The History of the TOW Missile in the Marine Corps

For generations of Marine anti-tank missilemen, few sounds were as distinctive as the launch of a TOW missile. The blast, cloud of dust and guidance wires trailing behind the missile were unmistakable.

The TOW gave a small team of Marines the ability to destroy tanks and fortified positions from thousands of meters away. It could be fired from a tripod, mounted on vehicles or carried aboard attack helicopters.

For Marines holding military occupational specialty 0352—Anti-Tank Missile Gunner—the TOW was more than a weapon. It was a crew-served system that demanded patience, teamwork and the ability to engage enemy armor before it could return fire.

A New Kind of Anti-Tank Weapon

Following World War II, tanks became faster, better armored and more heavily armed. Traditional anti-tank guns were difficult to move, while shoulder-fired weapons required troops to approach dangerously close to their targets.

Development of the TOW began during the late 1950s and continued throughout the 1960s. Its name described how the original system operated: Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided.

After firing, the gunner kept the sight’s crosshairs centered on the target. The launcher tracked the missile and transmitted steering commands through two thin wires that unspooled behind it.

The gunner did not steer the missile manually. His job was to maintain a steady sight picture until impact—a difficult task when the target could shoot back.

The first production TOW systems were fielded in 1970. Helicopter-mounted TOWs were successfully used against enemy armor in Vietnam in 1972, demonstrating the growing importance of guided anti-tank missiles.

The TOW Comes to the Marine Corps

The TOW was particularly useful to the Marine Corps because it combined long-range firepower with several methods of employment.

TOW sections gave infantry commanders a dedicated heavy antiarmor capability. The weapon was also used alongside Marine tank and Light Armored Reconnaissance units, while Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopters carried airborne versions.

Ground employment was physically demanding. The complete system included the launcher, traversing unit, sights, guidance equipment, tripod and batteries. Altogether, the equipment weighed approximately 265 pounds. Each missile weighed about 50 pounds.

It was technically man-portable, but nobody confused that description with lightweight.

A TOW crew had to select a firing position, assemble and inspect the system, identify targets and prepare alternate positions. Because the gunner had to remain exposed while tracking the missile, camouflage and the ability to move quickly after firing were essential.

The 0352 TOW Gunner

Operating the TOW became the specialty of Marines holding MOS 0352. These Marines learned antiarmor tactics, vehicle identification, missile employment and system maintenance.

The job involved far more than firing a missile. A TOW gunner needed to recognize enemy vehicles, estimate range and understand where an armored force was likely to travel.

The system also depended upon teamwork. Crew members carried equipment, prepared missiles, maintained security and assisted the gunner. Every Marine had a specific responsibility.

TOW units were frequently combined with heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers to form Combined Anti-Armor Teams. These teams could engage tanks, light vehicles, troops, buildings and fortified positions.

From Jeeps to Humvees

Although the TOW could be fired from a tripod, mounting it on a vehicle greatly improved its mobility.

Early systems appeared on the M151 jeep and other platforms. During the 1980s, the Humvee became one of the most recognizable TOW carriers in the Marine Corps.

A vehicle-mounted launcher allowed crews to move rapidly between positions while carrying their missiles and equipment. However, the gunner was still exposed above the vehicle, and a launch produced a visible signature. Marines therefore trained to fire, move and avoid remaining in one location long enough for the enemy to respond.

The TOW 2

As tank armor improved, the TOW evolved.

The TOW 2 introduced a larger warhead and improved guidance. The TOW 2A used a probe and tandem-warhead design intended to defeat explosive reactive armor.

The TOW 2B attacked differently. Instead of striking the front or side of a tank, it flew over the target and fired downward into the vehicle’s thinner top armor.

Later improvements included better day-and-night sights, longer range and wireless guidance. The Marine Corps’ TOW Improved Target Acquisition System—also known as TOW ITAS or TOW Saber—could engage targets at approximately 3,750 meters.

Its advanced optics also made the system valuable for surveillance and target identification.

More Than a Tank Killer

Although designed to destroy armored vehicles, the TOW could also be used against bunkers, fortified buildings and weapons positions.

This flexibility kept it relevant in Iraq and Afghanistan, where enemy tanks were not always the primary threat. The TOW allowed Marines to deliver a powerfulful, accurately aimed warhead from a distance without relying upon artillery or aircraft.

Marine AH-1T and AH-1W Cobra helicopters also carried the TOW. The combination gave Marine aviation a mobile antiarmor capability that could locate and attack enemy vehicles across a much larger area than ground crews could cover.

From the Humvee to the JLTV

As the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle began replacing Marine Corps Humvees, the TOW moved to the new platform.

In March 2023, Marines with Anti-Tank Training Company, 25th Marine Regiment, fired TOW missiles from a JLTV during an exercise at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

The vehicle had changed, but the basic mission remained familiar: locate the enemy first, occupy a protected position, fire accurately and move before the enemy could respond.

The TOW’s Legacy

The TOW has served through the Cold War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Marine Corps’ transition into a new era of warfare.

The Corps has since eliminated its tank battalions and invested in lighter weapons designed for distributed and coastal operations. Systems such as the Javelin and new ground-based anti-ship missiles now perform missions that earlier generations of anti-tank Marines could scarcely have imagined.

However, Marine Reserve units have continued training with the TOW. Its range, powerful warhead and ability to engage different types of targets still provide battlefield value.

For the Marines who served as 0352s, the TOW was never simply a Cold War weapon. It was their trade, their responsibility and an important part of Marine infantry history.

(The author served in the United States Marine Corps as an 0352 TOW Gunner.)