"Wire-guided anti-tank missile launchers are mounted on the turret." — Battlelog DescriptionFor the similar BC2 Vehicle Specialization, see Alternate Weapon Package

An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher is a weapon system that provides its user with armor penetrating capability. Certain systems are designed to be mounted on vehicles, allowing them to counter threats posed by tanks and to clear obstructions for infantry.

Battlefield 3Edit

ATGM Launcher
IR Smoke (IFV) ← → Belt Speed (IFV)
Unlocked at	• 2300 IFV score
Special Feature	• Vehicle-mounted wire-guided missile • Indepedent firing
Vehicle	Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Customization slot	Weapon

ATGM Launcher is a specialization for IFVs, Mobile Artillery Vehicles and Tank Destroyers that provides the driver with anti-armor capability. It is equipped as a secondary weapon.

Like the BGM-71 TOW and 9M133 Kornet emplacements, the missile is wire-guided. The missile will travel dead ahead for about 10 meters before adjusting towards the operator's target. During this time and a few seconds after, it is possible for the missile to travel through obstacles and even walls, similar to weapons such as the M224 Mortar and rockets fired from mobile artillery vehicles.

Because it follows the turret, it is ineffective against infantry, as the missile cannot be pointed against level ground (other than from an elevated position); nonetheless it does excellent damage against enemy tanks, disabling them in a single hit from the front and side and destroying them if the missile hits the rear. The missile will continue following the reticle even after switching back to the main weapon.

Compared to the other anti-vehicle weapons available to the IFV— the APFSDS-T Shell and the Guided Missile—the ATGM launcher is better suited for very long range engagements where the target is too far away for the guided missile to lock on and the APFSDS-T shells are too inaccurate to hit the target. However, the ATGM Launcher requires more operator attention until the weapon makes impact.

TOWEdit

TOW
Thermal Camo (MA) ← → Proximity Defense (MA)
Unlocked at	Complete Wired Attack for Tank Destroyer • 7000 MA score
Special Feature	• Vehicle-mounted wire-guided missile • Indepedent firing
Vehicle	Tank Destroyer Mobile Artillery Vehicle
Customization slot	weapon

The ATGM Launcher is available as the TOW specialization to Tank Destroyers in Armored Kill after completing Wired Attack. The ATGM can be used similarly to how it is used on the IFV's. The high damage of the missile along with the main gun of the Tank Destroyers can make short work of enemy armor.

Should an enemy vehicle equip Reactive Armor, leading the attack with an AP shell from the tank destroyer may allow a follow-up TOW to inflict more damage, as an armor panel can completely absorb a TOW missile. Vehicles without reactive armor can be disabled with a leading TOW strike, and possibly destroyed with a single follow-up shell.

Mobile Artillery vehicles can also equip the TOW launcher after earning 7000 points. As they are fired from the same platform as regular rockets, the missile leaves at a much higher trajectory and sharply angles downward shortly after launch. This prevents the weapon's use against close targets, but still allows a closer range than the main weapon.

A separate sight is used for the TOW launcher, and is the only circumstance where Zoom Optics can actually benefit the user.

TriviaEdit

• Battlelog currently shows the same icon for ATGM Launcher and TOW, but has at times shown the TOW icon (even in-game), breaking the continuity of vehicle icon design.
• A tactic that can be used with the ATGM Launcher on and APC is to use its wire-guided abillity to turn the missile around the corner to hit the opossing tank or apc while they have to go around to corner to shoot you. However, this tactic will not always work, because of the wire guided nature of the weapon, aiming the missile while it's behind buildings or cover will make the missile spin out of control until it crash on something or explode

v • d • e Specializations of Battlefield 3 Soldier Specializations SPRNT • AMMO • FLAK • EXPL • COVR • SUPR • FRAG Vehicle Specializations Air-Burst Missile • Air Radar • Anti-Air Missile • APFSDS-T Shell • ATACMS Missile • ATGM Launcher • Auto Loader • Beam Scanning • Below Radar • Belt Speed • Canister Shell • Cannon HE • CITV Station • Coaxial HMG • Coaxial LMG • ECM Jammer • Extinguisher • Guided Missile • Guided Rocket • Guided Shell • Heat Seekers • IR Flares • IR Smoke • Laser Painter • Maintenance • Proximity Defense • Proximity Scan • Reactive Armor • Rocket Pods • Stealth • Thermal Camo • Thermal Optics • TOW • TV Missile • Zoom Optics