The 40x46mm grenade became a primary component of US military operations during the Cold War. It represented a low-velocity development (in contrast to the high-velocity 40x53mm series) and was in wide scale use during the Vietnam War - mainly associated with operators managing the single-shot M79 systems. The China Lake design was unique in its incorporation of a pump-action slide feature feeding from a tubular magazine, the operator needing to managed the slide when introducing fresh grenade rounds into the chamber. A trained and experienced operator could, therefore, fire up to 15 rounds-per-minute and lay down indirect or direct suppression fire against a target or target area at range. Effective range was within 350 meters and muzzle velocity was rated at 250 feet-per-second. Sighting was accomplished through a twin over-weapon installation that incorporated an adjustable rear-mounted square notch sight (75 meters to 400 meters, +/- 25 meter adjustments) and a forward-set folding leaf sight featuring a fixed square notch design.
Production of the China Lake Grenade Launcher was issued in 1968 though fewer than 50 are thought to have been made. It is known that the launcher was utilized by the Navy SEALs during the Vietnam War as well as some elements of US Army special forces (5th Special Forces Group) and the USMC's Marine Force Recon intelligence-gathering detachment. In practice, the weapon proved a sound development though, for whatever reason, never procured in acceptable numbers for standard-issue. The repeat-fire nature of the launcher was a perfect complement to existing special forces hardware. The weapon was also light in the hold weighing some 8lbs when empty and a manageable 10lbs when loaded with a grenade. As such, the weapon could be fielded by an operator already carrying a primary weapon on a looped sling over the shoulder. The American involvement in Vietnam was eventually reduced and, with it, several projects in development or under evaluation were scrapped. The China Lake Grenade Launcher, therefore, did not see widespread acceptance in the years following.
The design did, however, see new life in a 1992 private initiative. In a refined form, the grenade launcher was trialed with promising capabilities though this endeavor fell through by 2009 due to a general lack of interest from major parties in furthering the type. The US military has since adopted the modular German Heckler & Koch M320 40mm single-shot grenade launcher which can be utilized as a standalone weapon (with optics and a collapsible stock) or as an under-weapon accessory and will be replacing the long-running underslung M230 series in full within time. Additionally, the US military is also actively evaluating the South African Milkor MGL multi-shot, repeat-fire 40mm grenade launcher. This weapon has seen combat service in Iraq with US Army forces.
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