Mk 19 grenade launcher

Mk 19 Grenade Launcher

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Mk 19 grenade launcher

The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a belt-fed

Belt (firearm)

A belt is a device that holds cartridge adjacent to each other in a single row for feeding into a firearm, typically a machine gun. The belt itself only serves to link the cartridges together so that they may be fired in a uniform manner; it does not perform the feeding of the firearm....
automatic

Automatic firearm

An automatic firearm is a firearm that fires, automatically extracts the used Cartridge case from the barrel and ejects it, then loads a new case into the barrel; generally by harnessing the recoil of the cartridge's explosion....
40 mm grenade launcher

Grenade launcher

A grenade launcher is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War

Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state of conflict, tension and competition that existed between a number of world powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, France, United Kingdom and those countries' respective allies from the mid-1940s to the early 1990s....
, first seeing action during the Vietnam War

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina Wars, the Vietnam Conflict, or often in Vietnam the American War occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from 1959 to April 30, 1975....
and remaining in service today.

Mk 19 is belt fed, blowback operated, air cooled, crew served, fully automatic weapon that is designed not to cook off.

The Mk 19 fires 40 mm grenade

40 mm grenade

The 40 mm grenade is a military grenade caliber for grenade launchers in service with many armed forces. There are two main types in service: the 40x46mm, which is a low-velocity round used in hand-held grenade launchers; and the more powerful 40x53mm, used in heavier, mounted and crew-served weapons....
s 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).

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Overview

The Mk 19 is belt fed, blowback operated, air cooled, crew served, fully automatic weapon that is designed not to cook off.

The Mk 19 fires 40 mm grenade

40 mm grenade

Blowback (arms)

Blowback is an operating system for Semi-automatic firearm firearms that uses the pressure created by combustion in the cartridge case and bore....
principle, which uses the chamber pressure from each fired round to load and re-cock the weapon. The Mk 19 is able to lob 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 75 meters during training. In addition, the Mk 19's flash suppressor

Flash suppressor

A flash suppressor, also known as a flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, or flash cone, is a device attached to the muzzle of a rifle or other gun that directs the hot gases as they leave the barrel....
and its lack of smoke during firing makes it difficult for enemies to spot and counter it. For night operation, an AN/TVS-5 night vision

Night vision

Night vision is the ability to see in a dark environment. Whether by biological or technological means, night vision is made possible by a combination of two approaches: sufficient spectral range, and sufficient intensity range....
sight can be fitted.

The 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 77.6 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 steel with a direct hit (0 Degree Obliquity), which means it can penetrate most infantry fighting vehicle

Infantry fighting vehicle

An infantry fighting vehicle is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them....
s and armored personnel carriers. It is especially effective when used against enemy

Enemy

Enemy or Enemies may refer to:Television* Enemies * Enemies * Enemies *...
infantry

Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
formations. The ammunition comes in 32 or 48 round cans weighing 42 and 60 lb (20 and 30 kg),respectively. Due to its low recoil

Recoil

Recoil, in common everyday language, is considered the backward kick or force produced by a gun when it is fired. In more precise scientific terms, this force is equal to the time derivative of the backward momentum resulting when a gun is fired....
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

AAV

AAV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Adeno-Associated Virus, a harmless virus that depends on the adenovirus to replicate; a popular gene therapy tool...
and Stryker

Stryker

The IAV Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled all wheel drive armored combat vehicles produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in use by the United States Army....
, 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

M203 grenade launcher

The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade grenade launcher that attaches to a number of popular assault rifles, but was originally designed for the U.S....
(40x46mm). The M203 grenades are technically "low-velocity" grenades, and are generally of the standard High Explosive variety, whereas the Mk 19 utilizes "high-velocity" at 790 fps High Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) variety. The Mk 19 utilizes an open bolt

Open bolt

A Semi-automatic firearm or Automatic firearm firearm is said to fire from an open bolt if, when ready to fire, the Bolt and working parts are held to the rear....
principle. 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

General Dynamics

General Dynamics Corporation is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world....
).

Service

It was originally fielded by the U.S. Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
in Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by People's Republic of China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east....
for river patrol boat

Patrol boat

A patrol boat is a small naval ship generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuary or river environments....
s, but was adopted and improved upon by the U.S. Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
. The Israeli Defence Forces also adopted the weapon, fielding it in infantry and mechanized units. Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the ?resund Bridge in the south....
made the Mk 19 under license as the Grksp 40 mm grenade launcher. Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan is an island in East Asia. "Taiwan" is also commonly used to refer to the country governed by the Republic of China and to the ROC itself, which governs the island of Taiwan, Orchid Island and Green Island, Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean off the Taiwan coast, the Penghu islands in the Taiwan Strait, and Kinmen and the Matsu Islands...
has this made under license as the Type 83 made by the Combined Service Forces.

The Mk 19 has been used by American

United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
forces in Somalia (1993) and in Iraq (1991) by special forces

Special forces

Special Forces , also known as, Special Operation Forces is a generic term for highly-trained military teams/units that conduct specialized Military operation such as reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and counter-terrorism actions....
operating behind enemy lines. It is currently in widespread use in the U.S. Military.

Polish Army bought some number of Mk 19 grenade launcher for their armed forces - used mostly in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Afghanistan , officially the Islamic republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country that is located approximately in the center of Asia....

The Mexican Army

Mexican Army

The Mexican Army is the land branch and largest of the Military of Mexico services; it also is known as the National Defence Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle Mondrag?n in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue weapons, in 1910....
uses the Mk 19 extensively on its war

Mexican Drug War

The Mexican Drug War is an armed conflict taking place between rival drug cartels and Military of Mexicos in Mexico. The crackdown has resulted in the arrest of some high-level figures in the drug trade, but as cartels are dismantled or left without leaders, violent power struggles erupt over who will take their place....
with power drug cartels.

Users

(Argentine Marines) (Spanish Marines)

External links

- 40mm Ammunition

Mk 19 grenade launcher

Overview

Service

Users

See also

External links