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BGM-71 TOW: Difference between revisions
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The ground version is an extremely large and heavy crew-served weapon, weighing about 200 pounds fully assembled, and incorporates a series of components, breaking down into a sighting unit, launch tube into which encased missiles are inserted, a traversing unit (which includes the bridging clamp with the umbilical data connector for the launcher to communicate with the missile), a tripod for ground use, and separate fire control system and battery modules which are linked to the launcher via cables. The missiles are typically wire-guided, though an RF-guided wireless TOW does exist: this can be fired from any launcher, since the equipment for communicating with the missile in flight is encased in the launch tube. The guidance system uses one or more beacons on the missile's tail to track it, with the operator designating the target for the entire flight time and the fire control system calculating flight corrections to steer the missile to the designated point. | The ground version is an extremely large and heavy crew-served weapon, weighing about 200 pounds fully assembled, and incorporates a series of components, breaking down into a sighting unit, launch tube into which encased missiles are inserted, a traversing unit (which includes the bridging clamp with the umbilical data connector for the launcher to communicate with the missile), a tripod for ground use, and separate fire control system and battery modules which are linked to the launcher via cables. The missiles are typically wire-guided, though an RF-guided wireless TOW does exist: this can be fired from any launcher, since the equipment for communicating with the missile in flight is encased in the launch tube. The guidance system uses one or more beacons on the missile's tail to track it, with the operator designating the target for the entire flight time and the fire control system calculating flight corrections to steer the missile to the designated point. | ||
Since the missile uses a thermal battery that has to warm up and requires time for its internal gyroscope to spin up, there is a 1.5 second delay between pulling the trigger and the missile actually launching, a behavior that is very seldom replicated in media. TOW uses a soft-launch system where a smaller launch motor fires for 0.05 seconds to get the missile clear of the launcher, followed by the main engine igniting when the wings fully extend. The missile travels 65 meters before the warhead is armed by G forces from acceleration by the flight motor 0.53 seconds after launch, a safety feature intended to protect the operator in the event of a flight motor failure (with the exception of the top-attacking TOW-2B, which has a minimum range of 150 to 300 meters). The wire spools connecting the launcher to the missile are 3,000 meters long on Basic TOW and 3,750 meters long on all other wire-guided variants, making this the maximum range of the weapon: at this range the wires are automatically cut. | Since the missile uses a thermal battery that has to warm up and requires time for its internal gyroscope to spin up, there is a 1.5 second delay between pulling the trigger and the missile actually launching, a behavior that is very seldom replicated in media. TOW uses a soft-launch system where a smaller launch motor fires for 0.05 seconds to get the missile clear of the launcher, followed by the main engine igniting when the wings fully extend. The missile travels 65 meters before the warhead is armed by G forces from acceleration by the flight motor 0.53 seconds after launch, a safety feature intended to protect the operator in the event of a flight motor failure (with the exception of the top-attacking TOW-2B, which has a minimum range of 150 to 300 meters). The flight motor burns out 1.6 seconds after launch, with the missile gliding for the remainder of its flight time. The wire spools connecting the launcher to the missile are 3,000 meters long on Basic TOW and 3,750 meters long on all other wire-guided variants, making this the maximum range of the weapon: at this range the wires are automatically cut. | ||
The original production TOW used an M151 launcher, which was later upgraded to the M220 launcher for the TOW-2 in the 80s. Later M151 models and the M220 used a dual sighting system with a mandatory daysight tracker and optional gas-cooled night sight which clamped onto the top, the AN/TAS-4, which was later updated to the AN/TAS-4A. The new ITAS (improved target acquisition system, referred to as SABER by the US Marine Corps) version, designed in the late 90s, has a redesigned launcher unit, the M41, which features a single combined sighting unit with a combined eyepiece (older TOWs having a separate eyepiece for the night sight) with a built-in laser rangefinder, an electronic cooling unit for the night sight that does not require gas cartridges, and automatic boresighting, along with a new traversing unit with improved controls (replacing the scattered controls and traversing knobs with controls mounted on a pair of grips), an improved fire control system, a longer-lasting lithium-ion battery pack, and the option to mount a GPS-based PADS (position attitude determination subsystem) unit on top of the sighting unit for receiving precise coordinate data and using the TOW launcher as a designator for other weapons. | The original production TOW used an M151 launcher, which was later upgraded to the M220 launcher for the TOW-2 in the 80s. Later M151 models and the M220 used a dual sighting system with a mandatory daysight tracker and optional gas-cooled night sight which clamped onto the top, the AN/TAS-4, which was later updated to the AN/TAS-4A. The new ITAS (improved target acquisition system, referred to as SABER by the US Marine Corps) version, designed in the late 90s, has a redesigned launcher unit, the M41, which features a single combined sighting unit with a combined eyepiece (older TOWs having a separate eyepiece for the night sight) with a built-in laser rangefinder, an electronic cooling unit for the night sight that does not require gas cartridges, and automatic boresighting, along with a new traversing unit with improved controls (replacing the scattered controls and traversing knobs with controls mounted on a pair of grips), an improved fire control system, a longer-lasting lithium-ion battery pack, and the option to mount a GPS-based PADS (position attitude determination subsystem) unit on top of the sighting unit for receiving precise coordinate data and using the TOW launcher as a designator for other weapons. | ||
Revision as of 01:46, 12 August 2017
The BGM-71 TOW is a SACLOS (semi-active command line of sight) missile, and the US military's principle ground-based heavy antitank weapon. It was first produced by Hughes Aircraft in 1970 to replace the US' inventory of increasingly obsolete French-designed MGM-21A and MGM-32A MCLOS missiles, and is currently manufactured by Raytheon. TOW stands for for "Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided" (or "Wireless" for the RF variant), making it perhaps the most contrived acronym in history.
The ground version is an extremely large and heavy crew-served weapon, weighing about 200 pounds fully assembled, and incorporates a series of components, breaking down into a sighting unit, launch tube into which encased missiles are inserted, a traversing unit (which includes the bridging clamp with the umbilical data connector for the launcher to communicate with the missile), a tripod for ground use, and separate fire control system and battery modules which are linked to the launcher via cables. The missiles are typically wire-guided, though an RF-guided wireless TOW does exist: this can be fired from any launcher, since the equipment for communicating with the missile in flight is encased in the launch tube. The guidance system uses one or more beacons on the missile's tail to track it, with the operator designating the target for the entire flight time and the fire control system calculating flight corrections to steer the missile to the designated point.
Since the missile uses a thermal battery that has to warm up and requires time for its internal gyroscope to spin up, there is a 1.5 second delay between pulling the trigger and the missile actually launching, a behavior that is very seldom replicated in media. TOW uses a soft-launch system where a smaller launch motor fires for 0.05 seconds to get the missile clear of the launcher, followed by the main engine igniting when the wings fully extend. The missile travels 65 meters before the warhead is armed by G forces from acceleration by the flight motor 0.53 seconds after launch, a safety feature intended to protect the operator in the event of a flight motor failure (with the exception of the top-attacking TOW-2B, which has a minimum range of 150 to 300 meters). The flight motor burns out 1.6 seconds after launch, with the missile gliding for the remainder of its flight time. The wire spools connecting the launcher to the missile are 3,000 meters long on Basic TOW and 3,750 meters long on all other wire-guided variants, making this the maximum range of the weapon: at this range the wires are automatically cut.
The original production TOW used an M151 launcher, which was later upgraded to the M220 launcher for the TOW-2 in the 80s. Later M151 models and the M220 used a dual sighting system with a mandatory daysight tracker and optional gas-cooled night sight which clamped onto the top, the AN/TAS-4, which was later updated to the AN/TAS-4A. The new ITAS (improved target acquisition system, referred to as SABER by the US Marine Corps) version, designed in the late 90s, has a redesigned launcher unit, the M41, which features a single combined sighting unit with a combined eyepiece (older TOWs having a separate eyepiece for the night sight) with a built-in laser rangefinder, an electronic cooling unit for the night sight that does not require gas cartridges, and automatic boresighting, along with a new traversing unit with improved controls (replacing the scattered controls and traversing knobs with controls mounted on a pair of grips), an improved fire control system, a longer-lasting lithium-ion battery pack, and the option to mount a GPS-based PADS (position attitude determination subsystem) unit on top of the sighting unit for receiving precise coordinate data and using the TOW launcher as a designator for other weapons.
The BGM-71 TOW and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Eagle | Enemy soldiers | Mounted on AH-1F Cobra helicopters | 1986 | |
| Fire Birds | U.S. Army soldiers | Mounted on AH-1S Cobra helicopters and M2 Bradley | 1990 | |
| Hulk | U.S. Army soldier | Mounted on Humvee | 2003 | |
| War of the Worlds | U.S. Army Soldiers | Mounted on Humvees | 2005 | |
| War of the Worlds | U.S. Marines | Mounted on Humvees | 2005 | |
| Superman Returns | Henchman | Mounted on ship, modified to fire kryptonite missile | 2006 | |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | U.S. Army soldiers | Mounted on M2 Bradley | 2009 | |
| The Pentagon Wars | U.S. Army soldiers | Tripod-mounted on truck and M2 Bradley | 1998 | |
| Battle: Los Angeles | U.S. Marines | Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters | 2011 | |
| Man of Steel | U.S. Army soldiers | Mounted on M2 Bradleys | 2013 |
Television
| Show Title | Actor | Character | Note / Episode | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sentinel | Sunrise Patriots terrorists | Tripod-mounted, "Siege" (S01E02) | 1996 | |
| Over There | Mounted on M2 Bradley, "Embedded" | 2005 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Life | Mounted on M2 Bradley, non-playable | 1998 | ||
| Conflict: Desert Storm | 2002 | |||
| Battlefield 2 | Tripod and vehicle-mounted | 2005 | ||
| Project Reality | With thermal imaging | Tripod and vehicle-mounted | 2005 | |
| Steel Beasts | With thermal imaging | Mounted on various military vehicles | 2000 | |
| ArmA II | Tripod and vehicle-mounted | 2009 | ||
| America's Army | Appears to be a TGT (TOW Gunnery Trainer) | Tripod mounted, non-playable | 2002 | |
| Battlefield: Vietnam | Mounted on M151 MUTT | 2004 | ||
| Joint Task Force | Mounted on Humvee | 2006 | ||
| World in Conflict | Mounted on M2 Bradley | 2007 | ||
| ArmA: Armed Assault | 2007 | |||
| Battlefield 3 | Tripod mounted | 2011 | ||
| Battlefield Play4Free | Tripod and vehicle-mounted | 2011 | ||
| Battlefield 4 | Tripod mounted | 2013 | ||
| Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance | Mounted on World Marshal Gekko unmanned vehicles | 2013 |
Anime
| Title | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digimon Tamers | JGSDF soldiers | Mounted on AH-1 Cobra helicopters | 2001 - 2002 |
| Black Lagoon | Neo-Nazis | Tripod-mounted | 2006 |