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The Crazy Weapon That Can Fire One Grenade Per Second
The Mk 19 belt-fed automatic grenade launcher
Everyone knows about machine guns, but what about a machine grenade launcher? There is perhaps no weapon better to demonstrate the lethality of modern warfare than the Mk 19 fully-automatic grenade launcher. This weapon takes the belt-fed mechanics of a traditional machine gun, developed in the early 20th century, and replaces standard ammunition with 40 mm grenades that explode on impact. The result is something truly terrifying.
The Mk 19 grenade launcher is a weapon that most people aren’t aware exists. It is similar to a modern autocannon, but it can be mounted to the top of light vehicles (like Humvees or Jeeps), or it can be carried by a crew of two or three and deployed on a tripod. The Mk 19 works best in an overwatch position supporting nearby infantry.
The Mk 19 boasts a maximum range of over 2 kilometers, but its most effective range is 1,500 meters or roughly a mile. The Mk 19 has enough stopping power to pop lightly armored vehicles, and it will absolutely decimate nearby uncovered infantry.
The most impressive feature of the Mk 19 is its rate of fire. This weapon can fire a grenade every second for a sustained burst of 60 rounds per minute. (Though belts only contain 32 or 48 grenades.)…
