antimateriel

Antimateriel is a term often used in military contexts to describe weapons or ammunition specifically designed to engage and destroy material targets, such as vehicles, infrastructure, and equipment, rather than personnel. This contrasts with anti-personnel weapons, which are intended to incapacitate or kill enemy combatants.

The concept of antimateriel is not tied to a specific type of weapon but rather to its intended target. Therefore, a variety of weapon systems can be classified as antimateriel. These include large-caliber rifles, often referred to as anti-materiel rifles, which fire specialized rounds capable of penetrating armor or destroying sensitive components of vehicles and fortifications. These rifles are typically crew-served or used by specialized units.

Beyond rifles, heavy machine guns, autocannons, and artillery pieces can also be employed in an antimateriel role when directed against material targets. Even certain types of missiles and rockets are designed for this purpose, capable of delivering significant explosive force to disable or destroy hardened structures, armored vehicles, or other significant material assets. The effectiveness of an antimateriel weapon relies on its ability to inflict damage on the physical integrity of the target, rendering it non-operational or destroyed.