Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon
| SMAW | |
|---|---|
SMAW being used by US Marines
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| Type | Multi-role (anti-fortification, anti-armor) |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1984–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars |
Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mc Donnell Douglas |
| Manufacturer | Talley Defense Systems (Nammo Talley) |
| Unit cost | $13,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.69 kg (16.92 lbs) |
| Length |
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| Crew | 1 |
|
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| Caliber | 83.5 mm (fires 83 mm rockets) |
| Muzzle velocity | 220 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 500 m |
| Feed system | detachable single-rocket casing |
| Sights | Iron (250 m), telescopic (3.8× magnification), night vision |
The Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is a shoulder-launched rocket weapon with the primary function of being a portable assault weapon (e.g. bunker buster) and a secondary anti-armor rocket launcher. It was introduced to the United States Armed Forces in 1984. It has a maximum range of 500 metres (550 yd) against a tank-sized target.
It can be used to destroy bunkers and other fortifications during assault operations; it can also destroy other designated targets using the dual mode rocket and main battle tanks using the HEAA rocket. Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq saw a thermobaric rocket added (described as NE—"Novel Explosive"), which is capable of collapsing a building.
The SMAW system (launcher, ammunition and logistics support) was fielded in 1984 as a United States Marine Corps–unique system. The Mod-0 demonstrated several shortcomings, resulting in a series of modifications in the mid-2000s. These modifications include a re-sleeving process for bubbled launch tubes, rewriting/drafting operator and technical manuals, and a kit to reduce environmental intrusion into the trigger mechanism. This also includes an optical sight modification to allow the new HEAA rocket to be used effectively against moving armor targets. The U.S. military recently fielded new boresight bracket kits which, when installed, correct the loss of accurate boresight issues between the launch tube and spotting rifle. During Operation Desert Storm, 150 launchers and 5,000 rockets were deployed by the United States Army. Since then, the Army has shown increased interest in the system.
In 2002, the Corps began a program to develop a successor to the SMAW system, tentatively titled "Follow-On To SMAW". The contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin and IMI and thus resulted in the enhanced FGM-172 SRAW. In combat operations, it was ultimately used to augment, rather than replace, existing SMAW inventories.
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