America’ quest for a repeating firearm motion grenade launcher in the course of the Vietnam Conflict resulted in numerous fashions in hopes of developing with a dependable and succesful squad-level one. Earlier than the China Lake grenade launcher, what had been thought-about the profitable ones had been the M79 and XM148. Even so, the efficiency of the 2 was removed from passable, particularly when it comes to the sought-after pump motion energy.
M79 and XM148
The M79 grenade launcher was made after World Conflict II on account of the dissatisfaction of the US Army with its common rifle grenades with its insufficiency with general-purpose fireplace help capabilities. Via what they labeled Challenge Niblick, the US Army tried to extend firepower by way of an explosive projectile extra correct than rifle grenades with a special vary and extra transportable mortar.
The M79 was used in the course of the Vietnam Conflict and successfully defeated enemies and outpaced Viet Cong’s commando mortars. Completely different variants of the 40 mm rounds had additionally been produced, just like the M381 HE (Excessive Explosive) spherical, M576 Buckshot spherical, and M1006 less-lethal spherical (fires a foam rubber projectile), to call a number of. Nevertheless, the primary concern was that it was restricted to a single spherical fired and required guide reloading of the weapon after every shot.
XM148 was one other wartime growth utilized by the US Special Forces together with the XM177E2. Colt Firearms additionally manufactured it as a launcher for discipline testing in the course of the Vietnam Conflict.
Issues XM148 was, apart from being a single spherical fireplace, its prolonged set off brought about frequent unintended discharges because it often will get caught on gears, tree branches, and actually anyplace. This design was meant so customers may fireplace with out eradicating their arms from the pistol grip. Evaluations had been made, however XM148 by no means made it into service. Think about the effort of preventing within the dense Vietnam jungle together with your launcher’s set off getting caught up on each vein and department you go. Afterward, its idea can be the muse of the M203 we all know immediately.
China Lake 40mm Grenade Launcher
As America’s involvement within the Vietnam Conflict elevated, the necessity for specialised weapon techniques, particularly for Navy SEALs, arose. This was when China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station entered the scene.
China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station was established throughout World Conflict II below the USA Navy. Its objective was to help the US Navy’s analysis, growth, acquisition, testing, and analysis of weapons techniques for the troopers.
Throughout the Vietnam conflict, they had been tapped to provide a extra dependable grenade-launching system that might outperform the M79 and XM148. China Lake started working in 1967, spearheaded by Alfred Kermode. The outcome was what was often known as the China Lake Grenade Launcher.
China Lake Grenade Launcher was a repeat-fire, pump-action launcher with a tubular journal that would load three 40x46mm grenades plus yet one more within the chamber. Because of this the operator may fireplace 4 rounds in fast succession earlier than reloading, which is fairly environment friendly. An skilled operator may fireplace as much as 15 rounds per minute.
It had a strong wood shoulder inventory and an rectangular set off ring loop that would accommodate a gloved finger. Most elements had been constituted of aluminum, so it was fairly gentle for its dimension. Its forward-set leaf sight was much like the M79. Its rear sq. notch may very well be adjustable, relying on whether or not the leaf is folded or not.
The weapon was at 34 inches. Its barrel was 14 inches and efficient inside the vary of 350 meters. The unique variety of China Lake Grenade Launcher issued was unknown, but it surely was thought that it was someplace between 20 and 30.
Forgotten
SEALs had been pleased with the grenade launcher and used it throughout their secret operations all through Vietnam. As well as, the fifth Special Forces Group of the US Army particular forces and the USMC’s Marine Power Recon intelligence-gathering detachment had been additionally identified to have used it.
As for its efficiency, its repeat-fire capabilities complemented the opposite particular forces weapons at the moment. Its 10 kilos loaded weight was additionally not a lot of a burden to its operator.
Regardless of all these, for some motive, the China Lake launcher was not mass-produced. Maybe it was America’s lowered involvement within the battle that eradicated the necessity for initiatives and weapons, or possibly it was one thing else.
We all know that the weapon was not extensively used within the years that adopted. Though there was an try to revive its design in 1992, firearms author Samuel “Dutch” Hillenburg teamed up with machinist Brian Fauci. Sadly, it once more died out in 2009 as a result of lack of common curiosity. Since then, it has change into a part of the record of many forgotten weapons of the previous.
