SMAWT Signature Test

Field tests conducted to obtain descriptions and comparisons, and evaluate tactical usefulness of antitank systems firing signatures. Two standard issue systems the M72 LAW rocket and the M67 recoilless rifle, a proposed 81mm recoilless rifle system with two types of propellants, and a proposed 79mm rocket system with two types of propellants were fired in pairs. Five enlisted men served as downrange observers and judged the firing signatures and returned simulated counterfire. The reported tactical usefulness of signature components depended on the contrast ratio such that high contrast ratio for a component resulted in greater usefulness. Although all the candidate systems produced larger signatures than the LAW, the larger signatures did not prove to be tactically dramatically detrimental in terms of decreased post-firing survivability of the systems.