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40 mm grenade (also styled 40mm grenade) is a generic class-name for grenade launcher ammunition ( subsonic shells) in caliber. The generic name stems from the fact that several countries have developed or adopted grenade launchers in 40 mm caliber. This is a general collection of the world's many different "40 mm grenades".


NATO

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
currently uses three standardized 40 mm grenade families: 40 mm low velocity (LV), 40 mm medium velocity (MV), and 40 mm high velocity (HV). Low- and medium-velocity cartridges are used for different hand-held grenade launchers, while the high-velocity cartridge is used for
automatic grenade launchers 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 helicopter ...
.


40×46 mm LV (40 mm low velocity)

''40×46 mm LV'' (''low velocity'') is a NATO-standard high–low grenade launcher cartridge meant for hand-held grenade launchers, such as the M79,
M203 The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older stand-alone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilizes the high-low propulsion system to keep recoil forces ...
,
Milkor MGL The Milkor MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher) is a lightweight 40 mm six-shot revolver-type grenade launcher (variations also fire 37/38mm) developed and manufactured in South Africa by Milkor (Pty) Ltd. The MGL was demonstrated as a concept to the ...
, and
Heckler & Koch AG36 The AG36 is a single-shot 40 mm grenade launcher that operates on the high-low system and was designed primarily for installation on the G36 assault rifle, designed by the German weapons manufacturing company Heckler & Koch of Oberndorf am ...
. The propellant has low pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type.


40 mm low-velocity ammunition types (NATO)

Besides combat ammo there also exists crowd control ammunition like
sponge grenade A sponge grenade is a riot control weapon, intended to be non-lethal, which is fired from a 40 mm grenade launcher to cause confusion, or otherwise temporarily disable its target. As a single blunt force object, it is best used when aimed a ...
s.


40 mm low-velocity ammunition types (Sweden)

Sweden currently operates the M203 grenade launcher (designated in Sweden) and thus uses the 40 mm low-velocity
cartridge Cartridge may refer to: Objects * Cartridge (firearms), a type of modern ammunition * ROM cartridge, a removable component in an electronic device * Cartridge (respirator), a type of filter used in respirators Other uses * Cartridge (surname), a ...
. Going against Swedish military tradition, the 40 mm low-velocity cartridge currently lacks a specified indigenous designation in Swedish service. Instead only the projectile types have designations. Currently these projectile types can be found in Swedish service manuals. Mockups and inert types also exist for loading exercises and educational purposes.


40 mm low-velocity ammunition types (Romania)

Romanian arms producer
ROMARM , type = State-owned corporation , industry = Defense , successor = , foundation = , founder = , defunct = , location_city = Bucharest , location_country = Romania , coordinates = , locations = , area_served = worldwide , key_peop ...
has made a version of their 40 mm rifle-mounted grenade launcher AG-40 chambered in 40×46 mm NATO (then designated AG-40PN). Production of Romanian 40 mm low-velocity ammunition is handled by the arms factory , a subsidiary of
ROMARM , type = State-owned corporation , industry = Defense , successor = , foundation = , founder = , defunct = , location_city = Bucharest , location_country = Romania , coordinates = , locations = , area_served = worldwide , key_peop ...
. The projectiles seem to be of Romanian origin based on available information.


SAGM fuze

The
United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center The United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (CCDCAC), or Armaments Center, headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, is the US Army's primary research and development arm for armaments and munitions. ...
(ARDEC) began development of a 40 mm
smart Smart or SMART may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Smart'' (Hey! Say! JUMP album), 2014 * Smart (Hotels.com), former mascot of Hotels.com * ''Smart'' (Sleeper album), 1995 debut album by Sleeper * '' SMart'', a children's television se ...
airburst fuze ( proximity fuze) in 2011 to improve the ability of grenade launchers like the
M203 The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older stand-alone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilizes the high-low propulsion system to keep recoil forces ...
and
M320 M320 Grenade Launcher Module (GLM) is the U.S. military's designation for a new single-shot 40 mm grenade launcher system to replace the M203 for the U.S. Army, while other services initially kept using the older M203. The M320 uses the same ...
to engage targets in
defilade Enfilade and defilade are concepts in military tactics used to describe a military formation's exposure to enemy fire. A formation or position is "in enfilade" if weapon fire can be directed along its longest axis. A unit or position is "in de ...
. Called '' small arms grenade munitions'' (SAGMs), they double the lethality of the standard M433 grenade round by adding a small "smart" fuze sensor that detonates in the air to hit targets in cover or behind obstacles. The
airburst An air burst or airburst is the detonation of an explosive device such as an anti-personnel artillery shell or a nuclear weapon in the air instead of on contact with the ground or target. The principal military advantage of an air burst over ...
function is similar to the
XM25 CDTE The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) System, also known as the Punisher and Individual Semiautomatic Air Burst System was an air burst, airburst grenade launcher with programmable ammunition derived from the XM29 OICW. It was fie ...
, which has an onboard laser system to determine the distance to the target, but SAGMs are considered complementary to the XM25 rather than competing against it, as the XM25 provides low-angle fire while 40 mm launchers fire a lobbing trajectory. Integrated sensors and logic devices scan and filter the environment and then autonomously airburst the fuze without needing to be told to by the firer, thereby not requiring the soldier to carry extra weapon accessories. SAGMs enable soldiers to accurately incapacitate personnel targets in defilade at ranges between 50 and 500 meters. The round is engineered with three firing modes: airburst; point detonation; and self-destruct. A successful demonstration occurred in November 2013. Although the SAGM sensor does not need a laser rangefinder or any pre-fire programming sequence, it does require some skill by the user to aim and fire the round correctly so that it can detect the wall or obstruction to detonate in the air. The SAGM was to undergo evaluation in July 2015 and, if successful, transition into an official Army
Program of Record The processes of government procurement in the United States enable federal, state and local government bodies in the country to acquire goods, services (including construction), and interests in real property. In fiscal year 2019, the US Feder ...
by the end of the year. Not only does the fuze burst over walls, but it can detonate when passing cover like trees, bursting just as it senses and passes the trunk. The sort of sensor SAGMs use to differentiate clutter from triggering obstacles is highly classified, but shows airburst reliability of 76 percent.


40×51 mm MV (40 mm medium velocity)

''40×51 mm MV'' (medium velocity), also known as ''40×51 mm extended range low pressure'' (ERLP), is a NATO-standard high–low grenade launcher cartridge meant for hand-held
grenade launchers A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires a specially-designed large-caliber projectile, often with an explosive, smoke or gas warhead. Today, the term generally refers to a class of dedicated firearms firing unitary grenade cartridges. The m ...
. Its purpose is to be an intermediate cartridge between the 40×46 mm low-velocity and 40×53 mm high-velocity cartridges and is thus referred to as 40 mm medium velocity. The propellant has medium pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type. It has a maximum range of 800 meters, exceeding conventional extended range low-velocity variants by up to 375 meters. The 40×51 mm MV cartridge was designed by Rheinmetall Denel Munitions for the
US Special Operations Command The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special operations component commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Arm ...
(USSOCOM) after a 2008 requirement for enhanced range and lethality from hand-held 40 mm grenades. Rheinmetall answered by developing a new family of 40 mm grenades named 40 mm medium velocity and by 2019 the cartridge was undergoing
NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
qualification. Besides NATO the cartridge has been ordered by the
South African National Defence Force The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister ...
(SANDF) as the cartridge for their next generation multiple grenade launcher, the Milkor Y4. SANDF approved acquisition in February 2018 but deliveries could not be finished until the end of 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
.


40×53 mm HV (40 mm high velocity)

''40×53 mm HV'' (''high velocity'') is a NATO-standard high–low grenade launcher cartridge meant for mounted or crew-served
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 helicopt ...
s, such as the
Mk.19 AGL The Mk 19 grenade launcher (pronounced Mark 19) is an American 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher that was first developed during the Vietnam War. Overview The Mk 19 is a belt-fed, blowback-operated, air-cooled, crew-serve ...
, Mk 47 Striker, HK GMG, STK 40 AGL, and
Daewoo K4 The Daewoo Precision Industries K4 is a 40x53mm high-speed Automatic Grenade Launcher in use with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. The K4 was developed as a complement to the K-201 hand-held grenade launcher (attachable to the K2). Histo ...
. The propellant has high pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type.


40 mm high-velocity ammunition types (NATO)


40 mm high-velocity ammunition types (Sweden)

Sweden currently operates the Mk 19 grenade launcher (designated ''40 mm granatspruta 92'' in Sweden) and thus uses the 40 mm high-velocity
cartridge Cartridge may refer to: Objects * Cartridge (firearms), a type of modern ammunition * ROM cartridge, a removable component in an electronic device * Cartridge (respirator), a type of filter used in respirators Other uses * Cartridge (surname), a ...
. Going against Swedish military tradition, the 40 mm high-velocity cartridge currently lacks a specified indigenous designation in Swedish service. Instead only the projectile types have designations. Currently these projectile types can be found in Swedish service manuals. Mockups and inert types also exist for loading exercises and educational purposes.


Green ammunition

The MK281 is a new type of 40 mm target practice grenade ammunition that has been accepted for use into the
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
and the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
. It is "green" because it is non-toxic and non-dud producing (since it is a training round), meaning that there is no unexploded ordnance left to clean up on the range and heavy metals in the fuze do not leak into the ground. The MK281 was introduced into parts of the U.S. Armed Forces because of an executive order mandating that they buy green ammunition. The MK281 is manufactured by an American subsidiary of the Rheinmetall Group. The United States Army has a requirement for a non-dud producing 40 mm training ammunition in both high- and low-velocity variants. The Army awarded four contracts to three United States companies to test designs. The resulting ammunition will not contain explosive energetics and have day and night visible, infrared, and thermal signatures.


Other


40×47 mm (Poland)

40×47 mm is a cartridge caliber produced in Poland for their Pallad wz. 74 rifle-mounted grenade launchers (used with the AK family of rifles in the Polish Army, like the AKM/AKMS, Tantal and Beryl) and Pallad-D wz. 83 grenade launcher (standalone variant fitted with standard pistol grip and folding stock from the AKMS assault rifle). The construction is similar to the one used in 40×46 mm grenades, but they are not interchangeable.


40×47 mm (Romania)

40×47 mm is a cartridge caliber produced in Romania for their AG-40 model 77 and model 80 (today AG-40P) rifle-mounted grenade launchers. It features a casing with a
high–low system The high–low system (or high–low pressure system, high–low propulsion system, high–low projection system) is a design of cannon and anti-tank warfare launcher using a smaller high-pressure chamber to store propellant. It allows a much larger ...
. The propellant has low pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type. Production was originally handled by the arms factory ''Uzina Mecanica Filiasi'', however production was later moved to the arms factory ''Uzina Mecanica Tohan Zărnești'', today more commonly known as ''S. Tohan S.A.'', a subsidiary of
ROMARM , type = State-owned corporation , industry = Defense , successor = , foundation = , founder = , defunct = , location_city = Bucharest , location_country = Romania , coordinates = , locations = , area_served = worldwide , key_peop ...
. Several types of the Romanian 40×47 mm exist: *
High explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An ...
*
High-explosive fragmentation A shell, in a military context, is a projectile whose payload contains an explosive, incendiary, or other chemical filling. Originally it was called a bombshell, but "shell" has come to be unambiguous in a military context. Modern usage so ...
*
Smoke Smoke is a suspension of airborne particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-produc ...
* Incendiary *
Tear gas Tear gas, also known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the early commercial aerosol, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the eye to produce tears. In ...
* Practice, featuring a small flash charge and smoke signal. * Inert Tohan currently (2021) offers a 40×47 mm high explosive type called GETZ (Grenadă Explozivă Tohan Zărnești) and an inert version called GITZ (Grenadă Inertă Tohan Zărnești). Both cartridges are long, with GETZ weighing and GITZ .


40×74.5 mm (Romania)

40×74.5 mm is a cartridge caliber produced in Romania for their AGA-40 Model 85
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 helicopt ...
. It features a casing with a
high–low system The high–low system (or high–low pressure system, high–low propulsion system, high–low projection system) is a design of cannon and anti-tank warfare launcher using a smaller high-pressure chamber to store propellant. It allows a much larger ...
. The propellant has high pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type. Production is handled by the arms factory ''Uzina Mecanica Plopeni'', a subsidiary of
ROMARM , type = State-owned corporation , industry = Defense , successor = , foundation = , founder = , defunct = , location_city = Bucharest , location_country = Romania , coordinates = , locations = , area_served = worldwide , key_peop ...
. Three ammunition types are known: * A
high-explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An expl ...
grenade producing 150 fragments weighing each, creating a deadly radius of upon impact. * A high-explosive dual-purpose grenade capable of penetrating of steel armor. * An inert cartridge for loading exercise.


Caseless ammunition


40 mm VOG-25 (Russia)

''40 mm VOG-25'' ( Russian Cyrillic: ''ВОГ-25'') (GRAU-Index: 7P17 ( Russian Cyrillic: ''7П17'')) is a unique type of 40 mm grenade designed in the
Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
for hand-held grenade launchers, such as the Soviet GP-25 Kostyor and GP-30 Obuvka. Instead of a casing, the VOG-25 is caseless ammunition, featuring its propellant in an expansion chamber at the base of the projectile, functioning more like a mortar round than conventional cased ammunition. Today it is used primarily by the Russian Armed Forces in weapons such as the GP-34, BG-15 Mukha and
RG-6 RG-6/U is a common type of coaxial cable used in a wide variety of residential and commercial applications. An RG-6/U coaxial cable has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. The term, ''RG-6'', is generic and is applied to a wide variety of ...
. Several types exist but the most common version is the default VOG-25 high-explosive version. The VOG-25 is long, weighs , and features a explosive charge. It has a muzzle velocity of and will self-destruct after 14 seconds.


40 mm Metal Storm (Australia)

During its time (1994–2012), Metal Storm Limited in Australia designed several automatic caseless 40 mm grenade launcher systems based on their own caseless ammunition weapon design. Unlike common caseless ammunition and their weapon systems the Metal Storm design lacked a feeding magazine and instead stacked the projectiles in front of each other in the barrel with the propellant in between the projectiles. The system lacked moving parts and the propellant was electronically primed, allowing for rates of fire up to one million rounds per minute. The 40 mm grenades used in the systems were off the shelf existing warheads converted to function in the design.


See also

*
35 mm grenade The 35 mm grenade is a type of grenade launcher ammunition of Chinese origin. The type consists of many high-velocity and low-velocity grenades with a caliber of . History Thirty-five millimeter grenades are proprietary designs originating ...
* 40×46mmSR Hellhound *
United States 40 mm grenades The United States Armed Forces has created a plethora of different types of 40 mm grenades in both the low-velocity 40×46 mm and high-velocity 40×53 mm calibers which uses what it calls a '' high-low propulsion system'' which keeps rec ...


Notes


References


External links


Milkor Worldwide



Defense Review overview of Mk 47 Mod 0 'Striker' 40mm Grenade Machine Gun

Defense Review overview of Corner Shot 40 personal grenade launcher

Defense Review overview of Penn Arms PGL65-40 'Fourkiller Tactical Model' 40 mm Multiple Grenade Launcher



Defense Review overview of Metal Storm 40mm Weapon System


{{Modern US Infantry Weapons Grenades Ammunition Projectiles Military cartridges Paramilitary cartridges Large-caliber cartridges