Original Item: Only one available. This is an inert non-firing BATF compliant West German Armbrust AT Anti-Tank Weapon Launcher, offered in excellent condition. These are single use weapons, and once fired are completely unable to be reloaded. This example has been deactivated to BATF specifications, and is not Available For Export. It measures approximately 31 1/2 inches in length.

The Armbrust system was developed in four configurations:

- Armbrust AT: the standard production model, loaded with a HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rocket bearing a shaped charge warhead.
- Armbrust AP: the same launcher as the standard model, but loaded with a rocket carrying an HE-FRAG warhead, for use against personnel and soft targets.
- Armbrust Ub: training (Übung) version of the Armbrust, loaded with an inert projectile.
- Armbrust SC: Reloadable training version, carrying a reloadable spotting rifle. The rifle has a tube life of over 1000 rounds.

This is a very nice totally inert example of the Ambrust AT, complete with the original sling and in excellent condition. It still has both the front and rear fold-away handles, as well as the sight, and even the carrying sling on the side. It still retains the original warning labels, and has the muzzle and breech attachments fully intact. The head rest by the sight is still quite supple, and the sight still works as well, though the optics area bit dirty. These were single use only and usually disposed of, so finding one that is still intact is a real treat.

Ready to display!

The Armbrust (German for Crossbow) is a lightweight unguided anti-tank weapon designed and developed by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm of Germany, who later sold its manufacturing rights to Chartered Industries of Singapore (the predecessor of ST Kinetics).

The Armbrust is a recoilless weapon, and is one of the few weapons of this kind that may safely be fired in an enclosed space. The propellant charge is placed between two pistons with the projectile in front of one and a mass of shredded plastic in the rear. Unlike most recoilless weapons, it is a true counter-shot weapon, as the mass of the projectile is equal to the mass of the counterweight and they are ejected from the barrel at the same initial velocity. When the weapon is fired, the propellant expands, pushing the two pistons out. The projectile is forced out of the front and the plastic out of the back. The plastic disperses on leaving the back of the barrel, and is quickly stopped by air resistance. The pistons jam at either end of the barrel, locking the hot gases inside. Its warhead can penetrate up to 300 mm of steel armor.

Since 2004, Armbrusts have gradually been replaced by the Israeli-German-Singapore co-developed MATADOR.

Combat use
During the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Armbrust was supplied to the Cambodian Khmer Rouge. It was used in their fight against the Cambodian government, as well as against Vietnamese Army. Cuban troops in Angola captured several Armbrust launchers from UNITA during the late 1980s.