M72 LAW - In The Movies

A brief overview of the M72 LAW as seen in the movies
More War Movie Content: / johnnyjohnsonesq
War Movie Reviews: / johnnyshistoricmoviere...
Request a review: [e-mail]
Movies featured:
A Hill in Korea 1956
The Enforcer 1976
Band of Brothers 2001
The boys in Company C 1978
G.I. Samurai 1979
First Blood 1982
The Dogs of War 1981
Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981
Deal of the Century 1983
Rambo: First Blood Part II 1985
Code of Silence 1985
Platoon 1986
Maximum Overdrive 1986
Full Metal Jacket 1987
Beverly Hills Cop II 1987
The Hidden 1987
Assassination 1987
The Blob 1988
A Better Tomorrow III 1989
Class of 1999
Falling Down 1993
Loaded Weapon 1 - 1993
Police Story 3 - 1992
Forest Gump 1994
True lies 1994
Street Fighter 1994
Canadian Bacon 1995
Ronin 1998
Bravo Two Zero 1999
Black Hawk Down 2001
Tears of the Sun 2003\
Tali-Ihantala 1944 - 2007
Tropic Thunder 2008
New Kids Turbo 2010
Terminator Dark Fate 2019

[@thekhoifish0146]

Was gonna shovel snow but I guess I’m gonna put a pin in that

[@JH-lo9ut]

Give it some time and it will melt.

[@scockery]

I just bought some LAW rockets and blew up the snow.

[@sillyone52062]

I was given minimal training on the M-72 LAW in basic training, but one thing that they impressed us with was "BACKBLAST CLEAR!!" It amuses me how often that important rule is ignored by Hollywood. Loved seeing that woman get grabbed out the backblast area.

[@TheMoose126]

The Canadians still use them alongside the Carl G

[@petert3355]

Yeah, it's funny how Hollywood ignores basic physics all the time.

[@rubiconnn]

Also movies always show it as a little rocket flying through the air and wobbling for a few seconds and them hitting a target. The rocket actually comes flying out at about the speed of a 9mm pistol so it's going to be moving so fast you won't be able to see it and it's quite accurate.

[@Lalann]

​@@TheMoose126 Still in US inventory as well. More compact and lighter than the At4.

[@shadowwolf9503]

Roger that !

[@CGFIELDS]

Got to fire the M-72 in Tech school-1998 USAF (Security Forces) extremely accurate & easy to use.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Now that would be fun!

[@CGFIELDS]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Yeah, Being a kid raised on 80’s action films it was a major let down that the M-72 & M-67 hand grenades don’t explode in a fireball 😢🤣

[@iatsd]

Extremely accurate? Complete bullshit. In twenty years I never once got a round on target past 25 metres, while I could hit 10/10 with the Carl Gustav at 500 metres every time. M72 existed to make you feel better. It wasn't designed to hit anything.

[@CGFIELDS]

@@iatsd User error ma’am 🤷🏾‍♂️🤣

[@mortensandmoen5208]

@@iatsd I was thinking the same, it is a peace of shit!

[@minxythemerciless]

A major flaw in the movie representation is a visible rocket leaving a smoke and flame trail (and not flying very fast). The entire rocket burn is inside the tube so by the time it exits it's a simple finned projectile. Same deal with the bazooka. The only weapon that has the rocket burning is the RPG-7, and that's only after it is ejected from the launcher and far enough away to ignite without singeing the firer.

[@djolley61]

I was going to make that point, you beat me to it. I don't think I've ever seen a bazooka (or an RPG for that matter) depicted correctly, not even in Saving Private Ryan. When fired it would be more of a wump, rather than a whoosh.

[@snakeplissken2148]

exactly. its the same in games. i remember back in the good old days playing day of defeat and using the bazookas and even the piat to lay a smokescreen for cover. :D

[@djolley61]

@@snakeplissken2148 haha, love your screen name!

[@jamessmith6363]

Same as well with the German version of the US bazooka the Panzershrek of WW2, that’s why it had the face shield on the front due to the round being adapted to should launcher use and the burn time after the tube and it was German doctrine to wear NBC equipment while firing it, though that seldom happened.

[@janhammekenbuch142]

They had a movie back in the eighties about a nuclear waste transport being hijacked, with the crew trying to reclaim the stolen plutonium. That has some scenes were the terrorists use LAW rockets, and the firing of them is actually very convincing. The movie is called Time Bomb and featured Morgan Fairchild, Billy Dee Williams and others.

[@BHuang92]

Fun Fact: In Iraq and Afghanistan, US soldiers prefer the M72 LAW over the AT4 due to its lower cost and and portability. As such, it was popular in urban combat as an assault weapon with little need for anti-armor capabilities plus a soldier can carry two M72 LAW launchers as oppose to a single AT4.

[@josephking6515]

Please, soldiers don't give a rats about the cost.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

@@josephking6515 they do when it comes to weight!

[@daegnaxqelil2733]

i never understood why the US army wants to impose cumbersome heavier throw-able launchers of swedish origin instead of more practical american ones. Stupid logistic policy

[@josephking6515]

@@daegnaxqelil2733 Because the American ones have a high failure rate against armour, cost a shitload more for a simple item thanks to the cost over runs and profit gouging of the Industrial Military Complex. Just because it's _Murican_ doesn't make it good.

[@daegnaxqelil2733]

@@josephking6515 the AT4s are still yet more costly and less accurate.

[@julesbenedictcatalan4904]

- Is Disposable - A single-shot launcher - Used by many countries - Effective against tanks - A cheap and easy to produce It is basically a Panzerfaust of the Cold War era

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

The coldfaust

[@TheMegaPingasMobile]

It is NOT effective against tanks. APC:s maybe but shooting at modern mbt:s with that will just get the tank angry and yourself killed

[@AHappyCub]

@@TheMegaPingasMobile I mean, one could argue that a mobility kill is still possible

[@TheMegaPingasMobile]

@@AHappyCub well yes, but if I'm shooting at armor, I want to make sure it won't shoot me back anymore

[@AHappyCub]

@@TheMegaPingasMobile Well yeah, I'm just putting forward one possible use since sometimes a direct hit might be hard while it's easier to hit the track or engine

[@hamishneilson7140]

The $2000 price tag is for the M72A7 version. Some of the older but still in service weapons can be as cheap as a few hundred bucks. I've seen in some credible defense procurement documents as low as $200, but those were also older version.

[@angelo8424]

We had the A2's in 1977, and they were cool, but Claymores were my favorite.

[@stainmasterzinc9418]

One thing that is NEVER mentioned is just how LOUD it is. Fired one several years ago while in the US Army. Even though I was properly wearing ear plugs, my ears RANG after shooting it.

[@shingshongshamalama]

The fact he consistently calls HEAT rounds "a focused particle jet" is honestly the best concise description of shaped charge warheads I've heard from any youtube channel without having to deal with going into the complicated nonsense of how superplasticity works. Good on you, JJ. You made a creative choice and I stand by it.

[@jeffburnham6611]

And in nearly everyone of the examples you cited, the arming sequence is never shown correctly. Once the tube is extended and the sights are flipped open, you have to manually pull the trigger arming handle forward before depressing the trigger on top, or it won't fire. If you want to see what this is like, go back and look at roughly the 7:34 mark of the video. You will see the guy doing exactly what needs to be done; he pulls the arming handle forward. What many people don't know is, if you don't fire the weapon, it can be disarmed and the tube collapsed until it is needed, which is really a pain in the arse. I served in the USMC, trained on this weapon system. It was felt inexpensive portable AT systems would be needed if WARSAW Pact countries ever crossed the Fulda Gap into Germany to kick off a ground war for WW3. You were correct that they can be reloaded, for training purposes. It's actually not difficult to connect the wiring on the sub-cal rockets used, and although they were only sub caliber, they still produce a back blast.

[@ThommyofThenn]

Wow... Massive film buff respect for including "The Hidden" in this video. I randomly saw it on tv at like 3am one time and it quickly went on to become one of my favorite shlocky 80s sci fi films. So fun seeing Kyle McLaughlin in a pre-TP role. He's also wonderful in Blue Velvet which im sure you've seen already

[@oldgysgt]

The M-72s we used "back in the day" had a real reliability problem with its ignition system. Sometimes we had more misfires than successful launches.

[@MrDgwphotos]

US Special Forces based at Lang Vei SF camp were attacked on the night of February 6 1968 by NVA PT-76 tanks and infantry. The SF and their CIDG allies engaged the tanks with M-72's, but had many miss completely, jam, misfire, or simply fail to knock out the enemy tanks.

[@oldgysgt]

@@MrDgwphotos; I don't know about the resent day M-72, but the M-72s we had in the '60s and '70s left a lot to be desired.

[@AudieHolland]

@@oldgysgt The M-16s they gave you also left a lot to be desired.

[@oldgysgt]

@@AudieHolland; no weapon system is prefect, but the early M16s had more than their share of teething problems. However, the M16 platform did eventually evolve into a fine service rifle.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Good informative and interesting video!! Grew up in the US Army during 1980s with this weapon system, was easy to carry and operate. Then came the AT-4 as its replacement - good enough weapon but heavy/bulky. You could carry a bunch of LAWS vs maybe 1-2 AT-4s. Anyways, working at a warehouse on a military installation, we made up a weapons cache consisting of various item(s) that soldiers were coming across in Iraq/Afghanistan and they would say that they were encountering the LAW. We just happened to have some old LAW trainers laying around and added them into the weapons caches - the soldiers seemed to appreciate seeing them and becoming familiar with them. I would show them how to put these things into operation and collapse them back down into the carrying configuration. Also, I would start rambling off various movies that this weapon could be seen in and ask the soldiers IF they ever saw any of those movies - usually just get a dumbfounded/bewildered look on their faces. Anyways, THANKS!!! for the memories!!

[@erichuang2553]

1:46 Glad you mentioned the falling down😆👍👍

[@coreybenson3122]

Firing procedure 1. Pull hate tab 2. Clear officers from area 3. Extended the long arm of the LAW 4. Giggle button 5. Make it rain

[@AnonEMus-cp2mn]

I’m glad the M72’s presence in _Tears of the Sun_ was briefly acknowledged. Key squad members could be seen carrying them as part of their kit for the entire film until they were used for suppressive fire/force multipliers. Their role was portrayed as secondaries rather than the primary weapon of a dedicated squad member.

[@CoffeeFiend1]

I remember when that came out that scene got so much flak back in the day. So they can use them to take out some vehicles but they're in the middle of the jungle, heavily outnumbered and quite simply they are there and available. Why not?

[@AnonEMus-cp2mn]

@@CoffeeFiend1 To be fair, the entire team was loaded for bear on what was supposed to be a simple snatch-and-grab mission. But there was merit to carrying M72s because enemy reinforcements did arrive by vehicle. If the lead vehicle is disabled on a roadway, the entire convoy is stuck due to the impassable terrain around it.

[@Taltsi]

About Ukraine, Finland is sending 1500 units of older stocks onetime use antitank weapons. Most likely most of them are 66 KES 88 (M72A5). They might include other types like the older 66 KES 75 (M72A2) or the heavier APILAS.

[@plainlake]

Denmark is also sending LAW's and Norway(that still produce them).

[@smithfinland214]

@@plainlake yeah we did buy some 66 KES 12 (M72 EC LAW Mk.I) from norway to replace the older 66 KES 88 (M72A5)

[@Jay-ln1co]

In the army we got basic training with the M72A5 as a general purpose anti-armour weapon. Even got to see one fired at a thick steel plate at a range. All you see is a bright light lunge forth and a big pop on the target (like a big fire cracker). What's left is an ugly, quarter sized hole through the target plate. As for Ukraine, I believe our government shipped some over there, along with rifles and other stuff. The cynic in me believes it was probably stock of old M72A2s and Chinese AKs the government was going to get rid of anyway.

[@jacksteel1539]

tbh if you're going to get rid of them you might as well give them to people in need

[@djolley61]

We've been sending them both Stingers and Javelins, both very effective weapons. The T-72s are equipped with reactive armor which is designed to defeat HEAT rounds like the RPG or LAW.

[@jacksteel1539]

@@djolley61 Yes the T-72s are but many other vehicles aren't and reactive armor can be damaged fairly easily. Having extra bad launchers is very useful

[@Autobotmatt428]

@@jacksteel1539 I think they would work on trucks and BMPs

[@daegnaxqelil2733]

it's stupid to sell M72s to ukrainians

[@OldJoe212]

In Viet Nam, we were told to destroy the tube after firing. The LAW was 66mm and the mortar used by the VC/NVA was 62mm. The bad guys could put one cap back on and punch a nail through the cap. This would make a serviceable mortar tube. Without using a base or aiming device, mortar rounds could be dropped in and the tube was slowly moved forward, thus, walking the rounds through your position. Had that happen to me/us a few times, but we never knew what type of tube was used.

[@jackstecker5796]

Please. I wouldn't buy that crap if it was on sale. Seriously, guy. In an absolute emergency, I might try that, charge zero and hope for the best. Having handled an M-72, there's no way you could launch mortar rounds from that sucker.

[@cattledog901]

​@@jackstecker5796 Classic boomer fuddlore just like "5.56 was designed to wound not kill" BS

[@rpk321]

After 75, NVA managed to make them reusable. Because shoot-and-dispose is considered "toys of the rich kids". Or in other word, too expensive.

[@Lobos222]

A few things... The way they load it in the movies it a bit too "easy" because you actually arm it while you "open" it. Which means you are pulling against something when you do. Which one does not on empty ones one just carry during training or similar. In this context there is a slight issue because there are two main variants, based on my experience. The more modern one has a metal slide that is pulled to arm and open the weapon. The older ones just had a metal string. I say string, but that is more accurate and yes, that did mean that if you opened it too weak, it wouldnt arm, too hard, the wire might snap and make the round inoperable. Another aspect is that if you look at movie version. They are all old or "not new". Armed M72s are ALWAYS new. They are fire and throw away. They generally do not leave the crate before they are used or used within short time afterwards or if used in a more occupation like situation. They are never opened anyway so they retain the "fresh" look on the barrel edges etc. While any back blast should be respected and they are dangerous. This one is not "that bad" and while you shouldnt have your head behind it, because that might kill you. Firing such in a regular room with an open window is not a huge risk. We even did that with 84mm RFKs, but you need at least 2 meters from the wall then to avoid burn damage. Ear protection is a given regardless... Tactically, you do use the HEAT against infantry as well, but only in cases were you can. For example shoot the HEAT charge so it would burry through the ground and penetrate into the foxhole or similar to create and expansionist explosion of atmosphere there. You woudnt shoot into a window, but on the wall next to the window for similar effect. Note that HEAT has less effect on areas that are not enclosed. Foxholes are often not enclosed enough to cause wide area affect, but if someone has build up a bunch of sandbags and is sitting behind it or hes single man hole is on a slight incline. You might blow the guys out of the hole. Not just remove hes legs... That said, they were considered light AT. Used only for specific units or situations. While the squad I commanded was not an AT squad pr say. We usually carried around 9x M72 and a ton of other weapons as well. I also think our nation sent like 4000 surplus of these to Ukraine. Aside from M109 and other stuff that is much larger of course.

[@ebee-uz1oz]

the LAW was also in the movie Act of Valor (to take down a truck full of baddies) and Invasion USA, Norris used it to take out the lead baddie.....a bit overkill IMO.

[@skipfighter]

I always looked at old dutch army manuals from my dad and i always thought this weapon looked super sci fi for the time.

[@grrlpurpleable]

Oh I loved it when Billy Rosewood got his hands on one... with that quip from Taggart! :)

[@Del_S]

There's various Chinese and Soviet disposable AT weapons that may not be direct copies of the M72, but sure did seem to start showing up sometime after Beijing and Moscow had a few years to look at captured American equipment from Vietnam... But hey, no one ever copied a good idea they first saw in American hands, right, Raketenpanzerbüchse 54?

[@jacksteel1539]

Soviets had a lot of chances to see German disposable AT weapons as did the western allies as well

[@Del_S]

@@jacksteel1539 Indeed, though they largely developed the RPG-2 as a result of the Panzerfaust. Disposable launchers really only showed up in Soviet arsenals from about 1970.

[@explainatorylore799]

You forget the Yugoslav M80 Zolja. a 62mm copy .

[@halitiko]

Thanks for sharing such videos with us.

[@minuteman4199]

When you fire an M72 there is no trail of smoke from the rocket. The rocket motor has burnt out by the time the rocket leaves the tube then it uses its momentum to fly to the target.

[@esbam2002]

I definitely prefer carrying around the M72 over the AT4. As for explosions Hollywood exaggerates that greatly for many things. The M67s I used were no where near as powerful as some movies would have you think.

[@oldgysgt]

Yea, Hollywood makes a hand grenade and a 40mm M203 round look like 25 lb of TNT going off. And every car crash has to have a 20 ft fireball. Oh well, that's Show Biz.

[@RemoteCamper]

Having a spent tube myself I can attest that the LAW is reloadable and all it takes is a Philips screwdriver. It was never meant to be reloaded so there are not any reloads. But by simply removing the 2 rear end screws, remove the cap that covers the primer, insert a new rocket with flash tube and primer, and then it is now reloaded. There was a movie (I think it was called ) Toy Soldiers -- a bunch of bad guys take over a military school for kids. In one scene, in the bell tower where a bad guy was all set up, they accurately show a LAW with 3-4 reloads WITH flash tubes and primers which are attached to the rocket, which has NEVER been shown EVER before or since.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thank you for adding this! I wish I had come across that clip.

[@schlirf]

Fired enough of those in my day, plus the subcaliber Viper version. They did the job back in the day, but have since been upgraded. The funny thing is however; if given the choice between the '72 and an RPG, I would go for the RPG.

[@fredo1070]

Glad you showed the scene from The Enforcer.

[@lumberboi1097]

Fun Fact: During the vietnam war after some years of using the m72 American soldiers noticed that the fired m72 was being used as booby traps so it became an unwritten rule/order to not dispose unless necesary

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

Beat me to it Lumber... The VC would pull the pin on a grenade or two and slide them into the used, empty LAW tube with the spoons still attached. The tube would then be hung in a tree facing up with a trip wire attached to it. When a GI walked past, "tripping" the wire... the tube would swing down allowing the armed grenades to fall out onto the trail.

[@roulpops2699]

Had a demilitarised one some 20 years ago, i wanted to convert it into a collapsable/folding bong at the time, but it was too much work, ended up using it to transport drawings/poster safely (it was way more solid than some cardboard tube XD )

[@mugsnvicki]

another great video, Johnny! Well researched and supported by terrific videos. How do you do it? Maybe a short video on how you put one together.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Well definitely a lot of help from forums and other youtubers. Maybe at a 100k once I polish my process :)

[@michaelj6392]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq I would also like to know how to compile footage into a video like this, maybe start my own clip channel someday. Not trying to steal your thunder. I would be interested in making a channel on different subject matter. Any resources you’d point me to, to learn? Thanks!

[@JohnnyJohnsonHistory]

@@michaelj6392 I use a lot of the "internet movie vehicle database" and "internet firearms movie database" I also use a ton of Reddit and other KZbinrs. I particularly like Ian from Forgotten Weapons. Doing movie clips is tricky if you want to monetize your work as you can't use much more than a consecutive 12 seconds of footage and the majority of your video needs to be narrated. The majority of studios do grant me permission to use clips when I have copyright issues but it can still be a tricky process. Also don't feel like this is a competitive field. It's like having a TV network, any growth in the field is good for everyone so most KZbinrs are happy to help other people in my experience.

[@natejones902]

Small side note. The hilltop in Korea where the commonwealth soldiers use the super bazooka on the capture Cromwell. The first time the Centurion fired at an enemy tank was at a tank under a bridge. After hitting the tank and moving towards it the british crew were surprised to find it had been a Cromwell captured by the north Koreans.

[@Murgoh]

I have fired a couple of training rockets on those and seen live ones fired during my concription in the Finnish defence forces. What most movies get wrong is that the rocket completely burns out in the tube so there's no trail of fire and smoke and the sound is a loud "bang", like a shotgun but louder, not a "whooosshh".

[@harry2928]

Another point of really old interest and curiosity from the '70s on. Thanks again Johnny

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Very current post...we are in the middle of delivering supplies to Ukraine...thanks for sharing this with us all, Johnny...E

[@ifv2089]

Who is we.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@ifv2089 figure it out you tosser...stay at home...

[@Joze1090]

@@eamonnclabby7067 bruh.

[@ThommyofThenn]

​@@ifv2089the NATO

[@cesargonzalez4146]

​@@ifv2089 It's better to leave the question unanswered, for opsec reasons.

[@geordiedog1749]

Great stuff JJ. And thanks for mentioning the bit about how it was not to be used in confined spaces. Something often missed or misrepresented. Give me a PIAT any day:)

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Bring up the PIAT!!! Next video is for you.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq I had a wee notion that it might be. There’s some spectacular BS talked about the PIAT. I think it came from one of those History Channel experts’ slagged it off. You know the type, “Hey! You’re a military history expert?” “Er, yeah. Civil War era. Yeah.” “Cool. Talk about the PIAT then!” “Er…. Well…..” “Military expert, yeah?” “Well, OK. Yeah. OK. So this PIAT….. it’s not German. It’s British. Therefore it’s shit.” Y’know the types.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

@@geordiedog1749 lol. I make my goal that if I never become an expert on anything I at least have a reputation for never pretending to be an expert.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Absolutely matey. I’ve got plenty of respect for someone who can just say “I don’t know this - I’ll need to look it up!”

[@angelo8424]

Backblast was a MF,lol

[@DansilSchroeder]

You got one thing wrong. Bravo Two Zero is not fiction, it was based on an actual SAS patrol in the first gulf war, from the perspective of Andy McNab (the pseudonym of Steven Mitchell, who is a real SAS blade. he used a false name because, of course, the SAS has to protect their identities as a matter of national security)

[@jeffreyhansen2806]

The M72 LAW doesn't go "Woosh." It makes a big bang and you get a face full of sparks.

[@sawyerclegg7510]

Falling down is by far the best representation of the m72 ever............. period

[@ja37d-34]

I like it in Falling Down.. :) We have the Pskott m/86 here - as well as the more modern RB 57. But I had the m/86. Similar but bigger. Well, it fires a "grenade" unlike the LAw´s rocket.

[@ja37d-34]

Man, Kylie Minogue is cute in Street Fihgter! :D

[@Hiznogood]

Pansarskott m/86 is called the AT4 outside Sweden, I think. Sweden gave Ukraine 5000 of those the other day to fight against the Russian invasion. First time since WWII we did that to a country in war due to our stance as neutral country.

[@explainatorylore799]

Are you by chance from Ex-Yugoslavian nations or Indonesia?

[@ja37d-34]

@@explainatorylore799 No

[@tristancline7021]

Clint smith from thunder ranch on a podcast talks about how when first contact was had three guys would walk forward and shoot them at the first sign of resistance than the platoon would fan out

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great vid...👍

[@KiloSierra1]

Bravo Two Zero is based on a true story of an SAS patrol team that was compromised in the Gulf War. Off the top of my head, one got killed, 2 got captured and tortured, and 1 made it out. The SAS soldier that made it out holds the world record for the longest distance someone has cover on foot to escape the enemy. Bravo Two Zero was their callsign.

[@fus149hammer5]

Yes I don't know why he believed it to be "mostly fiction".

[@RJM1011]

Yes but the film is mostly BS and fiction the battle where they use the LAWS never took place !

[@weetytoaster1835]

Fun fact many countries still use the M72 to this day countries like Canada

[@brothercaptainwarhammer]

Probably the One Weapon I'd use over the AT4 Launcher, and probably my Most Favorite Launcher in the Vietnam War Era, and 80s aside from the M202 FLASH. Something About Pulling Out the Other Tube and then Aiming It looks Badass to Me... I mean, you know the Character Means Business when they Pull Out and Deploy a Rocket Launcher that can Tear a Truck to Smithereens, if the 80s was Defined by Explosive Weapons, this This Launcher and M202 FLASH will be at the Forefront, among other Explosive Based Weapons. Excellent Video as Always Johnny! Keep up the Amazing Work! I Learn more with Every Video And See New Movies to Watch Every Time you Post a Video! Thank you for that Again!

[@davidgiles4681]

I can remember given m72 training in the Army (80's). It is a very simple weapon: pull apart rear sight pops out aim rear sight and front sight if want to fire - press rubber switch Yell - "back blast area clear" in a question if yes "Back blast area clear" = press rubber switch watch rnd go It was that simple. but, you had to remember stomping and or destroying the tube (because the enemy could use said tube as a booby trap and or some other lethal manner).

[@bubsterjohnson7438]

Ayy I came across your channel yesterday and was watching all your older videos wondering when you were gonna upload again and I came back to watch some more and there's a new video lol can you do a video on the Winchester model 1897?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Absolutely I can! It's on my list. Maybe in the next couple of weeks or so. I try to do a video every 4 days on average.

[@bubsterjohnson7438]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq awesome lol that shotguns been my favourite ever since playing call of duty world at war when I was like 8 haha

[@Dewydidit]

The discussion of the M-72 is not complete until someone yells, "Back blast area CLEAR!"

[@BeTeK11]

Shot around 20 training rockets and one live during my army training. In finland we call them KES. Really light and super accurate. I think i missed only once during training.

[@nauticalobbyz-8972]

Can you tell me more

[@badas45]

When I was a kid I had a plastic LAW It was one of my favorite toys

[@Spaceballz123]

Rambo picks up a law but fires an rpg 😆

[@BenRangel]

3:36 I can really recommend "The Hidden" as a fun barnburner action with aliens. It's quite a hidden gem

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

my weapon of choice for clearing entrenched snipers in Combat Arms, along with the RPG-7. later in my run as a player, I developed a way to use the rocket as a timed flak shell, by hitting it in flight with the shot of a Dragunov. some players had devised a counter to me using walls and ceilings to impact the rockets onto, killing them with the blast, so, they started perching on open platforms, with nothing to their backs. ....so, I intentionally shot the rocket past them, and detonated it behind their cover. other times, I would bounce the rocket off trees or light poles, against players behind corners. I'm sure I collected a few "OMGWTF!??!?" shouts from friendlies and enemies alike, at the sight of the sheer stupidity and madness of that tactic. just one of those one-in-a-million plays that pays off and flips the scoreboard three times over.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Yeah. I was trained on how to use it in High School ROTC - but it was just the tube. No Rocket. We'd deploy it, look through the sites and press the firing button on top of it - then put it back together for the next person to practice with. I don't remember if I ever fired one in the Marines. They did have us fire 3.5" Bazookas but I don't remember actually firing an M-72. That was in 1970 though so ... I may just not remember. As a contrast - the M-72 fired a 2.6 in. Rocket as compared to the 3.5" Rocket of the Bazooka so you had a much more substantial rocket. You just had to carry that big tube around. It could be broken down into 2 sections, I believe, but it was still a substantial thing to carry around. Thus - they were mostly limited to the Weapons Platoon - so you didn't have these things scattered about through the troops the way the M-72's were. I heard that there were a lot of problems with it in Vietnam. Apparently the tube wasn't as water proof as it was supposed to be. Also, whether that was the reason or something else - that they had a lot of duds. You'd press the firing button and ... nothing. But yeah - they'd have them like in _Forrest Gump_ where a guy would just be carrying one around in case they needed it. .

[@Lobos222]

I am no historian, but looking at Vietnam movies I can tell they are using the version that has the metal slide rather than the wire to arm (look at back of weapon, you see the bump thing on top of the weapon, but you also see a thin line just above the main tube). That used to be a simple metal wire, which could snap on being pulled too hard or not arm the weapon if pulled too weakly. ( Edit: Metal slide version 01:40 and actually, I think, an example of the wire version at 01:58 . Notice how the wire is missing on the latter... Guess why?!? )

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

@@Lobos222 Thanks. .

[@barrie1225]

Hello Johnny awesome video, can you do a video on the Javelin anti tank weapon and/or stinger anti air weapon?

[@edwardvincentbriones5062]

Off-topic: I watched The Pacific and I was interested in the scene where the Browning M1919 MG overheated in the midst of a strong rain and a fierce Japanese night attack.

[@Prussian7789]

i like how rambo fires the law with the trigger on top but the close in shot is him firing a RPG trigger

[@gooraway1]

Thanks for the tips on using the weapon but I don't expect the situation to arise but who can tell.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

lol well let's hope not at least

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

I’m surprised that when you discussed backblast you didn’t show Rambo using one whilst sat in a Huey, with no Ill effect to the passengers behind…

[@Kingnome]

While deployed with Air Force Security Force as a Supply person in 2003. One of my many jobs was being in charge of the all the ammunition they brought with them. I was told to pick up one my M72 LAW from the Army ammo dump. I open up the crate, tossed it back of my white truck and drove to guard mount. A prior Army guy demonstrated how to use it. He stop at the point of where you extend the tube, because you can’t put it back together and is “armed” at the point. He told the group this was a real one and not a practice one. They all back off. I thought the group was going to shit themselves when he told them it was real. When done, he tossed it to me. I caught it, cool like. Again, their looks on their faces was priceless. Good times.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

Used to buy these in 1982 from quartermasters store in london at 15 quid a time!!!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Dang. If only I could do that. I'd buy the store.

[@Kamelophagous2]

Love your stuff Johnny. Thought I'd clear up a misconception though. Shaped charges only 'focus' a small percentage of the overall explosive energy [10 percent or so]. The rest forms a fairly typical omnidirectional blast. Bazookas, PIATS, Panzershreks, Panzerfausts, LAW's and every other 'anti-tank' launcher known to man have probably been used for demolishing buildings, bunkers, or for straight up anti-personnel use at some time or another. The critical factor for building demo is explosive mass... of which most anti tank weapons have a half kilo or more. For anti-personnel use the lack of efficient fragmentation is the main downside, rather than than any effect of the charge shaping.

[@Daniel4646]

2:16 Evidently, that gal has NEVER before seen a rocket's tail spouting a spray of fire...

[@somebloke3869]

The M-72, or 66 as we called it, could hold two cans of beer. I'm talking about the empty ones we had to carry around on training exercises.

[@lukum55]

I have shot a couple live M72s and dozens of practice rockets, there is indeed some recoil especially if you have not braced the tube against something. The first time I shot a live one the rear sight would have hit me in the eye if I wasn't wearing eye protection.

[@nauticalobbyz-8972]

Can you tell me more

[@emperornguyen]

Dredd: YOU BE BETRAYED THE LAW! Rico: LAAAAAWWWWW!!!!!

[@oogityboogity6644]

More 60s-80s stuff I love it

[@annehansen7496]

Law m72 is made at Nammo Raufoss in Norway 👍🇳🇴

[@OgamerNL]

Hell yeah, New Kids Turbo is back!! :D As always, great video! :D

[@usarmy500]

You should do a video on the javelin

[@MichalKaczorowski]

Not many movies with it except Tik Toks from Ukraine ;)

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@MichalKaczorowski indeed...don,t forget Afghan action...

[@icy3-1]

Thought my eyes were deceiving me in the first couple frames when the LAW suddenly had grips. I'm glad they weren't xD

[@Covah86]

Handled a few in my time in the Army. Incidently, because of that guy trying to sell several in 2007, we now do fortnightly weapon stocktakes.

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

"If it doesn't fire, you can always hit them with tube."

[@garycleveland6410]

If heavy armor shows up, run! It will just bounce off unless you attack from above.

[@nicholasgallo3599]

Please do a video on the M72’s common rival the RPG-7 Rocket Launcher

[@drewdederer8965]

On the "weird Anime front" one of these is held by wizards as the "Staff of Destruction" in the fantasy "Familiar of Zero" an earlier visitor to the magical world had arrived from Nam with 2 of them, and used one to kill a dragon 5 minutes after arrival.

[@thekhoifish0146]

And then there’s Megumin from Konosuba who is just a walking AT4 suffering from extreme stimulant addiction withdrawal

[@aweeeeh5255]

When I see johnny uploaded this video I instantly think of Zero no Tsukaima. My first and favorite anime of all time.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Damn sounds like I missed some good ones here. I will try to do better next round!

[@drewdederer8965]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Don't worry TOO much. "Familiar of Zero" is a little old and a mite niche (and really not anything incredible). But, it was a beautiful example of "magic sees technology as another kind of magic). It was the refined version of a bit in a Comic Strip in "Dragon" magazine back in the day ("Fineous Fingers", I am SO dating myself) Which had a panel at a siege where a wizard was instructing a fantasy army "Be ready when I blow the gate with this wand of fireballs." while caring a bazooka under his arm.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

@@drewdederer8965 Iunno sounds pretty bad ass. I am fond the obscure and niche :)

[@Clipgatherer]

The word “silly” could be used about most of Charles Bronson’s later movies.

[@jffry890]

During the battle for DC in MW2, Command authorizes to a unit over the background radio chatter the use of "thermobaric LAWs" on Russian armor.

[@simonsimon8572]

Good job

[@Eskeletor_210]

I used to play outside with a m72 launcher tube. Miss that tube

[@bluemarshall6180]

5:14 Watch on DVD with English dubbed. They went back in time. 😆

[@captaindookey]

First time ive seen gi samurai mentioned

[@fankdaggot8961]

Lmao i can’t believe you actually showed footage of New Kids Turbo! One of my fave movies of all time

[@richardmeek3312]

still remember CSI Miami bad guy shooting one inside of a concrete truck it did not end well for him

[@jamesturner9651]

2:37 Don't mess up his sales pitch! lmao

[@Shaun_Jones]

I’ve seen a picture of an M72 tube with practically every conceivable “LAW” pun written on it.

[@martist911wasits-not-real4]

"2 tubes inside one another"? Some 5th dimension stuff there!

[@Postmortumaz]

When I learned to fire that in Army basic, we were trained to shout, "Back blast area clear," before firing. So when ever you fart. Say Back blast area clear before farting.

[@madjackblack5892]

There's a 21mm subcaliber training round for this that is a lot of fun to shoot, but not nearly as fun as the real one. Back blast area clear!

[@peterbrungardt5434]

What film was that at 1:42?

[@shadowwolf9503]

"I am now checking my rear backblast area Drill Sgt !!!"

[@zwenkwiel816]

did not expect to see new kids turbo in there

[@Wt-time]

0:50 HEEEE YOU ADDED NEW KIDS TURBOOOOOO HAHAAAAA

[@wustenfuchs3285]

still in service here in canada

[@christophersnyder1532]

Just point, and shoot, it's not hard. Great video. Take care, and all the best.

[@matthewvorwald7169]

I've mainly seen this weapon used in Rambo First Blood Part 2, Dirty Harry 3 The Enforcer, and Terminator Dark Fate. I think it would be cool to do a video on the M79 grenade launcher.

[@aslamstudio558]

3:52 well, the movie IS called "True Liesx

[@iowa_lot_to_travel9471]

Paul Kersey and Matt Hunter chucked these after using them. But went to retrieve them. Guess they follwed the L. A. W. ? 😅😅 💪💪👋👋🔥🔥👍👍 great review Johnny.