Recoilless rifle

The first recoilless rifles were developed near the end of World War II as a lightweight form of anti-tank weaponry. They are capable of firing artillery-type shells at a range and velocity comparable to that of a normal gun. The near complete lack of recoil allows some versions to be shoulder fired.

The name recoilles rifle however is delusive as most types are not handheld and not even rifles and most important: They are never completely recoilless.

A recoilles weapon is basically a rocket launcher[?]: A projectile is accelerated by a small explosion, but the hot gases which are created in the explosion and are the primary cause for recoil force are released at the back end of the weapon creating a backblast.