M72 LAW
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo | Explosion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | Radius | |||||
 US |
 M72 LAW |
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 Engineer |
1 / 2 | 175 | 275 |
| Designation | Weapon Type | Fire Modes | Fire Rate | Bullet Spread ° | Muzzle Velocity | Projectile weight | Weight | Reload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[]] | Rocket Launcher | Single Shot | 7 RPM | 3° & 1° ADS | 80 m/s | 230 g (0.5 lbs) | 10 kg (22.05 lbs) | 3.366 Seconds |
| Full name | Caliber | Place of Origin | Date | Manufacturer | Barrel Length | Total Length | Weapon Script Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FN | rpg round | USA | 1963 | ARM | in ( mm) | in ( mm) | weapon_m72 |
The M72 LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon) is a disposable, single-shot 66mm shoulder-fired rocket launcher firing a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead. It uses a telescoping launch tube with simple sights and is issued as a complete round rather than a reloadable launcher. It is best known for giving individual infantry a lightweight anti-armor option that was also commonly employed against field fortifications and firing positions.
HISTORY
The M72 LAW was developed in the early 1960s to give infantry a compact, one-man anti-armor weapon that could be carried in quantity without the weight and crew requirements of earlier rocket launchers and recoilless systems. Adopted by U.S. forces in 1963, it paired a 66mm HEAT rocket with a simple, extend-to-arm launcher that emphasized speed and ease of training. The resulting system was intentionally straightforward: extend the tube, shoulder the launcher, engage with iron sights, fire, and discard.
In Vietnam, the LAW was widely carried by U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps units, where the environment and typical targets made a light shoulder-fired rocket useful even when enemy armor was limited. Alongside its intended anti-vehicle role, it was frequently used as an assault aid against bunkers, fighting positions, and light fortifications where a quick, portable explosive effect was valuable. The basic family included early Vietnam-era models such as the M72 and M72A1, with subsequent variants continuing to refine the series after the war.
Sources
- U.S. Army — TM 3-23.25, Shoulder-Launched Munitions
- Department of the Army — TM 9-1340-214-10, Operator's Manual for 66mm Light Antitank Weapon (LAW) System
- Small Arms Survey — M72 LAW (& close derivatives) (Weapons Identification Sheet)
- Nammo — M72-series (manufacturer overview)