AG-36

     Notes:  The HK-69A1 and HK-79 are well-liked by German troops.  However, with foreign deployments in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and potentially other hot spots, the troops have begun to complain about the weight of the two launchers, and the clumsy downward break of the HK-79 (something that is not a good idea when firing from the prone position).  By 1998, work had already begun on its replacement, the AG-36, and this was accelerated after German deployments in Kosovo.  The AG-36 can be deployed on or off a rifle, and opens to the side instead of the front.  In addition, the use of more advanced materials means that the AG-36 is considerably lighter than the HK-69A1.  The AG-36 is not often deployed off of a weapon, since it has no stock.  It has its own pistol grip and trigger mechanism; the trigger pull weight is described by one firearms expert as “horrendous.”  The AG-36 is specifically designed for mounting on the G-36, G-41, L-85, M-16, M-4, C-7, and C-8, but can be adapted for other assault, or battle rifles or submachineguns with the use of a kit. The AG-36 is a bit on the bulky side due to its modular construction, integral pistol grip, and side-opening mechanism.

     The US version, the M-320, needs some additional elaboration.  It is for the most part identical to the standard AG-36, however, does have several differences making it sort of a unique version of the AG-36.  The side-opening mechanism of the M-320 opens a bit more than the standard AG-36, allowing the use of several other special 40mm rounds (particularly some pyrotechnic rounds and the HUNTER reconnaissance round) which are too long to insert into a standard AG-36.  The interface kit is more flexible, allowing the M-320 to be mounted on many more weapons in the US military arsenal, to include semiautomatic shotguns and even weapons such as the M-249 SAW and M-240 GPMG.  (The interface rail is basically a slightly-modified MIL-STD-1913 rail.)  Finally, the M-320 can use a stock/pistol grip kit developed by the Picatinny Arsenal, allowing it to be used as a stand-alone weapon, as a sort of stockless “grenade pistol,” or with a snap-on sliding stock. When used off of another weapon, the interface rail can be used to mount a variety of add-on sights.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: This weapon is not available until 2005.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazine

Price

AG-36

40mm NATO Low-Velocity

1.5 kg

1 Internal

$507

 

Weapon

ROF

Round

SS

Burst

Range

IFR

AG-36

SS

APERS

1

Nil

30

Nil

 

SS

CHEM

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

Ferret

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

Flash-Bang

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

Flechette

1

Nil

55

Nil

 

SS

HE

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

HEAT

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

HEDP

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

HE Airburst

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

ILLUM

1

Nil

100

390

 

SS

WP

1

Nil

100

390

 

HK-69A1 Granatpistole

     Notes:  This weapon is designed to be a light and handy launcher for low-velocity grenades.  It is meant to cover the gap between the maximum hand grenade range and the typical minimum mortar range.  It is a single-shot break open weapon of the same concept (but not design or appearance) as the US M-79.  The weapon breaks open after depressing an unlocking lever at the rear of the receiver (which looks like an oversized hammer – the HK-69 in fact looks like it has two hammers, one smaller than the other). A fancy spent shell ejector or extractor was not used – instead, a small portion of the rear of the barrel near the breech is cut out to allow the shooter to grasp the shell. (This would become a standard design feature for Heckler & Koch low-velocity grenade launchers.) The external hammer allows for the weapon to be cocked before fire, easing the trigger pull, or an immediate second attempt to fire a misfiring shell. The HK-69A1 is supplied with a sliding retractable stock; the weapon may be fired with or without the stock extended, but recoil with the stock retracted can be a bit hard.  Sights consist of a folding ladder rear and a large hooded post front; when folded, the rear ladder sight becomes a peep sight for quick shots at short to medium range.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazine

Price

HK-69A1

40mm NATO Low-Velocity

2.62 kg

1 Internal

$500

 

Weapon

ROF

Round

SS

Burst

Range

IFR

HK-69

SS

APERS

1

Nil

50

Nil

 

SS

CHEM

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

Ferret

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

Flash-Bang

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

Flechette

1

Nil

90

Nil

 

SS

HE

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

HEAT

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

HEDP

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

HE Airburst

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

ILLUM

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

WP

1

Nil

100

420

 

HK-79

     Notes:  The HK-79 is a German-made grenade launcher similar in design and concept to the M203, and can be attached to most Western European assault and battle rifles or fitted with a stock and pistol grip.  Like the HK-69, construction is largely of steel instead of the M-203’s alloy construction. Unlike the M-203, the HK-79’s barrel swings downward from the weapon to which it is attached upon opening; this allows for rounds of any length to be slid into it (other than high-velocity 40mm rounds). The HK-79 opens with an oversized latch on the left side of the receiver, again looking like some sort of oversized, oddly-placed hammer. The HK-79 does have a sort of external hammer; it is a T-shaped handle at the rear of the HK-79’s receiver. That said, in most installations, there is very little room to actually use this external cocking mechanism. German assault rifles that have an HK-79 attached are normally appended with the nomenclature “TGS” (such as G-41A2TGS), leading to the mistaken impression that TGS is the name of this grenade launcher.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazine

Price

HK-79

40mm NATO Low-Velocity

1.5 kg

1 Internal

$450

 

Weapon

ROF

Round

SS

Burst

Range

IFR

HK-79 (On/Off Weapon)

SS

APERS

1

Nil

50

Nil

 

SS

CHEM

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

Ferret

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

Flash-Bang

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

Flechette

1

Nil

90

Nil

 

SS

HE

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

HEAT

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

HEDP

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

HE Airburst

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

ILLUM

1

Nil

100

420

 

SS

WP

1

Nil

100

420

 

H&K Grenade Machine Gun (GMG)

     Notes:  This weapon began manufacture in early1997.  It was developed to be a two-man load.  This weapon uses 40mm NATO HV ammunition, but may not fire normal 40mm grenade ammunition.  The GMG has many safeties designed to prevent accidental fire or injure the users.  Fieldstripping does not require tools, and the entire mechanism of the weapon slides out on rails for routine maintenance.  The GMG uses the standard NATO Heavy Tripod.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazine

Price

HK Grenade Machine Gun

40mm NATO High-Velocity

39.9 kg

32 Belt

$1695

 

  Ammo:  40mm NHV; Weight: (without tripod) 39.9 kg; Magazine: 32B; Price: $1695 (-/-)

Weapon

ROF

Round

SS

Burst

Range

IFR

HK Grenade Machine Gun

5

HVHE

0

2

200

2030

 

5

HVHEDP

0

2

200

2030

 

5

HVCC

0

2

230

Nil

 

HK Grenade Machine Weapon (GMW)

     Notes:  This is a lightened version of the Grenade Machine Gun described above.  It was designed to be used by infantry, and can be more readily toted by foot soldiers than the GMG.  It is otherwise similar to the GMG.  The GMW uses the NATO medium tripod. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazine

Price

HK Grenade Machine Weapon

40mm NATO High-Velocity

25.9 kg

32 Belt

$2120

 

Weapon

ROF

Round

SS

Burst

Range

IFR

HK GMW

5

HVHE

0

2

200

2030

 

5

HVHEDP

0

2

200

2030

 

5

HVCC

0

2

230

Nil