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Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon
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The Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is a shoulder-launched rocket weapon, based on the Israeli B-300, with the primary function of being a portable anti-armor rocket launcher. It was introduced to the U.S. armed forces in 1984. It has a maximum range of 500 m against a tank-sized target.
It can be used 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.
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Encyclopedia
The Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is a shoulder-launched rocket weapon, based on the Israeli B-300, with the primary function of being a portable anti-armor rocket launcher. It was introduced to the U.S. armed forces in 1984. It has a maximum range of 500 m against a tank-sized target.
It can be used 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. Recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have seen a thermobaric rocket added (described as NE—"Novel Explosive"), which is capable of collapsing a building.
Overview
The Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon has an 83.5 mm tube and fires 83 mm rockets. It is a 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 9 mm spotting rifle, an electro-mechanical firing mechanism, open battle sights, and a mount for the MK42 Mod 0 Day Sight and AN/PVS-4 night sights.
Design
The SMAW MK153 Mod 0 launcher, based on Israel Military Industries' B-300 weapon, consists of the launch tube, the spotting rifle, the firing mechanism, and mounting brackets. The launch tube is made of fiberglass-epoxy composite material with a gelcoat on the bore. The spotting rifle, a British design (derived from the LAW 80), 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.
The 9-mm spotting round is ballistically matched to the rocket and serves to increase the gunner's first-round hit probability. Each round consists of a .22 Hornet blank cartridge, crimped into a 7.62-mm NATO casing with a special 9-mm tracer bullet as the projectile. The system can be used in conjunction with the AN/PEQ-4 aiming light in place of the spotting rifle.
Training is accomplished with the MK7 Mod 0 encased common practice rocket and the MK213 Mod 0 noise cartridge. At 187 decibels, the weapon is one of the loudest on the battlefield, second only to a mine-clearing line charge.
Rockets
The High Explosive, Dual Purpose (HEDP) rocket is effective against bunkers, masonry and concrete walls, and light armor. Initiated by a crush switch in its nose, the HEDP rocket is able to distinguish between hard and soft targets, resulting in greater penetration into soft targets for increased damage potential. The HEDP round is capable of penetrating 8 inches (20 cm) of concrete, 12 inches (30 cm) of brick, or up to 7 feet (210 cm) of wood-reinforced sandbags.
The High Explosive Anti-Armor (HEAA) rocket is effective against current tanks without additional armor, and utilizes a standoff rod on the detonator, allowing the explosive force to be focused on a small point, allowing for maximum damage against armored targets. The HEAA round is capable of penetrating armor steel.
The Novel Explosive (SMAW-NE) rocket is effective against caves and bunkers. The SMAW-NE uses a thermobaric warhead which produces an overpressure wave capable of collapsing a building. The Naval Surface Warfare Center teaming with the Marine Corps Systems Command, NSWC Dahlgren, and Talley Defense Systems responded to an urgent US Marine Corps need for a shoulder-launched enhanced-blast warhead in 2003. It was used in the battle for Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004.
Service
The SMAW system (launcher, ammunition and logistics support) was fielded in 1984 as a Marine Corps unique system. At that time, the SMAW included the MK153 Mod 0 launcher, the MK3 Mod 0 HEDP encased rocket, the MK4 Mod 0 practice rocket and the MK217 Mod 0 9 mm spotting cartridge. The MK6 Mod 0 encased HEAA rocket is being added to the inventory. The Mod 0 has demonstrated several shortcomings, and a series of modifications is currently planned to address them. These include a re-sleeving process for bubbled launch tubes, rewriting/drafting operator and technical manuals, a kit that will reduce environmental intrusion into the trigger mechanism, and an optical sight modification to allow the new HEAA rocket to be used effectively against moving armor targets. Recently fielded were new boresight bracket kits that, when installed, solve the loss of boresight problem between launch tube and spotting rifle. During Operation Desert Storm, 150 launchers and 5,000 rockets were provided to the U.S. Army. Since then, the Army has shown increased interest in the system.
Follow-On To SMAW
In 2002 the USMC began a program to develop a successor to the SMAW system. The contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin and IMI and resulted in an enhanced FGM-172 SRAW.
Deployment
When preparing to fire, the gunner assumes his firing position, most often kneeling. The assistant gunner (A-gunner) unscrews the rocket cap, and screws the round into the rear of the launcher. While the A-gunner extricates the spotting-rifle rounds, the gunner charges the charging lever on the launcher. The A-gunner then inserts the spotting-round cartridge into the spotting rifle, and the gunner cocks the rifle (sometimes the A-gunner is the one who cocks the rifle, because it is hard for the gunner to reach). Taking aim, the gunner fires the spotting rifle until the tracer rounds are on target, with the A-gunner acting as spotter. Once on target, the A-gunner clears the backblast area, ensuring no one is in the backblast, and shouting, "Backblast area all secure!" The gunner then says, "Rocket," indicating that a rocket is about to go downrange. The A-gunner repeats, and the gunner depresses the launch lever and pulls the trigger.
When assaulting a fortified position, two two-man SMAW teams are often assigned to rifle platoons, or under the direct command of the company commander. SMAWs are never positioned on the flanks of formations, but always with riflemen to their outside. However, they are deployed in line with the rest of the platoon as backblast is a significant safety concern. The backblast extends in a 90-meter, 60° cone to the rear of the weapon. The backblast is lethal out to 30 meters, and still extremely dangerous to 90 meters.
Although the weapon can be fired from the off-hand, kneeling, sitting, and prone positions, the prone position is generally not used, as the shock wave from the weapon will reflect off the ground to strike the gunner and assistant gunner.
In a defensive position, a two-man, V-shaped fighting hole is generally utilized. Overhead cover on flanks is used for ammunition storage, to protect rounds from the elements, and to guard against sympathetic detonation. Positions are interspersed throughout the rifle platoon, where they have maximum visibility along the most likely avenues of approach, the better to serve as company-level anti-armor weapons.
Similar weapons
Users
Republic of China Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
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