Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: IA80024%MAINE.BITNET@VM1.gatech.edu (Nicholas C. Hester) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Small Arms Message-ID: <1991Mar8.023621.10675@cbnews.att.com> Date: 8 Mar 91 02:36:21 GMT References: <1991Mar4.212601.9682@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker) Organization: University of Maine System Lines: 135 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Nicholas C. Hester In article <1991Mar4.212601.9682@cbnews.att.com>, scott@swindle.Berkeley.EDU (Scott Silvey) says: > >I've noticed a few of the men in every squad are equiped with a grenade >laucher > mounted under the barrel of their M16. Would someone mind describing this > weapon and it's uses in detail? For example, what is it's range, and what > types of rounds can it fire? Is it normally loaded all the time? Does the > grenade have a fairly flat trajectory, or is it lobbed like a short range > mortar? How do they determine who gets to use one? Does it increase the > weight of the rifle so that it becomes more unwieldly? This weapon is called the M203 40mm Grenade Launcher. Description: The 40mm grenade launcher, M203, is a lightweight, single-shot, breech loaded, pump action (sliding barrel), shoulder fired weapon attached to the M16/M16A1 rifle. It consists of a handguard and sight assembly group, receiver assembly, quadrant sight assembly, and barrel assembly. Data: Weapon - Length of launcher ... 15 5/16 in. Length of barrel ... 12 in. Weight unloaded ... ~3 lb. Weight loaded ... ~3.5 lb. Weight loaded (w/ M16) ... ~11 lb. Trigger pull ... 5 lb. Ammunition - Caliber ... 40mm Weight ... ~8 oz. Operational characteristics - Action ... Pump Max Range ... ~400 m Max effective range (area targets) ... 350 m Max effective range (point target) ... 150 m Minimum safe firing ranges (HE and TP) Training ... 80 m Combat ... 31 m Ammunition Description: The 40mm cartridge is a fixed-type muniton which consists of two major assemblies, the cartridge case ans projectile. To propel the grenade requires a High-Low propulsion system which functions as follows: When the firing pin strikes the primer, the primer flash ignites the propellant which is contained within the brass powder-charge cup inside the high pressure chamber. The burning propellant creates a pressure of 35,000 pounds per square inch within the high pressure chamber, causing the brass powder-charge cup to rupture, the gases flow into the low pressure chamber (interior portion of the cartridge case). As the gases enter the larger chamber area, the pressure is reduced to 3,000 psi, which is suf- ficient to propel the projectile through the barrel and to the target. The grenade leaves the barrel of the launcher with a muzzle velocity of 250 fps and a right-hand spin of 37,000 rpm. The spin stablizes the grenade during the flight and provides rotational forces necessary to arm the fuze. There are five standard "A" types of 40mm ammunition for use with the launcher: a) High Explosive (HE) b) High Explosive Airburst (HE Airburst) c) High Explosive Smokeless and Flashless d) High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) e) Training-Practice (TP) Also, there are Illuminating and Smoke rounds. (Sources : Field Manual 40mm Grenade Launchers M203 and M79, Small Arms of the World, 12th edition) * * * * * * >Also, I noticed some scenes of British infantry scouting out an Iraqi bunker > for hostiles ... they tossed in a grenade. They were carrying a very modern > looking assault rifle that I've never seen before. It was sand colored > and had the magazine (and I assume the firing mechanism) BEHIND the pistol > grip. This makes the weapon somewhat short I assume. Can anyone explain > what rifle this is? Is it standard issue now? When did they get it? How > does it compare with the M16A2? This is the British Enfield Weapon System SA80. It replaces the older and larger SLR L1A1. It is a "bullpup" configuration that places the magazine behind the trigger allowing the whole firing mechanism and barrel to be placed back further in the rifle. This makes for a compact and handy weapon, especially in confined spaces, ie. bunkers, buildings, tanks. The SA80 also uses an optical sight called the SUSAT (Sight Unit, Small Arms Trilux) giving a 4x magnification. The pointer within is dark in daylight, but is illuminated in low light using a radioactive Trilux lamp. The rifle is selective fire with 'R' for Repetition (single shot) or 'A' for automatic. It has no burst option. Origninally chambered in 4.85 x 49, it was rechambered for 5.56 NATO. It is operated by a conventional gas-operating system locked by a multi-lug rotatat- ing bolt engaging corresponding recesses in a barrel collar. This bolt and it's bolt carrier are similar in design to that of the Armalite AR-18. Data: Operation ..... Gas/ select fire Weight, loaded ..... 9.1 lb. / ~5 kg Length ..... 30.3 in / ~770 cm Length, barrel ..... 20.4 in Magazine ..... 30 box magazine Sight ..... Optical, 4x Cartridge ..... 5.56 NATO Effective range ..... ~500 m (Sources: Small Arms of the World, 12 ed. ; Soldier of Fortune magazine, Sept 1987) *** go ahead and laugh, but SOF has some good weapons articles *** Nicholas C. Hester | | ia80024@Maine.Bitnet | Fahrvergnugen: "I've fallen, and I can't get up" | ia80024@Maine.Maine.edu | |