# A grenade machine gun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100 "2004-10-13T22:04:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/1 "2004-10-13T22:04:44Z")
In this news [story](http://start.earthlink.net/newsarticle?cat=6&aid=D85MPTMG3_story) about the ammunition plant explosion in Tennessee, the reporter mentions ammo made for a grenade machine gun. What’s that? Oops, or real. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/2 "2004-10-13T22:11:54Z")
You haven’t lived until you’ve fired a [Mark 19](http://www.ndu.edu/nwc/nwcCLIPART/US_ARMY/Equipment/Weapons/Grenade-Launchers/1MK1940mmLauncher2.gif)!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ten\_21\_14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ten\_21\_14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ten_21_14)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/3 "2004-10-13T22:13:19Z")
[http://www.army.mil/fact\_files\_site/mk19-3/](http://www.army.mil/fact_files_site/mk19-3/) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/4 "2004-10-13T22:22:07Z")
Whoa! 40mm. Now _that_ looks scary. The shells look like the 40mm grenades fired by other launchers I’ve seen pictures of. The article did say “medium cailber”. Hope those people are alright, including the injured one. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/5 "2004-10-13T22:30:54Z")
I love this line from Ten 21/14’s link: > [@](#): > > **Mission:** Deter, and if necessary, compel adversaries by enabling individuals and small units to engage targets with accurate, lethal, automatic indirect fire. Should be: **Mission:** Blow some shit up real good. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/6 "2004-10-13T22:39:40Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Whoa! 40mm. Now _that_ looks scary. The shells look like the 40mm grenades fired by other launchers I’ve seen pictures of. > The article did say “medium cailber”. > Hope those people are alright, including the injured one. Yes, they’re the same 40mm grenades, just on a belt. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/7 "2004-10-13T22:43:19Z")
> [@jk1245](#): > > I love this line from Ten 21/14’s link: > > Should be: > > **Mission:** Blow some shit up real good. > > 🙂 I caught that too. “Deter, and if necessary, compel”. Right. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/8 "2004-10-13T22:44:43Z")
There is also a 25mm grenade that can do neat tricks like exploding above the enemy’s head (programmable timed fuse). [http://www.gdatp.com/products/lethality/xm307/xm307.htm](http://www.gdatp.com/products/lethality/xm307/xm307.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/9 "2004-10-13T22:52:51Z")
The M-19: when you absolutely, positively have to kill everyoe on that hillside. > [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Yes, they’re the same 40mm grenades, just on a belt. Actually, you can’t use M-19 granades in a M-203. It’s the same caliber but the casing is different. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/10 "2004-10-13T23:58:03Z")
Yeah, the casing is different, to allow it to be connected by links. But the explosive (amount and type) are the same. 5-6 oz of Comp B or some odd amount of Comp A5 filler, depending on the type of round. It’s basically the same projectile, with the same explosive and penetration statistics. But you were right to clarify. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/11 "2004-10-13T23:59:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, you can’t use M-19 granades in a M-203. It’s the same caliber but the casing is different. I bet if I had a hacksaw and desperation, I could make them fit! ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/12 "2004-10-14T07:05:32Z")
Uhhh, raise your hand if you’ve just decided that you need one of those. I’ll take the black one. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/13 "2004-10-14T07:40:12Z")
> [@mks57](#): > > There is also a 25mm grenade that can do neat tricks like exploding above the enemy’s head (programmable timed fuse). > > [GDATP.COM - GDATP - Arms & Tactical Products Reviews](http://www.gdatp.com/products/lethality/xm307/xm307.htm) Isn’t that the **OCSW** (Objective Crew-Served Weapon)? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/14 "2004-10-14T08:14:50Z")
You’re thinking of the M-29 OICW - Objective Individual Combat Weapon. While it did incorporate a variable/programable 20mm grenade launcher and range finder, it’s not a grenade machinegun. It’s more like the M203 weapon system, only cooler. The KE (kinetic energy) component - or the “rifle portion”, made by HK, will soon be massed produced in Georgia as the XM8. It will soon replace the M16/M4 as the US Army’s rifle of choice. The XM307 in the link is using the same technology, only it shoots slightly bigger grenades and a shit load at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/15 "2004-10-14T08:17:58Z")
I’m never posting this late again. Yes, \*_Dog80_ that is an XM307 OCSW. Apparantly it’s _ME_ who had the OICW on the brain… carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/16 "2004-10-14T08:46:43Z")
There’s one thing about all this that makes me sad… The Mk.19 apparently can’t use 40mm buckshot or canister rounds. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/17 "2004-10-14T12:26:04Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Uhhh, raise your hand if you’ve just decided that you need one of those. _Does Spock’s V finger thingie_ “Live long and Prosper?” “No. I’ll take five.” \ ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/18 "2004-10-14T15:40:01Z")
I was looking for the perfect accessory to my HumVee… I think I found it. Cut me off will you? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/19 "2004-10-14T15:52:10Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > You haven’t lived until you’ve fired a [Mark 19](http://www.ndu.edu/nwc/nwcCLIPART/US_ARMY/Equipment/Weapons/Grenade-Launchers/1MK1940mmLauncher2.gif)!!! That weapon is very Fallout. Maybe if we’re lucky, super mutants in Fallout 3 will get to tote one around for when the minigun just won’t do. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100/20 "2004-10-14T16:44:08Z")
A good friend of mine in the Marines, who shares my last name, was on the MEU that was evacuating civilians from Liberia in the early 1990’s, and the Marines put several Mk19’s around the US Embassy, and mounted on HMMWVs on patrol. The locals thought they were laser cannons, and the Marines said nothing to make them think otherwise. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-grenade-machine-gun/269100.md?page=2)