Anti-Armor Weapon Systems Overview

Anti-Armor Weapon Systems

• M98A2 Javelin: Man-portable, medium-range anti-tank weapon system. Consists of a Command Launch Unit (CLU) and a reusable Javelin round. Features: day/night sights, gunner controls, CLU display indicators, and a launch tube assembly (LTA).
• Range: 2,500 meters. Minimum engagement range: top attack - 150 meters, direct attack - 65 meters. Capable of defeating current and projected armor.
• M41A7 Saber: Heavy anti-tank precision fire weapon system. Consists of launch tube, target acquisition subsystem (TAS), traversing unit (TU), tripod, fire control subsystem (FCS), and lithium power source (LPS). Can operate day or night (NVS and day sights). Capable of using GPS for target location, using Laser Rangefinder (LRF).
• TOW (Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided) system: A tube-launched, optically tracked, wire to command link guided missile system. Features Max Effective Range - 3750 m, Min Range: 65 m, TOW2B Aero Max Range: 4200m, Min Range: 200m, Direct View Optic magnification (WFOV - 4X), NVS (NFOV - 12X, 2X, 4X, 12X). Can be magnified up to 96X.

Ammunition Characteristics

• BGM-71C (TOW): Fielded in 1981, Max Range- 3,750 Meters, Minimum Arming Distance- 65 Meters, Warhead- 4.5 lbs LX-14 explosive, Max Velocity- 296 m/sec (662 mph), Weight - 55.7 lbs, Improvements: Warhead, Extendable Probe.
• BGM-71D (TOW 2): Fielded in 1983, Max Range- 3,750 Meters, Minimum Arming Distance- 65 Meters, Warhead- 6.9 lbs of LX-14 explosive, Max Velocity- 329 m/sec (736 mph), Weight - 60.2 lbs, Improvements: Warhead, Thermal Beacon, Flight Motor.
• Other variants (BGM-71E, BGM-71F, BGM-71F-3, BGM-71H) are also detailed, including varying ranges, warheads, velocities, weights, and improvements like precursor charges, aerodynamic ogives, and use of CAPS

Anti-Armor Weapon System Capabilities

• Primary Mission: Destroy enemy armored vehicles.
• Secondary Mission: Provide fire support against point targets (e.g., bunkers, crew-served weapons).
• Firing Patterns: Standard techniques and use of platoon and section fire commands, used by tank, TOW, and Javelin sections (frontal and depth).
• Deployment Methods: Primary position, supplementary positions (with missions different from the primary position), Alternate positions (same mission different position), Methods of displacement (by unit, by Echelon)

Anti-Armor Capabilities/Limitations

• Light, Medium, and Heavy Anti-Armor Weapons: Different capabilities and limitations; Main Battle Tanks (MBT) with 120mm cannon, rapid rate of fire (2 rounds in 12 seconds) are the most difficult weapons to suppress.
• ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles): High first-round hit capability; TOW equipped on multiple platforms; vulnerable to enemy fire; slow time of flight in some models; easily identifiable heat signatures, restricting deployment. TOW variants (LAV-25 / LAV-25AT)
• Rotary Wing Aircraft: Use TOW and Hellfire; penetrate MBT.
• Artillery: Only 155mm (DPICM is better for lightweight armor); Copperhead requires laser designation.
• Methods of Engagement: On Order Fire Control and Event-Oriented Fire Control. methods of engagement (e.g., Mass Surprise Fires, HAW-MAW-LAW (Heavy, Medium, and Light Anti-Armor Weapons)). This concept is employed against large armored formations, which gives friendly weapons longer time to engage enemy armor.

Target Prioritization for Anti-Armor Weapons

• Two Methods: On-Order Fire Control, and Event-Oriented Fire Control.
• Weapon Categories:
  • Most Dangerous: Engages, or is preparing to engage a friendly weapon.
  • Dangerous: Could engage a friendly weapon but hasn't seen it yet.
  • Least Dangerous: Cannot engage or powerful enough to destroy a friendly weapon.

Firing Positions

• Primary Position: Alternate positions and supplementary positions often exist for the same mission but in different locations with different missions.
• Methods of Displacement: By unit and by echelon. Keys to anti-armor positioning (Cover and Concealment, Dispersion, Mutual Support, Standoff Range, and Flank Shots).