USMC M-32 40mm repeating GL

Anon · 03-20-2006, 20:05 PM

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ield/index.php

USMC 40mm repeating grenade launcher

While high-tech weapons items get a lot of billing, the Global War on Terror is very much an infantry war. Firepower overmatch matters in those situations. Enter the US Marine Corps' newest weapon, recently introduced to Regimental Combat Team 5, based in Camp Fallujah: the M-32 six-shot 40mm grenade launcher. During an annual symposium, Marine gunners decided an improvement was needed over the old M203 one-shot launchers that mount under their M4 or M16 rifles. The M-32 won out, and each Marine battalion will field them as an experimental weapon.

A September 2005 DID article covered the popularity of 40mm grenade systems on the modern battlefield. The M-32 is a modified Milkor MGL-140 with additional features like the buttstock, sights, foregrip, et. al. It can put all 6 rounds on target in under 3 seconds, and can fire "normal" M433 40mm grenades or specialty rounds. Specialty rounds include HELLHOUND rounds with twice the lethal radius of the M433, which will breach doors and kill anything behind them; DRACO thermobaric rounds; and even HUNTIR rounds with cameras in them that descend on a parachute and send back video. The USMC will join the Brazilian, Italian and South African militaries as MGL-140 customers, and Defense Review notes that the USMC has ordered 9,000 of them.

-{SpoonmaN}- · 03-20-2006, 23:22 PM

Nifty. Be nice for us to buy them and chuck one in each Rifle section. Probably wont happen though.

Anon · 03-20-2006, 23:46 PM

Sure does seem like a really nice weapon, big upgrade over the 203 IMO.

-{SpoonmaN}- · 03-20-2006, 23:49 PM

Except you can't stick it underneath a rifle. I say dont replace the '203 with it, just have the '203s augment it.

leib10 · 03-21-2006, 00:28 AM

Agreed. If the man operating the weapon or the weapon itself is put out of action and the other riflemen don't have M203's they will lose their grenade launching capability.

-{SpoonmaN}- · 03-21-2006, 00:37 AM

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as72-e.htm

Here's Australia's answer to the problem of Rifle-mounted Grenade launchers only having one shot.

Huge, isn't it?

Anon · 03-21-2006, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -{SpoonmaN}-

Except you can't stick it underneath a rifle. I say dont replace the '203 with it, just have the '203s augment it.

The M16/203 setup is really pretty ungainly to handle.

Id actually rather have this gizmo and a slung but separate M4.

sappersgt · 03-21-2006, 02:46 AM

Being able to put six rounds on the target is a BIG plus. How difficult is it to reload and or change ammo types?

Anon · 03-21-2006, 09:55 AM

No idea, ive never handled one.

Sure seems like a damned good idea though. It appears to be a huge revolving mechanism, so it probably shares a lot in common with most wheelguns wrt rate of fire, etc. I wonder if it's a break-open or has a Colt SAA style loading gate.

Rother · 03-21-2006, 10:16 AM

Think how fast that thing will burn through ammo. They're going to have to issue the grenadier a rickshaw just to carry a decent load of ammo.

I really like it, but I'd hate to give up an M203 for one.

Anon · 03-21-2006, 14:43 PM

That thing is really better than the 203 in all ways. Note that the Marine in the pic still has a slung rifle, so you're not really giving up anything, but you're gaining 5 ready rounds of 40mm.

troung · 03-21-2006, 20:32 PM

From Malaysia and South Africa...

leib10 · 03-21-2006, 20:36 PM

Okay, it looks like the cylinder swings out to the side for reloading, Snipe.

gunnut · 03-21-2006, 21:09 PM

I remember reading an article in the late 80s on the South African piece. I thought it was a good idea at the time and don't understand why it's not more popular. As far as I know, the thing is semi auto. Very handy if you need to saturate a target in a hurry.

I think it was featured in Predator. One guy in Arnie's outfit had one and carried an MP5, I believe.

Wraith601 · 03-21-2006, 21:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnut

I remember reading an article in the late 80s on the South African piece. I thought it was a good idea at the time and don't understand why it's not more popular. As far as I know, the thing is semi auto. Very handy if you need to saturate a target in a hurry.

I think it was featured in Predator. One guy in Arnie's outfit had one and carried an MP5, I believe.

They're a staple in Schwarzenegger films.

03-20-2006, 20:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Anon New Member Join Date: 08-03-03 Posts: 0	USMC M-32 40mm repeating GL http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ield/index.php USMC 40mm repeating grenade launcher While high-tech weapons items get a lot of billing, the Global War on Terror is very much an infantry war. Firepower overmatch matters in those situations. Enter the US Marine Corps' newest weapon, recently introduced to Regimental Combat Team 5, based in Camp Fallujah: the M-32 six-shot 40mm grenade launcher. During an annual symposium, Marine gunners decided an improvement was needed over the old M203 one-shot launchers that mount under their M4 or M16 rifles. The M-32 won out, and each Marine battalion will field them as an experimental weapon. A September 2005 DID article covered the popularity of 40mm grenade systems on the modern battlefield. The M-32 is a modified Milkor MGL-140 with additional features like the buttstock, sights, foregrip, et. al. It can put all 6 rounds on target in under 3 seconds, and can fire "normal" M433 40mm grenades or specialty rounds. Specialty rounds include HELLHOUND rounds with twice the lethal radius of the M433, which will breach doors and kill anything behind them; DRACO thermobaric rounds; and even HUNTIR rounds with cameras in them that descend on a parachute and send back video. The USMC will join the Brazilian, Italian and South African militaries as MGL-140 customers, and Defense Review notes that the USMC has ordered 9,000 of them.

03-21-2006, 00:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
leib10 HKHolic *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 02-17-05 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,250 Country:	Agreed. If the man operating the weapon or the weapon itself is put out of action and the other riflemen don't have M203's they will lose their grenade launching capability. __________________ "The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up and smell the ashes." G-Man

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03-20-2006, 23:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
-{SpoonmaN}- Death, the Destroyer of Worlds... *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 09-08-04 Location: The badlands of West London. Posts: 1,455 Country:	Nifty. Be nice for us to buy them and chuck one in each Rifle section. Probably wont happen though.

03-20-2006, 23:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Anon New Member Join Date: 08-03-03 Posts: 0	Sure does seem like a really nice weapon, big upgrade over the 203 IMO.

03-20-2006, 23:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
-{SpoonmaN}- Death, the Destroyer of Worlds... *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 09-08-04 Location: The badlands of West London. Posts: 1,455 Country:	Except you can't stick it underneath a rifle. I say dont replace the '203 with it, just have the '203s augment it.

03-21-2006, 00:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
-{SpoonmaN}- Death, the Destroyer of Worlds... *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 09-08-04 Location: The badlands of West London. Posts: 1,455 Country:	http://world.guns.ru/assault/as72-e.htm Here's Australia's answer to the problem of Rifle-mounted Grenade launchers only having one shot. Huge, isn't it?

03-21-2006, 02:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
sappersgt *Military Professional* Join Date: 03-04-06 Location: Latitude 38 Longitude 112 Posts: 2,427 Country:	Being able to put six rounds on the target is a BIG plus. How difficult is it to reload and or change ammo types?

03-21-2006, 09:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Anon New Member Join Date: 08-03-03 Posts: 0	No idea, ive never handled one. Sure seems like a damned good idea though. It appears to be a huge revolving mechanism, so it probably shares a lot in common with most wheelguns wrt rate of fire, etc. I wonder if it's a break-open or has a Colt SAA style loading gate.

03-21-2006, 10:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
Rother Regular Join Date: 11-24-04 Location: Alaska Posts: 51	Think how fast that thing will burn through ammo. They're going to have to issue the grenadier a rickshaw just to carry a decent load of ammo. I really like it, but I'd hate to give up an M203 for one.

03-21-2006, 14:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
Anon New Member Join Date: 08-03-03 Posts: 0	That thing is really better than the 203 in all ways. Note that the Marine in the pic still has a slung rifle, so you're not really giving up anything, but you're gaining 5 ready rounds of 40mm.

03-21-2006, 20:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
leib10 HKHolic *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 02-17-05 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,250 Country:	Okay, it looks like the cylinder swings out to the side for reloading, Snipe.

03-21-2006, 21:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
gunnut *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-27-06 Location: DPRK, Democratik People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 9,896 Country:	I remember reading an article in the late 80s on the South African piece. I thought it was a good idea at the time and don't understand why it's not more popular. As far as I know, the thing is semi auto. Very handy if you need to saturate a target in a hurry. I think it was featured in Predator. One guy in Arnie's outfit had one and carried an MP5, I believe.

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