Rocket Launchers
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo | Explosion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | Radius | |||||
 VC |
 Kolos AA Rocket Launcher |
 |
Special Loadout Zombies |
7 / 21 | 75 | 125 |
 US |
 M72 LAW |
 |
 Engineer |
1 / 2 | 175 | 275 |
VC |
 RPG-7 |
 |
Engineer |
1 / 2 | 175 | 275 |
US |
 XM202 FLASH |
 |
Special Loadout Zombies |
4 / 8 | 175 | 275 |
Rocket launchers are shoulder-fired weapons that launch rockets or rocket-assisted warheads to deliver explosive effects at longer range than hand-thrown munitions. They are typically used for anti-armor and bunker/structure targets, firing shaped-charge (HEAT) or high-explosive warheads, and many designs are optimized for quick, portable use by infantry. In the Vietnam War era, rocket launchers were widely used because they gave small units a lightweight way to defeat light armor and strike fortified positions in close terrain.
DEFINITION & CHARACTERISTICS
“Rocket launcher” is a broad, practical category covering man-portable weapons that fire self-propelled rockets (or rocket-assisted grenades). This includes disposable single-shot launchers (where the tube is discarded after firing) and reusable launchers (where the launcher is retained and only the rocket/warhead is expended). While exact designs vary, most emphasize portability, short-to-mid-range direct fire, and high explosive effect.
- Common traits
- Role: Man-portable explosive fire against vehicles, bunkers, and hard cover; also used against personnel in positions and for ambush effects.
- Typical warheads: HEAT (anti-armor), high explosive, and specialized warheads depending on the system and era.
- Typical fire modes: Single-shot per trigger press; launchers may be single-use (disposable) or reusable with multiple rounds carried separately.
- Typical “feeding”: Disposable tubes preloaded with a single rocket, or reusable tubes loaded with a rocket/round before firing (system-dependent).
- Common engagement ranges: Short-to-mid range direct fire; practical effectiveness depends on sights, target type, and the specific rocket system.
- Notable tradeoffs: High explosive effect in a portable package versus limited ammunition carried, notable firing signature, and safety constraints from backblast and launch overpressure.
HISTORY
Infantry rocket launchers developed from early 20th-century efforts to give foot soldiers a portable anti-armor weapon, with systems such as the WWII-era bazooka family establishing the “shoulder-fired rocket tube” pattern. Postwar designs expanded into disposable rockets for individual issue and reusable launchers firing rocket-assisted grenades, often emphasizing shaped-charge warheads to defeat armor and fortifications while keeping the launcher light enough for infantry maneuver.
In the Vietnam War era, rocket launchers appeared on all sides and were used as much for attacking bunkers and fighting positions as for anti-vehicle work. U.S. forces fielded disposable 66mm weapons such as the M72 LAW, and period field manuals describe it as a lightweight, self-contained HEAT rocket system. Communist forces commonly used Soviet-pattern RPG systems, including RPG-2- and RPG-7-family launchers; Australian War Memorial collection records document captured RPG-7V launchers and imagery of captured RPG-7s examined by allied troops in 1968. The combination of portability, explosive effect, and suitability for ambushes made rocket launchers a persistent presence in Vietnam’s close terrain and fortified fighting positions.
Sources
- https://www.britannica.com/technology/bazooka Bazooka (background on infantry rocket launchers and RPG lineage) | Encyclopaedia Britannica
- https://www.britannica.com/technology/RPG-7 RPG-7 (design concept and performance context) | Encyclopaedia Britannica
- https://www.britannica.com/technology/small-arm/Antitank-weapons Antitank weapons (RPG-2 and RPG-7 overview) | Encyclopaedia Britannica
- https://www.bulletpicker.com/pdf/FM-23-33.pdf FM 23-33: 66-mm High Explosive Antitank Rocket, M72 | U.S. Army Field Manual (PDF scan)
- https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/SAS_weapons-rocket-launchers-RPG7.pdf RPG-7 (& close derivatives) (variants and identification) | Small Arms Survey (PDF)
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C153461 RPG 7V Rocket Launcher : Viet Cong (captured weapon record) | Australian War Memorial
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C317260 Captured RPG7 rocket launcher examined by 7RAR soldier (1968 photo record) | Australian War Memorial
- https://www.usmcmuseum.com/uploads/6/0/3/6/60364049/vietnam_marine_weapon_descriptions_-_copy.pdf Marine Corps Vietnam Gallery Weapons (Vietnam-era weapon summaries incl. RPG-7) | National Museum of the Marine Corps (PDF)