US Army buying more M72 LAWs

[Slater]

I thought the M72 was effectively obsolete with US forces. Not so, I guess:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=97223ce97503c00f6dd85e1e666b38e3&tab=core&_cview=1

[C-grunt]

I've heard they are used a good bit in Afghanistan. A lot smaller than an AT-4.

[ramairthree]

Who needs an AT4 for a pickup full of cats in man jammas or a hut full of skinny dudes with AKs?

Sometimes it's OK to roll with the classics.

Hell, haven't you seen the damage a chick riding shotgun with a 202 flash can do?

[Slater]

Talking to some guys who've used them in years past, they had a pretty high misfire rate. Presumably that's been addressed?

[Failure2Stop]

LAWs are very effective and efficient for the task generally at hand.
If we needed to punch holes in BMPs and T-62s, the AT-4 would be a better tool, but that's not the problem to solve in the current conflict.
We had them on my last trip to the A-Stan, and while I would prefer if their safety/arming/operation was a bit updated, they worked well enough, and while the payload isn't great, it hits loudly and is more effective laterally than the shaped charge of the AT-4. An NE LAW would be cool, as it's always hard to get enough shrap out of small projectiles.

[GotAmmo]

I don't see them being open to the Big Army. My experience as an ammo specialist is its mostly restricted to SOF Units. But only in recent years has it grown popularity with the ARSOF Units.

You'd be surprised that some units use to be authorized on MTOE the 4-tube rocket lauchers at the beginning of the GWOT until everyone realized we didn't have the Ammo for them anymore.

Last time I saw a LAW in use was 99 by a Team of SEALs that were training at JRTC

[SOW_0331]

Talking to some guys who've used them in years past, they had a pretty high misfire rate. Presumably that's been addressed?

The issue with misfires or broken safety latches/triggers is due to the age of a lot of the LAWs. On top of many of them being old, there's a tendency in some units to open and close them frequently. While they aren't broken after opening and prepping just once, repeating this puts strain on mechanics that weren't designed for much more than fire and toss. It's supposed to be a disposable and easy to use device.

I much prefer the LAW to the AT-4. It's no Goose, but it's easy to carry and does the trick.

[gun71530]

I don't see them being open to the Big Army. My experience as an ammo specialist is its mostly restricted to SOF Units. But only in recent years has it grown popularity with the ARSOF Units.

You'd be surprised that some units use to be authorized on MTOE the 4-tube rocket lauchers at the beginning of the GWOT until everyone realized we didn't have the Ammo for them anymore.

Last time I saw a LAW in use was 99 by a Team of SEALs that were training at JRTC

Big Army has being using them for years. I was an infantryman in the 101st, and we had them in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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[R0N]

The A6/A7 are the current fielded rounds. The difference between the A6 and A7 is a Navy HERO complaint rocket and IMX explosive filler on the A7. The A8,A9 and A10 have seen limited fielding but I don't believe are standard A ammo for GPF units

[GTF425]

I carried a LAW yesterday. We have about 10 of them to supplement our SMAW-Ds with, and I greatly prefer the LAW over an AT-4/SMAW-D.

[GTF425]

Big Army has being using them for years. I was an infantryman in the 101st, and we had them in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yep.

I've never seen a shortage of LAWs in RC-East.

[CRAMBONE]

We did a rocket range in late 2010 with a group of guys from NAMMO (the manufacture). They explained the updates to the current issued model, which is a long list. They also stated that the older stockpiles of the original LAWs were not to be used and were set to be destroyed. I really liked the 190 LAW trainer, it is an actual rocket 30ish mm with a solid slug warhead. You get most of the effects of shooting the actual 66mm HE rocket, instead of the gay 9mm AT4 trainers.

We also had LAWs and AT4s on deployment in 2011. The LAWs are easier to pack, especially into the smaller structures that were in Helmand. We haven't faced real armor in a few years so the AT4 is overkill, for no.

[SOWT]

Curiosity question:

Crimson Trace had a laser for the lAW at SHOT. Anyone actually see a tube with a fitting for a laser?

[GotAmmo]

Big Army has being using them for years. I was an infantryman in the 101st, and we had them in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Must be a Unit dependent thing, training wise. The 25th wasn't allocated any when I was with them last.