Mk 19 MOD 3
Overview
Mk 19 MOD 3
Left side view of Mk 19 MOD 3 automatic grenade launcher on a tripod for use as a crew served infantry weapon.
Source: www.world.guns.ru -
© copyright lies with original owner
1975 - present
Israel - IMI
South Korea - Daewoo
Egypt - Helwan
Turkey - MKEK
Grsp 92 (Swedish service)
K4 (South Korean service)
Description
Introduction
The Mk 19 is a late Cold War era automatic grenade launcher of US origin. It was designed in the mid-1960's and was extensively used during the late stages of the Vietnam war. The Mk 19 was the first automatic grenade launcher designed for ground use. In the USA it is designated as a grenade machine gun.
Design
The Mk 19 is a blowback operated weapon that fires the same high velocity 40mm grenades as used in the earlier M75. The belts are fed from left to right and are usually held in a box attached to the left of the weapon. Early weapons used advanced primer ignition and were found to have limited reliability. Following over a decade of improvements the design settled on the Mk 19 MOD 3 which uses a straigh blowback operation. The Mk 19 is aimed and fired using the spade grips at the rear. Iron sights are mounted on top of the weapon.
Firepower
The Mk 19 fires 40x53mm high velocity grenades from 32 or 48 round belts. A variety of grenade types is available. The standard HEDP grenades have a lethal radius of 5 m, wounding radius of 15 m and will pierce the armor of most armored vehicles. The cyclic rate of fire is 325 to 375 rpm. The practical rate of fire is 60 rounds in one minute or 40 rpm during sustain fire. The maximum range is 2 km, although the sight are gradated only to 1.500 yards. The GMG is reported to be so accurate that grenades can be launched though an individual window at a distance of over 1 km.
Users
The main user of the Mk 19 is the United States military. It was extensively used during the late stages of the Vietnam war and all subsequent conflicts. It is sometimes used on a tripod, but is mostly vehicle mounted due to its weight. The Mk 19 was also very succesful as an export product with only the Soviet AGS-17 in more widespread use.
Variants
Mk 19 MOD 3
Forward view of Mk 19 MOD 3 automatic grenade launcher on a tripod used as a crew served infantry weapon.
Source: www.defenseindustrydaily.com -
© copyright lies with original owner
Variants of the Mk 19
The Mk 19 is an automatic grenade launcher that fires 40x53mm high velocity rounds. It was produced in a number of models during its development, but the only model ever used in quantity is the Mk 19 MOD 3.
Mk 19 MOD 0: The original Mk 19 featured a long box shaped body and lacked ergonomics. It was tested in 1966 and was found unreliable and unsafe.
Mk 19 MOD 1: Improved model with reduced length, redesigned feed tray and spade grips. Field tested in 1972.
Mk 19 MOD 2: Prototype model with a much smaller design but was never produced due to limited reliability.
Mk 19 MOD 3: The final and most common Mk 19 model. Introduced in 1976. It uses straight blowback operation and has a longer barrel with a flash hider.
Details
Media
Mk 19 MOD 3
Mk 19 MOD 3 in use with Polish army in 2009.
Source: www.mon.gov.pl
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Mk 19 MOD 3
US Navy personnel training with Mk 19 MOD 3 automatic grenade launcher in 2003.
Source: U.S. Navy (Tom Witham)
Copyright: public domain
Mk 19 MOD 3
US marines training with Mk 19 MOD 3 automatic grenade launcher in 2000.
Source: USMC (PFC. Andrew Revelos)
Copyright: public domain
Mk 19 MOD 3
Rear view of vehicle mounted Mk 19 MOD 3 automatic grenade launcher.
Source: US Army (photographer unknown)
Copyright: public domain
Mk 19 MOD 3
Mk 19 MOD 3 in use on US riverine patrol craft.
Source: www.world.guns.ru
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
M75
The Mk 19 uses the 40x53mm high velocity grenade developed for the helicopter mounted M75 grenade launcher.