Equipment - Man-portable launcher systems

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The FM outlines our core skills, policies and guides to ensure every member stands ready for the mission ahead.

Firing anti-tank weapons indoors can be very hazardous. Avoid doing so when possible as the backblast can kill or seriously injure you due to the restrictions of the structure.

Soft-launch weapons like the Javelin or NLAW can be safely fired out of an enclosed space, but RPGs, AT-4s, SMAWs, and other common hard-launch anti-tank weapons cannot.

Use a firing position that provides:

• as good of a shot as possible on the target
• the best possible cover
• no backblast hazard (like an enclosed space)

When preparing to make an anti-vehicle shot, quickly scan the surrounding area while loudly declaring others to "Clear backblast!". The scan is intended to give visibility on who or what may be behind the launcher and help visually verify that the backblast area is clear of friendly personnel.

Declare "Backblast clear!" to let the gunner know that they are able to safely fire, after clearing the danger area by visually scanning it.

Upon hearing "Backblast clear!", or having visually confirmed that the area is clear, confirm the sight picture, loudly declare "Rocket!" and then fire the weapon.

• Senior member of the team.
• Carries the weapon.
• Chooses the firing position for the team.
• Engages targets and listens to his assistant-gunner's directions.
• Decides on the best engagement method to use on the given target.

• Junior member of the team.
• Equipped with binoculars, he carries additional ammo for the weapon and acts as a spotter for the gunner.
• Gives adjustments to the gunner's fire, scans for, and prioritizes enemy targets and emplacements.
• Provides ammo to the gunner when required.

Crew served weapons are weapons which whether static or mobile, require multiple personnel to function properly. Good examples of Crew Served Weapons are Mortars or Artillery, or Heavy Machine Guns on static emplacements where when disassembled, require two people to be carried.

A disposable launcher is a man-portable launcher that meets the following criteria:

• Is not guided
• Is not re-loadable (i.e. is single-use/disposable)

Above: LAT Rifleman prepares to fire the M136 Light anti-tank launcher

The following table contains the effect range of various launchers against the different types of targets, and the maximum range after which the warhead will self-destruct.

Hit non-moving (static) targets:

• Within the effective range of the weapon
• While using a unguided weapon system

Hit moving (non static) targets:

• Within the effective range of the weapon
• While using an unguided weapon system

When shooting an unguided rocket, use the following criteria to determine the part of a vehicle to aim for:

• Will the rocket penetrate? Generally the front of the vehicle will be the strongest part, while the rear will be the weakest. Impact angle should be as close to 90° as possible.  
• Will the rocket cause damage? The rocket needs to hit a certain part of a vehicle to do damage to it. The best components to hit are the turret and the engine, with worst being the passenger compartment. Keep in mind different types of ammunition will affect the type and amount of damage a vehicle takes from a hit.

Above: From top left to bottom right: Rear, Flank, Frontal, Frontal Oblique, Rear Oblique

Prioritize vehicle targets based on the following factors:

• Urgency of the threat: immediate threats should be engaged first, with vehicles posing no threat either engaged last or not engaged at all.
• Success chance: every engagement should have the highest possible likelihood to succeed. In any case, refrain from shooting when:
  • the target is out of range
  • the target is moving too fast
  • the target cannot be effectively damaged
• Future considerations: do not engage vehicles when doing so might have negative effect later. e.g. shooting an AT-4 at a technical, when expecting BMPs.

Engage a structure using a launcher, after obtaining permission from the element leader, by:

• hitting inside the structure with an HE warhead
• hitting the outside of the structure with a penetrating warhead (e.g. HESH)

A medium anti-tank (MAT) team is a rocket team that is capable of delivering accurate and deadly direct-fire against tanks, bunkers, buildings, and other suitable hard targets. They are commonly attached to a platoon when assaulting fortified positions or when enemy armored assets are expected. Two example MAT weapons are the SMAW and MAAWS launchers.

A reloadable unguided launcher is a man-portable launcher that meets the following criteria:

• Is not guided
• Is reloadable
• Often has multiple round types for a variety of uses

Above: AT Rifleman (Medium) engaging a Russian IFV with a M2 Carl Gustav

The following table contains the effect range of various launchers against the different types of targets, and the maximum range after which the warhead will self-destruct.

Hit non-moving (static) targets:

• Within the effective range of the weapon
• While using a unguided weapon system

Hit moving (non static) targets:

• Within the effective range of the weapon
• While using an unguided weapon system

When shooting an unguided rocket, use the following criteria to determine the part of a vehicle to aim for:

• Will the rocket penetrate? Generally the front of the vehicle will be the strongest part, while the rear will be the weakest. Impact angle should be as close to 90° as possible.  
• Will the rocket cause damage? The rocket needs to hit a certain part of a vehicle to do damage to it. The best components to hit are the turret and the engine, with worst being the passenger compartment. Keep in mind different types of ammunition will affect the type and amount of damage a vehicle takes from a hit.

Above: From top left to bottom right: Rear, Flank, Frontal, Frontal Oblique, Rear Oblique

Prioritize vehicle targets based on the following factors:

• Urgency of the threat: immediate threats should be engaged first, with vehicles posing no threat either engaged last or not engaged at all.
• Success chance: every engagement should have the highest possible likelihood to succeed. In any case, refrain from shooting when:
  • the target is out of range
  • the target is moving too fast
  • the target cannot be effectively damaged
• Future considerations: do not engage vehicles when doing so might have negative effect later. e.g. shooting an AT-4 at a technical, when expecting BMPs.

Engage a structure using a launcher, after obtaining permission from the element leader, by:

• hitting inside the structure with an HE warhead
• hitting the outside of the structure with a penetrating warhead (e.g. HESH)

The heavy anti-tank team (HAT) wields the most deadly anti-tank infantry-carried weapon systems available. When heavy armor is expected, they are great assets to have attached to the platoon. HAT in Arma 3 comes most typically in the form the Javelin missile.

A guided launcher is a man-portable launcher that meets the following criteria:

• Is guided
• Is re-loadable (in most cases)
• Often has multiple round types for a variety of uses

Above: AT Specialist (Heavy) prepares to fire the FGM-148 Javelin Missile

• Use the thermal optics to find targets
• Differentiate between active vehicles and disabled/destroyed vehicles

Above: MH-6 Observer performs a battle damage assessment using thermal imaging

• Use top-down attack mode wherever possible to hit the top armour (almost always the weakest part of the vehicle).
• Use direct attack mode in situations when firing from confined spaces, or forests where top-attack would be hazardous.

Prioritize vehicle targets based on the following factors:

• Urgency of the threat: immediate threats should be engaged first, with vehicles posing no threat either engaged last or not engaged at all.
• Success chance: every engagement should have the highest possible likelihood to succeed. In any case, refrain from shooting when:
  • the target is out of range
  • the target is moving too fast
  • the target cannot be effectively damaged
• Future considerations: do not engage vehicles when doing so might have negative effect later. e.g. shooting an AT-4 at a technical, when expecting BMPs.

An anti-air missile team consists of a gunner and assistant gunner. Equipped with a man-portable AA missile system such as the Stinger, and an additional missile, the two must be ready to use their launcher to engage and destroy any enemy air threats that might appear over the battlefield, either fixed-wing (jet) or rotary-winged (helo). Their proficiency and situational awareness can be the difference between life and death for a squad or platoon.

Any weapon system who's primary purpose is to be used against aerial vehicles, either rotary or fixed wing.

To increase the chance of hitting an aircraft shoot when:

• The aircraft is in front or rear aspect
• The aircraft is as close to you as possible, this includes vertical distance especially

Side shots are generally not going to hit, unless the target has no countermeasures. Rear shots might also not work if the aircraft is fast enough to run away from the missile.

In general, the missile should fly for as short a time as possible and in a straight line.