SMAW

SMAW, or Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (also referred to in some sources as a shoulder-mounted launcher), is a portable, man-portable rocket launcher designed for infantry use. It provides a short-range, armor- and fortification-penetration capability by delivering specialized warheads from a shoulder-fired system. The weapon was developed for the United States Marine Corps and entered service in the late 1960s and 1970s, with various upgrades and variants introduced over subsequent decades.

The SMAW is a single-operator launcher that fires unguided 83 mm rockets. It is designed to engage a range of targets, including light armor, bunkers, reinforced walls, and other fortified positions. Ammunition is available in multiple warhead configurations to provide flexible effects against different target sets. Common warhead types include high-explosive, armor-penetrating, and bunker-defeat variants. The system emphasizes simplicity of use, portability, and battlefield versatility, at the cost of a limited effective range and backblast hazard that requires careful positioning and after-action consideration.

Operational use centers on fortification and armor defeat as well as breaching operations during infantry assaults. The weapon’s multipurpose rounds enable a single platform to address several threat classes, reducing the need for separate anti-armor and demolition assets in some missions. Compatibility with reloads and newer warhead configurations has allowed the SMAW to remain in service in various forms and roles alongside more modern light anti-armor systems.