USMC Re-issues M79 "Bloopers"

[fantassin]

HQ BN 1st Marine Division has been issued with 1960s vintage M79 grenade launchers in 40 mm to deal with IEDs in Iraq.

They have been reconditionned and are supposed to be effective out to 300 m (accurate 200m).

The idea is to get more accuracy than with the under slung M203; the 40mm are supposed to set off or disrupt IED from a safe distance.

[Merik]

Sorry amigo, this is news from 2 months ago.

[Burncycle]

Too bad they can't start making the china lakes

pump action 40mm grenade launcher for the win! woot

[TR]

Too bad they can't start making the china lakes pump action 40mm grenade launcher for the win!

Well actually they had been working on a similiar design however from what I understand back in the mid-90's over at Crane...

http://www.wapahani.com/ex41.jpg

Very little known about this design, doubt we will learn much as I understand the program was cancelled.

US Naval Ordnance Station EX-41 GL: 40mm-4 round box magazine
? barrel/6.80 to 8.16 kg/914mm OA
1500m Maximum Development Status

Source: Jane's Infantry Weapons of the World 1995-1996


Until Later,

TR

[haze99]

Navy SEAL teams and Army SF Teams have already been using the M-79 since the mid 1990's.

[Deuterium]

Navy SEAL teams and Army SF Teams have already been using the M-79 since the mid 1990's.

In actuality we never got rid of them since they were first issued. Very popular.

[Seraphim]

Theres that one nightvision video of those rangers and that one guy is just firing them away.

[Beloved Shiv]

Theres that one nightvision video of those rangers and that one guy is just firing them away.

Sounds sweet, any1 have a link to an MPG?

[thatguy96]

Too bad they can't start making the china lakes

pump action 40mm grenade launcher for the win! woot
Scroll down the list here (http://www.autoweapons.com/products/destructivedevices.html). It may not be the US military, but someone is making new ones ;)

[bishop1]

The Rangers have been using them for awhile as well now.

[Ballistic]

Up until recently the Australian Army was still using them...maybe still are. But the M203PI on the Steyrs has more than likely replaced it.

[RFSU]

Still used, never been fully retired (in ADF). Great weapon too, it can take a hell of a beating and it is pretty accurate. Too bad it weighs a sh!tload (

[Michael RVR]

Who's still using them ?

I think that bump on the back of my head finally healed, dont want to go back to carrying one ;)

[RFSU]

Some rsv units still have them. Mind you just because they are fielded does not mean they are still issue!? And i belive I heard one of my mates saying that his lot from down in Williamstown still use them ;)
And I hear you on the head injuries mate, hitting the ground with one of those things on your back can really mess up your day, OUCH!

[KaBar104]

The Marine Corps has been using the blooper in Iraq for various roles
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/ae82f18a8e1b160b852568ba007e7e5e/89da1a90c3c49f9885256e8f00527ad4/$FILE/bloop8.jpg[/img]

[scm77]

To get that picture link to work you have to remove the [/img] from the end.

[Kaplanr]

Wasn't it called "Blooker"

[Burncycle]

I'm a fan of a dedicated grenade launcher in a squad, course I'm just an armchair cornmando, so...

If not a china lake, then maybe the new HIWS that fires 40mm high velocity (they had one at the blackwater shoot 2004).

[bishop1]

It looked like it did minimal damage though, i mean it looked like that shrapnel wouldnt even incapacitate a person, ecspecially if theyre hoped up on something