Mk 19 grenade launcher | |
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A Mk 19 40mm grenade launcher mounted on an M3 tripod. | |
Type | Automatic grenade launcher |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1968–present |
Used by | See Users |
Wars |
Vietnam War Persian Gulf War[1] War in Afghanistan Iraq War 2006 Lebanon War Turkey-PKK conflict[2] Mexican Drug War |
Production history | |
Designer | Naval Ordnance Center - Louisville |
Designed | 1960s |
Manufacturer | Saco Defense Industries (now a division of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products), Combined Service Forces |
Unit cost | $20,000[3] |
Produced | 1968–present |
Variants | Mk 19 Mod 0, Mk 19 Mod 1, Mk 19 Mod 2, Mk 19 Mod 3 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 30.7 kilograms (68 lb) (empty, without accessores) |
Length | 1,090 millimetres (43.1 in) |
Barrel length | 413 millimetres (16.25 in) |
Width | 240.4 millimetres (9.46 in) |
Height | 199 millimetres (7.8 in) |
| |
Cartridge | 40×53mm |
Action | Blowback (Advanced Primer Ignition) |
Rate of fire | 325–375 rpm (cyclic) |
Muzzle velocity | 240 metres per second (790 ft/s) (average) |
Effective firing range | 1,400 metres (1,500 yd) |
Maximum firing range | 2,023 metres (2,212 yd) |
Feed system | 32 or 48 grenades belt |
The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is an American 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service to the present day.
Overview[]
The Mk 19 is a belt fed, blowback operated, air cooled, crew served, fully automatic weapon that is designed not to cook off. It fires 40mm grenades at a cyclic rate of 325 to 375 rounds per minute, giving a practical rate of fire of 60 rounds per minute (rapid) and 40 rounds per minute (sustained). The weapon operates on the blowback principle, which uses the chamber pressure from each fired round to load and re-cock the weapon. The Mk 19 can launch its grenade at a maximum distance of 2,212 meters, though its effective range to a point target is about 1,500 meters, since the large rear leaf sight is only graduated to 1,500 meters. The nearest safe distance to launch the grenade is 310 meters in training and 75 meters in combat. Though the Mk 19 has a flash suppressor, it serves only to save the eyesight of its operator; it does not conceal the weapon's position. For night, operation, an AN/TVS-5 night vision sight can be fitted.
The Mk 19A man-portable crew-served weapon that can fire from a tripod mounted position or from a vehicle mount, with the latter being the preferred method as the weapon alone weighs 32.9 kilograms (72.5 lb). The primary ammunition for is the high-explosive dual-purpose M430 grenade. On impact, the grenade can kill anyone within the radius of five meters, and wound them within the radius of 15 meters. It can also punch through 5.1 centimetres (2 in) of rolled homogeneous armor with a direct hit (0 Degree Obliquity), which means it can penetrate most infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. It is especially effective when used against enemy infantry formations. The ammunition comes in cans that hold a 32 or 48 grenades belt weighing 19 and 27 kilograms (42 and 60 lb), respectively. Due to its low recoil and comparatively light weight, it has been adapted for use on many different platforms, including small attack boats, fast attack vehicles such as the Humvee (HMMWV), AAV and Stryker, military jeeps and a large variety of naval mounts.
The Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher replaced the earlier Mk 18 hand-cranked multiple grenade launcher. The 40 mm ammunition used (40x53mm) is not interchangeable with that used in the M203 (40x46mm). The M203 ammunition develops a lower chamber pressure, and resultant lower muzzle velocity and range, compared to ammunition loaded for the Mk-19. The Mk 19 fires from an open bolt. The rounds are mechanically fed onto the bolt face with the pull of the charging handles. When the trigger is pressed, the bolt closes, and the firing pin is released. The recoil blows back the bolt, feeds a new round onto the bolt face, which pushes the expended casing off the bolt face.
Production of the Mk 19 is managed by Saco Defense Industries (now a division of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products).
Users[]
GDATP has built nearly 35,000 Mk 19 Mod 3 systems for roughly 30 customers since 1984.[4] Users of the Mk 19 include:
- Argentina Argentine Marines.[5]
- Australia[6]
- Bangladesh[7]
- Brazil[citation needed]
- Djibouti[citation needed]
- Egypt: Manufactured locally.[8]
- Greece[9]
- Iran[citation needed]
- Israel:[6] Adopted by the Israeli Defence Forces (under the name "Maklar," for mikla rimonim or "grenade machinegun"), to be fielded in infantry and mechanized units. The Mk 19 was formerly manufactured locally.[8]
- Lebanon[10]
- Malaysia[6]
- Mexico:[6] Used extensively by the army in the Mexican drug war.
- Pakistan: Used by the Pakistan Army.[11]
- Philippines[citation needed]
- Poland: Most are in use by Polish Troops in Afghanistan.[citation needed]
- Spain[6]
- Sweden: Designated Grsp 92.[6] Used by Kustjägarna and Amfibiebataljonen[12] and also by the 31st Airborne Battalion (Luftburna bataljonen) [13]
- Taiwan[1]
- Thailand[citation needed]
- Turkey: Turkish Army and Turkish Special Forces [2][14]
- United States: United States:[6] Currently in widespread use throughout the U.S. Armed Forces
See also[]
- XM174 grenade launcher - predecessor used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War
- Mk 47 Mod 0 Striker - U.S. military successor in limited service
- List of automatic grenade launchers
- AGS-17 similar weapon
- Comparison of automatic grenade launchers
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry - World Policy Institute - Research Project". World Policy Institute. November 2000. http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/smallarms.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Milliyet - Özel birlikler Kato'yu PKK'ya dar etti". Gundem.milliyet.com.tr. http://gundem.milliyet.com.tr/ozel-birlikler-kato-yu-pkk-ya-dar-etti/gundem/gundemdetay/10.09.2012/1594102/default.htm. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ↑ "Weapons: Mk19 Gets A Brain". Strategypage.com. 2011-03-30. http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20110330.aspx. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ↑ [1][dead link]
- ↑ Armada Argentina - official site
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ↑ "Bangladesh Navy Special Warfare Diving And Salvage (SWADS)". Bdmilitary.com. http://www.bdmilitary.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=324&Itemid=138. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "A new generation of AGLs". Thefreelibrary.com. 2002-04-01. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+new+generation+of+AGLs%3A+within+only+a+few+decades+the+Automatic...-a086195789. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ↑ "Greece Land Forces". Armyrecognition.com. http://www.armyrecognition.com/greece_hellenic_greek_army_military_equipment_uk/greece_hellenic_greek_army_land_ground_forces_military_equipment_armoured_vehicle_weapons_informati.html. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ↑ Miles, Donna (April 8, 2009). "Gates, Lebanese Defense Minister Explore Expanding Bilateral Relationship". American Forces Press Service - DefenseLink News. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53846. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ↑ "Pakistan Army". http://www.defence.pk/pakistan-army/.
- ↑ Janq Designs. "Special Operations.Com". Special Operations.Com. http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Sweden/default.html. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ↑ Henrik Svensk. "Granatspruta 40mm Grsp". Soldf.com. http://www.soldf.com/grsp.html. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ↑ "Mehmetçik Bu Silahı İlk Kez Kullandı | İzle | Haberler | Milliyet.tv". Video.milliyet.com.tr. http://video.milliyet.com.tr/video-izle/Mehmetcik-Bu-Silahi-Ilk-Kez-Kullandi-LH4VGXC0fe05.html. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mk 19 grenade launcher. |
- Scribd - US Army field manual, 2003.
- General Dynamics
- MK19 MOD 3 40mm Machine Gun - Global Security
- 40mm grenades - Global Security
- M430 40mm Cartridge High-explosive dual purpose (HEDP) round specs
- Martin Electronics, Inc. Home Page - 40 mm Ammunition
- http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3563132.html
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