M72 LAW
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The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAAW) is a portable one-shot 66 mm anti-tank weapon, designed in United States by Talley Defense Systems, produced by Nammo Raufoss AS in Norway.
Description
The weapon consists of a rocket packed inside of a launcher made up of two tubes, one inside the other. While closed, the outer assembly acts as a watertight container for the rocket and the percussion cap-type firing mechanism that activates the rocket. The outer tube contains the trigger, the arming handle, front and rear sights, and the rear cover. The inner tube contains the channel assembly which houses the firing pin assembly, including the detent lever. When extended, the inner tube telescopes outward toward the rear, guided by the channel assembly which rides in an alignment slot in the outer tube's trigger housing assembly. This causes the detent lever to move under the trigger assembly in the outer tube, both locking the inner tube in the extended position and cocking the weapon. Once armed, the weapon is no longer watertight even if the launcher is collapsed into its original configuration.
When fired, the propellant in the rocket motor completely combusts before leaving the tip of the launcher, producing gases around 1,400 °F (760 °C). The rocket propels the 66 mm warhead forward without significant recoil. As the warhead emerges from the launcher, 6 fins spring out from the base of the rocket tube, stabilizing the warhead's flight.
Once fired the launcher is no longer useful and may be discarded. Due to the single use nature of the weapon, it was issued as a round of ammunition by the Canadian Army and the US Army.
Ammunition
The M72 LAW was issued as a prepackaged round of ammunition. Improvements to the launcher and differences in the ammunition were differentiated by a single designation. The most common M72 LAWs came prepacked with a rocket containing a 66 mm HEAT warhead which is attached to the inside of the launcher by the igniter. The warhead is activated by an impact sense sensor in the nose cone which is connected to the fuse. The fuse then detonates a booster which sets off the main charge. The force of the main charge forces the thin-gauge steel body liner into a directional gas jet that is capable of penetrating up to 0.3 m (1 ft) of steel plate, 0.6 m (2 ft) of Reinforced concrete, or 1.8 m (6 ft) of soil.
A training variant of the M72 LAW, designated the M190, also exists. This weapon is reloadable and uses the 35 mm M73 training rocket. A subcaliber training device that uses a special tracer cartridge also exists for the M72.
Service History
Although generally thought of as a Vietnam War era weapon which has been superseded by more powerful and sophisticated designs such as the SMAW and AT4, the M72 LAW has found a new lease of life in the ongoing (2006) operations in Iraq. The low cost and light weight of the LAW, combined with a proliferation of lightly-armored targets, make it ideal for the type of urban combat seen in Iraq.
Surplus Demand
It is interesting to note that expended LAW tubes may be found on the US military surplus and gun show market at quite high prices, making them a rare find for a militaria collector.
Other Variants
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| M72 | 66 mm Talley single shot disposable rocket launcher; pre-loaded w/ HEAT rocket |
| M72A1 | M72 variant; improved rocket motor |
| M72A2 | M72 variant; improved rocket motor |
| M72A3 | M72A1/A2 variant; safety upgrades |
| M72A4 | M72 variant; rocket optimised for high-penetration; uses improved launcher assembly |
| M72A5 | M72A3; uses improved launcher assembly |
| M72A6 | M72 variant; rocket w/ low penetration, improved blast effect; uses improved launcher assembly |
| M72A7 | M72A6 variant; US Army M72A6 variant for US Navy |
| M72E8 | M72A7 variant; Fire-From-Enclosure (FFE) capable rocket motor; uses improved launcher assembly |
| M72E9 | M72 variant; rocket w/ improved anti-armour capability; uses improved launcher assembly |
| M72E10 | M72 variant; HE-Frag rocket; uses improved launcher assembly |
Specifications
Launcher
- Length:
- *Extended: less than 1 m (34.67 in).
- *Closed: 0.67 m (24.8 in).
- Weight:
- *Complete M72A2: 2.3 kg (5.1 lb).
- *Complete M72A3: 2.5 kg (5.5 lb).
- Firing mechanism: Percussion.
- Front sight: reticle graduated in 25 m range increments.
- Rear sight: peep sight adjusts automatically to temperature change.
Rocket
- Caliber: 66 mm (2.6 in)
- Length: 508 mm (20 in).
- Weight: 1.8 kg (2.2 lb).
- Muzzle velocity: 145 m/s (475 ft/s).
- Minimum range (combat): 10 m (33 ft).
- Minimum arming range: 10 m (33 ft).
- Maximum range: 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Maximum effective ranges
- Stationary target: 200 m (220 yd)
- Moving target: 165 m (180 yd)
- Beyond these ranges, there is less than a 50 % chance of hitting the target.
Other weapons
The British Army also use a weapon known by the acronym LAW, see article LAW 80.The US Army tested other 66 mm rockets based on the M54 rocket motor used for the M72, including the M74 and XM96. These rockets were used with the XM191 and M202 Flash 4 tube launchers.
External links
- [FAS]
- [Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide]
- [Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide]
- [Article on the reintroduction the LAW in Iraq by the USMC]
- [Canadian Military Page] On the M72. Click More Information for stats
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