I Have to get one of these!

[Mobhack]

hmm - lots of weight for a specialist role that does not come up that often?.

i dont see anything in that thing that could justify the weight penalty - best to use that weight allowance for a few bullet-trap rifle grenades and/or disposable LAWS. (Apparently the 66mm M72 LAW is making a comeback as it is light, handy and efective for tasks not involving the killing of modern MBT).

Cheers
Andy

[thatguy96]

Yes, and its odd, because both the M72A7 and the M32 grenade launcher (Milkor MGL-140 IIRC) have been brought back by the USMC primarily (though the Army has also reissued the M72 on a very limited basis), who realize the need for such weapons, especially in an urban enviornment. This is all while the US Army is in the process of developing the XM25, which is very close to the South African weapon described here. I never understood why rifle grenades were not more popular.

They give the additional range desired, better terminal effects often, and don't require a specialist weapon, often at a far cheaper rate than developing on of these things.

[Mobhack]

maybe an institutional memory of the problems of having to fiddle about with blank rounds for firing r/gren, and not having troos use a live round by mistake?.

Bullet trap R/gren have been around since the mid 70s, for 5.56mm anyway, but it took the UK army till the late 90s to introduce RGGS. However this will now be replaced with the L17 UGL (40mm H&K) - which will also (possibly?) replace the 51mm platoon mortars. I think the UGL has the advantage of accuracy at the longer ranges, but primarily it has a round ready to go that is not interfering with the proper use of the rifle.

But neither really replace a section individual weapon, like the 20mm thingy would have to.

Andy