M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) History

The M72 LAW was the standard shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon of the US military and its allies throughout the Cold War (although it is still in service today). The concept behind the weapon system is fairly simple, as it is essentially a two-piece launch tube with a missile ready to fire inside. The missile is protected until the weapon is prepared by extending the two launch tube sections to its full length. At its core, the M72 is lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture, and relatively easy to maneuver in order to provide low-level infantry with long-range anti-tank capabilities.

Production of the M72 was taken over by Talley Industries in the US and has since been licensed in Norway and Turkey.

The main problem with early anti-tank weapons was the need to get close to the target. It wasn't until World War II that brought the development of shoulder-fired long-range weapons to take out enemy tanks that the category really came to the fore. The Americans developed their fairly simple but reusable "bazooka" launcher in 1942, which was widely used throughout the war.

For the Germans, they used their Panzerschreck (based on the American bazooka) and the Panzerfaust system - the latter consisted of a single-use disposable barrel with a rocket ready to fire inside. The bazooka itself was in use until the second half of the 1950s, appearing in various forms before being retired.

During its lifetime, the M72 was further developed in various forms. The "M72" designation identifies the original 1963 production model. The M72A1 has a new and improved engine, while the M72A2 is similar in most respects, but with an improved engine layout. Using these previous models, safety was addressed to create the M72A3 standard. A high-speed version with a new launch tube appeared as the M72A4.

The M72A3 was then upgraded with the new launch tube to become the M72A5. A low-speed variant with an improved warhead and launcher became the M72A6. The US Navy uses the same version, but calls it the M72A7. In a 1983 evaluation, the M72E5 was envisioned as a greatly improved version, and the Swedish AT4 was eventually selected as the U.S. military's next man-portable anti-tank system.

The M72E8 removes the limitation of "shooting from tight spaces" with a new engine and launcher. The M72E9 brings improved anti-armor penetration as well as a new launcher.

The last M72 variant became the M72E10 variant with an improved launcher and a high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) missile warhead.

The M72 reached its expected useful life by the late 1970s, instructing the U.S. military to find a suitable replacement. This was supposed to be the FGR-17 Viper, but the program was canceled by the US government in 1983. Forced to choose an existing anti-armor solution rather than spend millions developing a new one, the US military opted for the effective Swedish AT4, which became "M136" in American nomenclature.

Despite the advent of the AT4/M136, the M72 is still in service today - both in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, the U.S. Marine Corps recently (2011) contracted another 7,750 M72s of the newest production brand. The U.S. Navy SEALs also continue to actively use the M72 in their current inventory, as do the U.S.

Army and Canadian Army. Many other armed forces have retained their M72s in service as auxiliary systems, or have either completely retired or sold their stocks.

The Finns call their M72 "66 KES", while the Turkish military calls their M72 "HAR". In the UK, the M72 was designated "L1". Overall, the M72 series has a sizable presence in various militaries around the world.

These include Australia, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan and Thailand, to name a few.

M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) Specification

Roles

- anti-tank/anti-material/breakthrough

Dimensions

Total length:

1,000 mm

Run Length:

1,000 mm

Weight (not loaded):

2.50 kg

Attractions:

Folding sun visor front and rear.

Performance

Action:

Single shot; Disposable hose

Muzzle velocity:

475 feet per second (145 meters per second)

Rate of fire:

1 time per minute

Valid range:

1,640 ft (500 m; 547 yd)

Changes

M72 - first production model

M72A2 - Improved rocket motor

M72A3 - Improved rocket motor

M72A4 - Modified safety features

M72A5 - Modified launcher design

M72A6 - Improved projectile function and launcher.

M72A7 - US Navy designation for the US Army M72A6.

M72E8 - Improved launcher; close range launch capability, allows the system to be fired from building windows.

M72E9 - Improved anti-tank shell; improved starter.

M72E10 - Improved launcher; HE Frag Shell

66 KES 75 - Finnish designation for M72A2

66 KES 88 - Finnish designation for M72A5

HAR-66 - Turkish designation; M72A3 launcher with M72A2 projectile.

Rocket, 66mm HEAT, L1A1 - British designation for the M72 base.

LASM (Lightweight Anti-Structure Missile) - British designation for the M72A9.

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