View source for STRIM 65

{{Short description|Cold War-era French rifle grenade}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = STRIM 65
| image              = STRIM65.svg
| caption            =
| type               = [[Rifle grenade]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| service            =
| wars               =
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = STRIM
| number             =
| spec_label         =
| length             = {{convert|420|mm|abbr=on}}
| width              =
| height             =
| diameter           = {{convert|65|mm|abbr=on}}
| action             =
| origin             = France<ref name="Jane_IW_1978"/>
| is_explosive       = yes
| is_missile         =
| is_UK              = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| used_by            = France<br/> [[Rhodesia]]<ref name="RhR">{{cite book|title=Rhodesia Regiment 1899-1981  | editor1-last = Baxter
| editor1-first = Peter
| editor2-last = Bomford
| editor2-first = Hugh
| editor3-last = van Tonder
| editor3-first = Gerry |year=2014 |pages=471–488 |publisher= 30 Degrees South Publishers |location=Johannesburg |isbn=978-1-92014-389-3 |quote=The Rhodesian rifle grenade manual (for the 32Z and 28R) was the source}}</ref> <br/>[[South African Defence Force]]
| design_date        = 1961
| manufacturer       = Hotchkiss-Brandt, licence manufacture by Mecar
| unit_cost          =
| production_date    =
| variants           =
<!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|735|g|abbr=on}}
| part_length        =
| outer fin diameter =
| crew               =
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
| filling            = [[Hexolite]] [[HEAT]] charge with {{convert|300|mm|abbr=on}} RHA penetration
| filling_weight     = {{convert|270|g|abbr=on}}
| detonation         =
| yield              =
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          =
| cartridge_weight   =
| caliber            =
| barrels            =
| rate               =
| velocity           =
| range              =
| max_range          = {{convert|120|m|yd|abbr=on}}
| feed               =
| sights             =
<!-- Missiles only -->
| wingspan           =
| propellant         =
| ceiling            =
| altitude           =
| depth              =
| boost              =
| accuracy           =
| launch_platform    =
| transport          =
}}
The '''STRIM 65''' is an anti-tank rifle grenade that the French Army used from 1961 to 1978, under the designation 65 AC 28. This and the older 73mm Modèle 1950 (similar in appearance to an [[ENERGA anti-tank rifle grenade|Energa]] grenade) were the standard anti-tank munitions in French service.<ref name="Jane_IW_1978">{{cite book|editor=Archer, Denis H R|title=Jane's Infantry Weapons (Fourth Edition) 1978 |year=1978 |page=769 |publisher= Macdonald and Jane's |location=London |isbn=978-0354005630 }}</ref> A [[22 mm grenade]] launching adapter mounted atop the rifle's barrel held the grenade until the firing of a ballistite (blank) cartridge provided the propulsive force to launch the grenade.
[[Mecar]], under licence, also made the grenade in Belgium,<ref name="Jane_IW_1976">{{cite book|editor=Archer, Denis H R|title=Jane's Infantry Weapons (Second Edition) 1976 |year=1976 |chapter=Grenades |pages=391, 408 |publisher= Macdonald and Jane's |location=London |isbn=978-0354005319 }}</ref> and a licence was also granted to [[Armscor (South Africa)|Armscor]] of South Africa.<ref name="Moukambi">{{cite thesis |first=Victor |last=Moukambi |date=December 2008 |title=RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND FRANCE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MILITARY MATTERS, 1960-1990 |degree=Doctoral dissertation |publisher=Military Science, Stellenbosch University |location=Stellenbosch   |pages=181–2 |url=http://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10019.1/1228/moukambi_relations_2008.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
|access-date=27 April 2017 |quote= manufacturing licences for ENTAC missiles, 400 kg aircraft bombs and [STRIM] anti-tank rifle grenades were also granted to South Africans. Source: DOD, SANDF Documentation Centre, Pretoria. File No. Map 70/15 Vol. 1, Licence agreements, Annexure 2 to MAP/70/15 dated December 1966. Subject: Armament policy }}</ref>
The [[AC58]] rifle grenade manufactured by Luchaire replaced the STRIM 65. The AC58 used a new bullet trap form of propulsion, thereby doing away with the need for a special launching round.<ref name="Jane_IW_1979/80">{{cite book|editor=Weeks, John|title=Jane's Infantry Weapons (Fifth Edition) 1979–80 |year=1979 |chapter=Grenades |page=331 |publisher= Macdonald and Jane's |location=London |isbn=978-0531039052 |quote=The main object has been to develop a new anti-tank grenade to replace the now obsolete 65 AC 28 R2 model}}</ref>
The Brazilian M2 anti-personnel and M3 anti-tank rifle grenades bear a strong similarity to the [[STRIM 40]] and STRIM 65 respectively.
==Sources and references==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
*[http://www.lexpev.nl/downloads/inf4012titre5lesgrenadesafusil1966.pdf French army manual on rifle grenades dated 1966 with an illustration of the STRIM 65 (65 AC 28) and text on pages 26 to 28]
*[http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/244308204/SADF_PRACTICE_STRIM_RIFLE_GRENADE_Note_condition.html Images of a practice round as used by the SADF up to the 1980s]
*[http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/inventories/inv_pdfo/A3079/A3079-D3-001-jpeg.pdf Recollection of firing a STRIM during basic training in 1979 at Walvis Bay]
*[https://aquellasarmasdeguerra.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/granadas-de-fusil-fragmentarias-y-antitanque/ Article (in Spanish) with reference to several French and Brazilian rifle grenades]
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:STRIM 65}}
[[Category:Cold War weapons of France]]
[[Category:Rifle grenades]]
[[Category:Anti-tank grenades]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s]]