Some of The Worlds 40 mm Grenades By : Emeric Daniau COUNTRY : KOREA, SOUTH TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HE, K200 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By the Korea Explosives Company to improve upon its K801 model. DESCRIPTION : The K200 grenade is similar to the M406 pattern in general layout, but differs in manufacturing details. The projectile, instead of being a hemispherical-based body, is a tubular body closed at the rear by a near-spherical prefragmented explosive container, and at the front by an impact fuze which connects to the explosive unit by the fuze magazine. The fuze is covered by the usual light metal ogive or nose cap, which is secured to the forward edge of the projectile body. The fuze is the KM777, of similar pattern to the US M551. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 98.8 mm Round weight: 226 g Payload: Comp B Arming distance: 14-28 m Muzzle velocity: 75 m/s Max range: 400 m Lethal radius: 5 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Korea Explosives Company COUNTRY : AUSTRIA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HE/Fragmentation 92 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Arges for Austrian Army and also for export. DESCRIPTION : The Type 5213 uses a fragmentation sleeve filled with approximately 1,000 steel balls. This is placed between the wall of the projectile body and a `tamping sleeve' which surrounds the high-explosive filler. The object of the tamping sleeve is to ensure a build-up and sudden release of energy, so that the fragments are dispersed at a high velocity and in a controlled pattern. A base fuze is fitted, which also contains a delayed arming element and a self-destruction mechanism. Should the grenade miss or fail in any way, self-destruction will take place 15 seconds after firing. A patented ignition system is used, which provides a high degree of consistency in pressure and velocity. A round-to-round deviation in velocity of only 1 m/s is claimed. SPECIFICATIONS : Round length: 102 mm Round weight: 265 g Projectile weight: 190 g Payload: 28 g RDX Arming distance: 11-19 m Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Armaturen GesmbH COUNTRY : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Cartridge, 40 mm, HE, M406 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : The M406 was the original service cartridge issued with the M79 grenade launcher in 1957. It was developed by the US Army Ballistic Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground between 1950 and 1953. DESCRIPTION : The M406 uses an alloy projectile body to support a nose impact fuze (protected by a light metal ogive or nose cap) and a spherical prefragmented steel container holding the bursting charge. The fuze magazine protrudes into the fragmentation container so as to initiate the high explosive. The aluminium cartridge case is semi-rimmed, with a percussion cap pressed into the rear. Forward of this cap, the interior of the case is shaped into a small propellant chamber which is provided with vents to the remaining space within the case. On firing, the propellant burns inside this chamber at high pressure, and the gas vents to the interior of the cartridge case where it expands to provide a low-pressure impulse to the projectile. The case is crimped to the projectile body allowing pressure to build up to approximately 3,000 lbs/in{2} before the projectile pulls free. This provides a degree of consistency in chamber pressure and velocity. The fuze M551 is a direct action impact fuze with delayed arming. In its original form it was the `Achilles heel' of the system, since it occupied about half the space inside the projectile and was grossly unreliable, some 40 per cent of fuzes failing to function on impact. Subsequent modification and redesign improved the reliability, although the size remained the same. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 102.7 mm Round weight: 245 g Projectile weight: 170 g Payload: ca 35 g TNT Arming distance: 15 m Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m Lethal radius: 5 m STATUS : Obsolete, but may still be encountered in the hands of guerrilla forces. COMPANY NAME : US Army contractors COUNTRY : POLAND Cartridge, 40 mm, HE, NGO-74 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Dezamet to provide ammunition for the Polish Model 1974 launcher (an M203 type attached to the AKM rifle). DESCRIPTION : This appears to be a facsimile of the US M403 round, with a few small differences to facilitate manufacture in Poland. The explosive is contained in a spherical steel container, pre-notched to provide regular fragmentation, and the impact fuze is similar to the US M551. The cartridge uses the same ignition and propulsion system. The Polish manufacturers quote a high-pressure figure of 100 MPa and a low-pressure of 20 MPa. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 102.7 mm Round weight: 250 g Projectile weight: 193 g Payload: 35 g explosive A-IX-1 Muzzle velocity: 78 m/s Max range: 400 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Zaklady Metalowe Dezamet COUNTRY : COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES Cartridge, 40 mm, HE, VOG-25 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Russian GP-25 launcher (M 203 type fitted to AKM and AK-74 rifles). DEVELOPMENT : By Soviet government establishments for use with the GL-25 launcher. DESCRIPTION : The VOG-25 grenade consists of a steel body which is externally formed into five obturation and fragmentation grooves; a light alloy front body and nose, through which the tip of the impact fuze protrudes; and a propellant chamber formed as part of the rear body. The lower portion of the body is loaded with high explosive, and closed by the fuze, which is a direct action impact type with delayed arming. The fuze is retained in place, and the projectile given ballistic shape, by the front body/nose cap. The propellant chamber is a short cylindrical section protruding from the base of the body. It contains the propellant charge and is closed by a disc perforated with one central hole surrounded by 10 holes in a circle. The central hole is closed by a percussion cap. On firing, the cap is struck by the firing mechanism of the launcher, igniting the propellant. This burns inside the container at high pressure, and then vents through the 10 holes into the chamber of the launcher, achieving the same high- or low-pressure effect as the US 40 mm grenade cartridge case. SPECIFICATIONS : self-contained round Projectile weight: 250 g Payload: 48 g high explosive Muzzle velocity: 76.5 m/s Max range: 400 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : VO GED, General Export for Defence COUNTRY : COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES Cartridge, 40 mm, HE Airburst, VOG-25P TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Russian GP-25 launcher (M203 type, attached to AKM and AK-74 rifles). DEVELOPMENT : By Soviet government establishments to provide effective airburst ammunition for the GP-25 launcher. DESCRIPTION : The VOG-25P differs considerably from the VOG-25 described previously. The main body is cylindrical and multigrooved for fragmentation and obturation. At the rear of the body is the same type of propellant container described for the VOG-25. The front of the body has a light metal truncated cone as an ogive, from which the body and nose of the fuze protrudes for some distance. On striking the ground the impact fuze fires a small charge of smokeless powder, this blows the main body of the grenade back into the air. As it does so, a short delay unit is ignited, and after the grenade has risen about 1.5 m into the air this delay burns through and initiates the high-explosive charge. The rebounding effect is claimed to work on all types of terrain, hard or soft, and at any range. SPECIFICATIONS : self-contained round Projectile weight: 278 g Payload: 37 g high explosive Muzzle velocity: 75 m/s Max range: 400 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : VO GED, General Export for Defence COUNTRY : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HV, HE, M383 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT: Automatic grenade launchers of the Mk 19 type. DEVELOPMENT : By the US Army Ballistic Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, to provide a higher velocity, longer ranging round for use with helicopter-borne launchers in the late 1960s. DESCRIPTION: Whilst adhering to the same general appearance as the low-velocity cartridge, the high-velocity is slightly longer, using a heavier and longer projectile, and has a different propulsion system, sometimes called the `single chamber system' though this is a misnomer. The cartridge is stronger and has a much thicker base, into which the forward part of the spherical high-pressure chamber is formed; the rear of the chamber is provided by the screw-in primer plug. Vents lead from this enlarged chamber to the interior of the cartridge case, and the empty space beneath the projectile is much less than that found in the low-velocity rounds. The projectile has a long, cylindrical body filled with high explosive and capped by a thin metal ballistic cap or ogive, beneath which is the impact fuze. On firing, the propellant burns at high pressure in the first chamber and the gas leaks out into the case, as with the low-velocity round. The difference lies in the larger quantity or propellant, the greater ratio of high- to low-pressure space, and different venting characteristics, all of which provide a higher final chamber pressure and thus greater velocity and range. By the same token, the high-velocity round cannot be used in low-velocity weapons, due to the considerably greater pressure and recoil energy. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 53 mm high-velocity Round length: 112 mm Round weight: ca 350 g Arming distance: 15 m Muzzle velocity: 242 m/s Maximum range: 2,200 m STATUS : Obsolescent. COMPANY NAME : US Government contractors COUNTRY : SOUTH AFRICA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HV, HE, M8842A1 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Automatic grenade launchers such as the Mk 19 Mod 0. DEVELOPMENT : By Swartklip products to meet a requirement from the South African Defence Force. DESCRIPTION : This is the usual fixed round; the projectile body contains a steel fragmentation assembly and an impact fuze and is fitted with a copper driving band. The fuze assembly is concealed by the normal light metal ogive or nose cap. The rounds are supplied in linked belts for use in automatic launchers. SPECIFICATIONS : Round length:112 mm Round weight: 330 g Payload: 45 g RDX Arming distance: 14-61 m Muzzle velocity: 242 m/s Max range: 2,200 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Swartklip Products COUNTRY : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TITLE : Cartridge. 40 mm, HEDP, M433 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DESCRIPTION : This is the usual fixed round, with the projectile composed of an aluminium body with driving band and a hollow aluminium nose cap. The body holds a shaped charge with a copper cone liner, and ahead of this protected by the nose cap, is a Fuze, PIBD, M550. This fuze has delayed arming and, when functioned on impact, fires a small shaped charge in the fuze magazine. This directs its jet backwards to strike a detonating unit located at the apex of the shaped charge cone. This detonates and initiates the shaped charge filling, the energy from which is directed forward to the target. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 102.7 mm Round weight: 230 g Projectile payload: 45 g Comp A5 Arming distance: 14-27 m Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m Perforation: >55 mm at 0¯ STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Milan Army Ammunition Plant COUNTRY : GERMANY TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HEDP, DM12 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : M79, M203 and similar low-velocity launchers DEVELOPMENT : By Rheinmetall GmbH to provide a German equivalent to the US M433 HEDP cartridge. DESCRIPTION : This is similar to, and interoperable with, the US M433 round. It uses a copper shaped charge cone inside a prefragmented body, but differs from the M433 by using a base fuze with mechanical self-destruction element. The base of the projectile is of aluminium, carrying the plastic driving band and the fuze. The cartridge case is also of aluminium, and there is a shear connection between case and projectile which ensures separation at a specific gas pressure, providing a very constant muzzle velocity and hence excellent consistency and ccuracy. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 102.7 mm Round weight: ca 250 g Projectile weight: 220 g Payload: RDX/Wax Arming distance: 9-15 m Muzzle velocity: 78 m/s Max range: ca 400 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Rheinmetall GmbH COUNTRY : AUSTRIA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HE/DP 92 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Arges for supply to the Austrian Army and for export. DESCRIPTION : This generally resembles other HEDP grenades, insofar as it uses a shaped charge surrounded by a fragmentation device. However, the fragmentation system in this instance uses some 1,000 steel balls 2 to 2.3 mm in diameter set into a jacket surrounding the explosive portion of the shaped charge. There is also a tamping sleeve between the explosive and the fragmentation jacket, ensuring that there is a sufficient pressure build up before the fragments are released, giving them high velocity and good dispersion. A patented ignition system ensures a high degree of consistency in chamber pressure and hence in muzzle velocity; a deviation of 1 m/s in velocity is claimed. A base fuze with delayed arming and self-destruction is fitted at the rear of the projectile. Should the projectile miss its target, self-destruction will take place after 15 seconds. SPECIFICATIONS : Round length: 102 mm Round weight: 265 g Projectile weight: 190 g Payload: 20 g RDX Arming distance: 11-19 m Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m Perforation: min 25 mm homogeneous steel armour STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Armaturen GesmbH COUNTRY : AUSTRIA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HE/HL 93 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Arges for supply to the Austrian Army and for export. DESCRIPTION : The HE/HL 93 is a shaped charge grenade intended for the attack of armoured targets. It contains the usual type of conical liner, together with a delayed-arming base fuze and a self-destruction device. SPECIFICATIONS : Round length: 102 mm Round weight: 265 g Projectile weight: 190 g Payload: 30 g HE Arming distance: 11-19 m Self-destruction: after approx 15 s Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m Perforation: min 60 mm homogeneous steel armour at normal STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Armaturen GesmbH COUNTRY : SINGAPORE TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HEDP, S401 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Chartered Industries for Singapore's armed forces and for export. DESCRIPTION : This is a locally designed and produced equivalent of the US M433 dual-purpose grenade. It uses a shaped charge surrounded by a fragmentation sleeve, and is fitted with a locally designed PIBD Fuze SF601. The propulsion system is also based on the standard US pattern. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 109 mm Round weight: 240 g Payload: Comp A5 Arming distance: 15 m Muzzle velocity: 75 m/s Max range: 400 m Perforation: 63 mm MS plate at normal STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Chartered Industries of Singapore FIGURA 14: Cartridge, 40 mm, HEDP, S401 COUNTRY : SINGAPORE TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HV, HEDP, S411 TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : High-velocity automatic grenade launchers of the Mk 19 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Chartered Industries to provide a suitable high-velocity cartridge for their CIS 40-AGL automatic grenade launcher. DESCRIPTION : This is a locally designed grenade which is generally based upon the US M383, with a large capacity body and more powerful propulsion system. The internal arrangements are of the usual dual-purpose type, with a shaped charge surrounded by a fragmentation body. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 53 mm high velocity Round length: 112 mm Round weight: 350 g Payload: Comp A5 Arming distance: 14-40 m Muzzle velocity: 242 m/s Max range: 2,200 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Chartered Industries of Singapore COUNTRY : SOUTH AFRICA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HEHC TYPE : 40 mm High-Explosive Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Swartklip Products to meet a South African Defence Force requirement for a dual-purpose round. DESCRIPTION : Although called `HE Hollow Charge' (HEHC), this is to the same general pattern as the HEDP rounds described previously. It uses a shaped charge surrounded by a fragmenting body so as to provide anti-armour and anti-personnel effects in a single projectile. The propulsion system is also of the conventional low-velocity pattern. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 103 mm Round weight: 210 g Projectile weight: 163 g Arming distance: 9-28 m Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m Perforation: >55 mm armour; >400 mm concrete STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Swartklip Products COUNTRY : AUSTRIA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, Smoke 93 TYPE : 40 mm Screening smoke grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Arges to provide a tactical screening smoke round for the Austrian Army and for export. DESCRIPTION : The Smoke 93 uses a fuzeless projectile, filled with pyrotechnic smoke composition and with a simple ignition relay in the base. On firing the relay unit is lit, burns through and ignites the smoke composition, so that smoke emission commences about 1 second after leaving the muzzle. Weight and dimensions conform to the HE cartridge so that the trajectory is the same and no sighting correction need be made. SPECIFICATIONS : Round length: 102 mm Round weight: 255 g Projectile weight: ca 180 g Payload: HC smoke composition Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m Duration of smoke emission: ca 20 s STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Armaturen GesmbH COUNTRY : AUSTRIA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, RP92 TYPE : 40 mm Screening smoke grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Arges to provide an incendiary and screening smoke round for the Austrian Army and for export. DESCRIPTION : This grenade is filled with Red Phosphorus (RP) and is primarily considered an incendiary weapon, though it also provides a useful smoke screen effect. Against any moderately hard target it will break up on impact and liberate the contents, but should it impact on soft ground and fail to break, then a pyrotechnic delay unit will burst it open some 8 seconds after firing. SPECIFICATIONS : Round length: 102 mm Round weight: 220 g Projectile weight: 145 g Payload: 45 g RP Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Armaturen GesmbH COUNTRY : SOUTH AFRICA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, RP Smoke TYPE : 40 mm Screening smoke grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Swartklip Products to provide a screening smoke and incendiary projectile for the South African Defence Force. DESCRIPTION : This is to the usual pattern for low-velocity 40 mm grenades, but the projectile is filled with pelletted Red phosphorus (RP) and a small bursting charge. On impact the charge bursts open the body of the grenade and the burning particles of RP are scattered over a radius of about 10 m. There is also a cloud of white smoke which forms an effective screen. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 103 mm Round weight: 194 g Projectile weight: 180 g Payload: RP Arming distance: 9-28 m Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 400 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Swartklip Products COUNTRY : SINGAPORE TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, HV, Smoke, S418 TYPE : 40 mm Screening smoke grenades ARMAMENT : High-velocity automatic grenade launchers of the Mk 19 type. DEVELOPMENT : By Chartered Industries to provide a smoke and marker round for use with the CIS 40 - AGL automatic grenade launcher. DESCRIPTION : This uses the same enlarged projectile and combustion system as other high-velocity rounds, but differs as the projectile is filled with red phosphorus and has a small bursting charge. On impact the fuze initiates the bursting charge, which breaks open the grenade body and disperses burning Red Phosphorus (RP) over a radius of about 15 m. A screening smoke cloud is also produced. In addition to its functions as an incendiary round and as a screening smoke round, the S418 is also used as a target marker cartridge to accompany the HV HE cartridge S412. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 53 mm high velocity Round length: 112 mm Round weight: 350 g Payload: RP Arming distance: 14-40 m Muzzle velocity: 242 m/s Maximum range: 2,200 m STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Chartered Industries of Singapore COUNTRY : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, Yellow Smoke, Ground, M636 TYPE : 40 mm Pyrotechnic Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : By US Army to provide a target indicating and signalling smoke cartridge. DESCRIPTION : This round consists of the normal alloy cartridge case and propellant system, with a carrier projectile made of plasticised paper, a plastic snap-on nose cap and a plasticised paper base plug. The body contains a pyrotechnic smoke candle, and the base plug is centrally drilled and filled with a delay composition. There is a small black powder ejection charge above the delay composition. On firing, the projectile is launched from the weapon and the propellant flash ignites the delay element in the projectile base plug. After about 8 seconds, the delay burns through and ignites the ejection charge. This ignites the smoke candle and ejects it from the projectile body, allowing it to then fall to the ground and continue to emit smoke. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Projectile length: 109 mm Projectile weight: 150 g Payload: yellow smoke composition Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s Max range: 300 m Emission time: ca 120 s STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : US Army contractors COUNTRY : KOREA, SOUTH TITLE : Cartridge, 40 mm, White Star, KM583A1 TYPE : 40 mm Pyrotechnic Grenades ARMAMENT : Low-velocity launchers of the M79 and M203 type. DEVELOPMENT : Based upon US M583 pattern, to meet Republic of Korea Army requirement and for export. DESCRIPTION : This round consists of the usual alloy cartridge case with high/low-pressure propulsion, attached to which is a base ejection projectile containing a white star canister attached to a parachute. The light metal projectile body has a rounded nose, inside which the parachute is folded; this nose cap is a press-fit into the forward end of the projectile body and is sealed by an O-ring. The parallel section of the body contains the star canister and is closed at the rear by a cast metal base which also provides the driving band for the projectile. Centrally in the base is a pyrotechnic ignition and delay, leading to a small ejection charge. On firing, the propellant flash ignites the delay unit as the projectile moves down the bore of the launcher. The delay unit burns through during flight, eventually igniting the ejection charge. This ignites the star composition and also forces the canister forward, pushing off the nose cap and releasing the parachute. This deploys in the airstream and lowers the burning star to the ground. SPECIFICATIONS : 40 x 46 mm low velocity Round length: 134 mm Round weight: 220 g Payload: 93 g illuminating composition Burst height: 183 m and QE 85¯ Burning time: >30 s Luminosity: 90,000 cd Muzzle velocity: 76 m/s STATUS : In current use. In production. COMPANY NAME : Korea Explosives Company