Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon

Serial production of the SMAW began in 1983, with the first units delivered in February 1984. By the completion of the initial contract in 1987, the U.S. manufacturer had supplied 1,828 Mk 153 launchers to the U.S. Marine Corps. File:Mk153 SMAW 1992.jpg|SMAW in Saudi Arabia, 1992 File:SMAW 1997.jpg|SMAW at 29 Palms, California, 1997 In the early-2000s, the Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAW had a series of modifications to address several of its shortcomings. These modifications included a resleeving process for bubbled launch tubes, rewriting/drafting operator and technical manuals, a kit that reduces environmental intrusion into the trigger mechanism, and an optical sight modification to allow the HEAA rocket to be used effectively against moving armor targets. Boresight bracket kits were also fielded that solved the loss of boresight problem between the launch tube and the spotting rifle. The Mk 153 SMAW has proven to be a vital asset in urban warfare, particularly during the Iraq War. In Iraq, it was extensively used in the Second Battle of Fallujah, where it demonstrated its effectiveness in destroying enemy-held buildings. Marines employed the SMAW Novel Explosive (SMAW-NE) thermobaric rocket to collapse structures and neutralize fortified positions. For instance, a single Marine reportedly leveled 12 buildings with 14 rockets in one day. The SMAW's destructive capability significantly enhanced small-unit firepower, allowing infantry to engage entrenched enemies without relying solely on larger, less maneuverable systems like tanks. However, the SMAW-NE round lacked the penetrating power needed for certain walls in Fallujah. To overcome this, Marines would first use a High-Explosive Dual-Mode (HEDM) rocket to create a hole, then fire an NE rocket through the opening to collapse the structure. == Improvement programs ==

Follow-On To SMAW 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 Israel Military Industries (IMI); this resulted in the enhanced FGM-172 SRAW. In combat operations, it was ultimately used to augment, rather than replace, the SMAW system. SMAW II program In 2008, a replacement program was again initiated and titled the SMAW II. It was developed in tandem with a round capable of being fired from an enclosed area without ill effects on the environment and personnel. Its combined weight is — for the launcher, for the rocket. The contract was worth up to . The development reduced the over-all weight by from the older SMAW launcher. The Serpent fires the same rounds as the standard SMAW and supports new and improved/enhanced rounds. The Serpent was never adopted for service. Instead the USMC eventually adopted the Mk 153 Mod 2 to replace the service's SMAW launchers by 2020. ==Variants==

Mk 153 Mod 0 The Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAW fires rockets through an diameter launch tube. The system can fire a variety of encased rockets, such as the Mk 3 Mod 0 High-Explosive Dual Mode (HEDM) Rocket, the Mk 6 Mod 0 High-Explosive Anti-Armor (HEAA) Rocket, the Mk 7 Mod 0 Common Practice Rocket, and the Mk 80 Mod 0 Novel Explosive (NE) Rocket. The rocket encasements are loaded into the rear of the launcher, and the launch tube is constructed from a durable fiberglass-epoxy composite material with a gel coated bore. The launcher consists of the launch tube, spotting rifle, electro-mechanical firing mechanism, mounting brackets, open battle sights and an optic mount for the Mk 42 Mod 0 day sight, RCO, AN/PVS-4 or AN/PVS-17C night sights. The system can also be aimed at night with an infrared aiming laser from the AN/PEQ-15 or AN/PEQ-16 in conjunction with night vision, since the IR laser is attached to the optic mount that can change elevation based on the range it is set to. The firing mechanism mechanically fires the spotting rifle and uses a magneto to fire the rocket. While it is unclear if this patent officially corresponds to the Mk 153 Mod 1, this reference includes a picture of the same design, labeled "Mk 153 Mod 1 Launcher." The rearranged spotting rifle was intended to make the weapon system more balanced and address accessibility issues found with the Mod 0, where the spotting rifle was mounted on the right side. This redesign aimed to streamline operations by centralizing the weapon's controls and improving the gunner's ability to reload the spotting rifle independently. It was claimed to offer improved reliability while also reducing the number of parts for easier maintenance, as well as reducing weight. To engage a target, the gunner first acquires the target using the thermal sight (AN/PAS-13G), which allows them to see the target in various environmental conditions. Once the target is acquired, the gunner depresses a button on the front grip to activate the laser rangefinder (AN/PSQ-23A). The rangefinder emits a laser pulse to measure the range to the target. This range data is then sent to the thermal sight, which provides a firing solution using a displaced reticle that adjusts the crosshairs for distance and environmental factors. The gunner then aligns the reticle with the target and fires. The Mod 2 also has a reduced weight of with the MBS attached, The Mk 153 Mod 2 reached full operational capability (FOC) across the United States Marine Corps between 2019 and 2020. File:SMAW MOD2.jpg|Mk 153 Mod 2 File:Mk 153 Mod 2 SMAW firing.webm|Mk 153 Mod 2 firing an HEDM rocket == Rocket types ==

• The Mk 3 Mod 0 Encased High-Explosive, Dual Mode (HEDM) rocket is effective against bunkers, masonry, concrete walls and light armor. It uses the Mk 420 Mod 0, a deceleration-based fuze located at the rear of the warhead, to automatically distinguish between soft targets (low deceleration) and hard targets (high deceleration). For hard targets, such as reinforced concrete walls or armored vehicles, the warhead's aluminum casing mushrooms upon impact, increasing the contact surface area between the warhead and the target to maximize blast effects. For soft targets, the rocket employs a delayed detonation, enabling deeper penetration into structures like sandbag bunkers or buildings to maximize internal damage. The warhead is filled with Composition A-3, enhanced with powdered aluminum to increase the explosive's energy output and overall destructive power. The HEDM round can penetrate of double-reinforced concrete walls, of brick, up to of rolled homogenous armor, or up to of wood-reinforced sandbags. It is sometimes referred to as "High-Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP)", instead of HEDM, in some sources, but it clearly states "Dual Mode" in U.S. Marine Corps publications, and on the rocket itself (as seen in the picture below). • The Mk 4 Mod 0 Encased, Practice and Mk 7 Mod 0 Encased, Common Practice rockets are used in training. The warhead consists of a blue plastic projectile attached to a rocket motor similar to the HEDM rocket. The rocket contains no explosive. It does not damage a target except by kinetic energy. On impact, the plastic warhead ruptures, dispensing an inert white spotting powder. • The Mk 6 Mod 0 Encased High-Explosive, Anti-Armor (HEAA) rocket is effective against current tanks without added armor, and uses a standoff rod on the detonator, allowing the explosive force to be focused on a small point and for maximum damage against targets. The HEAA rocket uses a shaped charge warhead with octol explosive, which can penetrate up to the equivalent of of rolled homogeneous armor. The Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center teamed with Marine Corps Systems Command and Talley Defense Systems to respond to an urgent U.S. Marine Corps need for a shoulder-launched enhanced-blast warhead in 2003. It was used in combat during both the first and second offensives in Fallujah, in 2004. == Backblast area ==

As with all recoilless rocket launchers, the backblast generated upon firing is a significant safety concern. When the rocket is fired, the propellant is fully expelled within the rocket's encasement, resulting in a loud and forceful backblast. This backblast extends in a , 60° cone behind the weapon. It is lethal out to and still extremely dangerous to . An assistant gunner is often used during employment of the weapon system to monitor the backblast area and clear it of fellow troops, or to notify the gunner of obstructions that could reflect the force of the backblast back at the gun team. The gunner is only cleared to launch a rocket when he hears the command "Backblast area secure" from his assistant gunner. The figure to the right displays the danger and caution zones of the Mk 153 SMAW. No personnel are allowed in danger area 1, as death or severe injury may occur from blast and flying debris. Anyone in caution area 2 must wear helmet, body armor, ballistic goggles, and hearing protection. Personnel should remain clear of caution area 3 as injury may be sustained from flying debris and excessive sound pressure levels (i.e., 140 decibels or more). ==Operators==

Current operators • : • Armed Forces of Ukraine • Mk 153 Mod 0 • : • United States Marine Corps • Mk 153 Mod 0 • Mk 153 Mod 2 Former operators • United States Army: Borrowed 125 Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAWs from the Marine Corps and later returned them. ==See also==