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.
