COHORT soldiers take LAW into their own hands

Story and photos by Casey Fuller

(Fort Ord Panorama, Page 5, September 3, 1987)

It was the first time Sgt. Gregg Clouthier fired a Light Anti-tank weapon (LAW). "I was surprised by the firepower. It was very impressive. It's very accurate," he said.

Clouthier and 100 fellow soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry fired live LAWs Wednesday, Aug. 26. With the exception of the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and officers, 2/27 is a COHORT battalion that arrived at Fort Ord a few weeks ago. The live fire was part of a weapons familiarization phase that the battalion is going through for the benefit of the new troops.

Sgt. Bruce Howard said he has fired a live LAW on about six different occasions. How much does wind affect the accuracy of the LAW? "A lot," Howard said. "Today the wind was blowing about 10-miles-per-hour." Correcting your aim is simple though if you are aware that the wind is blowing. "You move your point of aim into the wind and the shot curves right into the target." There is a scale on the sights that helps you make the right amount of correction, Howard explained.

"I was nervous," said Cpl. John Munro who fired a live LAW for the first time.

"Don't say that," a soldier told Munro. "People will think you are a wimp."

"Well that was the first time," Munro said. "I was nervous but not like some guys. Some were so nervous that they were shaking. I wasn't that nervous. I hit the target."

Comparing the LAW and the Dragon, Munro said he would rather use the Dragon in a combat situation. "The Dragon has a maximum effective range of 1,000 meters. It has a lot more punch." The maximum effective range of the LAW is 200 meters.

Sgt. Dave Nelson said he would also prefer the Dragon in a combat situation. "The Dragon will penetrate a lot more steel." The Dragon can penetrate 18 inches of steel.

A COHORT troops sights his target.

The LAW can penetrate six to eight inches. "With a LAW, About all you can do is throw a track. If you get a good shot into the flank you might take out the engine."

The few seconds more that it takes to arm a Dragon than a LAW is not that critical, according to Nelson. "I'd rather take 10 seconds to arm a Dragon, because, with a LAW you don't get a good shot into a T-72 (Soviet Tank)..."

But there are circumstances where the LAW is preferable, Nelson said. "The Dragon doesn't arm until 65 meters. So at close range I would prefer the LAW."