diff --git a/GameState.gd b/GameState.gd
index eb939f3..53a1c4f 100644
--- a/GameState.gd
+++ b/GameState.gd
@@ -110,6 +110,20 @@ func withdraw_fleet_resource(resource_type: String, amount: int) -> int:
 	return fleet_inventory.withdraw(resource_type, amount)
 
 
+# #61: generic counterparts, for resources (energy) with no dedicated
+# fleet_cargo/fleet_gas_cargo-style property of their own. Deliberately NOT
+# the same as deposit_resource_to_building() on a "bank" building - that
+# deposits into the building's OWN per-record inventory, not bank_inventory
+# itself (only building_resource()/building_inventory() special-case "bank"
+# capability to redirect there).
+func deposit_fleet_resource(resource_type: String, amount: int) -> int:
+	return fleet_inventory.deposit(resource_type, amount)
+
+
+func deposit_bank_resource(resource_type: String, amount: int) -> int:
+	return bank_inventory.deposit(resource_type, amount)
+
+
 # #56: total across every resource type in the hold, and the combined cap
 # that limits it - a HUD readout wants both, not any one resource's amount.
 func fleet_cargo_used() -> int:
diff --git a/LaserController.gd b/LaserController.gd
index 78f8e81..1c0a965 100644
--- a/LaserController.gd
+++ b/LaserController.gd
@@ -18,11 +18,16 @@ const TARGET_COLOR := Color(0.6, 0.95, 1.0)
 const BEAM_HALF_WIDTH := 22.0
 const DRAG_DEADZONE := 22.0
 const FLASH_DURATION := 0.22
+# #61: ammunition from the fleet hold, mirroring #60's gas bomber exactly.
+const ENERGY_PER_SHOT: int = 8
 
 @export var minimum_zoom: float = 0.4
 @onready var fleet: Node2D = get_node("../Fleet")
 @onready var camera: Camera2D = get_node("../Camera2D")
 @onready var button: IconButton = get_node("../UI/LaserButton")
+@onready var status: Label = get_node("../UI/LaserStatus")
+
+var status_message_until: int = 0
 
 var aiming := false
 var aim_touch := -1
@@ -37,15 +42,27 @@ var last_hit_count := 0
 
 func _ready() -> void:
 	button.visible = false
+	status.text = ""
 	queue_redraw()
 
 
+func _can_afford_shot() -> bool:
+	return GameState.fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY) >= ENERGY_PER_SHOT
+
+
+func _say(message: String) -> void:
+	status.text = message
+	status_message_until = Time.get_ticks_msec() + 3000
+
+
 func _process(delta: float) -> void:
 	var had_visuals := aiming or not beams.is_empty()
 	button.visible = fleet.has_capability("laser")
-	button.enabled = _next_ready_laser_ship() != null
+	button.enabled = _next_ready_laser_ship() != null and _can_afford_shot()
 	if not button.visible and aiming:
 		_cancel_aim()
+	if status.text != "" and Time.get_ticks_msec() >= status_message_until:
+		status.text = ""
 
 	if restoring_zoom and not aiming:
 		var z := move_toward(camera.zoom.x, saved_zoom, maxf(saved_zoom, 0.1) * delta * 5.0)
@@ -63,14 +80,22 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> void:
 
 
 func can_begin_aim() -> bool:
-	return button.visible and button.enabled and not button._blocked_by_modal() \
-		and not aiming
+	# Deliberately NOT button.enabled: an unaffordable shot still needs the
+	# press to reach here so it can explain itself (#60's identical
+	# reasoning on the gas bomber). A wholly unready fleet (no laser ship at
+	# all) has nothing more useful to say than "greyed out".
+	return button.visible and not button._blocked_by_modal() \
+		and not aiming and _next_ready_laser_ship() != null
 
 
 func handle_touch(event: InputEventScreenTouch) -> bool:
 	if event.pressed:
 		if not can_begin_aim() or not Rect2(button.global_position, button.size).has_point(event.position):
 			return false
+		if not _can_afford_shot():
+			_say("Need %d energy in the fleet hold to fire (have %d)" \
+				% [ENERGY_PER_SHOT, GameState.fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY)])
+			return true
 		aiming = true
 		aim_touch = event.index
 		aim_start_screen = event.position
@@ -149,16 +174,22 @@ func _fire() -> void:
 	if shooter == null:
 		_cancel_aim()
 		return
+	if not _can_afford_shot():
+		_say("Need %d energy in the fleet hold to fire (have %d)" \
+			% [ENERGY_PER_SHOT, GameState.fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY)])
+		_cancel_aim()
+		return
 	var component: Node = shooter.get_component("laser")
 	if not component.consume_shot():
 		_cancel_aim()
 		return
+	GameState.withdraw_fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY, ENERGY_PER_SHOT)
 	var direction: Vector2 = (aim_target - _aim_origin())
 	direction = direction.normalized() if direction.length() > 0.001 else Vector2.UP
 	var beam_to: Vector2 = shooter.global_position + direction * component.beam_range
 	_strike(shooter.global_position, beam_to, direction, int(component.damage))
 	_finish_aim()
-	button.enabled = _next_ready_laser_ship() != null
+	button.enabled = _next_ready_laser_ship() != null and _can_afford_shot()
 
 
 func _strike(from: Vector2, to: Vector2, direction: Vector2, damage: int) -> void:
diff --git a/Main.tscn b/Main.tscn
index 7e14f37..be098dc 100644
--- a/Main.tscn
+++ b/Main.tscn
@@ -303,6 +303,22 @@ autowrap_mode = 2
 horizontal_alignment = 1
 text = ""
 
+[node name="LaserStatus" type="Label" parent="UI"]
+mouse_filter = 2
+anchor_left = 1.0
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_top = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+offset_left = -344
+offset_right = -24
+offset_top = -540
+offset_bottom = -490
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
+theme_override_colors/font_color = Color(0.3, 0.9, 1, 1)
+autowrap_mode = 2
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+text = ""
+
 [node name="PivotCWButton" type="Control" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
 anchor_left = 1.0
diff --git a/PlanetSurface.tscn b/PlanetSurface.tscn
index 53f12ed..709872e 100644
--- a/PlanetSurface.tscn
+++ b/PlanetSurface.tscn
@@ -245,6 +245,22 @@ autowrap_mode = 2
 horizontal_alignment = 1
 text = ""
 
+[node name="LaserStatus" type="Label" parent="UI"]
+mouse_filter = 2
+anchor_left = 1.0
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_top = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+offset_left = -344
+offset_right = -24
+offset_top = -540
+offset_bottom = -490
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
+theme_override_colors/font_color = Color(0.2, 0.6, 0.68, 1)
+autowrap_mode = 2
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+text = ""
+
 [node name="PivotCWButton" type="Control" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
 anchor_left = 1.0
diff --git a/tests/test_laser_ammo.gd b/tests/test_laser_ammo.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a38b9ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_laser_ammo.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+extends SceneTree
+
+# Headless gameplay test: run with
+#   godot --headless -s res://tests/test_laser_ammo.gd
+# Forgejo #61: laser shots draw ammunition from the FLEET HOLD
+# (GameState.fleet_inventory), the same way gas bomb shots do (#60) - the
+# fleet has to be carrying its own energy.
+#
+# Covers:
+#   A. banked energy does not enable firing - only the fleet hold counts
+#   B. with insufficient fleet energy the button is disabled, pressing it
+#      explains why, and no beam is fired / no cooldown consumed
+#   C. firing drains exactly ENERGY_PER_SHOT from the fleet hold and
+#      nothing from the bank
+
+var game_state: Node
+var main: Node
+var fleet: Node
+var skill: Node
+var laser_component: Node
+var stage: int = 0
+var elapsed: float = 0.0
+
+# Mirrors LaserController.ENERGY_PER_SHOT's value rather than referencing
+# the class constant directly - a bare ClassName.CONST reference elsewhere
+# in a test script has been observed to corrupt method resolution for the
+# WHOLE script (an unrelated skill._process() call earlier in the same
+# file then fails with "Nonexistent function '_process' in base 'Nil'"),
+# root cause unconfirmed. See tests/test_gas_bomber_cooldowns.gd's
+# identical fix (#60).
+const ENERGY_PER_SHOT: int = 8
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	game_state = root.get_node("GameState")
+	game_state.buildings.clear()
+	game_state.extractors.clear()
+	game_state.transporters.clear()
+	game_state.stored_vessels.clear()
+	game_state.reset_progression()
+	game_state.vessel_levels["unlock_laser"] = 1
+	game_state.rocks = 0
+	game_state.gas = 0
+	game_state.fleet_gas_cargo = 0
+	main = load("res://Main.tscn").instantiate()
+	root.add_child(main)
+	fleet = main.get_node("Fleet")
+	skill = main.get_node("LaserController")
+
+
+func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
+	elapsed += delta
+	match stage:
+		0:
+			if elapsed < 0.2:
+				return false
+			main.get_node("EnemySpawner").set_process(false)
+			main.get_node("AsteroidField").set_process(false)
+			# An interceptor rides along purely for its "cargo" capability
+			# (#56): a fleet made only of a laser ship has zero cargo
+			# capacity, which would silently clamp every fleet energy
+			# deposit below to 0.
+			fleet.spawn_ships(2, Vector2.ZERO, PackedStringArray([
+				GameState.VESSEL_INTERCEPTOR, GameState.VESSEL_LASER]))
+			laser_component = fleet.ships[1].get_component("laser")
+			skill._process(0.0)
+
+			# --- A. bank energy does not count ----------------------------
+			game_state.deposit_bank_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY, 500)
+			skill._process(0.0)
+			if skill.button.enabled:
+				return _fail_now("500 banked energy (0 in the fleet hold) left the control enabled")
+			print("500 banked energy, 0 fleet energy: control correctly disabled")
+
+			# --- B. insufficient fleet energy -------------------------------
+			game_state.deposit_fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY, ENERGY_PER_SHOT - 1)
+			skill._process(0.0)
+			if skill.button.enabled:
+				return _fail_now("fleet energy one short of ENERGY_PER_SHOT left the control enabled")
+
+			var press := InputEventScreenTouch.new()
+			press.index = 3
+			press.position = skill.button.global_position + skill.button.size * 0.5
+			press.pressed = true
+			main._handle_touch(press)
+			if skill.aiming:
+				return _fail_now("aiming began despite insufficient fleet energy")
+			if skill.status.text == "":
+				return _fail_now("an unaffordable press did not explain itself")
+			print("insufficient fleet energy: disabled, press explains itself, no aiming began")
+			if not laser_component.is_ready():
+				return _fail_now("a refused press consumed the laser ship's cooldown")
+			if game_state.fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY) != ENERGY_PER_SHOT - 1:
+				return _fail_now("a refused press spent fleet energy anyway")
+			print("no cooldown consumed, no energy spent on a refused press")
+
+			# --- C. exact ammo cost on a real shot -----------------------------
+			game_state.deposit_fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY, 8)
+			skill._process(0.0)
+			if not skill.button.enabled:
+				return _fail_now("enough fleet energy still left the control disabled")
+			var fleet_energy_before: int = game_state.fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY)
+
+			var press2 := InputEventScreenTouch.new()
+			press2.index = 4
+			press2.position = skill.button.global_position + skill.button.size * 0.5
+			press2.pressed = true
+			main._handle_touch(press2)
+			if not skill.aiming:
+				return _fail_now("an affordable press did not begin aiming")
+			var drag := InputEventScreenDrag.new()
+			drag.index = 4
+			drag.position = press2.position + Vector2(-300.0, 0.0)
+			main._handle_drag(drag)
+			var release := InputEventScreenTouch.new()
+			release.index = 4
+			release.position = drag.position
+			release.pressed = false
+			main._handle_touch(release)
+
+			if laser_component.is_ready():
+				return _fail_now("firing did not consume the laser ship's cooldown")
+			var fleet_energy_after: int = game_state.fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY)
+			if fleet_energy_before - fleet_energy_after != ENERGY_PER_SHOT:
+				return _fail_now("firing spent %d fleet energy, expected exactly %d" \
+					% [fleet_energy_before - fleet_energy_after, ENERGY_PER_SHOT])
+			if game_state.banked_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY) != 500:
+				return _fail_now("firing touched the bank (%d), expected it untouched at 500" \
+					% game_state.banked_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY))
+			print("firing drained exactly %d from the fleet hold, bank untouched" % ENERGY_PER_SHOT)
+
+			print("TEST_LASER_AMMO: PASS")
+			quit(0)
+			return true
+	return false
+
+
+func _fail_now(message: String) -> bool:
+	print("TEST_LASER_AMMO: FAIL (%s)" % message)
+	quit(1)
+	return true
diff --git a/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd b/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd
index 4c3001e..03819d4 100644
--- a/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd
+++ b/tests/test_laser_vessel.gd
@@ -20,7 +20,12 @@ extends SceneTree
 var game_state: Node
 var main: Node
 var fleet: Node
-var skill: LaserController
+var skill: Node
+# Mirrors LaserController.BEAM_HALF_WIDTH's value rather than referencing
+# the class constant directly - a bare ClassName.CONST reference elsewhere
+# in a test script has been observed to corrupt method resolution for the
+# WHOLE script. See tests/test_gas_bomber_cooldowns.gd's identical fix (#60).
+const BEAM_HALF_WIDTH: float = 22.0
 var on_line_enemies: Array = []
 var off_line_enemy: Node
 var beyond_range_enemy: Node
@@ -42,6 +47,13 @@ func _initialize() -> void:
 	# this ticket is about the laser's own behaviour, not re-proving the
 	# ship-lab research flow (already covered generically elsewhere).
 	game_state.vessel_levels["unlock_laser"] = 1
+	# #61: shots draw energy from the fleet hold now - stock enough for two
+	# fires. Set BEFORE the first spawn_ships() call (inside Main.tscn's own
+	# _ready(), triggered by instantiate() below): the fleet hold has no
+	# capacity cap yet at this point (#56's cap is only computed once a
+	# fleet composition exists), so this deposit can't be clamped by the
+	# soon-to-exist all-laser fleet having zero "cargo" capability.
+	game_state.deposit_fleet_resource(GameState.RESOURCE_ENERGY, 20)
 	main = load("res://Main.tscn").instantiate()
 	root.add_child(main)
 	fleet = main.get_node("Fleet")
@@ -106,7 +118,7 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 
 			off_line_enemy = load("res://Enemy.tscn").instantiate()
 			off_line_enemy.position = first_shooter.global_position \
-				+ Vector2(200.0, LaserController.BEAM_HALF_WIDTH + 60.0)
+				+ Vector2(200.0, BEAM_HALF_WIDTH + 60.0)
 			main.add_child(off_line_enemy)
 			off_line_enemy.speed = 0.0