Australia The M72 rocket has been in Australian service since the Vietnam War. Currently, the Australian Defence Force uses the M72A6 variant, known as the "light direct fire support weapon", as an anti-structure and secondary anti-armor weapon. The weapon is used by ordinary troops at the section (squad) level and complements the heavier
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle and
Javelin missile, which are generally used by specialized fire support and anti-armor troops.
Canada As of 21 February 2023, Canada has supplied 4,500 M72s to Ukraine for use in the
Russo-Ukrainian War. These are of the
M72A5-C1 designation.
Finland The M72 LAW is used in the
Finnish Army (some 70,000 pieces), where it is known under the designations
66 KES 75 (M72A2, no longer in service) and
66 KES 88 (M72A5). In accordance with the weapon's known limitations, a pair of "tank-buster" troops crawl to a firing position around away from the target, bringing with them four to six LAWs, which are then used in rapid succession until the target is destroyed or incapacitated. Due to its low penetration capability, it is used mostly against lightly armored targets. The M72 is the most common anti-tank weapon in the Finnish Army. Finland has recently upgraded its stocks to the M72 EC LAW Mk.I version. It is designated
66 KES 12 Claimed penetration for the M72 EC LAW is of
rolled homogeneous armor steel plate, nearly twice that of the M72A2. It also fields the bunker-buster version that contains of DPX-6 explosive, named M72 ASM RC, and locally designated
66 KES 12 RAK. The oldest version of the 66 KES 75 is now retired.
Israel Having first arrived in Israel during The
Yom Kippur War as part of
Operation Nickel Grass, the LAW is the primary light anti tank weapon of the Israeli infantry, and has been used extensively throughout the different wars and conflicts, including the current
Gaza war.
Norway In late February 2022, the Norwegian government announced that it intended to donate "up to 2,000" M72 LAW units from their reserve stocks to Ukraine, in response to the
Russian invasion. On March 30, 2022, the Norwegian Defence Ministry said that 2,000 more units will be sent to Ukraine.
Taiwan The
Republic of China Army (Taiwan) uses the M72 as a secondary anti-armor weapon for infantry units. It is used primarily as a backup to the Javelin and BGM-71 TOW anti-tank weapons. The weapon was later reverse-engineered into the "Type 1 66 mm anti-armor rocket", which was introduced from M72 A2, but is more-popularly nicknamed as the "Type 66 rocket" due to its caliber. After several decades of application, the Type 66mm anti-armor rocket has evolved into
Kestrel (67mm) model since 2008.
Turkey The
Turkish Army uses a locally built version by
Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu, called
HAR-66 (
Hafif Antitank Roketi, 'light antitank rocket'), which has the performance and characteristics of a mix of an M72A2 and an A3. Turkey also indigenously developed an anti-personnel warhead version of
HAR-66 AP and called it "
Eşek Arısı" ('wasp').
United Kingdom The
British Army employed the NAMMO M72, designated as the "Rocket 66 mm HEAT L1A1," until it was phased out and replaced by the
LAW 80 in the 1980s. The M72 saw active use during the 1982 Falklands War, where it was primarily utilized to suppress Argentinian defensive positions at close range. Additionally, it was used against an
assault amphibious vehicle during the
initial invasion and played a role in damaging the Argentinian warship during the
invasion of South Georgia. Under the 2012 Urgent Operational Requirement program, the M72 was reintroduced into British service, with the M72A9 variant being designated as the Light Anti-Structure Munition (LASM).
United States During and after Vietnam War, all issued LAWs were recalled after instances of the warhead exploding in flight, sometimes injuring the operator. Each LAW that received the safety modifications was stenciled "w/coupler". With the failure of the M72's intended replacement, the
Viper, in late 1982 Congress ordered the US Army to test off-the-shelf light antitank weapons and report back by the end of 1983. Raufoss AS and Talley Defense offered the M72E4, which provided better range, velocity, and sights, but the
AT4's higher speed and range were found to have a higher hit probability in 1985 tests by the
U.S. Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA). The AT4 was chosen to replace the M72. The M72 LAW remained in U.S. service due to existing stockpiles and the
U.S. Air Force continuing to purchase M72A3 LAWs until at least 2009. The LAW also found new popularity in operations with the
U.S. Army, the
U.S. Marine Corps, and
Canadian Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lower cost and lighter weight of the LAW, combined with a scarcity of modern heavy armored targets and the need for an individual assault weapon versus an individual anti-armor weapon, made it ideal for the type of
urban combat seen in Iraq and mountain warfare seen in Afghanistan. In addition, a soldier can carry two LAWs on a mission as opposed to a single
AT4. In February 2005, The
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) issued a solicitation to procure 2,558 M72A7 66mm HE LAW w/Graze Fuze Function and NVD Mount with the award date estimated as mid-May 2005.
U.S. Marine Corps officials also identified the M72A7 LAW as an urgent requirement in support of the
global war on terrorism, with the USMC initially purchasing 1,136 M72A7s in 2005. The U.S. Marine Corps increased M72A7 LAW purchases after 2005, with the service purchasing about 23,000 over a three-year period from 2007 to 2009. Later in 2010, the
U.S. Army also began using the M72A7 LAW in Afghanistan because it was found to be a useful small and lightweight rocket system for engaging short- and medium-range targets. Foot patrols particularly benefited from it due to Afghanistan's difficult terrain and high elevations. The
U.S. Marine Corps was still purchasing M72A7 LAW rockets as of March 2023. The M72A7 LAW is an improved version of its predecessors, featuring a better rocket motor that increases velocity to for greater accuracy beyond 200 meters (660 feet), a Picatinny rail for mounting laser pointers and night sights, and the warhead contains a copper
explosively formed penetrator (EFP), instead of a conical
shaped charge. While the EFP has reduced penetration compared to the previous LAWs with a conical
shaped charge, it creates a larger hole, resulting in greater
spalling inside armored vehicles and increased fragmentation behind urban walls, making it more destructive. Safety was also improved with an
insensitive munition warhead to reduce the risk of accidental detonation. The M72 FFE replaces the M72A7 LAW, allowing Marines to fire multiple shots daily from enclosed spaces without risk of brain injury. It also produces less muzzle flash than an
M9 pistol, reducing its visual and thermal signature. With these improvements, both M72 FFE variants significantly enhance infantry effectiveness against armored vehicles and fortified structures, in urban environments as well as complex terrain. Fielding is expected to begin in 2024.
Vietnam Several M72A1 and M72A2 LAWs captured during the Vietnam War have been put into service with the chemical force of the
Vietnam People's Army. The launchers are upgraded to be able to fire multiple times and are armed with M74 incendiary rounds. ==Variants==