History of underbarrel launchers

[Javehn]

Howdy . I am making a little essay about world underbarrel grenade launchers (like M203 and north :) ) . What is now interests me , is the history of that invention .

1)Who first felt the nead for it , and why .
2)hat was used before (that one I know more or less , barrel launched grenades , like the M7 (? or M9 ?) used in ww2 at Garand rifle .
3) What is the first underbarrel grenade launcher ever made .

And last , not so historical question . What "exotic" underbarrel launchers do you familiar with ?

Thanks . I hope there would be at list one reply :roll: :lol: (REMOV , I am counting on you ) .

[thatguy96]

1) While I'm not sure, I think US soldiers in South East Asia first discovered a 'need' for an underbarrelled launcher. The real problem there being that troops issued M79s were not issued another personal weapon, meaning that they both had an extremely low rate of fire and no backup. The M79, in of itself a stopgap measure of sorts, had numerous APERS rounds (a 40mm buckshot and a 40mm flechette round being the most notable) created for it as an attempt to rectify this problem. However, it soon became clear that this did nothing to address the slow ROF associated with a single shot, break action GL.

2) Rifle grenades still exist (and are in service in places around the world), and often have better range than grenades launchered from underbarrel GLs. Muzzle launched grenades often have better payloads as well. Such weapons came into existance in an attempt to increase the grenade range of an infantryman beyond the ability of that person to throw it. Prussian Grenadiers in the 19th century were already experimenting with this concept, using a flintlock blunderbuss type weapon with a huge cup on the muzzle, to launch their iron ball grenades at greater distances than they could be thrown by hand.

3) I'm going to take a stab at this, but I'm not sure. I'm guessing the field expidient method of chopping the stock off an M79 and then rigging it under the barrel of an M16 rifle using electrical tape and wire was probably the first. I don't know when the Russians introduced their 30mm muzzle loaded UBGLs, it was after the US began experimenting with the concept of the UBGL and probably even after the fielding of the XM148. Colt was eventually given a contract to improve upon the concept of the XM148, and the result was the M203. Other companies have since taken that design and improved upon it, and other different designs (such as the HK 79, the HK AG36/AG-C, and the Milkor side-loading UBGL) have come out along the way.

http://www.autoweapons.com/photosv/xm148a.jpg
Colt XM148

[Javehn]

Thanks ! So basicaly you saying US army was a pioneer of underbarrel launchers development . I personally always thought that underbarrel came from barrel launched grenade , and the problematic fact that you can't shoot the rifle while you have grenade loaded into it .

[2RHPZ]

Actually not the answers to your questions, just some infos:

GM-94
43-mm Magazine Grenade Launcher
Caliber, 43mm
Sighting range of fire, m max 300
Maximum firing range, m 600
Ammunition load, rounds 3+1 in the chamber
Weight of the grenade launcher, kg 4.8
Overall dimensions, mm with the unfolded stock 810x230x80 with the folded stock 540x320x80

The different types of grenades (air-fuel explosive, smoke incendiary, non-lethal etc.) make it possible to accomplish various missions.
The GM-94 grenade launcher and its round are designed to be fired inside the buildings during assaults and from confined spaces of any volume, transport means, effects on the firer and signature being virtually insignificant.
The "pump-type" reloading and fully closed receiver guarantee the reliable operation of the weapon.
The GM-94 grenade launcher is produced in two versions: with foldable and fixed stocks.

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6G-30 hand-held six-shot grenade launcher

for VOG-25 and VOG-25P rounds
Round VOG-25,
VOG-25P Caliber, mm 40
Weight w/t sling, kg 6.2
Practical rate of fire, rds/min 16
Max firing range, m 400

Overall dimensions, mm in firing position 690x145x280 in travelling position 520x145x200
Intended to engage manpower located in the open, in trenches and on reverse slopes of the terrain by flat and curved fire with the use of VOG-25 and VOG-25P fragmentation rounds.
Owing to the high rate of fire, it can rapidly engage single targets and deliver a massive strike at group targets at ranges of 50 to 400 m

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Milkor

The MGL-MK1 is a lightweight, semi-automatic, shoulder-fired launcher for the widely standardized, 40 mm low velocity family of grenades.
It's unique six-chamber, revolver-type design gives it vastly improved firepower compared with conventional single-shot types.
It was specially conceived to meet the need for an area weapon with a high rate of fire and an ability to handle ranges beyond the reach of hand grenades.
The convenience, simplicity, safety and reliability of the MGL make it a most practical and economical choice for any modern security force. Its combat effectiveness makes it the first choice.

Length: 778mm (stock extended), 566 mm (stock folded)
Weight 5.3kg
Effective Range; 310 meters (point target)

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40mm GP-25 Kostyor
underbarrel grenade launcher

Intended to engage manpower located in the open, in trenches and on reverse slopes of the terrain by flat and curved fire with the use of VOG-25 and VOG-25P fragmentation rounds. The grenade launcher can be fired only if installed on 5.45-mm AK-74 (AKS-74) or 7.62-mm AKM (AKMS) Kalashnikov assault rifles of Russian production.

Round VOG-25,
VOG-25P Caliber, mm 40
Weight w/t round, cap locking assembling and backplate with strap, kg 1.5
Practical rate of fire, rds/min 5–6
Max firing range, m 400
Overall dimensions, mm 323x76x120

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Underbarrel grenade launcher used by Romanian Armed Forces here (http://avtomats-in-action.com/pro19.html)

Max Range - 450 m
Firing Rate - 6 shots/min
Length - 380 mm
Weight - 1,3 kg
Round Type - explosive
Round Weight - 275 g
Grenade Weight - 210 g
Propelling Charge Weight - 65 g nitrocelulose
Exploding Charge Weight - 35 g TNT
Caliber - 40 mm
Kill Zone Radius -10 m

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"BS-1 Notes: This Russian weapon is a novel development in grenade launchers, in that it is a silenced weapon. Noise from this weapon is about as loud as a .22 Long Rifle pistol. The BS-1 uses a special 7.62 blank cartridge that drives a piston with great force, which is what actually propels the grenade. The BS-1 is almost always seen mounted on a special suppressed version of the AK-74 assault rifle; this weapon has noise characteristics similar to the grenade launcher. The launch cartridges are fed by bolt action from a 20-round magazine contained in the grenade launcher grip; the grenades are loaded into the muzzle, as is usual for Russian single-shot grenade launchers. The BS-1 is issued only to certain special operations troops and was never in great supply."

Website (http://www.pmulcahy.com/grenade_launchers/russian_grenade_launchers.htm)

Thread with pictures here (http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/showthread.php?t=1582)

[D.E. Watters]

The first underbarrel grenade launchers were developed for the SPIW program. In 1963, someone got the bright idea to adapt a SPIW-style grenade launcher to the existing M16. The Colt CGL-4 (later type-classified as the XM148) first showed up publicly in May of 1964. Examples of the XM148 ended up in Vietnam as early as December 1966.

Mixed reports quickly came back concerning the XM148 grenade launcher. While M79 users welcomed the rifle/grenade launcher concept, the XM148 proved completely unsatisfactory under combat conditions. Users complained that the quadrant sight was ****e to snagging in brush, and worse, that the sight was difficult to use with any accuracy. Also listed as snag ****e were the extended trigger and trigger bar. These could be bent or broken simply by opening or closing the rifle's receiver during/after fieldstripping. The separate cocking lever was quite unpopular due to the 30lb (~14kg) force required to **** the weapon. Within a few months, units with the XM148 were clamoring to have their M79 reissued. This is significant as most M79 users were only issued a M1911A1 pistol as backup for their grenade launcher.

In July of '67, the Army briefed representatives from private industry concerning what was to be later titled the Grenade Launcher Attachment Development (GLAD) Program. This briefing was intended to solicit interest in the development of alternative grenade launchers to the XM148. Out of 17 companies, only seven expressed interest. Only three out of the seven firms were awarded GLAD contracts: Philco-Ford, Aero Jet General, and the AAI Corporation. Each of the contract winners offered a different approach. Aero Jet submitted a bulky SPIW-type semi-automatic launcher. Philco-Ford offered a single shot launcher with a barrel that swung open to either side. AAI's single shot prototype was a forward opening, pump action design. Significant by its absence in the contract award was Colt, who had by this point delivered 27,400 XM148. Colt attempted to offer a new design, the CGL-5, for free, but was turned down.

By August of '68, AAI's prototype won out and was later type-classified as the XM203. In December '68, authorization was given for 600 XM203 to be assembled and sent to Vietnam for extended testing. The great irony was that after AAI completed this 600-launcher order, all further production contracts for M203 were awarded to Colt.

[thatguy96]

Whoops, I had forgotten AAI developed the M203. Wasn't Colt's CGL-5 turned down because it retained some of the same issues as the XM148, primarily some of the main component parts being extremely fragile?

[D.E. Watters]

Whoops, I had forgotten AAI developed the M203. Wasn't Colt's CGL-5 turned down because it retained some of the same issues as the XM148, primarily some of the main component parts being extremely fragile?

The CGL-5 certainly looked like the CGL-4, but I don't know if the issues were the same. The two designs are each patented, and the designers are different.

CGL-4 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F3279114)

CGL-5 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F3507067)

Note: You'll need to click on "Images" to see the patents. You'll also need some sort of program like Apple Quicktime, which can view a .tiff file.

[Javehn]

Another question :
Do someone know /have any photos of using the combo of M-79/M16 (fitting the existing M-79 launcher underbarrel for M16) ?

[BadKarma26]

My dad has a SEAL friend who claimed that he invented the 203. I think he says it more as a joke though haha.

[eggroll]

Another question :
Do someone know /have any photos of using the combo of M-79/M16 (fitting the existing M-79 launcher underbarrel for M16) ?


yeah I would like to see that :roll:

[Javehn]

Another question :
Do someone know /have any photos of using the combo of M-79/M16 (fitting the existing M-79 launcher underbarrel for M16) ?


yeah I would like to see that :roll:

Why ? I suppose there aren't pictures of this on the net , but as I've read several soldiers in Vietnam have fitted sawed off M-79 under their rifles with scotch tape .

[eggroll]

yeah OK.. scotch tape you say... sure they werent drinking scotch.

there were examples of cutdown 79 tubes and stocks to facilitate easier carry (lighter weight... more rounds) and manipulation under stress, but never had I heard, seen or recall ANY mention of M79s being MATED under an M16 handguard assembly.

EGG

[perdurabo]

Howdy . I am making a little essay about world underbarrel grenade launchers (like M203 and north :) ) . What is now interests me , is the history of that invention .

1)Who first felt the nead for it , and why .
2)hat was used before (that one I know more or less , barrel launched grenades , like the M7 (? or M9 ?) used in ww2 at Garand rifle .
3) What is the first underbarrel grenade launcher ever made .

And last , not so historical question . What "exotic" underbarrel launchers do you familiar with ?

Thanks . I hope there would be at list one reply :roll: :lol: (REMOV , I am counting on you ) .
if you are writing about UGLs from whole world check polish Pallad system (it has UGL and selfstanding version) one of the first UGLs out there and first in commie block