The AT-4 was adopted in the 1980s by the US Army (It had been developed in Sweden) to replace the M72 LAW. The AT-4 has a larger warhead that can take out modern tanks then LAW, but the Law only weighed 5 pounds compared to the 15 pounds of the AT-4.
In the reports I have read the US Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan preferred the LAW, for it was as effective against NON armored vehicles as the AT-4 but weight 2/3rd less. The AT-4 sole advantage over the M72 LAW is that it is more effective against post Vietnam era Tanks (i.e. the T-80, T-94, Leopard II and US M1 tanks) then the LAW.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M72_LAW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT4
Now the specs says the AT-4 has an effective range of 300 yards, while the M72 is only 200 yards.
While I would like to say the US has no M72s LAWS to give to Iraqi, but in January the US Army ordered more M72s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M72_LAW#United_States
Yes, the AT-4 can take out a suicide bomber car, but so can the M72, The sights was similar, the M72 is cheaper and lighter (thus more likely to be carried by troops that would need them). This leaves three explanation for this shipments"
1. These AT-4 are close to or passed their expiration date. Thus the Army wants to get rid of them anyway.
2. The US Army refuses to give up its own M72 for they want to be able to use M72 in any future conflict and see the AT-4 as to heavy for troops to carry. In both Iraq and Afghanistan the Army found its troops carrying to much on them into combat, something has to give and it appears the AT-4 is one of the things the Army is giving up. The Traditional rule of thumb for soldiers were he should take into combat no more 20 pounds of Ammunition for any more then that weighs him down so much his combat efficiency declines. Out troops were carrying into combat 50-90 pounds. That can be done for short periods of time (up to about a half hour) but then it starts to drag down the soldier. Thus the LAW, may be considered more effective simply because it is lighter.
3. The intention is to put these AT-4 in semi-fixed positions where their weight is less of a factor.
4. If any falls into the hands of ISIS, we know where and how ISIS obtained them. Reports have come out that one main source of ISIS supplies has been Iraqi Army Commanders selling their supplies to ISIS. This is a problem when you have an army raised and organized by people who believes Capitalism/Private Enterprise is the best system to organize everything even the Military (Even Military officers reject this, Militarizes tend to be the most communistic part of any society, no one is willing to die without the promise that their children and spouses will be taken care of and their wounds will be taken care of for life, Capitalists says you accepted that risk yourself where you took your pay, if you did not demand enough pay up front that is your and your children and spouses problem not theirs. Thus Capitalist Miltiades tend to fall quickly to communist based militaries).
5. The US has Shortage of the real stoppers of suicide bombers, 7.62 and 50 Caliber Machine guns, for they can tear apart an engine at 1000 yards. In a gate set up to control entrance the Machine Gun should be 20-50 feet behind the gate so that if anything hits the gate they are out of the blast area, but close enough to engage any charging vehicle.
Side note: The above does NOT mean you can NOT contract out parts of the Military, supply lines have often been contracted out to Capitalists and such contracts tend to be good. The problem is actual fighting troops and their supplies. The troops must feel secure that they will be resupplied and armies will make sure that security is provided even if it means putting troops on the privately owned supply wagons. The US Army is such "Communistic" army, it provided medical care for its troops, their families, pensions for those same troops and their families etc. The US Army fights for Capitalism but in itself it is Communistic when it comes to actual fighting forces.
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