Description
The projectile is manufactured in two parts: the propellant charge is assembled in a cylindric tube, containing a solid fuel which is most likely common black powder, and the head of the projectile is essentially made of pressed sheet metal, containing an explosive compound.
The explosive is shown in the Hamas production video as a molten yellow liquid, being combined with a finely granulated white powder in a boiler and poured into the warhead. This explosive is likely molten TNT being combined with powdered ammonium nitrate - a powerful, inexpensive explosive compound known as Amatol.
The warhead appears to be a shaped charge type, as a Hamas worker can be seen working a lustrous metal cone into a position inverted under the warhead nose, before final addition of the explosive. In the video the cone appears to be made of aluminum, suggesting according to the principles of shaped charge design that the warhead has low penetration but a highly destructive pyrotechnic effect. The detonator is briefly shown in the video, and appears to be a simple base-impact type using a retaining spring and weighted firing pin suspended above an explosive primer and the detonator. A safety pin holds the firing pin in place until the weapon is ready for use.
Six spring-steel folding fins are then added to the tube-like tail of the warhead body and pinned down with a plastic retaining ring so that they will unfold upon firing of the rocket. The warhead body is then attached to the propellant charge via threads behind the tail fins, and the completed projectile-propellant assembly is inserted into the launcher tube to complete the weapon.
The whole process is performed in basic metal workshops using ordinary shop tools, but the conception and engineering of the weapon seems to attain a high degree of sophistication and professionalism given the low-technology of the design. The launching tube is also manufactured by the so-called "production units" of the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades, modeled roughly on the appearance of the RPG-7 Russian rocket launcher.
The efficiency of the weapon was demonstrated in the video, and the projectile warhead seems to concentrate its impact on a very limited surface, thus making it able to pierce a thick brick wall without difficulty, and inflict limited damage to a 2-inch thick metal plate. Therefore, it is unlikely that this type of rocket could actually significantly damage an Israeli Merkava tank or Armored Personnel Carrier, often targets of attacks by the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades. Due to the shaped charge liner material and probable explosive used, the Yasin is more likely intended for use against soft-skinned and lightly armored vehicles like transport trucks, HMMWVs, and passenger craft.
Read more about this topic: Yasin (RPG)
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