Missile M-72 LAW

The M72 LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon) entered service with the United States Army and Marine Corps in 1963, replacing the M31 HEAT rifle grenade and the M20A1 Super Bazooka. The system was developed to combine the rocket propulsion principles of the bazooka with the portability and disposable nature of the Panzerfaust. Although intended for replacement in the 1980s, the system remains in service and has undergone multiple modernization programs.

The weapon is a portable, one-shot, unguided system consisting of two telescoping tubes. The outer tube serves as a watertight container for the rocket and percussion firing mechanism, while extending the inner tube locks the assembly and cocks the firing pin. It is a line-of-sight weapon utilizing a solid rocket motor that completes its burn before exiting the launcher. Stabilization is provided by fins that deploy upon clearing the muzzle.

Standard variants utilize a High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead with a piezoelectric impact fuze. A mechanical set-back safety prevents detonation until the rocket has accelerated out of the tube. Modern iterations include variants with an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) to increase spalling inside vehicles, and anti-structure munitions carrying blast-optimized high-explosive charges. Certain models feature a multi-purpose warhead with a self-discriminating fuse that operates in fast or delay modes depending on the target. Fire-from-enclosure (FFE) variants utilize a liquid counter-mass to mitigate backblast, allowing for operation within buildings. Modern launchers include rails for mounting night vision devices and laser pointers. Training versions are available, including reloadable units that fire practice rockets or tracer cartridges.

The system is widely deployed, serving as a light anti-armor or anti-structure weapon in countries including Australia, Canada, Finland, Israel, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. It has seen combat use in the Vietnam War, the Falklands War, the Gulf War, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. During the Vietnam War, units were recalled following reports of in-flight explosions. In the Falklands War, the weapon was used to suppress defensive positions and damage the warship ARA Guerrico. It has been used extensively in the Russo-Ukrainian War following donations from several countries. Turkey produces a localized version designated HAR-66, and Taiwan utilizes a model based on the M72A2. The weapon is used in urban and mountain warfare where its low weight allows individual soldiers to carry multiple units.