History of the TOW Missile System
Abstract
The TOW (Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided) Heavy Antitank/Assault weapon (HAW) system now in the Army's arsenal of operational antitank weapons belongs to a family of advanced systems designed to cope with the enemy armor threat through the early 1980's. The TOW/HAW system became operational in September 1970, initially replacing the 106mm recoilless rifle and French ENTAC system, and later the helicopter adaptation of the French SS-11 system. Other members of the new generation of weapons were the M72 Light Antitank Weapon (LAW), which began replacing the Bazooka and antitank rifle grenade in 1963; the SHILLELAGH combat vehicle armament system, which reached the field in 1967; and the DRAGON Medium Antitank Weapon (MAW), which began replacing the 90mm recoilless rifle early in 1975. This monograph traces the history of the TOW weapon system from the inception of predevelopment studies in mid-1958 through 1976. Except for the chapter dealing with project management, the story of the ground-based and airborne systems is related in basically chronological sequence.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA434477
Entities
People
- Mary T. Cagle