A grenade launcher is a weapon that launches a grenade greater distances,
more accurately, and faster than a soldier could throw by hand.
The man-portable grenade launcher can either come in the form of a standalone
weapon (either single-shot or repeating weapons), or mounted under the
barrel of a rifle. Alternatively, many rifles have been designed to fire
grenades from their muzzle.
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. The most standard grenade round today is the 40mm
grenade, which has a wide variety of applications in man-portable and
vehicle mounted weapons systems. With this standardization, there are many
new 'specialty' grenades available, from rounds that can be used as a
flare, infrared flare, or even a video camera that surveys the battlefield
from a bird's eye view. There are also heavier examples, including
automatic grenade launchers for ground and vehicle use, such as the
American Mk 19. 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. Some armored fighting vehicles also mount
grenade launchers as a means of defense, usually firing smoke grenades to
conceal the vehicle behind a smoke screen, though can also be loaded with
chaff, flares, or anti-personnel grenades to repel infantry attacks.
The man-portable grenade launcher can either come in the form of a
standalone weapon (either single-shot or repeating weapons, the latter
resembling a large revolver); or an underbarrel weapon which is
permanently mounted to the rifle. Alternatively, many rifles have been
designed to fire grenades from their muzzle, using either a special blank
propellant cartridge or a central hole through the grenade allowing the
bullet to pass through. This system has two key advantages: the grenade
can generally be made larger and more powerful as compared to underbarrel
or standalone weapons, and the rifle's weight and handling characteristics
are not affected as with underbarrel systems. The disadvantage of this
method is that when a soldier wants to launch a grenade he must unload the
weapon and then load the propellant cartridge and grenade. If he is
surprised by a close-range threat while preparing to fire the grenade, he
has to reverse the above procedure and cannot immediately react with rifle
fire. In underbarrel systems, the rifle portion and launching portion of
the weapon can both be carried loaded and ready to fire. Underbarrel tubes
generally have their own trigger and use the rifle's magazine as a grip
for the firing hand. To fire, one simply changes grips, disengages the
safety and pulls the trigger. In most systems the barrel either slides
forward or pivots to the side to allow reloading. For aiming, the M203
mounts either a flip-up rear sight, which is notched for different ranges
and utilizes the rifle's existing front sight, or a "quadrant" sight which
mounts to the side of the carrying handle. Recoil from such weapons is
significant, comparable to a high-power shotgun.
Examples of modern man-portable grenade launchers are the M203 and GP-30,
which mount to service rifles. Another type of man-portable grenade
launcher is the M32 'six shooter' grenade launcher and its cousins, which
is able to fire six grenades in quick succession from a cylindrical
chamber, this classification of firearm is often referred to as a Multi
Shot Grenade Launcher, or MSGL. 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
semi-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
easily 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 launch or at a
certain 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 small arms fire.
Sergyi Way
19.10.2007