What grenade launcher was used in Vietnam?
M79 grenade launcherThe M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40×46mm grenade, which uses what the US Army calls the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low, and first appeared during the Vietnam War.
Can I legally own an M203 grenade launcher?
It's a replica of the iconic M203 40mm grenade launcher first introduced in 1969, which is still used by militaries around the world to this day. This M203 37mm launcher fire flare, smoke, or rubber ball rounds, meaning civilians can own it with no FFL required.
Did they have grenade launchers in Vietnam?
Developed in the early 1960s, the M79 grenade launcher saw use in the Vietnam War – and for those who carried the weapon, it was either instant love or lasting hatred. The weapon was simple to use. Much like a shotgun, it was a break-open, shoulder-fire weapon that could fire a 40mm grenade.
Does the US military still use the M203?
Though it has served faithfully and effectively for over 40 years now and will continue to do so for years to come, the M203 is being phased out of Army service and is being replaced by the new M320 designed and built by Heckler & Koch.
Can you buy a 40 mm grenade launcher?
Standard-issue 40mm launchers are classified as “non-sporting” firearms and “destructive devices” by the National Firearms Act, sold solely to military and law enforcement agencies around the world.
Do you need a tax stamp for a 40mm grenade launcher?
Each round requires exactly the same process to purchase as the launcher itself. That's right, $200 tax stamp for each individual round, more fingerprints, more background checks, more waiting. This may be why you don't see neighbors blowing each other up with 40mm grenades.
What replaced the M79?
M320A lot of discussion going on about the M320, the Army's new grenade launcher which replaces the '80s-era M203, which in turn replaced the venerable M79.
What replaced the M79 grenade launcher?
The M79 grenade launcher was known by many names, including the “Thumper-Gun” and the “Bloop Tube” – Australians even called it the “Wombat Gun.” Resembling a shotgun, it was used by US troops serving in Vietnam during the 1960s. While it had its positives, its drawbacks eventually led to it being replaced by the M203.
What is a bloop gun?
One of oddest weapons ever carried by the US military looked like a massive sawn-off shotgun. With the improbable nickname of the 'bloop gun' this handy little grenade launcher has had an impressively long life. After World War 2, the Army decided to usher in a new series of weapons.
Why is the M320 better than the M203?
The M320 has a double-action trigger compared to the M203's single-action unit and has an ambidextrous safety. This allows the operator more control over his weapon, its firing, and better capability to handle a misfire or simple unloading.
How far can a M203 shoot?
With a maximum effective range of about 350 meters, the M203 is a rifle-mounted, grenade launcher that allows the Marine to load one round at a time.
Can I buy a grenade launcher?
A grenade launcher is a weapon you might expect to see in open warfare, but owning one is actually permitted in the U.S. under federal law – albeit with restrictions.
What is a M203 grenade launcher?
The M203 grenade launcher is intended to be used as close fire support against point and area targets. The round is designed to be effective at breaking through windows and exploding inside, blowing up doors, producing multiple casualties, destroying bunkers or emplacements, and damaging or disabling soft-skinned vehicles. In the Vietnam war, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel on boats would lob 40mm grenades into the water (using the M79 grenade launcher ), to preemptively attack Viet Cong swimmers ("sappers") attempting to plant explosives on anchored or moored U.S. water craft.
What was the purpose of the 40mm grenade launcher in the Vietnam War?
Navy and Coast Guard personnel on boats would lob 40mm grenades into the water (using the M79 grenade launcher ), to preemptively attack Viet Cong swimmers ("sappers") attempting to plant explosives on anchored or moored U.S. water craft.
What is the difference between a M203 and a M16A3?
The standard M203 is intended for permanent attachment to the M16A1 , M16A 2 and M16A 3 rifles, and utilizes a 12-inch rifled barrel. The M203 unmodified to an A1/A2 series will not fit on the M4 Carbine series. The U.S. M203A1 has a barrel of 12 inches, while the SOPMOD M203A1 has a 9-inch barrel.
What is the M320?
A new grenade launcher, the M320, will eventually replace the M203 in the United States Army. The United States Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy continued to use the older M203, although the Marines began issuing the M320 in June 2017.
What is a M203A2?
The M203A2 is intended for use with the M4 Series/M16A4 and now also authorized on the M16A2 Rifle as the MWS (Modular Weapon System). Using standard 12-inch barrels, the grenade launcher is intended for use in concert with the Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS.
What rifles can the M203 be mounted on?
M16 and its carbine variant, the M4. The launcher can also be mounted onto a C7, a Canadian version of the M16 rifle; however, this requires the prior removal of the bottom handguard.
How many rounds does the M203 have?
The M203 is able to fire a variety of different rounds for many purposes. According to the U.S. ARMY FIELD MANUAL FM 3-22.31 40-MM GRENADE LAUNCHER, M203, there are 8 different rounds for the M203:
What is a 40mm grenade launcher?
a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40×46mm grenade. The 40mm grenade launcher, still in global military use in several variations today, emerged as one of the more evolutionary weapons introduced during the Vietnam War, transitioning from low velocity single-shot handheld variants to high velocity rapid-fire ...
What was the first hand held grenade launcher?
Developed during the 1950s by the Springfield Armory, the M79 was the first of the hand held 40mm grenade launchers designed for infantry, replacing the limited-range rifle grenades, such as the M17 and M9-types, of World War II/Korea.
Where is the 40mm magazine located?
The cylindrical 40mm ammunition magazine assembly, containing approximately 265 linked grenades, located to the rear of the turret in the ammunition compartment below the front seat, was electrically driven by a booster motor mounted on the front of the magazine.
When was the XM148 pulled from the Air Force?
By fall of 1967, the XM148 was pulled from field units to be relegated mostly to garrison service, but was adopted by the U. S. Air Force Security Forces for airfield duty in 1968, and some of the weapons remained in their armories until the 1990s.
When was the AAI M203 used?
AAI M203 40mm Grenade Launcher. The M203 was accepted for Federal service in 1969 , and in the following year, deliveries were made to the troops in Vietnam, including the Centaurs. This weapon fared well in Vietnam, and has been used in every conflict since then with a nearly fifty-year distinguished service record.
When did the Blues use the M79?
Aero-riflemen, or Blues, of both D Troop and F Troop utilized the M79 until departing country in 1973. Extensive Centaur photograph collections and yearbooks demonstrate that aircrews adopted the weapon, including the crews of OH-23s, the later OH-6s and UH-1s.
Who made the M75?
In the late 1950s, the Philco-Ford Corporation (later Ford Aerospace) began development of the M75 40mm Grenade Launcher, an "air-cooled, electrically powered, rapid firing weapon," for helicopter use, with the first being manufactured by the Springfield Armory, in Massachusetts.
Giving Credit To The M203
Yes, I know that the title of this article is quite negative, but that does not mean the M203 doesn’t deserve a pat on the back. As we all know, the M203 has been in service since 1969. It provided the military the necessary firepower to blast the enemies as far as 400m.
Why Was It Terrible?
First, the M203 was famous for its wild-guess accuracy due to its limitations with the sights. They had to be attached manually, which required calibrating it all over again when attached. Yes, it could be attached to the guns mentioned earlier, such as the M16, and its carbine variant, the M4 which was certainly a plus.
What is the M79 grenade launcher?
The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40x46mm grenade which uses what the US Army calls the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low, and first appeared during the Vietnam War.
How to load a M79 grenadier?
The M79 is easy to operate. To load, the grenadier pushes the barrel locking latch on the receiver group to the right. Gravity will pull down the barrel, breaking it open, and exposing the breech. The hammer is cocked when the breech is opened. A round then may be loaded. The break action must then be closed manually. Closing the breech will cause the barrel locking latch to return to center. The safety must then be pushed to the forward position in order to ready the weapon for firing.
What is the M79 round?
For close range fighting two styles of M79 rounds were developed. The first was a flechette or Bee Hive round (so named for the sound the flechettes made while in flight) that fired 45 10-grain steel flechettes. Flechettes proved to be ineffective because they would often not hit point-first and penetrate. Instead they would hit sideways and bounce off. About 1966, this was replaced by the M576 buckshot round. Containing twenty 24g metal pellets (M576E1) or twenty-seven 24g metal pellets (M576E2), this round could be devastating at close ranges. However, as range increased, the shot spread out so rapidly as to be ineffective. The M576E2, despite the greater number of shot, was less effective at range than the M576E1, because its shot spread out much more quickly and could completely miss the target.
How fast does a M406 grenade travel?
The M406 contained enough explosive to produce over 300 fragments that travel at 1,524 meters per second within a lethal radius of 5 meters. This round incorporated a spin-activation safety feature which prevents the grenade from arming while still within range of the shooter; it armed itself after traveling a distance of about 30 meters. Even though the round would not arm at point blank ranges, the round still had enough kinetic energy to kill or seriously injure its target.
What kind of rounds can the M79 fire?
The M79 can fire a wide variety of 40 mm rounds, including explosive, anti-personnel, smoke, buckshot, flechette, and illumination. While largely replaced by the M203, the M79 has remained in service in many units worldwide in niche roles.
When was the M203 standardized?
The XM148 was plagued with problems and the project was dropped. The M203 was a success, and was standardized in 1969 ; it had replaced the M79 by the end of the war, though M79s were still used in Reserve and National Guard units.
What is the M79?
The M79 was a result of Project Niblick, an attempt to increase firepower for the infantryman by having an explosive projectile more accurate with further range than rifle grenades, but more portable than a mortar. Project Niblick created the 40 x 46 mm grenade, but was unable to create a satisfactory launcher for it that could fire more ...
Overview
Uses
The M203 grenade launcher is intended to be used as close fire support against point and area targets. The round is designed to be effective at breaking through windows and exploding inside, blowing up doors, producing multiple casualties, destroying bunkers or emplacements, and damaging or disabling soft-skinned vehicles. In the Vietnam war, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel on boats would lob 40 mm grenades into the water (using the M79 grenade launcher)…
History
The M203 was the only part of the army's Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) project to go into production. The M203 has been in service since 1969 and was introduced to U.S. military forces during the early 1970s, replacing the M79 grenade launcher and the conceptually similar Colt XM148 design. However, while the M79 was a stand-alone weapon (and usually the primary weapon of troops who carried it), the M203 was designed as an under-barrel device attached to …
Rounds
The M203 is able to fire a variety of different rounds for many purposes. According to the U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-22.31 40-MM Grenade Launcher, M203, there are eight different rounds for the M203:
• (M433) high-explosive dual purpose round. The HEDP round has an olive drab aluminum skirt with a steel cup attached, white markings, and a gold ogive (hea…
Components
The M203 grenade launcher system comes with a variety of components, usually including the launcher, adaptors for attachment to assault rifles, and leaf sights (which can be used with the rifle's front sight post). M203s can also come with quadrant sights, mounting to an MIL-STD 1913 Rail, or to the carrying handle of an M16 rifle.
Variants
There are numerous variants of the M203 manufactured in the U.S., and throughout the world, for various applications. These vary chiefly in the length of the barrel, attachment type, and quick detach (QD) capability.
The standard M203 is intended for permanent attachment to the M16A1, M16A2 and M16A3 rifles, and utilizes a 12-inch rifled barrel. The M203 unmodified to a…
Civilian ownership in the United States
In the United States, M203 grenade launcher attachments fitted with the standard rifled 40 mm barrels are classified as "destructive devices" under the National Firearms Act part 26 U.S.C. 5845, 27 CFR 479.11, because they are a "non-sporting" firearm with a bore greater than one-half inch in diameter. M203s are on the civilian NFA market but are limited as most manufacturers have quit selling to the civilian markets. New M203 launchers sell for approximately $2,000 plus a $200 tr…
Data
The following technical data for the M203/M203A1 grenade launcher comes directly from the U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-22.31 40-MM Grenade Launcher, M203.
• Weapon.
• Ammunition.