History of the Launchers

Multi-shot grenade launchers with larger capacity like ARWEN 37 ARWEN 37 are used as smoke and tear gas projectors for riot control and military launchers such as those of the Milkor MGL are used to give sustained and heavy firepower to infantry. The majority of these devices are dated back to the Manville machine-projector, utilize an cylinder that resembles a revolver, however there are a few pump-action guns designed to resemble oversized shotguns like models fed by magazines like the Neopup PAW-20 as well as XM25 CDTE are also been developed to be used in military operations, using small round sizes (respectively 20 and 25mm) to make it practical in regards to the size of the magazine and a lesser collateral damage when as compared to 40mm rounds.

Because grenade launchers have low internal pressure , and have a shorter barrel and a light launcher, they can be positioned beneath the barrel of a conventional rifle. This type of weapon is known by the name of an "under-barrel" grenade launcher (UBGL). This helps reduce the weight a soldier carries by removing the buttstock of the grenade launcher and allows the launcher to be available to use at a moment's need. Underbarrel 40mm grenade launchers typically come with their own trigger group for firing; one just changes grips, releases the majority of them fire a 40x46mm grenade cartridge. Launchers from Russia and Soviet Union are loaded by the muzzle, and the cartridge casing attached to the projectile, in the manner of mortar shells. To aim, underbarrel grenade launchers usually have a separate ladder leaf, tangent, or quadrant sight that is attached to the launcher or rifle, which is either on one end of the handleguard or at the top of the handguard between iron sights. Modern launchers usually can be mounted with advanced aiming systems like ballistic rangefinders or night and day sights.

Like the M79, the idea of attaching a launcher for grenades to an existing service rifle is rooted within the Special Purpose Individual Weapon program although the Colt XM148 grenade launcher has been developed earlier but was deemed to be difficult to implement. A single AAI proposal for SPIW included an "simple" single-action one-shot breech-loading breech-loading underbarrel launcher instead of the required semi-automatic multi-shot weapon. After some refinement, it was used as the M203 launcher for grenades in 1968. There are a variety of sizes of M203 are available , as well as various parts kits that can be fitted it on various rifles apart from the AR15 model weapons it was developed for.

Modern Western launchers for grenades address certain shortcomings of the M203 that were present, including the breech that slides, limiting the weapon's capacity to load large projectiles, and the absence of sight mounts that are factory-fitted and designs such as the FN Herstal's ELGM and Heckler and Koch's AG36 with a breech that swings out to allow for greater access, integrated sight mounts, as well as built-in support for conversion to a standalone. A variation of the former weapon, called the M320 Grenade Launcher Module, was taken from the failed XM8 program and was adopted by the US military in 2008. US army's alternative to the M203.

Soviet creation of an underbarrel launcher designed for the AK rifle range began in the year 1966, and then in 1978 came out with the GP-25 muzzle-loading device designed for the AK-74 rifle that has a mortar-like round that functions by releasing its propellant through openings in its base. it is a variant of the high-low system that is used in Western rounds and has the projectile's base serving as the high-pressure chamber and the barrel of the launcher acting as the chamber with low pressure. The further developments resulted in an GP series of launchers for grenades.

Many experimental weapon systems have been used to create combination weapons that comprise a permanently attached carbine and grenade launcher assault rifle, usually with the rifle being mounted beneath the launcher, with the most notable being the XM29 OICW. However, so far, the only weapon that has been made available for production is the Daewoo K11 from S&T which was adopted in small numbers from South Korean military. South Korean military.

A grenade launcher that is automatic or a the grenade machine gun is a support weapon for crews that fires explosive rounds quickly using an ammunition belt or large capacity magazine. Since most of them are heavy guns typically, they are mounted on a tripod or vehicle mount, and in addition to being utilized to suppress fire, similar to the heavy machine gun, also possess enough firepower to demolish buildings and vehicles. Some examples include Mk 19, AGS-17, and the Mk 19, AGS-17, and the HK GMG.

Automatic grenade launchers typically use more powerful rounds than infantry weapons. NATO launchers employ the 40x53mm round for grenade launchers instead of the 40x46mm round that is used by infantry. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as the motor-driven Mk 18 Mod 0 grenade launcher, an exceptional instance of an AGL that was not completely automated as well as Mk 20 Mod 0 grenade launcher. Mk 20 Mod 0 grenade launcher also used the 40x46mm round. Likewise, it is the Chinese Type 87 grenade launcher designed to function as an all-purpose machine gun utilizes the same low-velocity 35x32mm round that is used in it is the QLG91B underbarrel launcher that is used in the assault weapon QBZ95.

The majority of grenade launchers are versatile in the kinds of ammunition they can use. For military purposes the most common type of ammunition for a grenade launcher are fragmentation rounds. The most commonly used grenade round the arsenal of NATO the 40mm fragmentation grenade. It is effective against a variety of targets, including infantry as well as vehicles that are lightly armored. The size of the projectile of a grenade bullet also permits payloads that require an enormous amount of chemicals like flares, gas grenades, incendiary rounds as well as smoke grenades. Police officers typically employ the grenade launcher in the course of riot control to shoot the smoke or tear gas into the air and other less lethal crowd control weapons like baton and sponge rounds also are available for this purpose.

Lethal rounds are typically fitted with an inertial fuzing mechanism that fuses the warhead once it has been rotated a certain number of times, so as to protect the person from causing harm to themselves when a grenade strikes an obstruction in the vicinity.

Western launchers typically use the caliber of 37 mm flare designed for civilian and law enforcement or the more powerful military caliber of 40mm. This is to stop civilian-legal flare projectors from being employed to shoot lethal military ammunition, as the rounds that kill are not made in the 37mm caliber. However, the reverse isn't true as a wide range of ammunition that is less lethal is available in the 40mm caliber and an increasing amount launched by law enforcement agencies that are not designed for civilian use are designed to accommodate 40x46mm rounds.

Recently, militaries have paid a lot of attention to the advancement of "smart" system of grenades with integrated sighting systems that can be utilized as point-detonating rounds like normal or fuzed to explode in mid-air at a predetermined distance, allowing targets to be hit in the cover of their fragments. The ammunition was initially developed as High Explosive Air Blast (HEAB) in the Small Arms Master Plan (SAMP) projects. These include The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (20x28mm and 25x40mm low-velocity) and the Advanced Crew Served Weapon (25x59mm high-velocity) projects. The round with a low velocity was intended to be used in an XM25-based CDTE. Other nations have also developed grenades based on the same technology, such as South Korea for the S&T Daewoo K11, Australia during the Advanced Individual Combat Weapon program as well as China to make the ZH-05 launcher for grenades.

In the US as per the National Firearms Act of 1934, firearms loaded with a breech that have a diameter greater than .50 inches, and with no sport-related use are classified as Title II "destructive devices" and their ownership is severely restricted and even banned in certain states. In addition every shot of ammunition that is explosive used by the grenade launcher is also considered a destructive device , and is subject to the same limitations. California is one of the states that California also considers rifles that have integrated grenade launchers for rifles as destructive devices , in line to the definition of a destructive device in the section 16460 of the California Penal Code. It is nevertheless legal for citizens to possess 37mm flare launchers that aren't regulated as firearms, and some are made to have an appearance that resembles the grenade launcher as well as certain kinds of ammunition, since the BATFE has declared that, they are not considered to be weapons unless they are together with direct-fire ammunition, like beanbag or pellet rounds, they aren't destructive devices. A result of this can be seen in American films the visually identical 37mm launchers are frequently substituted for 40mm guns.

The term "grenade launcher" or "grenade launcher mount" is typically part of the characteristics that define the term "assault weapon" however it legally-binding definition that is primarily applicable to firearms that have flash hiders that are compatible with rifle grenades. This is because firearms specifically designed to launch explosive grenade rounds and ammunition are legally restricted as destructive weapons. A number of state-specific assault weapon bans expand this to include under-barrel 37mm flare launchers in the list of prohibited features.

The launcher for grenades is a weapon that fires a grenade, tiny shell that is filled with high explosives or a different agent, like tear gas for applications that are not lethal, a bright burning substance for lighting purposes or as an incendiary device, etc. In all instances, the grenade also should be equipped with a fuse and with a safetydevice, in order to prevent damage to the handler or grenadier. The most efficient method of using the weapon is to throw it with hand, but the distance and weight of hand grenades are extremely limited. In the early days of the evolution of firearms, numerous armies employed so-called "hand mortars" which were essentially muskets with smooth bores with barrels that were short and of a very large calibers, which were used to shoot standard grenades at distances that were beyond the capabilities of human throwing capabilities.

In the First World War most nations began to employ so-called "rifle launchers for grenades". They were actually an accessory to standard military rifles. They were usually in the form of a cup that was connected to the rifle's muzzle. A grenade was inserted into the cup, and then primed and the rifle was aimed at the target, and the grenade was fired using an exclusive blank cartridge that firing normally, acting as propellant. The system, although it enhances the capabilities of infantry soldiers, comes with some drawbacks, for instance in many instances, the launch cup prevented the sight line to the rifle during regular firing.

There was a different kind of grenade for rifles, that didn't require launcher attachment for a grenade - instead, the system relied on a specific thin rod that protruded from the back of the grenade , like the tail. The rod was then inserted in the barrel of the gun, and the grenade was fired also with an empty cartridge. In any case, attempting to shoot the grenade using the standard ammunition for rifles was fatal to both the weapon as well as the shooter. Modern rifle grenade launchers have been rid of the rods and cup launchers that were attached with the grenade.

They are simply muzzle devices that are specially designed that are often also used in conjunction with flash hiders. The tail (rear) portion of the grenade is designed like a tube that is placed onto the muzzles of the gun. Additionally, the majority of modern models of grenade launchers for rifles use conventional ammunition. They either capture the bullet and then utilize its energy to launch the grenade (helpfully called the "bullet trap" type) or feature a hole in the middle through which the bullet can escape (the "bullet through" type) and utilize the gas that is released out of the muzzle to serve to propel the grenade. This type of launcher loses the kinetic energy, but benefits by not having to change the valve that controls gas to "closed" first.

The main issue with a grenade for a rifle is that, when it's ready for firing, it effectively interferes with the normal operation of the firearm. That means that if a shooter who has a grenade in position needs to fire his gun in the event of an emergency (e.g. when there is a threat of attack before him) it is necessary to first remove or fire the grenade. This will require time and could cause him to lose his life.

To address this issue, several countries have developed and adopted what are known as "underbarrel launchers for grenades". In contrast to rifle launchers that are just accessories to the standard rifle the underbarrel launcher is an entire weapon with its own barrel, trigger/ firing mechanism, safety device, and, often, its own sights. An infantry (assault) weapon is utilized solely as a host gun and serves as the stock for the launcher for grenades. The first prototypes were developed during the two wars between Italy and Japan and Japan, the launchers underbarrel were introduced in their current form in the latter half of the 1960's and both within the USA as well as within the USSR. Underbarrel launchers don't hinder the rifle however they do add a substantial disadvantage to the size and weight of the combined weapon. Additionally, the typical grenades used for underbarrel launchers come with warheads that are smaller in weight and size which limits their effectiveness against targets (but also increasing the number of grenades soldiers can carry with him).

The choice of grenade launchers differs from country to country and, in particular, those in the USA as well as the ex USSR and Russia which remained with grenade launchers that were underbarrel. Other countries, such as Belgium or France were more inclined to choose the rifle launcher model and other nations, like Germany have opted for both kinds of weapon.

The post-war period witnessed an enlightenment of standalone grenade launchers that were like those "hand mortars" previously mentioned. They were first introduced in active service during those of the Germans during WW2 in the form of the "kampfpistole" which was an improved flare launcher equipped to have a barrel that was rifled as well as an adjustable shoulder stock that could be removed for firing different kinds of grenades. After the war there were several countries that developed single-shot shoulder-fired grenade launchers typically of caliber 40mm that actually predated the modern underbarrel grenade launchers , and utilized the same kinds of ammunition. One of the most well-known is most likely that of the US M79 "Thumper", extensively used in Vietnam. Vietnam War.

The main issue in these guns is that the user had to carry a personal firearm for defense as well as a launcher for grenades, which could be submachine guns, pistols or rifle. In the later years, several countries created multi-shot versions of standalone shoulder-fired grenade launchers typically in the form of a revolver with a large size, or a pump-operated rifle that has tubular magazines. The military generally replaced these guns with grenade launchers that were underbarrel and stand-alone launchers are typically used by special forces or police forces that use the launchers in less-than-lethal anti-riot purposes, such as firing tear gas canisters as well as baton round (rubber bullets, or buckshot).

The latest trend in this area is the creation of time-fuzed grenades that are used in conjunction with a computer for controlling fire that is mounted on the rifle and connected to the sights. The unit is equipped with an optical rangefinder as well as a ballistic computer, and an option to program the warhead prior to firing. Prior to firing, the shooter calculates the distance to the target with the rangefinder laser, and the computer automatically adjusts the sights to ensure the proper trajectory , and also sets the time fuze so that the warhead explodes when it is within the target area such as inside the window or behind the wall.

This permits the firing of targets "in defilade" (i.e. when they hide behind the cover) through the use of the airburst-based fragmentation weapons. There are numerous projects attempting to accomplish this such as those that use the American XM-29 OICW system as well as French PAPOP. It is the Belgian F2000GL system is an alternative that is less expensive, that is non-programmable, but has an electronic sighting device that permits much more precise long-range firing.

The primary uses of rifle or underbarrel launchers is against "soft"enemy targets, such as infantry, light entrenchments vehicles that are not armored or lightly protected and so on. The majority of tanks were developed in their development during the Second World War and since are extremely strong, they cannot be destroyed by the tiny amount of explosives in the typical grenade.

It is believed that the the first automatic launchers were invented in the USA in the mid-1960s following the US involvement in the Vietnam conflict. The weapons were created by the US Navy and several military contractors to supply soldiers with near medium range support as well as area suppression weaponsthat were effective against infantry as well as light structures. They were lightweight and small enough to be mounted on riverine craft as well as combat helicopters, jeeps and mounted infantry light (tripods). The thing that is not widely known is the fact the fact that very like weapons had been created and tested in the USSR before WW2 during the period 1935-38. There were a variety of designs for these weapons, but the most created was the 40,6mm automatic grenade launcher developed by Taubin. The magazine-fed, selectively fired weapon was designed to be an alternative that was more flexible than the 50mm mortar. It fired a 40,6mm fragmentation grenade (based on the standard issue 40,6mm Dyakonov rifle-grenade, M1930) with direct or indirect firing modes. However, changes to the General Staff of the Red Army following Stalin's repressions of 1937-39 led to the withdrawal of Army support for this project, and the Taubin launched grenade weapons never made it beyond the prototype stage. The Taubin project itself was arrested and tried for false charges and found guilty, then executed.
For a long time, the automatic launcher concept of grenade launchers in USSR was totally stifled by the light mortars, and it was the Vietnam war which brought these weapons back to the radar of Soviet army. Soviet Army received its brand new automatic grenade launchers about five years earlier than Americans and, while Soviet as well as Russian 30mm guns are less adaptable due to the smaller options of ammunition These weapons are also are significantly lighter than their Western counterparts. In the 1980s and 1990s, various other nations began to create and produce the grenade launchers of their own that were designed to be chambered for NATO standard 40mm high Velocity ammunition that was of US origin or thirty millimeter Soviet ammunition. In the late 1980s, Chinese created their own ammunition for grenades of 35mm calibre, and later created a light, one man-portable weapon of indigenous design. The launcher, originally known as W87 It is very mobile, but it lacks suppression firing power due to smaller capacity magazines (maximum capacity of 12 - or 15 rounds, as opposed to the 30-40 round belt capacities of Soviet as well as Western weaponry).