MECAR M1 Garand T119 US & Italian grenade launchers & No.94 Practice Rifle Grenades

Good Day,
I was lucky years ago to find a MECAR T119 grenade launcher and recently found another of the Italian military versions. The MECAR launcher was trialed by the US military to interface with the T28 Anti-Tank rifle grenades or the Energa rifle grenades. However, the T119 was not adopted by the US in-lieu-of the M7A2 and A3. While the T119 isn't super rare, it is relatively seldom seen in collecting corners.

MECAR made many different versions of the basic launcher to include a clamp-on version for the No4 Mk2 Enfield (that did not include the flip up sight).

I've seen another Italian version that MECAR made (probably under contract for the Italians directly) with a white boarder around the PER FUCILE CAL .30M1. My version appears to have been one where the original markings were milled out and re-stamped.

Billiy Ricca has a very good commentary section on the MECAR launchers for those who wish to know a bit more about this M1 Garand grenade launcher variation.
Bill Ricca's Recoiling Launchers History

I pulled out a few of my ENERGA inert practice grenades. Also manufactured by MECAR of Belgium, the ENERGA was used as a front-line grenade by England, Belgium, Switzerland, South Africa and other nations through the 70’s/80's and remained in reserve stores through the 90's. It was a shaped-charge anti-armor grenade designed to be fired from just about any 7.62x51mm rifle. Some required adapters, but most European armies standardized their flash suppressors to 22mm in diameter so that rifle grenades could be used universally between NATO forces. In this case, I used one of my M1 Garand T119 launchers.

The British trialed them from 1950 to 1954 and were introduced into the MoD service officially (i.e., via War Office Lists of Changes) in December 1955. My 75MM Anti-Tank Practice Rifle Grenade, No. 94 (ENERGA) is an early version with a steel head, black with white markings and a yellow band dated 12-55. The steel head is marked:

GREN RIFLE ATK
94 PRAC MK2
(MECAR) 12-55

The other rounds are the rarer Grenade, Practice Marker L1A1 variant which had a rubber body with a colored chalk powder marker head. Various colors have been noted. I've been told they are rarer because replacement clear plastic nose cones are very difficult to find when they break.
Additionally pictured are a drill and sectioned example for static (non-firing) use.
Best Regards,
Michael

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Mine has a smaller Per Fucile nomenclature in a box. Back in the 1980s these began showing up at gun shows brand new, together with a clamp-on type for the Mauser. Pouches were new as well, but original. I always wondered at the sight calibrated in yards -- nobody used yards except us, did they? It led me to think they were made for US NATO forces.

Good Day All,
I was able to purchase additional Italian M1 Garand grenade launcher variations :dancingbanana:. They are made similarly to a MECAR version but I'm wondering if this was made by the Italians themselves. The markings are:
TROMBONCINO "ENERGA" PER FUCILE
s.a. GARAND cal. 7,62 NATO-TIPO 2-

Regards,
Michael

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Very nice though. You never see those.

Just a couple of points on the original post.

Reference to a launcher for the No.4 Mk.2. We certainly did have a launcher for the No.4 but it fitted all marks and did have a flip up sight. (picture below)

We also had them for the SLR. (That's what the little pouch on the side of the '58 Pattern basic pouch is for - NOT one's KFS.)

The 94 Mk.2 practice grenade appears to have a later tail assembly. As I remember it the Mk.2s always had black tail assemblies and the later (chalk nosecone) blue.

So what's the speculation on the range marking in yards?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beerhunter

The 94 Mk.2 practice grenade appears to have a later tail assembly. As I remember it the Mk.2s always had black tail assemblies and the later (chalk nosecone) blue.

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Good Day Beerhunter,
Thank you for the correction regarding the Enfield version of the launcher. I have an example of it and erroneously stated it did not have a flip up sight. I have NO idea what I was thinking :confused:
I purchased an all blue No94 practice round in years ago however, it had no markings on it. It appeared to have been used a great deal and might have been repainted at some point (thus being all blue?). I later found a black dummy head (pictured) with no tail assembly. The nomenclature was still visible, and I put the two together.
Regards,
Michael

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Good Day All,
It took a while and a great deal of luck but I was able to purchase an Italian M1 Garand grenade launcher with the white box around the PER FUCILE CAL .30M1 nomenclature that Bob Seijas mentioned before. Thank You very much for informing us of this variant.
My guess is the boxed variant came after the milled example I found a number of years ago (pictured below). As to Yards vs Meters ladder markings, since MECAR also produced the T-119 for the US military and they were subsequently not purchased en-masse, perhaps the excess ladders made for the US were purchased the Italian military at a discount. Its complete supposition on my part. whichever the ultimate reason, the range ladders appear to be designed specifically for the ENERGA Anti-Tank round.
Best Regards,
Michael

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Good Day,
I've found additional information on the Italian launchers. Here the two are.
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Regards,
Michael

An early manual and sales brochure for the Energa grenade

You don't happen to have a digital copy of that USMC instruction manual do you? I would love to see it!

Good Day All,
It took some effort, but I was able to acquire a Italian inert practice rifle grenade reminiscent of the British Grenade, Practice Marker L1A1 :dancingbanana:. This example has an orange chalk head to clearly mark the impact location and is dated 1978 and stenciled;
"BOMBA C.C. DA FUCILE DA ESERCITAZIONE SUPER ENERGA"
I found out later on the nose cone should have been a solid green with blue tip, but still with a chalk interior. A picture of this "correct" version is also provided. Additionally pictured is the cork plug for the booster cartridge that is installed in the spigot. For this photo display, I utilized the correct post war Italian direct fire rifle grenade sight marked;
TROMBONCINO "ENERGA" PER FUCILE
s.a. GARAND cal. 7,62 NATO-TIPO 2-
In order to estimate the range to the target with this sight, the rifle was adjusted and aligned with the sight arc corresponding to the estimated range (on the ladder). This coincided with the ogive of the grenade when aligned on the target. I've 'ranged' the practice grenade for 100 meters based on the sight ladder.
I installed both onto my Italian Breda 7,62 (TIPO2) M1 conversion. I won't be launching off of this setup but have no doubt it would work.
Best Regards,
Mike

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Good Day All :wave:,

I was able to acquire two more variants of the MECAR T-119 style M1 grenade launcher. One came from a pawn shop not that far from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and is marked T-119 LAUNCHER for M1 RIFLE. Compared to my other example of this type used by the US, this example has the MECAR company symbol preceding the nomenclature. The font is subtly different (note the "f" and "a"). Additionally, there is a small flaming bomb on the inside of the heavy rolled base.

Another variant found was a West German version that is marked GEW. KAR. 30 M1 GAR., followed by the MECAR company logo. In May 1955, the West German government became a member of NATO and in November the Bundeswehr was formed. They predominantly utilized US equipment (including M1 Garands) until starting in 1959 thru 1961, they were able to replace American weapons in their possession with G3's. It's likely during the late 50's, the Federal Ministry of Defense issued a quantity of MECAR T-119 style grenade launchers. I cannot find the figures of how many were purchased. I would appreciate anyone who can provide more insight into their use.

Like other US & Italian MECAR launchers I've observed, the range leaf of these latest variants is also marked in yards.

I look forward to any additional questions and comments.

Thank you,
Michael

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Good Day All and Happy New Years Eve,
I was able to finally acquire the inert Italian Super ENERGA practice Anti-Tank rifle grenade round.:dancingbanana: It is marked:
BOMBA DE FUCILE C.C
INERTE
DA ESERCITAZIONE
There are also marking on the reverse that indicate manufacture in 1964. It's likely these were primarily used with BM59's but Italian M1 TIPO2 rifles probably saw use as well. Below the A/T rounds is the body of a Italian rifle launched Illumination round.

Additionally, I was able to secure a West German example of the Super ENERGA A/T inert rifle grenade and fuse guard. It was probably used for educational purposes and not for live fire demonstrations although it could have supported this. Despite later (and predominant) use of the German G1 & G3 rifles, the W. German Bundeswehr (Heer) utilized the M1 and a copy of the MECAR version Garand grenade launcher and its likely training with the Super ENERGA (dated 1/60) likely did occur with an M1. Any additional information would be welcome.

Best Regards,
Michael

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