View source for M79 Grenade Launcher

Also known as the 'Wombat gun' by [[Australia]]ns, 'Thump gun' or 'Blooper' by the [[Yanks]]. This was first used in [[Vietnam]], Then the Falklands for blasting off [[Argentina|Argies]] heads off and Gulf War 2.

This was to be totally replaced by the underbarrel M203 but is still used today in some purposes.

The interesting thing about this [[weapon]] is not so much the weapon itself, it being fundamentally a 40 mm break open single barrel shotgun, but the [[ammunition]].

If the ammunition had used a simple cartridge case, it would not be possible to fire the projectile from such a light weapon, since the breech pressure and muzzle velocity would be insane with normal powders.  An extremely slow powder designed to keep the breech pressure down would neither ignite properly nor burn properly, so this was not an option.

The solution was extremely clever: a small charge of conventional powder is held in a small inner compartment of closed cylindrical form adjacent to the primer. This connects to the main body of the cartridge case with a series of bleed holes. The peak pressure is retained by the inner compartment, and the gas that enters the main body of the cartridge case does so at a much lower, more manageable pressure.  This enables a lightweight shoulder fired weapon to fire 40 mm ammunition at a leisurely velocity.

Not to forget the China Lake NATIC, A pump-action variant based on the M79 designed to be used by the US Navy SEALs but got turned down?.

http://hccweb1.bai.ne.jp/konekone/wswu/Uthin/chai%202.jpg



[[Category:Weapons]]