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Mk 19 grenade launcher
MK19-02
A Mk 19 40mm grenade launcher mounted on an M3 tripod.
Type Automatic grenade launcher
Place of origin Flag of the United States 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[]

Richard Castanet fires Mark-19 in Quantico September 2000

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 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.

US Navy 030317-D-3645W-057 U.S

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

File:US Navy 050627-N-9866B-021 A Marine assigned to the 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion based at Camp Pendelton, Calif. mans the turrets of his amphibian assault vehicle (AAV).jpg

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

Granatnik Mk

Mk 19 in use by Polish Land Forces.

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).

Mexican troops operating in a random checkpoint 2009

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

40 mm Mk 19 Marine Turret

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.[4] Users of the Mk 19 include:

See also[]

References[]

  1. 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. 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. 
  3. "Weapons: Mk19 Gets A Brain". Strategypage.com. 2011-03-30. http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20110330.aspx. Retrieved 2012-11-24. 
  4. [1][dead link]
  5. Armada Argentina - official site
  6. 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.
  7. "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. 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. 
  9. "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. 
  10. 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. 
  11. "Pakistan Army". http://www.defence.pk/pakistan-army/. 
  12. Janq Designs. "Special Operations.Com". Special Operations.Com. http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Sweden/default.html. Retrieved 2012-11-24. 
  13. Henrik Svensk. "Granatspruta 40mm Grsp". Soldf.com. http://www.soldf.com/grsp.html. Retrieved 2012-11-24. 
  14. "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[]



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The original article can be found at Mk 19 grenade launcher and the edit history here.
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