Anti-Tank Weapons Systems Overview

Javelin System

• M98A2 Javelin: Man-portable, medium-range anti-tank weapon system. Consists of a Command Launch Unit (CLU) and a missile.
• Command Launch Unit (CLU): Reusable component with day/night sights, gunner controls, display indicators, and built-in testing capabilities.
• M98A2 Javelin Round: Includes a launch tube assembly (LTA), battery cooling unit (BCU), and a missile designed to defeat current and projected armor, with a maximum range of 2,500 meters.

Saber System

• M41A7 Saber: Man-portable, heavy anti-tank precision fire system. Features a launch tube, Target Acquisition Subsystem (TAS), Traversing Unit (TU), tripod, Fire Control Subsystem (FCS), lithium power source (LPS), and Position Attitude Determination Subsystem (PADS).
• PADS: Requires a minimum of 4 satellites for own position and 5 for target position, calculating grid coordinates for system and target locations.
• FTL (Fine Target Locate) capability: Provided by PADS and TAS, resulting in 60-meter Circular Error Probable (CEP) accuracy at 6,000 meters.
• Aided Target Tracking: Improves missile tracking and increases hit and kill percentages.
• TU Elevation Brake: Improves Saber stability at launch
• Hot Position: Firing position providing good fields of fire and accommodating backblast. Only one position per weapon.
• Cold Position: Maximum cover and defendable position.

General Anti-Armor Principles

• Fire Patterns: Standard methods for distributing anti-armor fire among multiple targets.
• Active Protection: Systems employed to defend against enemy attack (e.g., jammers, radars, and fragmentation).
• Passive Protection: Armor or barriers not reacting to the impact of weapons (e.g., spaced armor plates).
• Reactive Protection: Involves explosive or non-explosive protection methods.
• Target Precedence: Determining the order in which enemy weapons are engaged based on threat.
• Primary Position: Main firing position for a specific mission.
• Ambush Concept: Guides positioning of anti-armor weapons.
• Categories of Anti-Armor Weapons: Light, medium, and heavy systems.
• HAW MAW LAW Concept: Heavy, medium, and light anti-armor weapons engaging targets at maximum range.
• Mass Surprise Fires (MSF): Simultaneous engagement of enemy forces using all anti-armor weapons.
• Positioning Keys: Cover and concealment, dispersion, mutual support, standoff, and flank shots.

Anti-Armor Weapon System Specifications (Examples)

• MAAWS: Various ammunition types (HE, HEDP, ADM, Illum), ranges, launch angles.
• Javelin: Maximum and minimum range, different attack modes.
• TOW2B Aero: Maximum and minimum range, aerodynamic ogive.
• TOW2B Aero Gen 2: Maximum range, CAPS (Common Ammunition Provisions System).
• Other Anti-Armor Systems: Penetration data, ranges, and considerations for different systems (e.g., LAV-25, LAAW, MG, RW, FW, Arty).

System Indicators and Modes

• CLU Indicators: "NVS NOT COOL," "Attack Mode," "Missile Not Ready," "SEEK," and "MSL CONN."
• Seeker Mode: Activation indicator on the control unit display.

Anti-Armor Weapon Usage Considerations

• Firing Considerations (Saber): Wire clearance, friendly locations, backblast, standoff, minimum engagement range, system checks, water.
• Weapon Penetration: Specifications for armor penetration.
• Mission Types: Primary (destroy enemy vehicles) and secondary (fire support) roles, various types of engagements (frontal, crossfire, depth fire).
• Enemy Classification: Most, dangerous, and least dangerous threats for prioritizing targets.

Weapon Positions

• Alternate Positions: Same mission, different position.
• Supplementary Positions: Different position, different mission.

Weapon System Advantages/Disadvantages

• ATGM Advantages: High hit probability, versatility, defeating armor from multiple angles.
• ATGM Disadvantages: Vulnerability, slow speed, and rate of fire, limitations due to terrain.

Explore the features and functionalities of the M98A2 Javelin and M41A7 Saber anti-tank weapon systems. This quiz covers key components, operational capabilities, and technological advancements in modern anti-tank warfare. Test your knowledge of these critical military assets.