, Naray 106mm Recoilless Video

Timeline

M40 106 mm recoilless rifle In 2001 War in Afghanistan

  1. 106 mm recoilless rifle shown at Firebase Naray

    A YouTube video description places a 106 mm recoilless rifle with a U.S. Special Forces team at Firebase Naray, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, circa 2004.

    Sources: Naray 106mm Recoilless Video

  2. Afghanistan M40 use reported

    WIRED reported that U.S. Special Forces units and Danish and Australian armies had used M40-series 106 mm recoilless rifles in Afghanistan.

    Sources: WIRED M40 Afghanistan Use

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

WIRED reported in May 2013 that M40 106 mm recoilless rifles had been put to use in Afghanistan by U.S. Special Forces units and were used extensively by Danish and Australian armies during ground operations there. The article tied the Afghanistan use to the weapon's direct-fire utility against mud-walled buildings and other targets where some guided anti-tank weapons were less suitable.

A separate YouTube video, indexed under the title "106mm Recoilless firing with a Special Forces Team in Naray, Afghanistan," describes a 106 mm recoilless rifle being fired during training at Firebase Naray in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, circa 2004, in preparation for an anticipated Taliban attack.

Sources: WIRED M40 Afghanistan Use, Naray 106mm Recoilless Video

Timeline

The dated public evidence begins with the circa-2004 Naray video description, which places a 106 mm recoilless rifle with a U.S. Special Forces team at Firebase Naray in Kunar Province. The video source documents training and preparation rather than a named combat engagement.

WIRED's 31 May 2013 report gives the broader use claim: U.S. Special Forces, Danish forces, and Australian forces had used M40-series 106 mm recoilless rifles in Afghanistan. The report does not give a full chronology, unit roster, or rifle count.

Sources: Naray 106mm Recoilless Video, WIRED M40 Afghanistan Use

Battlefield role

In Afghanistan, the M40 appears in the public record as a niche direct-fire support weapon rather than a general-issue infantry arm. WIRED described it as useful in ground operations where targets were inside mud-walled buildings, a common Afghan fighting environment in which blast effects could be reduced.

The available sources support use on the U.S.-led, NATO, and Afghan government side of the conflict. They do not support Taliban use, a settled count of rifles in theater, or a comprehensive list of engagements.

Sources: WIRED M40 Afghanistan Use, Naray 106mm Recoilless Video

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Sources