Museum-weapons

66mm law

If you grew up in the 1980s watching action movies, you will be familiar with today's Firearm Friday choice.

During the Vietnam War, this firearm was used by the Americans and Australian troops. It was designed and built for " use and dispose ". With so many of these being discarded and laying around on the ground the North Vietnamese Army took advantage of these FREE weapons, they constructed a rudimentary base plate to attach to one end of the RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher) converting it into a mortar, this led to the practice of "use and destroy", typically by smashing it against a tree or such.

The design of the M72 LAW rocket resembles the first 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 looked remarkably like the M1 Bazooka, but the Germans upgraded it to an 88mm, which was much more powerful and penetrated armor more effectively. However, it was also more unwieldy. The Panzerfaust, on the other hand, was much easier to carry and was developed as a single-shot throwaway anti-armor weapon. However, its range was only 30 meters, requiring the shooter to be close to the target.

The M72 LAW was similar to the Panzerfaust because it was a man-portable, one-shot throwaway weapon. The 66mm launcher tube fired a rocket with an adequate warhead. The range was improved over the original Panzerfaust.

Armor penetration was 300mm of steel at 170 meters for the original LAW rocket. However, the original LAW rockets tended to explode mid-air before reaching the target.

Key Points – The M72 LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon) is a portable, one-shot 66mm unguided anti-tank weapon that became a staple of US infantry forces in the early 1960s, replacing the “Super Bazooka.”

-Inspired in part by the German WWII Panzerfaust, the M72 was designed to be lightweight and disposable.

-After initial issues in Vietnam, it was improved and served for decades.

-Although the heavier M136 AT4 officially replaced it in the 1980s, the M72 saw a significant resurgence during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where its lighter weight and effectiveness against buildings and unarmored targets proved highly valuable in urban combat.

The M72 LAW launcher tube is 66mm and comes in two parts with one tube inside of the other, which aids in carrying.

The anti-tank rocket resides inside the tubes. Once prepared for firing, the operator extends the tube, with the inner tube extending to the rear.

Once the launcher is extended and locked, the operator will aim the launcher using pop-up sights. The weapon is then armed and fired, ensuring that the backblast area is clear.