United
States Military Weapons of War
Part
1: Weapons and Equipment of the Infantry and Special Ops (Page 3)
Small Missiles and Mortars
Sometimes you just need a bigger gun. There are times when infantry units need a little more firepower in the way of lightweight mortars or ground-to-air missiles to get rid of those bothersome enemy aircraft or tanks, or to punch through fortified buildings. Here are the main small ground-to-air missile systems and light mortars that are used by our "ground-pounders."
FIM-9 Stinger Missile
The
Stinger weapon system is a man portable (34.5 pounds), shoulder-fired, supersonic
missile system designed to counter high speed, low-level, ground attack aircraft.
The Stinger is effective against helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and
observation and transport aircraft. Once fired, the Stinger uses proportional
navigation algorithms to guide the missile to a predicted intercept point.
The Stinger missile can be used as a man portable air defense system (MANPAD)
when the weapon is fired from the gunner’s shoulder, mounted aboard the Avenger
weapons system, or mounted in the light armored vehicle-air defense variant
(LAV-AD).
The Stinger is a true “fire and forget” missile, requiring no inputs from the gunner once the weapon is fired. This allows the gunner to take cover, move to an alternate position, or engage additional targets. The Stinger also possesses an integral identification, friend or foe (IFF) subsystem to assist the gunner in identifying friendly aircraft.
The launch motor ejects the missile from the launch tube. The missile coasts a safe distance (about 9 meters) from the gunner before the dual thrust flight motor ignites and provides a sustained 22 gravity acceleration that arms the missile. After the gunner arms the missile, a sustained flight phase maintains missile velocity until the propellant is consumed. Then the missile enters a free flight period in which the motor has burned out, but the missile maintains a degree of maneuverability prior to interception or self destruction.
The warhead consists of a fuze assembly and the equivalent of one pound of high explosives encased in a pyrophoric titanium cylinder. The fuze is extremely safe and makes the missile exempt from any hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance conditions. The warhead can be detonated by penetrating the target, impacting the target, or self-destruction. Self-destruction occurs 15 to 19 seconds after launch.
Type: Short range
air-defense missile
Entered Army service: 1981
Propulsion: Dual thrust solid fuel rocket motor
Length: 5 feet (1.5 meters)
Width: 5.5 inches (13.96 centimeters)
Weight: 12.5 pounds (5.68 kilograms)
Weight fully armed: 34.5 pounds (15.66 kg)
Range: 1 to 8 kilometers
Ceiling 10,000 feet (3.046 kilometers)
Speed: Supersonic in flight
Crew: 2 enlisted
Guidance system: Fire-and-forget passive infrared seeker
Warheads: High explosive
Rate of fire: 1 missile every 3 to 7 seconds
Sensors: Passive infrared
Unit Replacement Cost $38,000
Inventory: About 13,400 missiles available in the Army and Marine Corps
M-252 Mortar
The
M252 81mm Medium Extended Range Mortar is a crew-served, medium weight mortar
which is highly accurate and provides for a greater range (4,500 meters to
5,650 meters) and lethality than the previous 81mm mortar. The cannon has
a crew-removable breech plug and firing pin. The muzzle end has a short tapered
lead-in which acts as a blast attenuator device. The breech end is finned
for better cooling. This mortar also uses the standard M64 mortar sight of
the M-224 60mm mortar.
The M252 is an
adaptation of the standard British 81mm mortar developed in the 1970s. It
is mostly commonly found in the mortar platoon of an Army or Marine Corps
infantry battalion.
The M252 is ideally suited to support airborne, air assault, mountain and light
infantry units. The M-252 Mortar is used by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine
Corps.
Type: 81mm mortar
Entered service: 1987
Caliber: 81mm
Barrel length:4 ft 6 in
Weight: 91 lbs
Range: 5,600 meters
Rate of fire: 15 rounds/min sustained
M-224 Lightweight Mortar
The
M224 60mm Lightweight Mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle loading, high-angle-of-fire
weapon. The cannon assembly is composed of the barrel, combination base cap,
and firing mechanism. The mount consists of a bipod and a base plate which
is provided with screw type elevating and traversing mechanisms to elevate/traverse
the mortar. The M64 sight unit is attached to the bipod mount via a standard
dovetail. An additional short range sight is attached to the base of the
cannon tube for firing the mortar on the move and during assaults. It has
a spring-type shock absorber to absorb the shock of recoil in firing.
The M224 replaced the older (WWII era) M2 and M19, 60mm Mortars. These weapons only possessed 2,200 yards of effective range. The M224 was designed to fire all types of the older ammunition, but its primary rounds are of the newer, longer-range type. The weapon is used primary by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Length: 40 inches
(101.6 centimeters)
Weight: 46.5 pounds (21.11 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 60mm
Maximum effective range: 2.17 miles (3490 meters)
Rates of fire:
Maximum: 30 rounds/minute
Sustained: 20 rounds/minute
Unit Replacement Cost: $10,658
AT4 Anti-Armor Weapon
The
M136 AT4 is the Army and Marine Corps's primary light anti-tank weapon. The
M136 AT4 is a recoilless rifle used primarily by Infantry Forces for engagement
and defeat of light armor. The recoilless rifle design permits accurate delivery
of an 84mm High Explosive Anti-Armor warhead, with negligible recoil.
The M136 AT4 is a lightweight, self-contained, anti armor weapon consisting of a free-flight, fin-stabilized, rocket-type cartridge packed in an expendable, one-piece, fiberglass-wrapped tube. The M136 AT4 is man-portable and is fired from the right shoulder only. The launcher is watertight for ease of transportation and storage.
Though the M136 AT4 can be employed in limited visibility, the firer must be able to see and identify the target and estimate the range to it. Subsequent to the initial fielding of the weapon, a reusable night sight bracket was developed and fielded. It permits utilization of standard night vision equipment. The system's tactical engagement range is 250 meters and has been used in multiple combat situations. The round of ammunition is self-contained in a disposable launch tube. The system weighs 15 pounds and can be utilized effectively with minimal training.
Primary function:
Light anti-armor weapon
Manufacturer: FFV Ordnance, Sweden and Alliant Techsystems
Length: 40 inches (101.6 centimeters)
Weight: 14.75 pounds (6.7 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 84mm
Maximum effective range: 984.3 feet (300 meters)
Penetration: 400 mm of rolled homogenous armor
Time of Flight (to 250 meters): less than 1 second
Muzzle velocity: 950 feet (285 meters) per second
Operating temperature: -104 to +140° F (-40 to +60° C)
Ammunition: Rocket with shaped charge warhead
Unit Replacement Cost: $1,480.64
Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon
The
Shoulder-Launched Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is designed to destroy
bunkers and other fortifications during assault operations as well as other
designated targets with the dual mode rocket and to destroy main battle tanks
with the HEAA rocket.
The SMAW is an 83mm man-portable weapon system consisting of the MK153 Mod 0 launcher, the MK 3 Mod 0 encased HEDP rocket, the MK 6 Mod 0 encased HEAA rocket, and the MK217 Mod 0 spotting rifle cartridge. The launcher consists of a fiberglass launch tube, a 9mm spotting rifle, an electro-mechanical firing mechanism, open battle sights, and a mount for the MK42 Mod 0 optical and AN/PVS-4 night sights. The High Explosive, Dual Purpose (HEDP) rocket is effective against bunkers, masonry and concrete walls, and light armor. The High Explosive Anti-Armor (HEAA) rocket is effective against current tanks without additional armor. The 9mm spotting rounds are ballistically matched to the rockets and increase the gunner's first round hit probability. Training is accomplished with the MK7 Mod 0 encased common practice rocket and the MK213 Mod 0 noise cartridge.
The SMAW MK153 Mod 0 launcher is based on the Israeli B-300 and consists of the launch tube, the spotting rifle, the firing mechanism, and mounting brackets. The launch tube is fiberglass/epoxy with a gel coat on the bore. The spotting rifle is a British design and is mounted on the right side of the launch tube. The firing mechanism mechanically fires the spotting rifle and uses a magneto to fire the rocket. The mounting brackets connect the components and provide the means for boresighting the weapon. The encased rockets are loaded at the rear of the launcher. The spotting cartridges are stored in a magazine in the cap of the encased rocket.
Originally developed as a unique weapon for the U.S. Marine Corps, during Desert Storm, 150 launchers and 5,000 rockets were provided to the U.S. Army. The Army subsequently added the weapon to its inventory.
Primary function:
Portable anti-armor rocket launcher.
Length:
To Carry: 29.9 inches (75.95 centimeters)
Ready-to-Fire: 54 inches (137.16 cm)
Weight:
To Carry: 16.6 pounds (7.54 kg)
Ready-to-Fire (HEDP): 29.5 pounds (13.39 kg)
Ready-to-Fire (HEAA): 30.5 pounds (13.85 kg)
Bore diameter: 83mm
Maximum effective range:
1 x 2 Meter Target: 250 meters
Tank-Sized Target: 500 meters
Introduction date: 1984
Unit Replacement Cost: $13,000
Dragon Weapon System
The
Dragon Weapon System is designed to engage and destroy armor and light armored
vehicles. The weapon is also effective against hard targets such as bunkers
and field fortifications.
The warhead power of Dragon makes it possible for a single Marine or soldier to defeat armored vehicles, fortified bunkers, concrete gun emplacements, or other hard targets. The launcher consists of a smoothbore fiberglass tube, breech/gas generator, tracker and support, bipod, battery, sling, and forward and aft shock absorbers. Non-integral day and night sights are required to utilize the Dragon.
The complete system consists of the launcher, the tracker and the missile, which is installed in the launcher during final assembly and received by the military in a ready to fire condition. The launch tube serves as the storage and carrying case for the missile. The night tracker operates in the thermal energy range.
The first-generation Dragon, a 1000-meter system requiring 11.2 seconds flight-to-target time, was developed for the US Army and fielded in 1970. A product improvement program (PIP) was initiated by the Marine Corps in 1985 and managed by NSWC Dahlgren. The PIP, designated Dragon II, was designed to increase warhead penetration effectiveness by 85%. The Dragon II missile is actually a retrofit of warheads to the first generation missiles already in the Marine Corps and Army inventory.
TOW Missile System
The
tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile is a crew-portable,
vehicle-mounted, heavy anti armor weapon system consisting of a launcher
and one of five versions of the TOW missile. It is designed to defeat armored
vehicles and other targets such as field fortifications from ranges up to
3,750 meters. After firing the missile, the gunner must keep the crosshairs
of the sight centered on the target to ensure a hit. The system will operate
in all weather conditions in which the gunner can see a target throughout
the missile flight by using either a day or night sight.
The TOW system is used on the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV),
the M151 jeep, the armored personnel carrier, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle
(BFV), COBRA helicopters, the Improved Tow Vehicle (ITV), and the USMC light
armored vehicle. Three of the five TOW missile versions—Basic TOW, Improved
TOW, and TOW 2—are no longer being produced for U.S. forces. However,
these versions are used by 43 allied countries, and Switzerland co-produces
the missile system. In the late 1980s, Hughes Aircraft Company, prime contractor
for the TOW weapon system, began producing the TOW 2A which gave the system
the capability of defeating reactive armor. The TOW 2B provides additional
capability against future armored threats.
In May 1972, U.S. soldiers used the TOW in combat during the Vietnam War. This was the very first time that American troops had ever fired an American-made missile under wartime conditions. The system has also seen action in various clashes between Israel and Syria as well as during the Iran/Iraq war. The TOW was one of the earliest missile systems to arrive in Southwest Asia and proved to be highly effective throughout Operation Desert Storm.
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Above Photos are Official U.S. Army and USMC Photos
