Dragon Weapon System

Primary function: Anti-armor weapon system

Builder: McDonnell Douglas

Length:

Launcher: 45.4 inches (115.32 cm)

Missile: 33.3 inches (84.58 centimeters)

Weight:

Ready to Fire: 33.9 lbs (Day Tracker)

48.7 lbs (Night Tracker)

Day Tracker (Sights): 6.75 lbs

Thermal Night Tracker (w/1 bottle and battery): 21.65 lbs

Maximum effective range: 3281 feet (1000m)

Time of flight: 11.2 seconds

Armor penetration: Will defeat T-55, T-62, or T-72 w/o added armor

Unit Replacement Cost:

Night Tracker System: $51,000

Day Tracker System: $13,000

Mission: Primary: To engage and destroy armor and light armored vehicles. Secondary: defeat hard targets such as bunkers and field fortifications.

Features: The warhead power of Dragon makes it possible for a single Marine to defeat armored vehicles, fortified bunkers, concrete gun emplacements, or other hard targets. The launcher consists of a smoothbore fiberglass tube, breech/gas generator, tracker and support, bipod, battery, sling, and forward and aft shock absorbers. Non-integral day and night sights are required to utilize the Dragon. The complete system consists of the launcher, the tracker and the missile, which is installed in the launcher during final assembly and received by the Marine Corps in a ready to fire condition. The launch tube serves as the storage and carrying case for the missile. The night tracker operates in the thermal energy range.

Inventory:

Day tracker: 1055

Night tracker: 923

Background: The first-generation Dragon, a 1000-meter system requiring 11.2 seconds flight-to-target time, was developed for the US Army and fielded in 1970. A product improvement program (PIP) was initiated by the Marine Corps in 1985 and managed by NSWC Dahlgren. The PIP, designated Dragon II, was designed to increase warhead penetration effectiveness by 85%. The Dragon II missile is actually a retrofit of warheads to the first generation missiles already in the Marine Corps inventory.

Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System

Primary function: Guided missile weapon system.

Manufacturer: Hughes (missiles); Hughes and Kollsman (night sights); Electro Design Mfg. (launchers)

Size:

TOW 2A Missile:

Diameter: 5.87 inches (14.91 cm)

Length: 50.40 inches (128.02 cm)

TOW 2B Missile:

Diameter: 5.8 inches (14.9 centimeters)

Length: 48.0 inches (121.9 centimeters)

Maximum effective range: 2.33 miles (3.75 kilometers)

Armor penetration: T-80 +

Time of flight to maximum effective range:

2A: 20 seconds

2B: 21 seconds

Weight:

Launcher w/TOW 2 Mods: 204.6 pounds (92.89 kilograms)

Missile Guidance Set: 52.8 pounds (23.97 kilograms)

TOW 2 Missile: 47.4 pounds (21.52 kilograms)

TOW 2A Missile: 49.9 pounds (22.65 kilograms)

TOW 2B Missile: 49.8 pounds (22.60 kilograms)

Introduction date: 1970

Unit Replacement Cost: $180,000

Mission: To engage and destroy enemy armored vehicles, primarily tanks. Secondary mission is to destroy other point targets such as non-armored vehicles, crew-served weapons and launchers.

Features: The basic TOW Weapon System was fielded in 1970. This system is designed to attack and defeat tanks and other armored vehicles. It is primarily used in antitank warfare, and is a command to line of sight, wire-guided weapon. The system will operate in all weather conditions and on the "dirty" battlefield. The TOW 2 launcher is the most recent launcher upgrade. It is compatible with all TOW missiles. The TOW 2 Weapon System is composed of a reusable launcher, a missile guidance set, and sight system. The system can be tripod mounted. However because it is heavy, it is generally employed from the HMMWV and LAV-AT. The missile has a 20-year maintenance-free storage life. All versions of the TOW missile can be fired from the current launcher.

Inventory: TOW launchers - 1247

Background: The original TOW missile had a diameter of 5 inches and a range of 3000 meters. Considerable improvements have been made to the missile since 1970. The Improved TOW (ITOW) was delivered in 1982. This missile has a 5-inch diameter warhead, and includes an extended probe for greater standoff and

penetration. An enhanced flight motor was included in the ITOW, increasing the missile's range to 3750 meters. The TOW 2 series of improvements includes TOW

2 Hardware, TOW 2 Missile, TOW 2A Missile, and TOW 2B Missile. The TOW 2 Hardware improvements included a thermal beacon guidance system enabling the gunner to more easily track a target at night and numerous improvements to the Missile Guidance System (MGS). The TOW 2 Missile has a 6-inch diameter warhead and the extended probe first introduced with ITOW. The TOW 2B Missile incorporates new fly-over, shoot-down technology.

High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (M998 Truck)

Primary function: The HMMWV provides a variety of wheeled vehicle platforms. These are cargo/troop carrier, armament carrier, TOW missile system carrier,shelter carrier and two ambulance variants (2- and 4-litter). The HMMWV will also be the prime mover for the AN/TRC-170 Radio Digital Terminal and the Pedestal Mounted Stinger System.

Length: 15 feet (4.57 meters)

Width: 7.08 feet (2.16 meters)

Weight: 5,200 pounds (2359 kilograms)

Height: 6.00 feet (1.83 meters) reducible to 4.5 feet (1.37 meters)

Engine: V8, 6.2 litre displacement, fuel injected diesel, liquid cooled, compression ignition

Horsepower: 150 at 3,600 RPM

Transmission: 3 speed, automatic

Transfer case: 2 speed, locking, chain driven

Electrical system: 24 volt, negative ground, 60 amps

Brakes: Hydraulic, 4-wheeled disc

Fording depth:

without preparation: 2.5 feet (76.2 centimeters)

with deep water fording kit: 5 feet (1.5 meters)

Fuel type: Diesel

Fuel capacity: 25 gallons (94.63 liters)

Range: 350 miles (563.15 kilometers) highway

Unit Replacement Cost: $50,000

Mission: The M998 is the baseline vehicle for the M998 series of 1 1/4-ton trucks, which are known as the HMMWV vehicles. The HMMWV vehicles include 11

variants. They are: M998 Cargo/Troop Carrier; M1038 Cargo/Troop Carrier, with winch; M1043 Armament Carrier; M1044 Armament Carrier, with winch;

M1045 TOW Carrier; M1046 TOW Carrier, with winch; M997 Ambulance, basic armor 4-Litter; M1035 Ambulance, 2-Litter; M1037 Shelter Carrier; M1042

Shelter Carrier, with winch; M1097 Heavy HMMWV (payload of 4,400 pounds). All HMMWVS are designed for use over all types of roads, in all weather conditions and are extremely effective in the most difficult terrain. The HMMWVS high power-to-weight ratio, four wheeled drive and high ground clearance

combine to give it outstanding cross-country mobility.

Inventory: 19,598

->POC: Headquarters Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, 2 Navy Annex, Washington, D.C. 20380-1775;

(703) 614-6251.

R SIRMONS 026120