Gavin Howe
The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon), also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW, is a portable, one-shot 66mm unguided anti-tank weapon. It was first developed to destroy tanks, with the mass of the tip made from depleted uranium, enabling the rocket to pierce through armour. The M72 rocket has been used by the Australian Defence Force, the British Army, the Chinese Army, and currently by the Ukrainian Army in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. While the M72 LAW was designed as a single-use weapon, there have been reports of the Vietnamese Army modifying Vietnam War-era M72 LAWs into reusable thermobaric rocket launchers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW as well as LAWS Light Anti-Armor Weapons System) |
| Description | A portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon |
| Weight | Lightweight |
| Cost | Low cost |
| Usage | Designed to be used by a single person |
| Range | 50 to 150 meters |
| Warheads | 66 mm HEAT warhead |
| Penetration | Up to 20 cm/8 inches of steel plate, 600 mm (2 feet) of reinforced concrete, or 1.8 meters (6 feet) of soil |
| Reloadability | Intended to be used only once, but theoretically reloadable |
| Variants | M72A2, M72A5, M72A5-C1, M72A6, M72A7, M72A9, M190 |
| Users | Australian Defence Force, Canadian Armed Forces, Danish Armed Forces, Norwegian Armed Forces, Finnish Army, British Army, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnamese Army |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The M72 LAW rocket
The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon), also referred to as the light anti-armor weapon or LAW, is a portable, one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon. It was first used by the US in the Vietnam War and is still in active service today. The M72 was designed in the early 1960s for use against light tanks of that era. It replaced the anti-tank rifle grenade and M20 3.5-inch rocket launcher in US service. The M72 LAW is a combination of two World War II weapons: the bazooka and the Panzerfaust. It was designed to be lightweight and cheap.
The M72A7 LAW is an improved version of its predecessors, featuring an enhanced rocket motor that increases velocity to 200 m/s for greater accuracy beyond 200 meters. The rocket motor burns completely before leaving the mouth of the launcher, producing a backblast of gases around 1,400 °F (760 °C). The rocket consists of an improved rocket motor that is capable of carrying various types of warheads to their intended target with high velocity (approximately 650 feet per second), depending on the version of the LAW. Soldiers can accurately engage targets up to 250 meters away.
The M72A7 was identified as an urgent requirement in support of the global war on terrorism, with the USMC purchasing 1,136 M72A7s in 2005. The US Marine Corps increased M72A7 LAW purchases after 2005, buying about 23,000 over a three-year period from 2007 to 2009. The M72A9 variant was reintroduced into British service for the Afghanistan war.
The M72 rocket has been in Australian service since the Vietnam War. The Australian Defence Force uses the M72A6 variant, known as the "light direct fire support weapon", as an anti-structure and secondary anti-armor weapon. The Republic of China Army (Taiwan) uses the M72 as a secondary anti-armor weapon for infantry units.
The M72 LAW is a disposable firing tube, intended for one-time use. However, the Vietnamese army has modified the M72 into reusable thermobaric rocket launchers.
Curriculum Control: States' Power Over Education Laws
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Development and history
The M72 LAW (light anti-tank weapon, also referred to as the light anti-armor weapon or LAW, as well as LAWS: light anti-armor weapons system) is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon. The M72 LAW was first developed to destroy tanks, with the mass of its depleted uranium tip enabling the rocket to pierce the tank's armour before exploding.
The M72 LAW was designed in the United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale, while with the Hesse-Eastern Division of Norris Thermadore, and it is currently produced by Nammo Raufoss AS in Norway. The M72 LAW was first adopted by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in 1963 as their primary individual infantry anti-tank weapon, replacing the M31 HEAT rifle grenade and the M20A1 "Super Bazooka". The M72 LAW was subsequently adopted by the U.S. Air Force to serve in an anti-emplacement and anti-armour role in airbase defence.
The M72 LAW is a combination of two World War II weapons: the U.S. Army-introduced bazooka, the first rocket-propelled grenade launcher; and the German Panzerfaust, a one-man alternative to the bazooka. The basic principle of the M72 LAW is that of a miniaturized bazooka, while its light weight and cheapness rival the Panzerfaust. The solid rocket propulsion unit was developed in the newly formed Rohm and Haas research laboratory at Redstone Arsenal in 1959, and the full system was designed by Paul V.
In the early 1980s, the M72 was scheduled to be replaced by the FGR-17 Viper, but the Viper program was cancelled by Congress, and the M136 AT4 was adopted instead. The M72A2 LAW was issued as a prepackaged round of ammunition, with improvements to the launcher and differences in the ammunition designated by a single designation. The standard M72A2 anti-armour HEAT warhead has an official stated penetration of up to 20cm/8 inches of steel plate, 600mm (2 feet) of reinforced concrete, or 1.8 meters (6 feet) of soil.
The M72 LAW has been used by various armed forces around the world, including the Australian Defence Force, the British Army, the Finnish Army, the Turkish Army, the Chinese Army, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the Republic of China Army (Taiwan). The M72 LAW has seen active use in various conflicts, including the Vietnam War, the Falklands War, the Sino-Vietnamese War, the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, and the war in Afghanistan.
Service Dog Protection Training: Understanding Legal Boundaries
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Use in warfare
The M72 LAW rocket, also known as the Light Anti-Tank Weapon or Light Anti-Armor Weapon, is a small, armour-piercing explosive rocket contained in a disposable firing tube. It was first developed to destroy tanks, with the mass of the tip made from depleted uranium enabling the rocket to pierce through armour.
The M72 LAW rocket has been used in various conflicts around the world, including the Vietnam War, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the Afghanistan War. In the Vietnam War, the M72 LAW was modified by the Vietnamese army into reusable thermobaric rocket launchers. Its lightweight, low cost, and portability made it ideal for urban combat in Iraq and mountain warfare in Afghanistan. The M72A6 variant, known as the "light direct fire support weapon", is used by the Australian Defence Force as an anti-structure and secondary anti-armor weapon.
In terms of its use in warfare, the M72 LAW rocket is typically employed by infantry troops to engage armoured targets such as tanks or structures. It is a one-shot weapon, with the rocket being loaded into the disposable firing tube. The striker in the rear tube impacts a primer, igniting a small amount of powder that flashes down a tube to the rear of the rocket and ignites the propellant in the rocket motor. This propels the 66mm warhead forward without significant recoil. The fins that spring out from the base of the rocket tube stabilize the warhead's flight.
The M72 LAW rocket has been a crucial weapon in modern warfare, offering infantry troops a lightweight and portable solution to engage armoured targets. Its effectiveness in combat has been demonstrated in various conflicts, solidifying its place as a reliable and powerful tool in military arsenals around the world.
Martial Law and the National Guard: Who's in Charge?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Similar rocket launchers
The M72 LAW is a portable, one-shot, 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon. It was first adopted by the US Army and Marine Corps in 1963 and has seen several iterations since, including the M72A2, M72A7, M72A8, and M72A10. The M72A7, for example, features an enhanced rocket motor that increases velocity to 200 m/s for greater accuracy, and the M72A10 is designed to eliminate hardened structures such as buildings.
There are several similar rocket launchers to the M72 LAW, including:
- M136 AT4 - This is a replacement for the M72 LAW, intended to better enable infantry to fight armoured vehicles at close range. It is a smoothbore recoilless gun with a guided multipurpose munition.
- M141 Bunker Defeat Munition - A single-shot disposable launcher with a specialised anti-fortification role.
- Carl G/MAAWS - A reloadable version of the AT4, provided to weapons teams to enable greater firepower. It can be used in a variety of roles, including tank-fighting, building-busting, and against infantry in the open. It can also use support rounds like smoke and illuminations.
- Mk 153 SMAW - A reloadable rocket system intended for an anti-fortification role, with a secondary anti-tank capability.
- LAW 80 - A man-portable, disposable anti-tank weapon previously used by the British Army and several other militaries. It consists of an extendable launch tube with an integrated 9 mm spotting rifle and 1x sight.
Second-Chairing a Trial: A Law Student's Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Reloading the rocket
The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) is a 66mm rocket launcher used by the US military and other armed forces worldwide. It is a lightweight, portable, short-range rocket launcher designed for urban and mountain warfare. While the M72 LAW is typically described as a single-use rocket launcher, there is evidence to suggest that it can be reloaded and reused.
The M72 LAW combines the features of two World War II weapons: the US Army's bazooka and Germany's Panzerfaust. The bazooka was the first rocket-propelled grenade launcher, but it was large, easily damaged, and required a two-man crew. In contrast, the Panzerfaust was a single-shot launcher that was cheap, easy to use, and required no special training. The M72 LAW offers the advantages of both weapons, with its lightweight, portability, and ease of use.
The M72 LAW's rocket propulsion unit was developed in the 1950s, and the full system was designed by Paul V. When fired, the striker in the rear tube ignites a small amount of powder, creating a "flash" that ignites the propellant in the rocket motor. This propels the 66mm warhead forward, and upon impact, a microsecond electric current is generated, detonating the main warhead charge.
While the M72 LAW is typically considered a disposable weapon, there have been instances of it being reloaded and reused. During the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese Army modified the M72 LAW into reusable thermobaric rocket launchers. Additionally, in Finland, it has been theorised that the M72 LAW could be reloaded, although this has not been implemented in standard procedures. Furthermore, a reloadable variant of the M72 LAW, known as the M190, exists for training purposes.
Reloading the M72 LAW involves replacing the spent rocket with a new one. However, it is important to note that the M72 LAW is intended to be a single-use weapon, and multiple reuses may compromise its effectiveness and safety. The feasibility of reloading the M72 LAW also depends on the specific model, as some later models may not be compatible with reloading.
Law Enforcement and Firearm Removal: What are the Limits?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW, as well as LAWS (Light Anti-Armor Weapons System).
The M72 LAW is a small, armour-piercing explosive rocket contained in a disposable firing tube. It was first developed to destroy tanks.
When fired, the striker in the rear tube impacts a primer, which ignites a powder that causes a flash that ignites the propellant in the rocket motor. The rocket motor burns completely before leaving the launcher, producing a backblast of gases. The rocket then propels the 66mm warhead forward without recoil.
The M72 LAW is intended to be used once. However, the Vietnamese army has modified their Vietnam War-era M72 LAWs into reusable thermobaric rocket launchers.
The M72 LAW has been used by the United States Army, the United States Marines, the British Army, the Finnish Army, the Australian Defence Force, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
