The M576 is a
US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
designation for a 2.646 in (67.2 mm) long and 0.254 lb (0.12 kg) heavy
US 40mm grenade
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 ...
buckshot
A shotgun shell, shotshell or simply shell is a type of rimmed, cylindrical (straight-walled) cartridges used specifically in shotguns, and is typically loaded with numerous small, pellet-like spherical sub-projectiles called shot, fired throu ...
load used in 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 ...
,
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 H ...
, and
M32 MGL grenade launcher
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 mos ...
s. It is olive drab with black markings. It was designed to give the soldier carrying a grenade launcher a powerful cartridge for
close quarters combat
Close-quarters combat (CQC) or close-quarters battle (CQB) is a tactical situation that involves a physical fight with firearms involved between multiple combatants at short range. It can occur between military units, police/corrections officers ...
with the maximum range at 98 ft (30 m) such as found in clearing buildings, bunkers, and trenches, as well as thick vegetation at 885 ft/s (269 m/s).
When the 40mm M79 grenade launcher was first developed, the weapon was to be the primary weapon of the infantryman carrying it. It was quickly found that in most engagements, while the grenadier gave the squad a decided force multiplier, the grenadiers themselves were exposed if presented with an enemy closer than the arming distance of high explosive rounds. Even rounds with a shorter arming distance presented significant danger to the shooter if used at those ranges. Development commenced on non-explosive cartridges to allow those armed with grenade launchers to engage targets at shorter ranges safely.
The M576 contains twenty metal pellets with an overall weight of 24 grams. The XM576/XM576E1 was standardized to become the M576. Normal dispersion pattern of the M576 will put 13 of 20 pellets in a 1.5 meter circle at 40 meters. The remaining 7 pellets could land anywhere.
Another test variant, the XM576E2, which had twenty seven metal pellets without a sabot within the shot cup, was deemed to spread too quickly for effective use. Both types had a muzzle velocity of roughly 880 ft/s (268 m/s).
The M576 has been superseded by
underbarrel grenade launchers, which allow the grenadier to use their rifle against enemies at close ranges.
Notes
{{reflist
Grenades of the United States