thedrifter
12-30-06, 07:12 AM
Portable Blockbuster Options
Strategy Page
December 30, 2006: As a result of the frequent urban combat in Iraq, the U.S. Army and Marines have obtained more shoulder fired rocket weapons with special warheads optimized for killing enemy troops in rooms, small buildings or bunkers. This was found to be a cheaper way to provide the infantry with some "portable artillery." To this end, the Department of Defense bought 6,399 customized LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon). These 7.7 pound, one-shot (the launcher is disposable) anti-tank rockets were developed in the 1960s as a replacement for the World War II bazooka (similar to the Russian designed RPG). However, by the 1970s, it was obvious that the LAW was not able to kill most modern tanks, and in late 1980s, was replaced by the AT4. However, the heavier (15 pounds), and more expensive AT4 ($2,700 per each disposable launcher and four pound warhead) is also larger (40 inches long and 3.3 inches in diameter.) Since American troops rarely faced enemy tanks, but did frequently need some additional firepower to deal with enemy infantry in bunkers or buildings, the AT4 was seen as a step backwards.
The new LAW has several advantages. It is compact (20 inches long, 2.6 inches in diameter), light (7.7 pounds) and cheap (about $2,000 each). It's 2.2 pound warhead can still knock out light armored vehicles (and unarmored ones as well), but it most often used against enemy troops inside bunkers and buildings. But the LAW warhead is still relatively small. So, the U.S. Department of Defense had bought the SMAW (Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon). This was a 17 pound Israeli design (another response to the RPG). However, the SMAW launcher costs $14,000, and each rocket costs more than their RPG equivalents (and are a bit more effective.) The marines obtained a thermobaric (fuel-air explosive) warhead for the SMAW, which proved very useful during the 2004 battle of Fallujah. This warhead, when fired into a room, first disperses a combustible mist, which is then ignited, producing an enormous explosion, that often destroys small buildings, and kills everyone in the room, and adjacent rooms and hallways.
Many American troops have expressed an interest in just getting the RPG, which has a larger (6 pound) warhead, and is a lot cheaper (the RPG launcher goes for about $500 each, and the rockets can be had for under a hundred dollars each). However, the compactness of the LAW, and better accuracy, does make a difference on the battlefield, and is considered worth the cost. The LAW is simple, light, easy-to-use and relatively cheap. A thermobaric warhead was developed for the LAW, but was not put into production. That's because, except for the battle of Fallujah, and a few smaller actions, there has not been a lot of call for such a weapon.
There are many other weapons available for the same task, that don't even have to be carried around. These include the 250 pound smart bombs and GPS guided MLRS rockets. Meanwhile, most American casualties in Iraq come from roadside bombs, not street fighting, so there is not a great demand for new and improved "blockbuster" type infantry weapons. But if there were to be more urban combat, of the Fallujah type, the U.S. knows what works, and can quickly obtain it.
Ellie
Strategy Page
December 30, 2006: As a result of the frequent urban combat in Iraq, the U.S. Army and Marines have obtained more shoulder fired rocket weapons with special warheads optimized for killing enemy troops in rooms, small buildings or bunkers. This was found to be a cheaper way to provide the infantry with some "portable artillery." To this end, the Department of Defense bought 6,399 customized LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon). These 7.7 pound, one-shot (the launcher is disposable) anti-tank rockets were developed in the 1960s as a replacement for the World War II bazooka (similar to the Russian designed RPG). However, by the 1970s, it was obvious that the LAW was not able to kill most modern tanks, and in late 1980s, was replaced by the AT4. However, the heavier (15 pounds), and more expensive AT4 ($2,700 per each disposable launcher and four pound warhead) is also larger (40 inches long and 3.3 inches in diameter.) Since American troops rarely faced enemy tanks, but did frequently need some additional firepower to deal with enemy infantry in bunkers or buildings, the AT4 was seen as a step backwards.
The new LAW has several advantages. It is compact (20 inches long, 2.6 inches in diameter), light (7.7 pounds) and cheap (about $2,000 each). It's 2.2 pound warhead can still knock out light armored vehicles (and unarmored ones as well), but it most often used against enemy troops inside bunkers and buildings. But the LAW warhead is still relatively small. So, the U.S. Department of Defense had bought the SMAW (Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon). This was a 17 pound Israeli design (another response to the RPG). However, the SMAW launcher costs $14,000, and each rocket costs more than their RPG equivalents (and are a bit more effective.) The marines obtained a thermobaric (fuel-air explosive) warhead for the SMAW, which proved very useful during the 2004 battle of Fallujah. This warhead, when fired into a room, first disperses a combustible mist, which is then ignited, producing an enormous explosion, that often destroys small buildings, and kills everyone in the room, and adjacent rooms and hallways.
Many American troops have expressed an interest in just getting the RPG, which has a larger (6 pound) warhead, and is a lot cheaper (the RPG launcher goes for about $500 each, and the rockets can be had for under a hundred dollars each). However, the compactness of the LAW, and better accuracy, does make a difference on the battlefield, and is considered worth the cost. The LAW is simple, light, easy-to-use and relatively cheap. A thermobaric warhead was developed for the LAW, but was not put into production. That's because, except for the battle of Fallujah, and a few smaller actions, there has not been a lot of call for such a weapon.
There are many other weapons available for the same task, that don't even have to be carried around. These include the 250 pound smart bombs and GPS guided MLRS rockets. Meanwhile, most American casualties in Iraq come from roadside bombs, not street fighting, so there is not a great demand for new and improved "blockbuster" type infantry weapons. But if there were to be more urban combat, of the Fallujah type, the U.S. knows what works, and can quickly obtain it.
Ellie