Automatic grenade launcher

Template:Short description 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	Template:Flagcountry	1966	File:MK19-02.jpg	40×53mm			325‑375		Belt, 32, 48	Night vision
AGS-17	Soviet Union	1967	File:30-мм автоматический гранатомет АГС-17 Пламя.jpg	30×29mm grenade			400		Belt, 29	Optical (requires optional mount)
Mk 47 Striker	Template:Flagcountry	2005	File:201012-F-HV022-1123 - JSSD-K range day builds relationships, promotes readiness (Image 1 of 10).jpg	40x53mm		—	225‑300		Belt, 32, 48	FCS, Thermal
HK GMG	Germany	1992	File:HK GMW.jpg	40x53mm			340		Belt, 32	Reflex, "Various"
SB-40 LAG	Spain	1984	File:LAG-40 I.M.-1.JPG	40x53mm			215		Belt, 24, 32	Night vision
STK 40 AGL	Singapore	1986	File:SLA MIR weapons.JPG	40x53mm			350‑500	33 kg	Belt, 32	Reflex, FCS, Thermal
Daewoo K4	South Korea	1985	File:K-4 Auto Grenade Launcher.jpg	40x53mm			325-375		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			250‑350		Belt, 50	Ladder sights
Denel Y3 AGL	South Africa	1992	File:Y3 AGL.JPG	40x53mm	2,176 m (7,100 ft)		280‑320		Belt, 20	Optical, Indirect electronic sight
UAG-40	Ukraine	2016	File:UAG-40, Kyiv 2018, 19.jpg	40x53mm			400		Belt, 32	Optical, Infrared, Photo‑Visual, Electronic
AGA-40 Md.85	Romania	1985	File:AGA‑40 Md.85 grenade launcher.jpg	40x74.5mm			380‑450		Mag., 10	Ladder sights
AGS‑30 Atlant	Russia	1990	File:AGS-30 maks2009.jpg	30x29mm			400		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)		400		Belt, 20	Optical
QLZ-87	China	1987	File:Type 87 Grenade Launcher.jpg	35x32mm			500	/	Mag., 6, 9, 12, 15	Optical
QLZ-04	China	2004	File:QLZ-04-1.png	35x32mm			350-400		Belt, 30	Optical
RDS40-AGL	Turkey	2022		40x53mm			300-375		Belt, 32,48

Ammunition

	40×74.5mm		30×29mm		40mm "Balkan"	35×32mm
	HE	HEAT	VOG-30	GPD-30	7P39	HE	HEAT
Max. range
Muzzle velocity					—
Weight						—	—
Shell weight					—	—	—
Filling	—	—		—		—	—
Kill radius/area		—			—	—	—
Penetration	—		—	—	—	—

See also

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