Key Factors and Abstract: The M72 LAW (Gentle Anti-tank Weapon), a 66mm transportable, one-shot anti-armor rocket, has served U.S. forces for the reason that Nineteen Sixties. Designed to switch the M31 HEAT grenade and M20A1 Tremendous Bazooka, the M72 contains a light-weight, easy-to-use design impressed by WWII anti-tank weapons.
-Initially struggling in Vietnam, subsequent upgrades improved its efficiency, together with a penetration of 12 inches of metal. Although changed by the heavier AT4 within the Nineteen Eighties, the M72 noticed resurgence in Iraq and Afghanistan because of its portability and effectiveness towards unarmored targets.
-Improvements like decreased backblast (LAW FFE) make sure the M72 LAW stays related in trendy fight.
The M72 Legislation Rocket, A Chilly Warrior With a WWII Coronary heart
The M72 LAW (Gentle Anti-tank Weapon) has identified a couple of totally different names. It was additionally referred to as the Gentle Anti-armor weapon or LAW and the LAWS (Gentle Anti-armor Weapons System). No matter its identify, the weapon is a transportable one-shot throwaway 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon.
Within the early Nineteen Sixties, the M72 LAW was adopted by the US Military and Marine Corps as the first particular person infantry anti-tank weapon. The M72 was developed to switch the M31 HEAT rifle grenade and the M20A1 “Tremendous Bazooka.” It was designed to be light-weight, simple to hold and use, and efficient towards armored targets.
Historical past of the M72 LAW
The design of the M72 LAW rocket resembles the primary hand-held anti-tank weapon, the US M-1 Bazooka. The Germans captured some in North Africa and reverse-engineered them to make the Panzerschreck and the Panzerfaust.
The Panzerschrek seemed remarkably just like the M1 Bazooka, however the Germans upgraded it to an 88mm, which was far more highly effective and penetrated armor extra successfully. Nevertheless, it was additionally extra unwieldy. The Panzerfaust, however, was a lot simpler to hold and was developed as a single-shot throwaway anti-armor weapon. Nevertheless, its vary was solely 30 meters, requiring the shooter to be near the goal.
The M72 LAW was much like the Panzerfaust as a result of it was a man-portable, one-shot throwaway weapon. The 66mm launcher tube fired a rocket with an ample warhead. The vary was improved over the unique Panzerfaust.
Armor penetration was 300mm of metal at 170 meters for the unique LAW rocket. Nevertheless, the unique LAW rockets tended to blow up mid-air earlier than reaching the goal.
This unsettling growth in Vietnam resulted in these being ineffective the primary time the NVA used armor at a Particular Forces A-Camp at Lang Vei in 1968. The navy made adjustments to the place the LAW might penetrate 375mm of metal at 220 meters.
M72 Legislation Firing. Picture Credit score: Inventive Commons.
Operation of the M72 and Specs
The M72 LAW launcher tube is 66mm and is available in two components with one tube inside the opposite, which aids in carrying. The anti-tank rocket resides contained in the tubes. As soon as ready for firing, the operator extends the tube, with the interior tube extending to the rear.
As soon as that’s prolonged and locked, the operator will purpose the launcher by way of pop-up sights as soon as the weapon is prolonged. The weapon is then armed and fired, making certain that the backblast space is evident.
Specs:
Caliber: 66 mm
Size: 30.5 in (unextended), 38.5 in (prolonged)
Weight: 5.51 lbs
Muzzle velocity: 475 ft/s
Minimal fight vary: 10 meters
Most vary: 1,000 meters
Most efficient vary: 220 meters
Penetration: 12 inches of metal
It’s within the service of greater than 30 nations.
Alternative and Resurfacement in Afghanistan:
Within the early Nineteen Eighties, Congress mandated that the M136 AT4 change the M72 LAW. Because the warhead was 84mm, the identify AT4 (“Eighty-4”) is a intelligent play on phrases, and AT additionally stands for Anti-Tank in US parlance.
Nevertheless, with an extended tube and heavier (14.8 kilos) weight, the Military determined to return to M72 LAW rockets in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a result of a scarcity of armor of the Taliban and insurgents in Iraq, the heavier AT4s grew to become much less vital.
Troops might carry two or three M72s into battle and successfully eradicated homes or strongholds, so the lighter M72s had been once more pressed into battle. The smaller explosive blast from the M72s additionally mitigated collateral harm throughout city fight missions.
NLAW missile firing — a a lot newer and up-to-date tank-killer missile. Picture Credit score: Inventive Commons.
One growth that furthered the lifetime of the M72s was the LAW FFE (M72 Gentle Assault Weapon Fireplace from Enclosure munitions). The brand new system permits the shooters to fireside a number of pictures every day from inside a room and has much less flash and again blast than an M9 pistol. The decreased visibility will increase the lethality and security of troops firing the weapon.
The M72 LAW continues to be alive and kicking and can stay within the US stock for a number of extra years. The Bazooka legacy lives on.
In regards to the Creator:
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive Nationwide Safety Columnist. He served as a US Military Particular Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. Along with writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Professional Soccer Writers of America (PFWA). His work was often featured in different navy publications.
