USMC MOS 0352 Anti-Tank Missileman Knowledge Practice Test

Arming of the TOW uses an inertia-based safety mechanism. A weighted part and spring hold the detonator safety until the missile experiences a high enough acceleration to move the safety catch and expose the arming fuze. The design sets this threshold at 19 Gs, so normal handling, transport, or the initial launch shake isn’t enough to arm it. Once the boost phase accelerates the missile beyond that threshold, the fuze becomes armed and ready to detonate on impact or under programmed detonation conditions.

This threshold is chosen to balance safety and effectiveness—low enough to arm reliably during flight after a legitimate launch, but high enough to resist inadvertent arming from bumps or rough handling.