Phantom Blooper
02-04-05, 09:25 AM
February 04,2005
ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Marines fighting in Iraq's cities will eventually use a weapon relied on by U.S. forces more than 30 years ago in the jungles of Vietnam.
Older versions of the M-72 light antitank weapon (or LAW), used extensively during the Vietnam War, were phased out when Cold War experts believed only larger, shoulder-fired rockets would work to stop a Soviet tank blitz. Post war, the AT-4 - which is bigger and has a longer range than its predecessor has - became the Marine Corps' rocket of choice.
But the old boy is making a comeback - albeit with significant technological enhancements.
On Thursday, retired Army Lt. Col. Mark Trexler. now the East Coast marketing rep for Tally Defense Systems, was at Camp Lejeune to show Marine gunners how to use the M-72A7 shoulder rockets - ironically, one of the biggest threats Marines fighting in Iraq face is the Russian-made rocket-propelled grenade (or RPG), which was actually patterned after older LAWs.
"It's like an M-16 sight - preset to 150 meters," Trexler said. "It has a set maximum range of 220 meters, but can be adjusted to 350 meters."
At only about 2 feet long and about 7 pounds, the LAW is significantly shorter and lighter than AT-4, which measures about 40 inches long and weighs more than 15 pounds. Improvements in the LAW's rocket propulsion reduce the back blast, so it can be fired from a concealed window in urban house-to-house street fighting. Additionally, the launcher is disposable.
That capability and versatility isn't possible with other rockets.
"There have been a lot of improvements since the M-72A2 version (from) 1972," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Pat Woellhof, 48, of Clay Center, Kansas.
"The weight and size allow any Marine to strap it to an assault pack. It's) better for moving down an Iraqi alley to seek cover. It's as wide as your shoulders, and you can get in a window or doorway."
The Marines also employ a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon (or SMAW) that is about the same length as the LAW, but twice as heavy and quite bulky. Likewise, Woellhof said, the AT-4 still has its place in the U.S. arsenal, especially firing long distances against armor across open ground.
The LAW, however, is cheaper and so easy to operate that any Marine - including cooks and clerks - can use it accurately.
"With the AT-4 or the SMAW, you have to expose yourself to fire," Woellhof said.
"The LAW is designed to augment the AT-4 against the technical Toyota (pickup truck) with a machinegun on board or against four to five urban positions. It's an all-Marine system."
And recent tests at Camp Geiger's School of Infantry met with good results.
"When we tested it at SOI, they were busting targets at 300 to 350 meters after two or three tries," Trexler said. "You can reach 500 meters with laser sites."
A family of designer rounds is being developed for the LAW - those will include a high-heat and high-pressure warhead capable of destroying a bunker, an antipersonnel warhead that can detonate at 100 meters or more and throw shrapnel fragments at enemy troops, and the traditional antitank warhead.
"It's easy to use, and (there aren't) many moving parts," said Lance Cpl. Andres Moratalla Jr., 22, an infantryman from Jacksonville assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, which returned last fall from a six and a half month deployment to Iraq.
"It's lightweight and seems a lot more versatile for the field in Iraq."
Contact staff writer Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.
ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Marines fighting in Iraq's cities will eventually use a weapon relied on by U.S. forces more than 30 years ago in the jungles of Vietnam.
Older versions of the M-72 light antitank weapon (or LAW), used extensively during the Vietnam War, were phased out when Cold War experts believed only larger, shoulder-fired rockets would work to stop a Soviet tank blitz. Post war, the AT-4 - which is bigger and has a longer range than its predecessor has - became the Marine Corps' rocket of choice.
But the old boy is making a comeback - albeit with significant technological enhancements.
On Thursday, retired Army Lt. Col. Mark Trexler. now the East Coast marketing rep for Tally Defense Systems, was at Camp Lejeune to show Marine gunners how to use the M-72A7 shoulder rockets - ironically, one of the biggest threats Marines fighting in Iraq face is the Russian-made rocket-propelled grenade (or RPG), which was actually patterned after older LAWs.
"It's like an M-16 sight - preset to 150 meters," Trexler said. "It has a set maximum range of 220 meters, but can be adjusted to 350 meters."
At only about 2 feet long and about 7 pounds, the LAW is significantly shorter and lighter than AT-4, which measures about 40 inches long and weighs more than 15 pounds. Improvements in the LAW's rocket propulsion reduce the back blast, so it can be fired from a concealed window in urban house-to-house street fighting. Additionally, the launcher is disposable.
That capability and versatility isn't possible with other rockets.
"There have been a lot of improvements since the M-72A2 version (from) 1972," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Pat Woellhof, 48, of Clay Center, Kansas.
"The weight and size allow any Marine to strap it to an assault pack. It's) better for moving down an Iraqi alley to seek cover. It's as wide as your shoulders, and you can get in a window or doorway."
The Marines also employ a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon (or SMAW) that is about the same length as the LAW, but twice as heavy and quite bulky. Likewise, Woellhof said, the AT-4 still has its place in the U.S. arsenal, especially firing long distances against armor across open ground.
The LAW, however, is cheaper and so easy to operate that any Marine - including cooks and clerks - can use it accurately.
"With the AT-4 or the SMAW, you have to expose yourself to fire," Woellhof said.
"The LAW is designed to augment the AT-4 against the technical Toyota (pickup truck) with a machinegun on board or against four to five urban positions. It's an all-Marine system."
And recent tests at Camp Geiger's School of Infantry met with good results.
"When we tested it at SOI, they were busting targets at 300 to 350 meters after two or three tries," Trexler said. "You can reach 500 meters with laser sites."
A family of designer rounds is being developed for the LAW - those will include a high-heat and high-pressure warhead capable of destroying a bunker, an antipersonnel warhead that can detonate at 100 meters or more and throw shrapnel fragments at enemy troops, and the traditional antitank warhead.
"It's easy to use, and (there aren't) many moving parts," said Lance Cpl. Andres Moratalla Jr., 22, an infantryman from Jacksonville assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, which returned last fall from a six and a half month deployment to Iraq.
"It's lightweight and seems a lot more versatile for the field in Iraq."
Contact staff writer Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.