- Mk 19 grenade launcher
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Mk 19 grenade launcher 
Mk 19 on an M3 tripod.Type Automatic grenade launcher Place of origin 
United StatesService history Used by See Users Wars Vietnam War
2006 Lebanon War
Gulf War[1]
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring FreedomProduction 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[2] 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 Belt The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.
Contents
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 40 mm 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.
Mk 19 40 mm grenade launcher during MIL-EX 2003.
Amphibious Assault Vehicle armamentThe Mk 19 is a man-portable crew-served weapon that can fire from a tripod mounted position or from a vehicle mount (this being the preferred method as the weapon alone weighs 72.5 lbs). The primary ammunition for Mk 19 is the high explosive dual-purpose M430 grenade. Upon 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 two inches 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 32 or 48 round cans weighing 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.
The Mk 19 is made 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.[3] Users of the Mk 19 include:
Mexican Army Silverado armed with a Mk 19 at an Army checkpoint.
A U.S. Marine firing a turret-mounted Mk 19 on a humvee.
Australia[4]
Egypt: Manufactured locally.[5]
Greece[6]
Israel:[4] 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.[5]
Lebanon[7]
Malaysia[4]
Mexico:[4] Used extensively by the army in the Mexican drug war.
South Korea: Daewoo K4.[4] Manufactured locally by S&T Daewoo.[5]
Spain[4]
Sweden: Designated Grsp 92.[4] Used by Kustjägarna.[8]
Taiwan[1]- United States:[4] Currently in widespread use in the U.S. Military.
See also
- XM174 grenade launcher - predecessor used by the US military during the Vietnam War
- Mk 47 Mod 0 Striker - US military successor in limited service
- List of automatic grenade launchers
References
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20110330.aspx
- ^ http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/upload/200711272151281.pdf
- ^ a b c d e f g h Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ^ a b c http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+new+generation+of+AGLs%3A+within+only+a+few+decades+the+Automatic...-a086195789
- ^ 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Sweden/default.html
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
Current U.S. infantry weapons and cartridgesHandguns Rifles Shotguns Submachine guns Machine guns Grenade launchers Mortars Rockets Missiles Cartridges 12-gauge · 9×19mm NATO · .45 ACP · 5.56×45mm NATO · 7.62×51mm NATO · .300 Winchester Magnum · .50 BMG · 40×46mm & 40×53mmCategories:- Automatic grenade launchers
- Automatic cannons
- Machine guns of the United States
- Infantry weapons of Australia in active service
- Weapons of the Vietnam War
- 40 mm artillery
- United States Marine Corps equipment
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