At4-familiarization

Weapons Familiarization M136 (M287) AT4 Rocket Launcher Ref: FM 3-23.25 STP 21-1-SMCT

Description        

Lightweight Self-contained Anti-armor weapon Free-flight Fin-stabilized Rocket-type cartridge Man-portable Fire from right shoulder only  Employed in limited visibility

Technical Data  Launcher  

Length 40 inches Weight 14.8 pounds

 Rocket   

Caliber 84mm Length 18 inches Weight 4 pounds

 Maximum Range 

2,100m (6,890 ft)

 Maximum Effective Range 

300m (985 ft)

Components            

Fire-through muzzle cover Front sight Color-coded band Forward safety Rear sight Red trigger button Cocking lever Shoulder stop Transport safety pin Rear seal Venturi (inside) Carrying sling

Ammunition  Round ammo  Integral rocket type cartridge  Cartridge consist of: 

    

Fin assembly with tracer element Point-initiating Base-detonating Piezoelectric fuse Warhead body with liner Precision shaped explosive charge

Ammunition cont’  Excellent penetration ability  Lethal after-armor effects  Extremely destructive  Penetrates more than 14 inches of armor

 Color-coding: 





Black with yellow – HE anti-armor round Gold or yellow – field handling trainer No band – M287 9mm tracer bullet trainer

Inspection  M136 is issued as a round of ammunition rather than as a weapon  Should be inspected at the time of issue and before use

Inspection cont’           

Rear seal is in place and undamaged Transport safety pin is in place and fully inserted Cocking lever is present and in the SAFE position Plastic fire-through muzzle cover is in place and undamaged Launcher has the correct color-coded band Sights function properly Forward safety does not move when you depress it Red trigger button is not missing Launcher body has no cracks, dents, or bulges Carrying sling is not frayed and is attached firmly to the launch tube Shoulder stop is not broken or damaged, and it unsnaps and folds down

Operation and Function  Mechanism is mechanical  Consist of:   

Red trigger button Enclosed firing rod and spring Three safety devices  Transport

safety pin  Cocking lever  Forward safety

Operation and Function cont’  The weapon cannot be fired until all three safeties have been disengaged 





Transport safety pin – blocks the firing pin from striking the cartridge percussion cap Cocking lever – attached to the firing rod, is in the SAFE position, the firing rod and the trigger cannot touch Forward safety – blocks the firing rod from striking the firing pin

Operation and Function cont’  Remove AT4 from its carrying position and cradle it in your left arm  Pull and release the transport safety pin  Unsnap, unfold, and hold the shoulder stop  Place the launcher on your right shoulder and stabilized it by grasping the sling near the launcher’s muzzle  Open the sights  Set rear sight for the correct range to the target  Check back-blast area before cock the launcher, unfold the cocking lever  Hold the forward safety down while you fire

Restoration to Carrying Configuration  If the launcher is prepared to fire, but then is not fire:   



  

Release the forward safety Push forward and to left on the cocking lever Move the launcher from shoulder, ensuring muzzle is pointed in the direction of fire With the launcher cradled, replace the transport safety pin until it is fully seated in the retainer hole Lay down the sights and close their covers Snap the shoulder stop into the closed position Sling the launcher and move to another location

AT4 Subcaliber Tracer Trainer  M287 is used in place on the AT4 in training  Uses the 9mm (M939) training practice tracer cartridge  The velocity and trajectory match that the AT4’s HEAT cartridge  M287 produces less:   

Noise Backblast Overpressure