Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon

Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon
Mk 153 SMAW and munition casing.
Type	Multi-role (anti-fortification, anti-armor) rocket launcher
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1984–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Operation Just Cause Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Yemeni Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer	McDonnell Douglas
Manufacturer	Nammo Talley (formerly Talley Defense Systems)
Unit cost	US$13,000
Variants	M141 Bunker Defeat Munition
Specifications
Mass	7.54 kg (16.6 lb) (empty)[1] 13.39 kg (29.5 lb) (loaded)[1]
Length	760 mm (30 in) (unloaded)[1] 1,371 mm (54.0 in) (loaded)[1]
Crew	2 (can be operated by one person, but at lower rate of fire)[1]
Cartridge weight	4.5 kg (9.9 lb) (HEAA)[1] 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) (HEDP)[1]
Caliber	83.5 mm (3.29 in) (bore diameter) 83.0 mm (3.27 in) (rocket diameter)
Rate of fire	3 rounds per minute (practical)[1]
Muzzle velocity	220 m/s (720 ft/s)[1]
Effective firing range	250 m (820 ft) (HEDP)[1] 500 m (1,600 ft) (HEAA)[1]
Maximum firing range	1,800 m (5,900 ft)[1]
Feed system	Detachable single-rocket casing
Sights	Iron sights (250 m; 820 ft) Mk 42 Day Sight (3.8× magnification telescopic sight) Night vision sight

The Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is a smoothbore shoulder-fired rocket launcher.^[2] It is a portable assault weapon (i.e., bunker buster) and has a secondary anti-armor ability. Developed from the B-300, it was introduced to the United States Armed Forces in 1984. It has a maximum effective range of 500 metres (550 yd) against a tank-sized target.

It can be used to destroy bunkers and other fortifications during assault operations; it can also destroy other designated targets using the dual mode rocket, and main battle tanks using the high-explosive anti-tank rocket. Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq saw a thermobaric rocket added (described as a "novel explosive" (NE)), which can collapse a building.^[3]