The other day a child asked me "Uncle Frank, in what tactical situations is it appropriate to carry a grenade launcher at the fireteam level?"
And i said unto them
"Do not be silly, child. Grenade launchers are fucking awesome and everyone should carry them all the time."
I don't know anything about guns but this looks like it's very front heavy even before you loaf a grenade in there. Is it? Or are they doing something like light composites at rhe front and heavy iron and wood at the back?
- Show
They're much less bulky without the grenade launcher. Old school aks aren't the most ergonomic guns in the world, but they're not bad either. Modern ones are usually lighter and easier to handle thanks to modern plastics and composites.
Major design considerations with the ak were being able to be cleaned and repaired in the field, as well as having big and easy to use controls so soldiers fighting in winter could operate them without removing their gloves.
Back in the day the ak series was considered vastly more reliable than competing assault rifles, remaining functional in conditions that would brick an M16. Modern rifles are all about the same in terms of reliability, but back in the day the ak series had a reputation for going bang in situations that would choke others.
Thanks. I'm obviously familiar with the rep of the AK and it's ability to work basically anywhere (cold and snow, desert and sand etc) although I didn't know specifically about the gloves aspect. Cool.
Grenade launchers definitely add a bunch of weight - I'm not sure what this model is exactly, but the M203 for example is 1.36 kg, the grenades themselves vary based on the specific model, but let's say around 0.25 kg per round. The vz. 58 is a 2.91 kg rifle, so that's over half the weight of the full rifle, hanging off the front.
That's why you don't just issue a grenade launcher to each guy in the squad, but you usually have a designated "grenadier" who gets to lug around the heavier rifle, and you also carry the launcher unloaded and only put in the grenade right before firing.
That's why you don't just issue a grenade launcher to each guy in the squad, but you usually have a designated "grenadier" who gets to lug around the heavier rifle,
That makes a lot of sense and I imagine they're not taking point and doing quick target acquisition.
