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M72 LAW

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NOTE: This article is about the M72 LAW rocket launcher in ArmA: CWA/ARMA Reforger. For other similarly named articles, you may wish to use the following links instead:
■ For the M72A3 in Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany, see M72 LAW (Global Mobilization).
■ For the M72 LAW in S.O.G. Prairie Fire, see M72 LAW (S.O.G.).
■ For the M72 LAW in CSLA Iron Curtain, see M72 LAW (CSLA).


WIP: This page is currently a Work-In-Progress. Information contained in this article is either incomplete or missing and is subject to review.

The M72 LAW (full name: Light Anti-Tank Weapon) is a 66 mm rocket launcher featured in ArmA: Cold War Assault and ARMA Reforger.


ArmA: Cold War Assault[]

« LAW is a lightweight, self-contained, antiarmor weapon consisting of a rocket packed in a launcher. It is man-portable, may be fired from either shoulder, and is issued as a round of ammunition. It requires little from the user--only a visual inspection and some operator maintenance. The launcher, which consists of two tubes, one inside the other, serves as a watertight packing container for the rocket and houses a percussion-type firing mechanism that activates the rocket.
Weapon Description[1]
 »
The M72 LAW 66 mm rocket launcher.
The M72 LAW 66 mm rocket launcher.

The M72 LAW is used by both U.S. military forces and in limited numbers with the Nogovan Partisans in ArmA: Cold War Assault.

Overview[]

The M72 LAW is an unguided and reloadable, portable short-range rocket launcher.

It uses 66 mm rockets fitted with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead and has a maximum firing range of 500 metres.

The LAW serves as the primary anti-tank launcher of U.S. forces at the height of the Malden Islands Crisis. Like its Soviet counterpart, the M72 LAW is designed to be a short-ranged AT weapon. The LAW's rockets are powerful enough to destroy most light ground vehicles like troop transports and Infantry Fighting Vehicles in a single hit.

However, better armoured vehicles such as the T-72 will require a minimum of two rockets to destroy. The heaviest of armoured vehicles like the T-80 will necessitate at least three shots to disable. Against such targets, the Carl Gustav would be preferable due to the latter's significantly more powerful warhead.

Sight[]

OFP-law-ironsight-overview

Recoil curves[]

 
{
    title: {
        text: 'LAWSingle'
    },
    tooltip: {
        trigger: 'axis',
        axisPointer: {
            type: 'cross',
            label: {
                backgroundColor: '#824100'
            }
        }
    },
    legend: {
        data: ['Time Taken', 'Kickback', 'Kick Up']
    },
    toolbox: {
        feature: {
            saveAsImage: {}
        }
    },
    grid: {
        left: '3%',
        right: '4%',
        bottom: '3%',
        containLabel: true
    },
    xAxis: [
        {
            name: 'Duration',
            nameLocation: 'middle',
            type: 'category',
            boundaryGap: false,
            data: ['0', '0.01', '0.02', '0.03']
        }
    ],
    yAxis: [
        {
            name: 'Amplitude',
            nameLocation: 'end',
            type: 'value'
        }
    ],
    series: [
        {
            name: 'Time Taken',
            type: 'line',
            stack: 'Total',
            label: {
                show: true,
                position: 'top',
            },
            areaStyle: {},
            emphasis: {
                focus: 'series'
            },
            data: [0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2],
            smooth: true
        },
        {
            name: 'Kickback',
            type: 'line',
            stack: 'Total',
            label: {
                show: true,
                position: 'top',
            },
            areaStyle: {},
            emphasis: {
                focus: 'series'
            },
            data: [0, 0.08, 0.03, 0],
            smooth: true
        },
        {
            name: 'Kick Up',
            type: 'line',
            stack: 'Total',
            label: {
                show: true,
                position: 'top',
            },
            areaStyle: {},
            emphasis: {
                focus: 'series'
            },
            data: [0, 0.03, 0.015, 0],
            smooth: true
        }
    ]
}
Charts/graphs are not available on mobile. Please switch to desktop mode in order to see them.


Munitions[]

OFP-icon-lawrocket

LAW Rocket

The LAW can only be loaded with one type of rocket.[CWACfgW 3] It requires two[CWACfgW 4] free inventory slots:

Parameter Value
Base damage value 500[CWACfgA 1]
Splash damage value 150[CWACfgA 2]
Blast radius (metres) 2.5[CWACfgA 3]
Launch velocity (m/s) 30[CWACfgW 5]
Maximum speed (m/s) 350[CWACfgA 4]

The LAW's rocket is always launched with an initial velocity of 30 m/s.[CWACfgW 5] It needs an additional 0.2 seconds[CWACfgA 5] of flight time to attain a maximum speed of 350 m/s.[CWACfgA 4] The rocket's warhead has a blast radius of 2.5 metres.[CWACfgA 3]

Trivia[]

  • As with the RPG-75NH, Cold War Assault's M72 is incorrectly depicted as a reloadable weapon. In reality, the launcher's spent tube cannot be reused once it has been fired.
  • Prior to Patch 1.10 for Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis (the original name of Cold War Assault prior to its re-release), a bug would cause the player's view to spin around if they were carrying an empty M72 on their back.[2]
The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content.
  • Arma3-law-00

    Unused ArmA 3 LAW reticle.

    Pre-Alpha screenshots as well as unused string references[3] and a leftover icon (Texture name: m_law_ca.paa[4]) indicate that the M72 LAW was presumably meant to have made a return as a usable launcher in ArmA 3.
    • A dedicated reticle for the M72 LAW's flip-up ironsight is also present, though it too remains completely unused.[5]
    • Unfortunately, the model itself no longer exists in the game's files, which would suggest that the M72 LAW was removed early in development.

Gallery[]

ARMA Reforger[]

« 66mm one-shot, disposable anti-tank rocket launcher.
Weapon Description
 »
The M72A3 LAW rocket launcher.
The M72A3 LAW rocket launcher.

The M72A3 LAW is used exclusively by U.S. military forces in ARMA Reforger.

Overview[]

This section is a stub. You can help Armed Assault Wiki by expanding it.

WIP

Sight[]

Reforger-law-ironsight-overview

WIP

Recoil curves[]

Linear[]

WIP

Angular[]

WIP

Turn offset[]

WIP

Munitions[]

Reforger-ammunition-m72a3heat

66mm HEAT M72A3 Rocket

WIP

Trivia[]

  • Reforger's iteration of the LAW is the first official weapon in the entire series to properly function as a disposable weapon (for obvious reasons this does not include the mechanic's debut in third party-developed Creator DLCs).
  • When Reforger was initially in Early Access, the M72's launcher tube would appear empty even if it had a rocket loaded in the tube. This was eventually fixed after the release of Update 0.9.5.97 which replaced the rocket's model with a new one.[6]
  • Before the release of Update 0.9.9.62, a bug would cause the M72 to not be slung over the wearer's back if they interrupted the holstering animation (i.e. the player was melee attacked by another person or they swapped to throwing grenades).[7]
  • Prior to the first major Ground Support update[8], the game's engine did not take into account the weight of 66 mm rockets in loaded M72s. This was changed by the patch's release so that its weight is now properly accounted for.
  • After Update 1.3's release, backblast damage is now simulated when firing the M72A3 LAW (the mechanic did not originally exist prior to the patch).[9]

Gallery[]

Config/script references[]

CfgAmmo

  1. ↑ CfgAmmo >> LAW >> hit
  2. ↑ CfgAmmo >> LAW >> indirectHit
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 CfgAmmo >> LAW >> indirectHitRange
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 CfgAmmo >> LAW >> maxSpeed
  5. ↑ CfgAmmo >> LAW >> thrustTime

CfgWeapons

  1. ↑ CfgWeapons >> LAWLauncher >> count
  2. ↑ CfgWeapons >> LAWLauncher >> recoil
  3. ↑ CfgWeapons >> LAWLauncher >> ammo
  4. ↑ CfgWeapons >> LAWLauncher >> magazineType >> "2 * 256"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 CfgWeapons >> LAWLauncher >> initSpeed

Formulae


References[]

  1. ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., The Codemasters Software Company Limited 2001, LAW, flashpoint1985.com, viewed 5 March 2025, <https://web.archive.org/web/20020803140012/http://www.flashpoint1985.com/gear/west/law/law.html>. (archived link)
  2. ↑ Mcnicoll, J et al. 2006, Operation Flashpoint: Version History, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 1 January 2024, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Operation_Flashpoint:_Version_History#Patch_v1.10>.
  3. ↑ ARMA 3 2013 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., \a3\language_f\stringtable.xml, STR_A3_CfgMagazines_LAW0
  4. ↑ ARMA 3 2013 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., \a3\weapons_f\data\ui\m_law_ca.paa
  5. ↑ ARMA 3 2013 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., \a3\weapons_f\acc\data\reticle_law_ca.paa
  6. ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2022, New Updates for Steam and Xbox #7, Arma Reforger, viewed 1 January 2024, <https://reforger.armaplatform.com/news/july-update-13>.
  7. ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2022, 0.9.9.62 Update, Arma Reforger, viewed 1 January 2024, <https://reforger.armaplatform.com/news/update-august-10-2023>.
  8. ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2022, Ground Support Changelog, Arma Reforger, viewed 1 January 2024, <https://reforger.armaplatform.com/news/december-update-1>.
  9. ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2025, 1.3.0.130 Changelog, Arma Reforger, viewed 28 March 2025, <https://reforger.armaplatform.com/news/changelog-march-27-2025>.

External links[]

See also[]

Weapons of comparable role and configuration[]

Weapons of ArmA: Cold War Assault
Handguns 92F 9 mm • CZ-75 9 mm • Glock 17 9 mm • S&W .357 • Tokarev TT-33 7.62 mm
Submachine guns Ingram .45 • MP5SD3 9 mm • PP-19 Bizon 9 mm • Sa-61 Scorpion 7.65 mm • UZI 9 mm
Shotguns Kozlice
Carbines AK-74 SU 5.45 mm • XM-177E2 5.56 mm (XM-177S)
Assault rifles AK-47 7.62 mm (AK-47 GL, AK-47 CZ) • AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GL) • AUG A1 5.56 mm • FN-FAL 7.62 mm • G3A4 7.62 mm • G36 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 GL)
Sniper rifles Hunting Rifle 7.62 mm • M21 7.62 mm • SVD 7.62 mm
Machineguns M60 7.62 mm • PK 7.62 mm
Grenade launchers 6G30 • MM-1
Launchers 9K32 Strela-2 • AT-4 Spigot • Carl Gustav M2 • FIM-92 Stinger • M72 LAW • RPG-75NH
Static M2
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
United States - Armoury (ArmA: Cold War Assault)
Handguns 92F 9 mm • Glock 17 9 mm • S&W .357
Submachine guns MP5SD3 9 mm • UZI 9 mm
Carbines XM-177E2 5.56 mm (XM-177S)
Assault rifles AUG A1 5.56 mm • G36 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 GL)
Sniper rifles M21 7.62 mm
Machineguns M60 7.62 mm
Grenade launchers MM-1
Launchers Carl Gustav M2 • FIM-92 Stinger • M72 LAW
Static M2
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
FIA - Armoury (ArmA: Cold War Assault)
Handguns 92F 9 mm* • CZ-75 9 mm* • Tokarev TT-33 7.62 mm*
Submachine guns Ingram .45* • UZI 9 mm*
Shotguns Kozlice*
Assault rifles AK-47 7.62 mm* (AK-47 GL*, AK-47 CZ*) • AK-74 5.45 mm • AUG A1 5.56 mm* • FN-FAL 7.62 mm • G3A4 7.62 mm
Sniper rifles Hunting Rifle 7.62 mm • SVD 7.62 mm*
Machineguns PK 7.62 mm*
Launchers 9K32 Strela-2* • M72 LAW* • RPG-75NH*
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
* primarily used by the Nogovan Partisans in the Resistance campaign
Weapons of ARMA Reforger
Handguns M9 9 mm • PM 9 mm
Carbines AKS-74U 5.45 mm (N) • M16 Carbine 5.56 mm (M203)
Assault rifles AK-74 5.45 mm (N) • M16A2 5.56 mm (M203) • Sa-58V 7.62 mm (P)
Sniper rifles M21 SWS 7.62 mm • SVD 7.62 mm
Squad automatic weapons M249 SAW 5.56 mm • RPK-74 5.45 mm (N)
Machine guns M60 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm (N) • UK-59L 7.62 mm
Launchers M72A3 LAW • RPG-7V1
Static 2B14 • M2HB - Tripod • M240* • M252 • M60 - Tripod • NSV - Tripod • PKM - Tripod
(Parenthesis) denotes variants.
* this weapon is not available in a standalone turret configuration and is only available as a vehicle-mounted weapon.
United States - Armoury (ARMA Reforger)
Handguns M9 9 mm
Carbines M16 Carbine 5.56 mm (M203)
Assault rifles M16A2 5.56 mm (M203)
Sniper rifles M21 SWS 7.62 mm
Squad automatic weapons M249 SAW 5.56 mm
Machineguns M60 7.62 mm
Launchers M72A3 LAW
Static M2HB - Tripod • M240* • M252 • M60 - Tripod
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
* this weapon is not available in a standalone turret configuration and is only available as a vehicle-mounted weapon.
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