- LAW 80
Infobox Weapon
name= LAW 80
caption=
origin=flagcountry|United Kingdom
type=Rocket-propelled grenade (Anti-tank )
is_ranged=yes
is_UK=yes
service=1987–present
used_by=British Army ,Jordan ,Oman
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=Hunting Engineering
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=
spec_label=
weight= 10 kg (22 lbs)
length= 1500 mm (59 in) firing 1000 mm (39 in) carrying
part_length=
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=
cartridge=
caliber=94 mm
barrels=
action=
rate=
velocity=
range=
max_range= 500 m
feed=
sights=The LAW 80 (Light Anti-armour Weapon 80), sometimes erroneously referred to as LAW 94, is a man-portable one-shot disposable
anti-tank weapon used by theBritish Army and others.Description
The weapon consists of an extendable launch tube with an integrated 9 mm spotting rifle and 1× sight. The spotting rifle has five rounds of ammunition, and is ballistically matched to the
rocket . The rounds it uses are quite unusual, consisting of a 9 mm tracer bullet loaded in a necked up7.62 mm NATO shell casing , with a.22 Hornet blank mounted in the base of the larger case, providing thepropellant charge. Upon firing, the .22 cartridge case pushes out of the back of the 7.62 mm casing, unlocking the breech of the spotting rifle in a form of primer actuation. [ [http://cartridgecollectors.org/cmo/cmo05oct.htm 9 x 51mm SMAW - International Ammunition Association] ] The spotting rifle on the USMC Mk.153 Mod.0 SMAW was derived from LAW 80.To launch the rocket the firer removes the large protective end caps and extends the rear of the launch tube, opens the sight, and moves the arming lever to "armed". The weapon is then in spotting rifle mode. To fire the rocket, the firer moves a charge lever forward with his firing hand thumb. The
rocket motor burns out before it leaves the launch tube, the resulting blast being directed rearwards from the launch tube. The rocket then coasts to the target, arming itself after it has passed a certain arming distance. Thewarhead is aHEAT shaped charge and can reportedly penetrate 700 mm of armour (RHA).pecifications
* Contractor:
Hunting Engineering
* Calibre: 94 mm
* Launcher length:
** Firing mode: 1.5 m
** Carrying mode: 1 m
* Weight:
** Carrying weight: 10 kg
** Shoulder weight: 9 kg
** Projectile weight: 4.6 kg
* Dispersion: approx 1 mil
* Warhead arming range: 10 to 20 m
* Effective range: 20 to 500 m
* Fuze:
** Type: Piezo-electric impactfuze , scrub and foliage proof
** Graze angle: <= 10°
* Temperature range: -46 °C to +65 °C
* Rear danger area: < 20 m
* Shelf life: 10 yearsOperators
*JOR
*OMN
*GBR
:Entered British service in 1987 replacing the L14A1 84 mm Carl Gustav
recoilless rifle and M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon (Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1) anti-tank weapons. It is currently being replaced by the L2A1 Interim Light Anti-tank Weapon (ILAW), which in turn will be replaced by the Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (MBT LAW ).Addermine
Addermine is an acoustic sensor system which utilises the LAW 80 as a kill mechanism to create an off-route mine. It can also be command detonated from up to 200 m away.
Notes
References
* "Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005-2006"
* "Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991-1992"External links
* [http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/pw/pw_law.htm British Army]
* [http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0095.html www.armedforces.co.uk]
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