The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break open grenade launcher which fires a 40 x 46 mm grenade and first appeared during the Vietnam War. Because of its distinctive firing sound, it earned the nicknames of “Thumper”, “Thump-Gun” or “Blooper” among American soldiers; Australian units referred to it as the “Wombat Gun”. The M79 can fire a wide variety of 40 mm rounds, including explosive, anti-personnel, smoke, buckshot, flechette, and illumination. While largely replaced by the M203, the M79 has remained in service in many units worldwide in niche roles.
Not nearly as bad as you would think. The velocity of the rounds is slow. I’ve fired a full stocked M79 in a one handed dueling pose with no problems, and from that experience wouldn’t hesitate to fire a sawed off one.
D…dueling with m79s? Clearly I need a more exciting life that sounds fun
Grenade launchers at dawn.
Have you ever fired a buckshot or flechette round though? I imagine they’re completely different from the explosive rounds.
Just HEDP, smoke, and chalk.
Same I think. We called some of them HDHE, but I imagine that’s the same as dual purpose. I found them all to be a lot of fun. HE rounds are impressive.
What nation? To me “HD” means mustard gas, and that doesn’t sound right.
High Density High Explosive
Any idea what the round designation is? I have never come across an HDHE designated 40mm in person, and can’t find any examples online.
I do not remember. It may have been a colloquialism.
Impressive.
That thing triggered all of my “nope” sensors immediately! Good to know it’s only injuring things downrange.