US 66mm LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon) Team

In the general absence of enemy armour, the US 66mm Light Antitank Weapon (LAW) was used by allied troops primarily in the role of 'bunker buster', a role for which it proved to be admirably suited. It's light weight allowed for up to two of these weapons to be carried by a single soldier so that a full squad could pack a fair number of these weapons depending on availability. Given that a large percentage of US operations appeared to invariably encounter bunkers of one kind or another, it is always a good idea to have as many of these weapons available as possible.

The figures themselves will serve this role within your squads admirably. To all intents and purposes they are riflemen simply equipped with shoulder-slung LAW's. Neither figure is depicted as actually firing the LAW but rather as advancing with M-16's at the ready.

The use of LAW teams, and their effectiveness, depends very much on the rules set that you use. I have covered the use of LAWs under Barrie Lovell's Incoming! rules in another article, and it should be stressed that under rules such as Charlie Company or Free Fire Zone, their use and effectiveness is totally different. In most sets of rules, the LAW generally adds to the squads overall fire-power, or otherwise shifts the overall effect of that fire so that it is more effective. However, bear in mind that the LAW, unlike it's counterpart, the RPG, was not generally used in an anti-personnel role and this is also reflected in most rules that I have seen which generally calculate the effects of the LAW separately from the effects of the squad's small-arms fire.

These figures are very much in keeping with what we have now come to expect from Britannia and there will be no surprises to know that they meet the same levels of quality as previous figures; well cast, requiring little preparation, good definition and levels of detail. Animation of the figures is also of a standard we have seen before. Some people, and this has been raised before, may not be over-keen on the 'chunkiness' of the figures or their relative lack of anatomical correctness, however, I like them and they certainly look good on the table-top.

In order to represent the availability of LAWs, a sprinkling of these figures within your rifle squads will certainly suffice. Bear in mind also that the LAW was a one-shot weapon and was disposable. When using LAW teams you should keep quite a strict tally of expenditure. In my games I use a counter and when the LAWs that a particular rifleman is carrying have been used, I replace the LAW carrying figure with a non-LAW carrying standard rifleman in order to avoid confusion.

The usual accoutrements are in evidence including M-16 ammo bandoliers, canteens, claymore bags and so forth. As with all the figures that I have seen in this range, both figures wear flak jackets and steel helmets.

Overall, these two figures represent a welcome addition to the US figure range and allow for the on-table representation of LAW equipped riflemen. I liked the figures and will be making provision for the inclusion of a couple of them in each of my rifle squads.

All figures are from my own personal collection and have been painted and photographed by me.