US Grenade launchers

[Peter Laidler]

I seem to recall that the Patt 14 rifle grenade launchers were pretty agricultural in their construction. Anyone else own such a beast?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[RCS]

Not many originals around, someone even makes a reproduction M76 now ! I believe the M76 had a rather short life of serviceAttachment 59214Attachment 59215Attachment 59216

[browningautorifle]

But that's for the M14 right?

[fjruple]

Just a few points. I remember a US Army publication on the US Army Special Forces dated from back in the early 1960s with a photo of a "foreign" trainee armed with a M1903 with a grenade launcher attached with a 60mm Mortar round on the launcher. The trainee also had a number of 60mm mortar rounds hanging from his pistol belt which I thought was rather dangerous to say the least. I will see if I can find a copy of the photo. I believe the M76 Grenade launcher was primarily used by the USMC. I dont recall any being issued the US Army unit I served with. The 40mm M79 Grenade launcher (Boop Tube) and later the M209 was the primary grenade launchers during my service.

--fjruple

[browningautorifle]

60 mm mortar bombs won't go off until the inertia arms the fuze. Hanging from a belt would be more dangerous for your feet...

[RCS]

Bill Ricca has a short article that he wrote about the service use of the M76 grenade launcher. He states that as the M14 was replaced in the army units with the M16 and the M79 long before the USMC units, giving the impression that only the USMC used the M76 grenade launcher. Anyone interested should check William J. Ricca Suplus Sales and read the article concerning the M76

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Bill has a lot of other good info on several other things, and full articles too.

[RCS]

I believe these boxes were issued one per platoonAttachment 59223Attachment 59224Attachment 59225

[Rhpd201]

That makes sense. Thanks Chris

[Rhpd201]

Never having been in combat my thoughts may be off base. It seems to me that not having to carry two types of cartridges would be a plus. It also seems to me that unloading the rifle and loading a blank take time that could be avoided. The faster you could launch the grenade the better.