Mk 19 grenade launcher

Mk 19 grenade launcher
A Mk 19 40mm grenade launcher mounted on an M3 tripod.
Type	Automatic grenade launcher
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	1968–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Vietnam War Persian Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War 2006 Lebanon War Turkey-PKK conflict 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
Produced	1968–present
Variants	Mk 19 Mod 0, Mk 19 Mod 1, Mk 19 Mod 2, Mk 19 Mod 3
Specifications
Weight	72.5 pounds (32.9 kg)
Length	43.1 inches (1,090 mm)
Barrel length	16.25 inches (413 mm)
Width	13.4 inches (340 mm)
Cartridge	40×53mm
Action	Blowback (Advanced Primer Ignition)
Rate of fire	325–375 rpm (cyclic)
Effective range	1,500 yards (1,400 m)
Maximum range	2,212 yards (2,023 m)
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

A U.S. Marine fires a Mk 19 40mm grenade launcher in Quantico, Virginia in September 2000.

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 is able to launch its grenade at a maximum distance of 2,212 meters, though its effective range for 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.

U.S. Navy sailors fire a Mk 19 40mm grenade launcher during a training exercise in March 2003.

A Mk 19 mounted on an Amphibious Assault Vehicle's Cadillac Gage turret in June 2005.

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 72.5 pounds (32.9 kg). 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 2 inches (5.1 cm) 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 42 pounds (19 kg) and 60 pounds (27 kg), 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).

A Mexican Army Chevrolet Silverado equipped with a Mk 19 at a military checkpoint in March 2009.

A U.S. Marine fires a Humvee turret-mounted Mk 19 in June 2006.

Users

GDATP has built nearly 35,000 Mk 19 Mod 3 systems for roughly 30 customers since 1984. Users of the Mk 19 include:

• Argentina Argentine Marines.
• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Djibouti^{[citation needed]}
• Egypt: Manufactured locally.
• Greece
• Iran^{[citation needed]}
• Israel: 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.
• Lebanon
• Malaysia
• Mexico: Used extensively by the army in the Mexican drug war.
• Pakistan: Used by the Pakistan Army.
• Philippines^{[citation needed]}
• Poland^{[citation needed]}
• Spain
• Sweden: Designated Grsp 92. Used by Kustjägarna and Amfibiebataljonen and also by the 31st Airborne Battalion (Luftburna bataljonen)
• Taiwan
• Thailand^{[citation needed]}
• Turkey: Turkish Army and Turkish Special Forces
• United States of America: 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

External links

• 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