Automatic grenade launcher

File:MK47 Striker closeup.jpg

Mk 47 Striker automatic grenade launcher

An automatic grenade launcher (AGL) or grenade machine gun is a grenade launcher that is capable of fully automatic fire, and is typically loaded with either an ammunition belt or magazine.

These weapons are often mounted on vehicles or helicopters, as when these weapons are moved by infantry the weapon, its tripod, and ammunition, are a heavy load, requiring a small team. Other types of grenade launchers are typically much lighter and can easily be carried by just a single soldier.

The Mark 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher, first fielded by the United States in 1966, and still widely used today, weighs 62.5 kg (137.58 lb) when attached to its tripod, and loaded with a box of ammunition. For comparison, the single-shot M79 grenade launcher weighs 2.93 kg (6.45 lb). Regardless of their weight, AGLs are still highly effective, and the Mark 19 is capable of indirect fire up to 2,200 metres, a role traditionally reserved for mortars. Even though the round carries less explosive than a 60mm mortar shell, this is thought to be counterbalanced by its much higher volume of fire.

The most popular caliber for automatic grenade launchers in Western nations has been 40mm. The Soviet Union successfully fielded a 30mm grenade launcher, the AGS-17, during its war in Afghanistan. In 2002, Russia introduced a successor weapon, the AGS-30, and in 2017, the AGS-40 Balkan. Traditional munitions for automatic grenade launchers include high explosive, fragmentation, and shaped charge for attacking light armored vehicles. Less lethal rounds, like tear gas and sponge grenades for crowd control, have also been made. In the 21st century, AGLs have been made with integrated sight/range systems which can set a fused round to detonate precisely on, above, or behind a designated target.

Different weapons use different methods of operation, with blowback and long recoil being two common choices. In all these weapons, the energy released by firing a round loads the next round into the weapon's breech. The Mark 19 is automatically reloaded through the blowback method, where expanding gases blow back the firing bolt.

In the long recoil method the bolt is fixed to the firing chamber, and the whole firing chamber is blown back. These weapons are slightly less accurate, but weigh less than blowback weapons. General Dynamics manufactures a long recoil weapon, the Mark 47 Automatic Grenade Launcher, as does the Spanish firm Santa Bárbara. The LAG-40 manufactured by Santa Bárbara has a relatively low rate of fire of 215 rounds per minute.

Comparison

Name	Country	Year	Image	Caliber	Effective Range	Muzzle velocity	Rate of fire, rpm	Approx. weight	Feed, rounds	Sights
Mk 19 Mod 3	United States	1966	File:MK19-02.jpg	40×53mm	1,500 m (4,900 ft)	241 m/s (790 ft/s)	325‑375	35.2 kg (78 lb)	Belt, 32, 48	Night vision
AGS-17	Soviet Union	1967	File:30-мм автоматический гранатомет АГС-17 Пламя.jpg	30×29mm grenade	1,700 m (5,600 ft)	185 m/s (610 ft/s)	400	31 kg (68 lb)	Belt, 29	Optical (requires optional mount)
Mk 47 Striker	United States	2005	File:201012-F-HV022-1123 - JSSD-K range day builds relationships, promotes readiness (Image 1 of 10).jpg	40x53mm	1,700 m (5,600 ft)	—	225‑300	18 kg (40 lb)	Belt, 32, 48	FCS, Thermal
HK GMG	Germany	1992	File:HK GMW.jpg	40x53mm	1,500 m (4,900 ft)	241 m/s (790 ft/s)	340	29 kg (64 lb)	Belt, 32	Reflex, "Various"
SB-40 LAG	Spain	1984	File:LAG-40 I.M.-1.JPG	40x53mm	1,500 m (4,900 ft)	240 m/s (790 ft/s)	215	34 kg (75 lb)	Belt, 24, 32	Night vision
STK 40 AGL	Singapore	1986	File:SLA MIR weapons.JPG	40x53mm	1,500 m (4,900 ft)	242 m/s (790 ft/s)	350‑500	33 kg	Belt, 32	Reflex, FCS, Thermal
Daewoo K4	South Korea	1985	File:K-4 Auto Grenade Launcher.jpg	40x53mm	1,500 m (4,900 ft)	241 m/s (790 ft/s)	325-375	34.4 kg (76 lb)	Belt, 24, 48	KAN/TVS-5 night vision scope can be attached
Howa Type 96	Japan	1996	File:Type96 40mm Automatic Grenad Gun.JPG	40x56mm	1,500 m (4,900 ft)	242 m/s (790 ft/s)	250‑350	24.5 kg (54 lb)	Belt, 50	Ladder sights
Denel Y3 AGL	South Africa	1992	File:Y3 AGL.JPG	40x53mm	2,176 m (7,100 ft)	242 m/s (790 ft/s)	280‑320	32 kg (71 lb)	Belt, 20	Optical, Indirect electronic sight
UAG-40	Ukraine	2016	File:UAG-40, Kyiv 2018, 19.jpg	40x53mm	2,200 m (7,200 ft)	240 m/s (790 ft/s)	400	31 kg (68 lb)	Belt, 32	Optical, Infrared, Photo‑Visual, Electronic
AGA-40 Md.85	Romania	1985	File:AGA‑40 Md.85 grenade launcher.jpg	40x74.5mm	1,400 m (4,600 ft)	216 m/s (710 ft/s)	380‑450	33 kg (73 lb)	Mag., 10	Ladder sights
AGS‑30 Atlant	Russia	1990	File:AGS-30 maks2009.jpg	30x29mm	2,100 m (6,900 ft)	185 m/s (610 ft/s)	400	17.5 kg (39 lb)	Belt, 29	Optical, Day‑Night, Radar sight
AGS‑40 Balkan	Russia	2017	File:AGS-40 grenade launcher - Oboronexpo2014part4-46.jpg	40x53mm (caseless)	2,500 m (8,200 ft)	225 m/s (740 ft/s)	400	32 kg (71 lb)	Belt, 20	Optical
QLZ-87	China	1987	File:Type 87 Grenade Launcher.jpg	35x32mm	1,700 m (5,600 ft)	200 m/s (660 ft/s)	500	12 kg (26 lb)/20 kg (44 lb)	Mag., 6, 9, 12, 15	Optical
QLZ-04	China	2004	File:QLZ-04-1.png	35x32mm	1,750 m (5,740 ft)	200 m/s (660 ft/s)	350-400	20 kg (44 lb)	Belt, 30	Optical
RDS40-AGL	Turkey	2022		40x53mm	2,000 m (6,600 ft)	240 m/s (790 ft/s)	300-375	35 kg (77 lb)	Belt, 32,48

Ammunition

	40×74.5mm		30×29mm		40mm "Balkan"	35×32mm
	HE	HEAT	VOG-30	GPD-30	7P39	HE	HEAT
Max. range	1,550 m (5,090 ft)		1,700 m (5,600 ft)	2,100 m (6,900 ft)	2,500 m (8,200 ft)	1,750 m (5,740 ft)
Muzzle velocity	223 m/s (730 ft/s)		185 m/s (610 ft/s)		—	200 m/s (660 ft/s)
Weight	490 g (1.08 lb)		348 g (0.767 lb)	340 g (0.75 lb)	430 g (0.95 lb)	—	—
Shell weight	260 g (0.57 lb)		275 g (0.606 lb)		—	—	—
Filling	—	—	47 g (1.7 oz)	—	90 g (3.2 oz)	—	—
Kill radius/area	10 m (33 ft)	—	90 m2 (970 sq ft)	120 m2 (1,300 sq ft)	—	—	—
Penetration	—	50 mm (2.0 in)	—	—	—	—	80 mm (3.1 in)

See also

• List of grenade launchers
• Taubina AG-2 Grenade Launcher, a Soviet prototype automatic grenade launcher from Interbellum period.
• Vasilyek