View source for LAW 80

{{Infobox weapon
|name                = LAW 80
| image              = DM-SD-07-17341 (LAW 80 crop).jpg
| image_size         = 300
|caption             = Unextended LAW 80
|origin              = United Kingdom
|type                = [[Rocket-propelled grenade]] ([[anti-tank]], disposable)
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = yes
| is_explosive       = yes
| is_missile         = yes
| is_UK              = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1987–present
| used_by            = See {{sectionlink||Users}}
| wars               ={{ubl|[[Cold War]]|[[War on Terror]]}}
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           =
| design_date        =
| manufacturer       =[[Hunting Engineering]]
| unit_cost          =
| production_date    = 1987–1993<ref name="weaponsystems.net">{{cite web |title=LAW-80 |url=https://weaponsystems.net/system/182-LAW-80 | website=WeaponSystems.net |access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref>
| number             = c. 113,000<ref name="weaponsystems.net" />
| variants           =
<!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label=
| weight             = {{ubl|{{convert|9|kg|lb|abbr=on}} loaded|{{convert|4.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} projectile}}
| length             = {{ubl|{{convert|1.5|m|in|abbr=on}} firing|{{convert|1|m|in|abbr=on}} carrying}}
| part_length        =
| width              =
| height             =
| diameter           =
| crew               = 1
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge=
| caliber            = {{convert|94|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| velocity           =
| range              = {{convert|20{{ndash}}500|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| max_range          =
| sights             = ×1 magnification [[telescopic sight]]
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
| filling            = [[HEAT]]
| filling_weight     =
| detonation         = [[Contact fuze]]
| yield              = 600-700 rha mm
<!-- Missiles only -->
| propellant         = [[Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene|HTPB]]
| boost              =
| launch_platform    = [[Man-portable anti-tank systems|Man-portable launcher]]
}}

The '''LAW 80''' ('''Light Anti-armour Weapon 80'''), regularly referred to as '''LAW 94''' in British service, is a man-portable, disposable [[anti-tank]] weapon previously used by the [[British Army]] and a few other militaries.<ref>The Directory of the World's Weapons, Bookmart Ltd (1996), {{ISBN|1-85605-348-2}}, {{ISBN|978-1-85605-348-8}}</ref>

==Description==
The weapon consists of an extendable launch tube with an integrated {{convert|9|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[spotting rifle]] and 1× sight. The spotting rifle has five rounds of ammunition, and is ballistically matched to the [[rocket]]. The rounds it uses are quite unusual, consisting of a 9&nbsp;mm [[Tracer ammunition|tracer]] bullet loaded in a necked up [[7.62×51mm NATO|7.62mm NATO]] [[shell casing]], with a [[.22 Hornet]] [[Blank (cartridge)|blank]] mounted in the base of the larger case, providing the [[propellant]] charge. Upon firing, the .22 cartridge case pushes out of the back of the 7.62&nbsp;mm casing, unlocking the [[Breech-loading weapon|breech]] of the spotting rifle in a form of [[Blowback (firearms)#Primer actuated|primer actuation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cartridgecollectors.org/cmo/cmo05oct.htm|title=Cartridge of the Month|website=cartridgecollectors.org}}</ref> <!-- The spotting rifle on the [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] [[Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon|Mk.153 Mod.0 SMAW]] was derived from the LAW 80.-->

To launch the rocket the firer removes the large protective end caps and extends the rear of the launch tube, opens the sight, and moves the arming lever to "armed". The weapon is then in spotting rifle mode. To fire the rocket, the firer moves a charge lever forward with his firing hand thumb. The [[rocket motor]] burns out before it leaves the launch tube, the resulting blast being directed rearwards from the launch tube. The rocket then coasts to the target, arming itself after it has passed a certain arming distance. The [[warhead]] is a [[HEAT]] [[shaped charge]] and could penetrate {{convert|700|mm|in|abbr=on}} of [[rolled homogeneous armour]] at 90 degrees, as was taught to soldiers trained on the weapon system in the British Army, Royal Navy (Royal Marines) and [[RAF Regiment]]{{Citation needed|reason=This claim needs a reliable source.|date=March 2022}}.  It was also taught that sloped, composite and [[reactive armour]]{{Citation needed|reason=This claim needs a reliable source.|date=March 2022}}, would reduce the penetration and would be an important factor when selecting the aiming point.

==Specifications==
{{External media
|topic=LAW 80 Brochure 1985
|float=right
|image1=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/LAW80/LAW80-0.jpg LAW 80(1)]
|image2=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/LAW80/LAW80-4.jpg LAW 80(2)]
|image3=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/LAW80/LAW80-1.jpg LAW 80(3)]
|image4=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/LAW80/LAW80-3.jpg LAW 80(4)]
}}
* Contractor: [[Hunting Engineering]]
* Calibre: 94&nbsp;mm
* Launcher length:
** Firing mode: 1.5 m
** Carrying mode: 1 m
* Weight:
** Carrying weight: 10&nbsp;kg
** Shoulder weight: 9&nbsp;kg
** Projectile weight: 4.6&nbsp;kg
* Dispersion: approx 1 mil
* Warhead arming range: 10 to 20 m
* Effective range: 20 to 500 m
* Fuze:
** Type: [[Piezoelectricity|Piezo-electric]] [[impact fuze]], shrub and foliage proof
** Graze angle: ≤ 10°
* Temperature range: &minus;46&nbsp;°C to +65&nbsp;°C
* Rear danger area: < 20 m
* Shelf life: 10 years

==Operators==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
{{Refimprove section|date=June 2010}}
[[File:LAW 80 operators.png|thumb|upright=1.6|Operators {{legend|#0b60d4|Current}}{{legend|#dc0023|Former}}]]

===Current operators===
*{{flag|Botswana}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_botswana|title=Google Sites|website=sites.google.com|access-date=2017-09-14|archive-date=2016-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124203850/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_botswana|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Jordan}}<ref name="jones2009">Jones, Richard D. ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010''. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). {{ISBN|978-0-7106-2869-5}}.</ref>
*{{flag|Sierra Leone}}<ref>{{cite web|title=World Infantry Weapons: Sierra Leone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124203938/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_sierraleone|archive-date=24 November 2016|url=https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_sierraleone|date=2013}}</ref>

===Past operators===
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}: Initially adopted in the early 1990s, replacing the [[Carl Gustav recoilless rifle|L14A1 84 mm Carl Gustav]] [[recoilless rifle]] and [[M72 LAW|M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon]] (Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1), it was withdrawn on safety grounds in favour of the [[AT-4 CS]] and eventually the [[FGM-148 Javelin]] anti-tank missile and [[NLAW]].<ref name="owen2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/upload/200712031855161.pdf |title=Light Anti-Armour Weapons: Anti-Everything? |author=Owen, William F. |year=2007 |publisher=Asian Military Review |access-date=2010-05-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707174026/http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/upload/200712031855161.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-07 }}</ref>

==Addermine==
Addermine is an acoustic sensor system which uses the LAW 80 as a kill mechanism to create an anti-armour [[off-route mine]]. It can also be command detonated from up to 200 m away, or 2 km via a laser optical link.<ref >{{Cite book
  |title=The British Army: A Pocket Guide 2002-2003
  |first=Charles  |last=Heyman
  |publisher=Casemate Publishers
  |year=2008
  |isbn=9781783378968
  |page=128
}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
* [[List of rocket launchers]]
* {{lwc|ARGES mine}}
* {{lwc|APILAS}}
* {{lwc|Alcotán-100}}

==References==
* ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005-2006''
* ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991-1992''

==External links==
{{commonscat|LAW 80}}
* https://web.archive.org/web/20040927085242/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/pw/pw_law.htm
* [http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0095.html www.armedforces.co.uk]

{{ModernUKInfWeaponsNav}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2024}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Law 80}}
[[Category:Anti-tank rockets]]
[[Category:Anti-tank guided missiles of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cold War weapons of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Disposable products]]
[[Category:Primer-actuated blowback firearms]]