Miniman

Go Back to Anti-Tank Weapon

Go Back To Weapons Home

	Weapon: Miniman Type: Anti-Tank Weapon Country of Origin: Sweden Year Adopted: 1968 Caliber: 74mm Action: Disposable Recoilless Gun Overall Length (mm): 900.0 Overall Length (in): 35.43 Weight (kg): 3.00 Weight (pounds): 6.61 Effective Range (m): 250 m Effective Range (yards): 273.4

The Miniman was a Swedish disposable anti-tank weapon developed in the early 1960s by FFV (Forsvarets Fabriksverk) to provide infantry forces with a lightweight and easy-to-use system against armored targets. Featuring a 74 mm caliber, the Miniman was a simple, single-shot recoilless weapon designed with a preloaded launch tube and a shaped-charge warhead capable of penetrating up to 340 mm of rolled homogeneous armor. Its soft-launch system made it relatively safe to use in confined spaces compared to traditional recoilless rifles, increasing its flexibility on the battlefield.

The weapon entered service with the Swedish Armed Forces in 1968 and saw widespread distribution during the Cold War. While it was primarily intended for Swedish use, the Miniman also found limited success in export markets, particularly among countries looking for inexpensive and effective infantry anti-armor solutions. Production figures are estimated in the tens of thousands, though exact numbers remain unclear due to the classified nature of Swedish defense manufacturing at the time.

The Miniman was eventually replaced in Swedish service by the more modern AT4, which was also developed by FFV and based in part on lessons learned from the Miniman's operational history. Despite being largely obsolete by modern standards, the Miniman was considered a reliable and effective weapon in its time and contributed significantly to Sweden's Cold War-era defense doctrine. Its simple design and ease of use influenced subsequent generations of disposable anti-tank systems worldwide.