M79 40mm Grenade Launcher (1961)
The M79 was utilized to good effect in the Vietnam War.
The M79 was designed to launch a variety of ammunition types including HE, flechette, buckshot, smoke and non-lethal rounds. The system itself was very simplistic, featuring a breech-loading component with static iron sights (the user would load the weapon by folding the barrel portion forward, similar to what is done to load some shotgun types). A folding 'ladder' sight was also prominently integrated for elevated-range firing. The single-shot capability proved to be a major drawback as the user was unable to keep up any well-respected rate of fire on enemy positions for suppression purposes.
If anything, the M79 proved a major step forwards in the American development of the underslung rifle-attached grenade launcher seen today in the form of the M203 40mm grenade launcher. World War Two-era grenades were launched from the barrel of a basic infantry rifle. An underslung grenade launcher was, in fact, trialed in the Vietnam War as the XM148, which undoubtedly paved the way for the M203 40mm launcher. Recent trial rifles have seen an increase in the integrated 20mm grenade launcher systems, possibly signaling a trend for next-generation rifle systems to follow.
The M79 grenade launcher may also be known as the "Bloop Tube", "Blooper", "Thumper" or "Thump-Gun". In its current form, the M79 is in limited use around the globe, some seeing police duty in the crowd-control role. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
M79
40mm Grenade Launcher
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Various Contractors - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1961
Overall Length: 737mm (29.02in)
Barrel Length: 0.00mm (0.00in)
Weight (Empty): 6.00lbs (2.72kg)
Cartridge: 40x46mm
Action: Single Shot Breech Loading
Feed: 1
Range: 1,149ft (350m; 383yds)
Operators: United States
BY YEAR:
• 1700 to 1799
• 1800 to 1899
• 1900 to 1909
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Guns
BY TYPE:
• Anti-Aircraft Weapons
• Anti-Material Rifles
• Anti-Tank Weapons
• Automatic Rifles
• Bolt-Action Rifles
• Carbine Guns
• Flamethrowers
• Flintlock Guns
• Grenade Launchers
• Hand Grenades
• Lever-Action Rifles
• Machine Guns
• Mortars
• Musket Guns
• Pistols / Handguns
• Recoilless Rifles
• Revolvers
• Rocket Launchers
• Shotguns
• Silenced Guns
• Sniper Rifles
• Special Weapon Systems
• Submachine Guns
• VIEW ALL
SPECIAL:
• 18th Century Warfare
• 3 Soldiers Statue
• Battle of Mogadishu
• Chainmail Armor
• Firearm Types Defined
• French Military Victories
• Medieval Crossbow
• Medieval Longbow
• Vietnam War Casualties
• Vietnam War Memorial
WORLD WAR 2:
• British Guns
• French Guns
• German Guns (ALL)
• German Rifles
• Italian Guns
• Japanese Guns
• Soviet Guns
• US Guns
• US Infantry Regiment-Level Guns
• Machine Guns
• Pistols
• Rifles
• Submachine Guns
• Sniper Rifles
• VIEW ALL
WORLD WAR 1:
• Pistols
• Rifles
• Machine Guns
• Mortars
• US Guns
• VIEW ALL
KOREAN WAR:
• Machine Guns
• VIEW ALL
VIETNAM WAR:
COLLECTIONS:
• Ancient Weapons
• British SAS Weapons
• Civil War Guns
• Colt Guns
• Glock Guns
• GROM Polish Special Forces
• Guns of Libya
• Guns of North Korea
• Guns of Syria
• Guns of WW1 & WW2
• Heckler & Koch Guns
• Kalashnikov Guns
• Modern Russian Guns
• Navy SEAL Weapons
• Spetsnaz Weapons
• Weapons of Desert Storm
• Wild West Guns
• Winchester Guns
HOLLYWOOD/GAMES:
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
