AUTOMATIC GRENADE LAUNCHERS FIREPOWER NOW!
Carlton Meyer
AUTOMATIC GRENADE GUN
The single-shot M79 40mm grenade launcher was popular in Vietnam. It was discontinued in favor of a grenade launching attachment on the M-16, called the M203. (See photo above) This combination has advantages, but the M203 is awkward to aim and its range is limited to 150 meters with direct fire, and 400 meters indirect. At the SEAL Team Raid on Punta Paitilla Airport in Panama, its inadequacies were revealed resulting in 4 dead and 8 wounded.
It should be simple to enlarge a 12-gauge automatic shotgun design to accommodate 40mm rounds. Instead of seven shotgun rounds in a tubular magazine, it would hold four 40mm rounds. A heavier and longer barrel could double its range over the M203. The Marine Corps has developed the EX-41, a four-shot 40mm pump action gun which can fire rounds 1500 meters. The longer range and automatic grenade fire have obvious advantages. The Chinese Communists have already fielded the man portable W-87 30mm auto-grenade gun. Since the gunner would not have to lower the weapon to reload each time, he could visually adjust his fire until he scores a direct hit. The longer range also allows smoke rounds to mark targets for Close-Air Supporting (CAS) aircraft.
This 40mm "shotgun" would become the preferred infantry weapon in close combat often found in urban, forested, and jungle environments. Firing four consecutive 40mm canister/shotgun rounds could blast the enemy, making it a favorite for movie producers. In addition, regular 40mm grenades could easily be fired into windows during urban operations.
This weapon would be an ideal close-in anti-armor weapon by using M430 40mm HEDP rounds which can penetrate armor up to two inches thick. Light armored vehicles would become heavy coffins. These rounds could also blow tracks off of tanks and punch holes in thin rear armor. They could penetrate thin overhead armor if the gunner can position himself for a downward shot, or manages to "walk" his rounds onto a tank with indirect fire. These rounds could also blast open doors, which is always a problem in urban fighting.
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E-mail May 1998