One Five Check points-Anderson Portable SMAW

Lance Cpl. Nathaniel Anderson searches an Afghan man at a vehicle checkpoint in the Nawa district of the Helmand province of Afghanistan Aug. 28, 2009. One Five Marines are checking vehicles at checkpoints to keep enemy insurgents (read GODLESS ORCs) from moving about free as a bird through the area. Anderson is carrying a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner AKA SMAW. The SMAW is 83.5 mm tube and fires 83 mm rockets. It is, as you can see for yourself, an Anderson -portable weapon system consisting of the MK153 Mod 0 launcher, the MK 3 Mod 0 encased HEDP rocket, the MK 6 Mod 0 encased HEAA rocket, and the MK217 Mod 0 spotting rifle cartridge. The launcher consists of a fiberglass launch tube, a 9 mm spotting rifle, an electro-mechanical firing mechanism, open battle sights with a mount for the MK42 Mod 0 Day Sight and the AN/PVS-4 night sight. Whew! I bet Anderson can make the pillars of heaven quake for them bad boys...don't you think?. Photo LCpl. John McCall