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Ordnance Notes -- by Bob Stoner GMCM(SW) Ret.
M-79 40mm Grenade Launcher
The M-79 grenade launcher
was a very handy firearm as shown in the
hands of a Navy PRB crewman during the Viet Nam War. The M-79 had a very
simple break-open action. The launcher would set itself to SAFE whenever
the breech was opened. The trigger guard could be folded to the right or
left for use with mittens in cold weather. Because the grenade's trajectory
was so high, the M-79 was easily recognized by its long folding leaf sight,
short barrel, and distinctively-shaped stock. Photo: US Navy
The M-79 is a break-action, single-shot,
air-cooled, 40mm grenade launcher. It is a shoulder weapon designed to bridge
the gap between the infantry's thrown hand grenade and supporting mortars (50
to 330 meters). The M-79 effectively replaced the rifle grenade which had filled
this role since the middle of World War 1. The M-79 entered service with the
U.S. Army in 1961.
Early 40mm HE grenades could arm
in as little as 5 meters (15 feet). This was found to give insufficient protection
for jungle fighting. A later 40mm HE grenade extended the arming distance to
15 meters (45 feet). Muzzle velocity of the grenade is 75 meters/second (246
feet/second). The HE grenade has a kill radius of 5 meters (45 feet) and a wounding
radius of 15 eters (50 feet). The HE grenade contains approximately 300 fragments.
Ammunition for the M-79 is high explosive
(HE), high explosive-dual purpose (HEDP), target practice (TP), riot gas (CS),
APERS (flechette or 00 buckshot), smoke streamers, star clusters, and parachute
flares.
The M-79 has been replaced by the
M-203 launcher that attaches to the M-16 rifle or M-4 carbine in SEAL teams.
TECHNICAL DATA. Caliber -- 40mm.
Length -- 29 inches. Weight -- 6.6 pounds. Barrel length -- 14 inches. Maximum
range -- 400 meters (440 yards).
R-1
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© 2002 Bob Stoner
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