Ah, memories of my youth -- the M20B1 3.5-inch rocket launcher (aka "Super Bazooka" -- from the days of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

 

One of the things you will need is a 3.5-inch training rocket.  The standard M1 rifle sling was issued with the launcher to help carry it.  The launcher breaks down into two sections that clamp to each other for stowage and transport.

 

Range of the rocket was about 400 meters and it came in TP, HEAT, and WP Smoke.  In the movie about Audie Murphy's wartime experiences To Hell and Back, there's a great scene of an actual 3.5-inch launcher taking a shot at the "Italian farm house" that Murphy's platoon is assaulting.  This is the only time I can remember that a real rocket launcher has been filmed firing on the silver screen.

 

The M20-series launchers were much easier to load and fire than their predecessor 2.36-inch cousins, the M1-series, M9-series, and M18-series.  The M20B1 and M20A1B1 had the contactor latch group assembly on the back of the tube.  Flip the latch up, insert the round; flip the latch down and it makes electrical contact on the rocket fin ring and also retains the round in the tube for launch.  Sight the target, tracket, and squeeze the trigger.  The magneto in the grip generates and electrical current that goes through a wire to the contactor latch group, to the contact on the rocket, and fires the motor.  All very simple.  The M20 had an integral folding bipod and did not have a contactor latch group; instead the two pigtail rocket igniter motors were fished out of the back of the rocket and connected to a pair of contact studs located near the breech of the launcher.  This was the common feature of all the 2.36-inch launcher.

 

The M20-series was a direct out-growth of the WW2 German 88mm Panzerschreck rocket launcher.  The M20-series was a great improvement on it in the form of weight and portability.  Unlike the smaller 2.36-inch rocket, the 3.5-inch rockets could defeat the armor of the T34/85 tanks that were used against the Allies in the Korean War.  The 2.36-launchers were found to be woefully inadequate in their ability to kill this WW2 Russian-built medium tank, and the M20 was rushed to the Korean theatre.  Results were very impressive with a lot of North Korean T34/85's knocked out.

All I have to say to you MasterGunner is you had a long and wild youth

 

may it continue long into the future......

The best trade I ever heard of was done by one of our MST (SEAL/UDT support) detachments.  Their Gunner's Mate traded a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant an M6 bayonet and M8A1 scabbard for an M20-series rocket launcher and a pallet of ammo.  The Marines had phased-out the 3.5's for recoilless rifles and the M72-series LAW.  They'd also phased-out the M14 for the M16.  This old Gunny still carried the M14 and needed a bayonet and scabbard for his personal weapon.  The issue bayonet for the M16, the M7, would not fit the M14.

 

Our detachments were issued the M72 LAW -- a one-shot disposable 66mm HEAT round -- and the very first series launchers did not have a good reputations for reliability or safety.

 

I was rather jealous of our sister detachment's Gunner's Mate because I always wanted a 3.5 to deal with bunkers in our area.  The 3.5 would have made mincemeat out of them with either the HEAT or WP Smoke rounds.  (White Phosphorous is a particularly nasty chemical round.  The WP particles burn in contact with air until they are consumed.  The particles gives off dense clouds of white smoke as they burn and this smoke is toxic if inhaled in any great quantity.  The WP rounds would've been excellent for flushing out any bad guys that were in the bunkers -- or I could have just demolished the bunker with a HEAT round.)

When I served the LAWs are what we were issued. I had my doubts about taking on a T-72 with it but I guess it was better than nothing. Since I was TOW section leader I kind of hoped the bad guys would be stopped at our max range and wouldnt get close enough to use the LAWS.

Remember the M551 Sheridan airborne recon vehicle with its 152mm gun/Shillelagh missiles?  When I was getting off active duty with the Navy in 1971, the USS FLAGSTAFF (PGH-1) had returned from a deployment in Vietnam and was to be fitted with a modified Sheridan turret (replacing the forward 40mm Bofors gun).  Two of our guys in the armory were selected to go to Ft. Knox for training on the operation of the Sheridan turret and gun/missile launcher.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was scrolling past your photos, it occured to me that the launcher you have may have a missing sight.  The sight is located just above the pistol grip/trigger and is a folding optical unit.  As I recall, it is a non-magnifying sight.

 

I believe Numrich Gun Parts Company or Sarco, Inc. has 3.5-inch rocket launcher sights.  You might want to check with them if you need one.

MG... The sight is on there.. just folded down. I am missing the rubber eyepiece though....

Try Nurmrich or Sarco, they may have some that can replace the missing rubber eye piece.  They may also have 3.5-inch inert rockets.