M72 LAW

The M72 rocket has been in Australian service since the Vietnam War.[12][13] Currently, the Australian Defence Force uses the M72A6 variant, known as the Light Direct Fire Support Weapon,[14] as an anti-structure and secondary anti-armor weapon. The weapon is used by ordinary troops at the section (squad) level and complements the heavier 84-mm Carl Gustav recoilless rifle and Javelin missile, which are generally utilized by specialized fire support and anti-armor troops.[15]

Taiwan (The Republic of China Army) uses the M72 as a secondary anti-armor weapon. It is used primarily as a backup to the Javelin and M136 (AT4) anti-tank weapons. The weapon is later reverse-engineered into the "Type 1 66mm Anti-tank Rocket" but is more-popularly nicknamed as the "Type 66 rocket" due to its caliber.

Packing crates are used to demonstrate the danger of the M72 back blast

The M72 LAW is used in the Finnish Army (some 70,000 pieces), where it is known under the designations 66 KES 75 (M72A2, no longer in service) and 66 KES 88 (M72A5). In accordance with the weapon's known limitations, a pair of "tank-buster" troops crawl to a firing position some 50 to 150 meters away from the target, bringing with them four to six LAWs, which are then used in rapid succession until the target is destroyed or incapacitated. Due to its low penetration capability, it is used mostly against light armored targets. The M72 is the most common anti-tank weapon in the Finnish Army. Finland has recently upgraded its stocks to the M72 EC LAW Mk.I version. It is designated 66 KES 12. Claimed penetration for the M72 EC LAW is 450mm of rolled homogeneous armor steel plate, nearly twice that of the M72A2.[16] It also fields the bunker-buster version that contains 440 g of DPX-6 explosive, named M72 ASM RC, and locally designated 66 KES 12 RAK. The oldest version 66 KES 75 is now retired.[17]

The Turkish Army uses a locally built version by Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu, called HAR-66 (Hafif Antitank Roketi, Light Antitank Rocket), which has the performance and characteristics of a mix of M72A2 and A3. Turkey also indigenously developed an anti-personnel warhead version of HAR-66 AP and called it "Eşek Arısı" (Wasp).[18]

The British Army had used the NAMMO M72 under the designation "Rocket 66 mm HEAT L1A1" but it was replaced by the LAW 80 during the 1980s.[19] The M72 rocket was reintroduced into British service under the Urgent Operational Requirement program, with the M72A9 variant being designated the Light Anti-Structure Munition (LASM).[20][21][22]

M72 as used in Vietnam, 1968.

Modern M72 in use in Afghanistan with U.S. Marines, 2008.

During the Vietnam and post-Vietnam periods, all issued LAWs were recalled after instances of the warhead exploding in flight, sometimes injuring the operator. After safety improvements, part of the training and firing drills included the requirement to ensure that the words "w/coupler" were included in the text description stenciled on the launcher, which indicated that the launcher had the required safety modification(s).[note 4]

With the failure of the M72's intended replacement, the Viper, in late 1982 Congress ordered the US Army to test off-the-shelf light antitank weapons and report back by the end of 1983. In partnership with Raufoss AS, Talley Defense offered the M72E5, which offered increased range, penetration and better sights; this was tested along with five other light anti-armor weapons in 1983. Despite the improvements that the M72E5 offered, the AT4 was chosen to replace the M72.[23][note 5]

Although generally thought of as a Vietnam War–era weapon that has been superseded by the more powerful AT4, the M72 LAW found a new lease on life in the operations by the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, and Canadian Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lower cost and lighter weight of the LAW, combined with a scarcity of modern heavy armored targets and the need for an individual assault weapon versus an individual anti-armor weapon, made it ideal for the type of urban combat seen in Iraq and mountain warfare seen in Afghanistan. In addition, a soldier can carry two LAWs on a mission as opposed to a single AT4.[24]

M72A7 firing trainer, showing Picatinny rail

The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico, Virginia placed a $15.5-million fixed contract order with Talley Defense for 7,750 M72A7s, with delivery to be completed in April 2011.[25][26] The M72A7 LAW is an improvement on previous versions, including an improved rocket motor for a higher velocity to accurately engage targets past 200 meters, an insensitive munitions warhead to reduce the likelihood of an accidental explosion, and a Picatinny rail to mount laser pointers and night sights. The LAW is useful in Afghanistan as a small and light rocket system for use against short- and medium-range targets by foot patrols in the difficult terrain and high elevations of the country.[27] The U.S. military is still purchasing LAW rockets as of January 2015.[28] In 2018 it was reported that an upgrade for the LAW was being developed that would improve the fire control system as well as largely eliminate the weapon's back blast, making it possible to fire the weapon safely from within a confined space.[29]

Several M72A1 and M72A2 LAWs captured from Vietnam War have been put into service with the Chemical Force of the Vietnam People's Army. The launchers are upgraded to be able to fire multiple times and are armed with M74 incendiary rounds.

• Length:
  • Extended: less than 1 m (39 in).
  • Closed: 0.67 m (26 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.

• Caliber: 66 mm (2.6 in)
• Length: 508 mm (20.0 in)
• Weight: 1.8 kg (4.0 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)
• Penetration: 300 mm (12 in)[34]

• 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.

•  Australia: M72A6 variant.[35]
•  Austria[35]
•  Belgium[35]
•  Canada[35] M72A5[36] variant, labeled as M72A5-C1
•  Chile: M72A3 variant.[35]
•  Denmark: M72A7 variant.[37]
•  Egypt: Purchased 5,000.
•  El Salvador[38]
•  Indonesia
•  Israel[39][40]
•  Italy : M72A5 variant since 2007.
•  Malaysia[41]
•  Nicaragua
•  Finland[35]
•  Georgia[42]
•  Greece[43]
•  Iraq[44]
•  Kosovo: Kosovo Security Forces.
•  Luxembourg[35]
•  Lebanon
•  Mexico: First seen in September 2018.[45]
•  Morocco[35]
•  Netherlands[35]
•  New Zealand[35]
•  Norway[35]
•  Philippines[46]
•  Portugal
•  Romania[47]
•  Somalia[48]
•  South Korea[35]
•  Spain: M72A3 variant.[35]
•  Syrian National Coalition[49]
•  Taiwan[35]
•  Thailand[35]
•  Turkey[35]
•  United Kingdom: Used by the British Army from the 1970s to the early 1990s.[50] The M72A9 variant was reintroduced into service for the Afghanistan War.[51]
•  United States[35]
•  Yemen[35]
•  Vietnam[35]

•  Khmer Republic
•  Denmark (Denmark abandoned the M72 LAW in favour of AT4, but has since moved back to favour the M72 LAW).[52][53][37]
• FNLA[54]
•  South Vietnam [55]

• AT4
• Panzerfaust
• Panzerfaust 3
• RPG-18 / RPG-22
• RPG-76
• M80 Rocket Launcher
• Miniman