The Mk19 Grenade Launcher Can Destroy Just About Anything

Key Points and Summary: The Mk19 grenade launcher, first introduced during the Vietnam War, remains a cornerstone of U.S. military firepower. This crew-served, belt-fed, fully automatic weapon delivers 40mm high-velocity grenades with devastating impact, capable of penetrating light armor and engaging targets at ranges of up to 2,212 meters.

-Often mounted on vehicles like Humvees and small attack boats, it excels at suppressing massed troops and engaging lightly armored vehicles.

-Despite its heavy weight (77 lbs without ammunition), its versatility and destructive power make it indispensable.

-Modern upgrades, including integration with the CROWS system, enhance its precision and utility in day or night conditions.

Mk19 Grenade Launcher, Explained

The Mk19 grenade launcher was first used during the Vietnam War. It remains a mainstay in the US armed forces thanks to engineering and design changes.

The Mk19 grenade launcher is a belt-fed, blowback-operated, air-cooled, disintegrating metallic link-belt-fed, crew-served, fully automatic weapon. It fires like a machine gun, although the cyclic rate is much slower.

Overview

The Mk19 is a crew-served weapon mounted on a tripod. It can be used on various vehicles such as small attack boats, Humvees (HMMWVs), AAVs, Strykers, military recovery vehicles (M88A1s), and 5-ton trucks.

The MK19’s primary ammunition is the M430 high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) grenade. It has a kill radius of five meters (16 ft) and a wound radius of 15 meters (49 ft).

It can also penetrate two inches (5.1 cm) of rolled homogeneous armor. This type of penetrating power can wreak havoc on thin-skinned vehicles and penetrate armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. It is very effective against massed troops in the open.

The 40 mm HV airburst munition CDD, the I-HEDP, is a high-explosive munition that can engage personnel targets in defilade and in the open and defeat unarmored and lightly armored vehicles.

The ammunition comes in two different cans that hold either a 32- or 48-grenade belt weighing 42 and 60 pounds, respectively. One note, however, is that the ammunition for the Mk 19 can not be used in the infantryman’s single-shot M203 due to much higher chamber pressures.

Mk19 grenades use a more extensive, higher-velocity 40x53mm round, while the M203 uses a smaller, lower-velocity 40x46mm round, making them incompatible. The maximum effective range against point targets for the Mk19 is 1,500 meters, and 2,212 meters for area targets.

The sustained rate of fire is 40 rounds per minute. The cyclic rate is 325-375 rounds per minute, and the rapid-fire rate is 60 rounds per minute.

History

The Mk 19 grenade launcher was developed after the Mk18 grenade launcher used in Vietnam was found to be limited because it was a hand-cranked system that fired similarly to the old Gatling gun, which hindered its accuracy.

The US military has used the Mk19 for over 40 years, and the troops like it because of its firepower and ability to suppress enemy targets. However, the drawback is its weight. At 77 pounds without ammunition, it is not man-portable and has to be mounted on a vehicle.

In urban or built-up areas, the weapon is limited to how much it can maneuver around buildings or obstructions. General Dynamics has developed the Mk47 grenade launcher that weighs just under 40 pounds.

However, this grenade launcher hasn’t seen widespread use yet and is mainly used by USSOCOM (Special Operations Command) units.

The military has also incorporated the M153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) system in its vehicles, which allows the gunner to remain inside the vehicle. CROWS contains a sensor suite and fire control software.

It enables on-the-move target acquisition and first-burst target engagement. The CROWS sensor suite includes a daytime video camera, thermal camera, and laser rangefinder capable of target engagement under day and night conditions.

About the Author

Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.