Grenade launcher

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19th century grenade launchers

A grenade launcher is a weapon that launches a grenade to greater distances than a soldier could throw by hand. Most grenade launchers are man-portable, shoulder-fired weapons, usually mounted on a rifle such as the AK-47 or M16. However, many can be used independently, such as the M79 and AG36. These are almost always single shot, manually reloaded weapons firing 30–40 millimeter caliber grenades which rarely resemble hand grenades, but look more like miniature artillery shells. There are also heavier examples, including automatic grenade launchers for ground and vehicle use. Capable of a relatively high rate of fire, these automatic grenade launchers are used for suppressive fire and to destroy or disable light vehicles and buildings.

Examples of modern man-portable grenade launchers are the M203 and GP-30, which mount to service rifles. Automatic launchers include the Mk 19, AGS-17, and the HK GMG, which all fire at a higher velocity than related shoulder-fired grenades. Modern developments tend toward smaller, faster, and massed grenade fire. The XM25 is a shoulder-fired, magazine-fed automatic launcher firing 25 mm projectiles. It was originally a component of the XM29 OICW program, but modified to a larger caliber. Its heavy equivalent is the XM307 ACSW automatic grenade launcher that is reportedly convertible between the 25 mm grenade ammunition and standard .50 BMG cartridges. Both are intended to fire programmable "smart" grenades capable of being set to explode at a certain distance from firer and height above the ground. This gives the ability to hit targets inside of rooms or behind hard cover that would normally not be reachable by smallarms fire.

See also

• hand grenade
• mortar
• rifle grenade
• rocket propelled grenade
• tear gas

External links

• [Modern Firearms & Ammunition grenade launcher intro]
• [MF&A page on the AICW]
• [Metal Storm Limited official site]

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