Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1340-214-12 Change 1 for the 66mm M72 Series Light Antitank Weapon System, September 1969
Item Overview
This September 1969 Change 1 supplement updates TM 9-1340-214-12, the U.S. Army manual for the 66mm M72 Series Light Antitank Weapon System. It was issued for use with the original manual dated January 7, 1969. This listing is for the Change 1 update only; the complete base manual is not included.
Publication Details
The parent publication is an operator and organizational maintenance manual. Its “12” suffix identifies guidance for soldiers using the equipment and personnel responsible for care at the unit level.
- Manual number: TM 9-1340-214-12
- Change number: Change 1
- Change publication date: September 1969
- Base manual date: January 7, 1969
- Subject: 66mm M72 Series Light Antitank Weapon System
- Common abbreviation: LAW
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
Purpose of Change 1
Numbered changes allowed the Army to revise selected material without publishing an entirely new manual. This supplement belongs with the January 1969 edition and forms part of its publication history. For collectors, keeping the change document with the matching base manual helps preserve the reference as it developed during military service.
Publication History
The January 7, 1969 edition replaced TM 9-1340-214-10 dated October 19, 1967. Its title identified both operator and organizational maintenance coverage for the M72 series. Change 1 followed later that year, during the Vietnam War, when the LAW was already part of American infantry equipment. The supplement records an early update to that 1969 publication.
About the M72 LAW
The M72 combined a 66mm antitank rocket and a compact, disposable launcher in one portable package. Designed for one person, it gave infantry a weapon that was easier to carry than earlier bazooka systems. The rocket and launcher were supplied together as a complete round of ammunition. This approach reduced the need to carry a separate reusable launcher and its ammunition.
Weapon-System History
Introduced in 1963, the M72 grew from the Army’s search for a smaller, lighter antitank weapon. Its design drew on lessons from the American bazooka and the German Panzerfaust of World War II. The LAW combined rocket propulsion with the convenience of an expendable launcher. Later versions improved the system and expanded its roles, giving the M72 family a service history that continued long after Vietnam.
History of Use
American troops carried the M72 during the Vietnam War, where it served beyond its original antitank role. Marine Corps histories document its use against bunkers and other enemy positions. Its small size made it practical for infantry operating on foot. Manuals and their change supplements supported the training and equipment care behind that service, making this September 1969 update a period record of the LAW’s wartime support system.
Collector and Research Value
This Change 1 supplement adds publication detail to an M72 LAW reference collection. It is useful for studying how Army manuals were updated during the Vietnam War and for comparing surviving copies of the January 1969 edition. It also complements displays of inert LAW equipment, infantry field gear, and military training literature.
Condition
This vintage military technical manual may show cover wear, edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, stamps, punched holes, loose pages, or other signs of age and storage. Printing details and condition may vary between available copies.
Ideal For
This supplement is well suited to collectors, historians, and museums documenting Vietnam War infantry weapons and Army technical publications.
- TM 9-1340-214-12 manual and change-sheet collections
- M72 LAW history research
- Vietnam War infantry displays
- Cold War antitank weapon studies
- Inert LAW equipment exhibits
- Museum and archival reference libraries
Approx length 8", Approx width 11", Approx height .15", Approx weight .2lbs.
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