Heckler & Koch GMG

GMG
A GMG of the German Army.
Type	Automatic grenade launcher
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	1990s–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed	1992–1995
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	1996–present[ citation needed ]
Variants	GMW
Specifications
Mass	28.8 kg Gun, 10.7 kg tripod and 8 kg softmount.
Length	1,090 mm
Barrel  length	415 mm
Width	226 mm (without ammunition box)
Height	208 mm
Cartridge	40x53 mm
Action	API Blowback
Rate of fire	340 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	241 m/s
Effective firing range	1,500 m
Maximum firing range	2,200 m
Feed system	32-round disintegrating, closed-link belt
Sights	Reflex sight and back-up leaf sight

The GMG (Granatmaschinengewehr or "grenade machine gun") is an automatic grenade launcher developed by Heckler & Koch for the German Army. It is also often referred to as GMW or GraMaWa (Granatmaschinenwaffe). ^[1]

Design details

The GMG fires 40 mm grenades at a rate of about 340 rounds per minute. ^[2] It is belt-fed, and can be loaded from either side, making it easy to mount on most platforms. With a variety of day and night sights available, the GMG can be used for most medium-range infantry support situations.

The weapon is 109 cm long and has a 415 mm rifled barrel and a 470 × 160 × 250 mm ammunition box. The gun cycles on a recoil-operated blow-back basis. It weighs 29 kg; the tripod is an additional 11 kg.

Testing and operation

The HK GMG was tested in the Yuma desert in Arizona in 1997 to be able to compete for United States contracts.

Users

Map with Heckler & Koch GMG users in blue

• Belgium: Mounted on the army's Jankel FOX Rapid Reaction Vehicles ^[3]
• Canada: 304 ordered. ^[4] Designated as the C16 Close Area Suppression Weapon (CASW) and licence-built by Rheinmetall Defence Canada. ^[5]
• Finland ^[6] Locally known as 40 KRKK 2005
• Germany ^[7]
• Greece ^[7]
• Ireland: Irish Army ^[8]
• Latvia ^{[7] [9]}
• Lithuania: Lithuanian Armed Forces. ^[10]
• Malaysia: Used by Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. ^[11]
• Netherlands ^{[12] [13]}
• New Zealand ^[14]
• Norway ^[15]
• Poland: Wojska Specjalne.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Portugal: Used by Portuguese Army, Portuguese Marine Corps and National Republican Guard. ^{[7] [16]}
• Slovenia ^[17]
• Sri Lanka: Used by Sri Lanka Armoured Corps on its Main Battle Tanks & Used by Sri Lanka Navy on its Fast Attack Crafts.
•   Ukraine: 100 donated by Germany in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as of July 2024. ^[18]
• United Kingdom: 44 purchased in 2006 for use in Afghanistan and Iraq. ^[19] Designated as L134A1.^{[ citation needed ]}
• United States: Used by USSOCOM. ^[19]

• 
  Another GMW/GMG of the German Army.
• 
  HK GMG on display.
• 
  GMG German armed reconnaissance vehicle Fennek
• 
  Manned GMG in Finnish service.
• 
  GMG remotely operated on board a GTK Boxer
• 
  GMW/GMG of the Royal Malaysian Navy on display.

See also

• List of API blowback firearms
• Comparison of automatic grenade launchers

Notes

1. "Heckler & Koch :: Home". Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
2. "GMG Technical Data". Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
3. admin (4 July 2018). "First production of Jankel FOX Rapid Reaction Vehicles to Belgian Special Regiment". MilitaryLeak. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
4. "Defence". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
5. "Too Late? Canada's CASW for 40mm GMGs". Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
6. "Paiste07 - Tekniikkaa - päivän vempele". tietokannat.mil.fi. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009.
7. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN   978-0-7106-2869-5.
8. Thompson, Leroy (1 March 2013). "Ireland's Army Rangers (page 1)". Tactical-Life. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
9. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.mod.gov.lv. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
10. "Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Granatsvaidžiai ir prieštankiniai ginklai » Automatinis granatsvaidis H&K GMG 40 mm". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
11. Dan, Alex (9 February 2016). "PASKAL Malaysian Special Forces Weapons". Military Factory (Small Arms). Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
12. "Special Forces - Wapens" (in Dutch). Netherlands Legermuseum: Collectie Informatie Centrum. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
13. "AGW, automatische granaatwerper 40 mm" (in Dutch). Netherlands Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
14. "NZ Army" (PDF). NZ Army News (428). February 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
15. "Forsvarsdepartementet får 10 millioner kroner i bot". Aftenposten. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
16. "GNR HK GMG".^{[ permanent dead link ]}
17. "HECKLER & KOCH GMG Automatic Grenade Launcher". Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
18. "Military support for Ukraine | Federal Government". Website of the Federal Government | Bundesregierung. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
19. "HEAVY HITTERS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.

External links

• Official page Archived 27 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
• HKPro The 40 mm GMG