M79: The Iconic "Bloop Tube" 40mm Grenade Launcher
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- Опубліковано 29 чер 2024
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Combat experience with the bazooka rocket launcher in World War Two and its larger versions in the Korean War convinced the US military that a better weapon was needed to give front-line troops a direct-fire way to attack enemy strong points. The bazooka was bulky, not particularly accurate, and created a lot of backlist signature when fired. This led to a multi-part development effort involving design of a small grenade body, reliable but cheap fusing system, and a cartridge design that could launch it.
The result was the 40x46mm grenade. It uses a "high-low" system (originally developed by Rheinmetall during World War Two) in which a powder charge is fired in a small compartment within the cartridge case. The initial pressure in this compartment is some 35,000 psi, which is plenty high to ensure complete and repeatable powder burn. At peak pressure, the internal compartment ruptures, allowing the propellant gasses to expand into the full case volume, which lowers the pressure to about 3,000 psi. This lower pressure is safe to use with an aluminum barrel, and propels the grenade at about 250 fps, giving it a range of about 400 yards without generating excessive recoil.
The M79 proved to be very accurate and reliable. It's downside was the need for a grenadier to carry a backup sidearm, as the M79 could not be used at close range. Almost as soon as it was introduced, work began on developing a launcher which could be attached to the M16 service rifle. This would first be the XM-148, and then ultimately the M203 that would replace the M79 in service. M79 launchers can still be found all over the world, however, as they are robust and reliable.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
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I first read this as "The Iconic Noob Tube" and couldn't believe the crossover reference, before I realized I was just dumb instead.
Dude how've you been I swear I was just thinking about your channel yesterday.
nice to see u here, when the next vid?
Neeeeeeeerd
NEEEEEEEEEERD
anyways please upload more
ay
*sees check mark* NeVeR eXpEcTeD yOu HeRe
The US Military just love their shotguns. Even when they make a grenade launcher they still make it a shotgun.
Yes.
Who doesn't love a good shotgun?
Joe Biden endorses the support of shotguns. You don’t need a machine gun. You don’t need 30 rounds. Buy a shotgun baby.
Army: "Alright, DOD, did you make that grenade launcher like we asked?"
DOD: "Yes!"
Army: *Looks at the M79* ".... You made another shotgun, didn't you?"
DOD: "Sure did!"
Hey we turned our 120mm armed MBTs into giant shotguns.
"There's two parts to the gun: the bloop, and the tube"
and what happens when you combine them together?
@@impofan6915 kaboom..?
@@impofan6915 blooptube
@@rayp.8364 Yes rico.
Only Ian would do a video about the M79 whilst hiding a china lake on his lap the entire video.
Fucking spoilers
@@sassycrusader3439 Are you surprised? Cuz we sure as hell weren't.
The entire video? So you didn't notice the very obvious cross-dissolve at 14:38 ?
China lake??? 🤔
You can't forget china lake if you're mentioning m79 (i.e.: the "thumper").
Ian just casually busting out one of the only China Lake launchers at the end, cause that's how he do
I ended it 9 seconds early, and first read your comment as a joke, then reread it and Oh My Sweet Baby Jesus its a China Lake!
He isn't called gun Jesus for nothing.
Not a china lake😒
He's got a video on the China Lake!
I went through Infantry school at Ft. Lewis, Washington at the beginning of 1968. We trained on the M79, each of us getting to fire three rounds at a pillbox aperture. We were told not to wrap our thumb around the stock when firing. I never fired one again because I was sent to an armor unit (C 3-35 Armor) in Germany.
Can't remember why they told us that. Does anyone remember hearing the explanation for that instruction?
Great video, and it was easy to be accurate quickly with the M79.
We had an 'incident' in the persian gulf on a MEU in the mid 90's and everyone on the ship was scrambling at the armory to get armed up. As a marine I had no idea what the navy actually had, so I was both shocked and enthralled when they started handing out M79 launchers through the armory window to sailors. I was like 'whoahhh' and I suddenly heard a half dozen vietnam era CCR songs in my head.
I was jealous of the navy that day.
I was thinking 'White Rabbit' "one pill makes you small. . ." Very, very small, chunks.
@@Hawk1966 Chunky salsa!
Shits getting real when CCR starts playing....
We also are the only ones still using a M14 variant
@@IronReece13 I saw a guy get hit with that lead for the mooring lines they shoot from the M14 to pull the ship into the dock... I think it was Kenya? I heard it killed the guy, either way he was folded up bad like a Beetle Bailey comic
The M79 has so many nicknames. One of my friends has a video of him using a M79 (he called it the "blooper") in vietnam. Apparantly someone was filming his unit when they were attacking a building full of enemy soldiers. The cameraman got a shot of my friend shooting a grenade into a window high up on the building (2nd or 3rd story), the grenade goes off, and a body flies back out the window. The crazy thing is that my friend didn't know he was being filmed, and found the footage while watching history channel. It was like "Hey, that guy looks like me. Hey, that IS me!"
Happen to know the name of the documentary/series?
I'd like to know the name of the documentary too.
3 story building? Sounds like the Tet offensive. Otherwise doubt US troops in Nam saw much combat where multistory buildings were involved.
where can I watch?
Nice story. Without the reference though stays a story sorry
"They experimented with multi barrel versions" so what you're saying is that somewhere in a long forgotten basement in a forlorn government warehouse there exists a real life loch and load from tf2?
We raided the wrong area
i guess the military found a lack of dispensers needing to be taken care of on the battlefield
Yes
2barrels and 3shots, a miricle of science
@@spoi525 correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't it originally only have 2 shots, and then they buffed it?
WHAT MAKES ME A GOOD DEMOMAN ?!
IF I WERE A BAD DEMOMAN, I WOULDNT BE SITTIN' HERE, DISCUSSIN' IT WITH YA NOW WOULD I?
@@sillylittleowlguy2392 One crossed wire, one wayward pinch of potassium chlorate, one errant twitch, and KA-BLOOIE!
@@ksfallenangel5770 i've got a manky eye
I'm a black scottish cyclops
The got more fecking sea monsters in the Great Lochness that they've got the likes of me
FREEEEEDOOOOOOM!
Arguably his weapon is closer to the Milkor M32, which Ian also has a video on.
When your personal entry code doesn't work:
"Let me try mine."
I see what u did here
'' Human Casualties : 0.0 ''
I love that:) well done.
A wall is just a door with a different type of key.
@@silverback7133 I love it.
I loved my M-79. Just couldn't think of a way to sneak it home after Vietnam
My dad said when they took his m14 and was issued a m16 it felt like a plastic BB gun he said he asked if they was just going to shoot them to piss them off instead of kill them he never felt safe he said with that weapon ? And he wasn’t in combat much longer after they issued it to him
Did you shoot at tanks with that?
Ammo might be any issue.
@@timwest2664 it was a good weapon
If you got good ammo
And the cleaning kit that was issued with it got to you
I carried it my first month in the HERD in the HIGHLANDS. It was a "cherry " weapon. Not real useful in the jungles. The worst part about humping it was having several claymore bags filled with HE strapped all over you and your ruck. They came up with a shotgun vest later which would have been much better. As with all of the weapons from my youth I would love to have some fun with them now. A 3RD BATT 173RD AIRBORNE. AATW JOE RYAN
Ian's pull-out-from-under-the-table game is *too* strong.
I really wish I had Ian's dark and mysterious ability to summon rare and exotic weapons from his crotch.
They are all his children
@@FitzPenn 🤣
Umm
“Is that a China Lake grenade launcher in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
I have that ability, but only with guns, not rifles.
Best weapon to defend a bridge outpost while stoned outta your mind. RIP Roach
Kudos for the Apocalypse Now reference. "You stepped on my face!"
"I thought you were dead!"
"You thought wrong, damnit!"
"Hey soldier, who's in command here?"
That Charlie was talking too much about GI
@@MongooseTacticool "AINT YOU ? ? ?"
@@peterbenson2185 "He's close, man. He's reeeeeeal close."
When I carried the blooper on night patrols I inserted a bee hive round which had a multitude of tiny arrows for close range in counters. The M-79 was a great weapon.
wow, I'm old school ( USMC 1971-74) and never knew the M79 had a flechette round ! I only saw them with arty and 106's.. thanks for that info... good to know.
@@safriedrich1631Yup. Bloopers did and so did y’all’s Cobra-copters. Big flechette rockets that would pop orange smoke after detonating at a certain distance. Basically an airburst rocket.
I’m only 24, never was in the service. Always loved military and political history/affairs though. I got to see them “in action” on a video from OperatorDrewski a couple months ago. Just look up that name along with the terms “Arma 3” and “Vietnam” and it should pop up.
My conclusion is that I’d hate to be on the receiving end of it. 😂
My father was a Combat Engineer in Vietnam. He had the standard M16, the standard .45 1911, and one of these. He never fired it except at the range, which he claimed was some of the most fun he had ever had.
"Hey soldier, do you know who's in command here?"
"Yeah"
“go get the Roach!”
I would like the comment but it’s at 179
Phuq Yu GI !
I got somthin fo yo ass now!
@@victorwaddell6530 F*** you GI! F*** you GI! *Roach aims and fires off a round. Boom!* Silence... ^_^
“Paterson fire a warning shot!”
“Sir this is an M79 grenade lau-“
“Ah potato potato just fire it.”
i get what this is referencing but it's not an m79 in the gif or video or whatever, its an m32 rotary grenade launcher which is very different than this
@@nutball3756 thats why he changed the quote
Potato potato
its a warning to whoever survives
Well on the bright side you wont need a second shot
I was in the infantry in the mid-60s, and we had these. I was a medic, and “supported” the training ranges. We took a platoon out to the M79 range and on arrival, we saw one of those big German bunny rabbits out grazing on the range. The Captain said, “give me a gun!” and proceeded to fire a round at the bunny.
The critter looked up, hopped a few feet, and started grazing again. The officer fired about 5 rounds at the bunny, never so much as ruffling a hair, and finally the bunny hopped off into the surrounding wood.
No one was very impressed.....
One of my favorite scenes from "Apocalypse Now" : "He's close Man, real close".
I thought the M79 was a replacement for rifle grenades and the LAW was the replacement for the Bazooka.
“Get the Roach, man, get the Roach!”
Haha "Get the Roach!" Love how he calmly sights in the right elevation, squeezes a round off, it explodes, VC yelling goes quiet, with the Roach saying "Muthafucker" while dropping the spent casing. A nice case of a grunt burnt out at both ends long ago-the type of man Colonel Kurtz wants and says could easily win the war instead of 'high school rock n rollers with one foot in the grave'.
Same, the M72 (or, "the 66") was your bazooka, the M79 ("the wombat gun") was a rifle grenade with a proper sight.
I never wanted anything to do with the 66, but never got to spend anywhere near as much time with the wombat gun as I wanted.
They are the Hummer3 of the rifle grenade and Bazooka
Also one of my favorite scenes of “Apocalypse Now”. I thought it was another epic reminder for Captain Willard just how insane the Vietnam War had become.
"From Bloop to Brrt"
Ian can use that for his next book title.
wasn't this also called a thumper?
@@karstenalbers2255 i actually don't know...i wouldn't be surprised. i know if i had to carry an m79 i'd name it Thumper.
@@todesgeber Had to? sir I would consider it an honor to have one lol! cant wait for the china lake too
@@karstenalbers2255 yep, this is Thumper.
Ian usually doesn't tease his videos, but when he does he is excited.
Aroused
I'll never forget the good'ol wombat gun with that distinctly satisfying "thoomp" sound. You'll notice in the movie Terminator 2, Arnold has the M79 and when he loads an HE into it, it makes that sound. That's actually what it sounds like when it's being fired, not being loaded. I guess James Cameron thought it didn't sound powerful or intimidating enough, so he changed it.
Glad you profiled this weapon! My father designed it. I have the original mylars from Varo Corp. In Garland, Tx.
Wow
Nice
Very
Garland? You're right up the road from me! Your old man designed a very cool and iconic weapon btw.
@@voskresene thank you sir! He did a whole lot more for the D.O.D. Too much to mention here. I’m carrying on with gunsmithing mods for friends etc! BIG wink here....
Now THAT is a cliffhanger...
My ship still had M79's in the armory as late as 2010.
Your ship? Are you in the military, private mercenaries or are you like security on some cargoship that moves in a area where there are pirates?
@@eclipsed3407 At the time, I was US Navy
@@eclipsed3407 the Navy liked these things a lot
For flares and line throwing
@@silkyz68 no, not even close. it shot GRENADES. If we wanted flares, we had flare gun or pen flares for that. For getting lines across we had a line-throwing kit for the M14. We had M16's as well, but the larger cartridge of the M14 shot the lines further.
I carried an M-79 and an M-16 in my engineering platoon. Unfortunately, Ian didn't cover the added feature of a flair gun. It could fire a flair over 100 feet straight up and it lingered in the air for minutes. It was very effective. And we had to use it often. I'm surprised he never mentioned this feature.
Ian, man, you're exactly like that one cool teacher at school who genuinely loved teaching. Your enthusiasm, expertise, and pure joy of explaining everything makes these videos so easy to watch and digest. Every video, every weapon, every aspect of all things firearms and the like is so well broken down and explained. You are such a pleasant person to watch and learn from. I mean that whole heartedly, thanks for being you Sir. You are truly a national treasure.
🇺🇸 Salute 🇺🇸
"You promised not to kill someone."
"Trust me.."
Actually it's "Hey wait you swore!"
0.0 Casualties
@@J-S.P "He'll live."
My uncle carried one in Vietnam. RIP Uncle Warren.
My uncle also carried one. His backup weapon was an M3 grease gun. He loved both of them very much.
I usually go with the machine gunner or pointman role if I can but when I play as VC this thing is the bane of my existence
@@stenchemitter2407 what
My great uncle served one tour in the Army,and after all the bullshit he faced when he came home he stayed in Vietnam once per branch. He didn't do many heroics but at least he stayed alive to have kids.
Hi Ian! I'm a big fan of your videos. My Dad is a Vietnam vet, 4th ID in country between 67-68, central highlands near Pleiku and carried the M79 as a grenadier. He's still very much alive! I've heard a lot of historians that seem to think the only "side arm" grenadiers carry was the M1911. This isn't true. My Dad had the option of carrying either M1911 or the M16A1 (no kidding.) His feeling was that the M-16 was light (about 6 pounds) and was much more accurate at the distances that they were engaging enemy fire when the M79 wasn't a good option. So, he stuffed the M16 in the ruck sack with ammo and carried that and the M16 into battle as his "side arm." He's always told me that he didn't want to be in a fire fight in the jungle where he only had a pistol versus the rifle. And it paid off for him in those situations. It was just a matter of what he was comfortable with as the side arm. Sure the 1911 pound for pound was lighter, but from a fire fight prospective, he preferred the M16.
We did the same ,79 and 16 . Full can on silng webbing of 79 ( 56 rounds ) and 4 to 6 sling webbing ( 7mags per slings ,18 rounds per mag )
I got the chance to fire the "blooper." It was literally a blast.
We had a couple of them in our Guard Unit back in the 60s. During field exercises we shot/lobbed a lot of tear gas rounds. Kept the the other units on their toes. God bless every soldier who endured Nam.
"...M79 could not be used at close range", because it has an arming distance of 30m.
This is often forgotten when this weapon is depicted.
And in games that portray it right, an undetonated grenade can still kill a hostile with one bonk.
I've always wondered how much would it actually hurt to be hit with a dummy grenade from one of these.
That said, if someone pops up within minimum range and you shoot them anyway, they're gonna need a a bit of a lie down, to say the least. No explosion, but it ain't exactly a marshmallow either.
Or you could just light em up with an illum round.
To be fair 40mm impact fuzed grenades exist, but are somewhat uncommon
In a german arms magazine i read, that a kind of ,buckshot' cartridge was made for this purpose, but failed in practise.
Part of the "space compression" of games, and the fact that blowing yourself and your friends up in an FPS is an amusing nuisance rather than a permanent problem.
“Ah, yes! The grenade rifle! Right arm of the free world!” -Everyone’s favorite small arms repair specialist, Zack
I understood that reference
Zack, the army man that mounted a M320 grenade launcher on his rifle. Even though he never left the base, just because "I thought it would be cool".
He's not wrong though.
(I also got that reference)
And Mike was also there, but not really, because he was too busy eating crayons and pumping water. O.o
Ah! A cultured individual I see!
The man who got sent to anger management for telling Chief that he would be dead and gone before he would ever lay a finger on his cabinets.
I'm glad we went back to a standalone version. I could never hit anything with the m203, the standalone m320 I could shoot the proverbial wings off a fly. The whole ergonomics of slapping a gun under another gun is simply a nightmare that leaves both weapon systems more difficult to use.
Tiny little m320 is great because it is compact and light enough to allow us to carry it with the rifle.
The very embodiment of the phrase:
"Let me fetch my boomstick..."
Hearing that the original 40mm grenade development involved an actual golf ball as a stand-in makes me wish even harder for someone to make grenade launcher golf a reality.
FORE-ty millimeter?
That’s essentially theCanCannon
If they could make one to launch tennis balls id buy five....gotta tire them doggos out in style!😉
@@tylerchaney1533 nerf make one. Its great.
How about a really cluttered firing range, you fire a golf ball then have to do a pistol course of fire from that spot?
When he said we should stick around I was SO hoping Gun Jesus would be blooping at the range. Bloop!
I got a bit of a stiffy when he pulled out the Warhammer 40k shottii
Yeah but there's a PUMP ACTION VERSION!
Garand Thumb did a cool (and hilarious) grenade launcher range video recently:
ua-cam.com/video/zAAiFLr4y6w/v-deo.html
One of the best weapons from Syphon Filter. That and the "Devils Spaghetti" war crime of a taser.
I carried an M-79 in 1963 , it was new to the Fleet Marie Force , and it was kind of fun to fire .It also because of the
aluminum barrel so easy to clean after being in the field for two weeks ! An old skirt shirt soaked in gun oil could be
run through it in seconds, and the barrel couldn't rust ,so I could have my M-79 cleaned and ready for inspection hours
before my buddies with their M-14's ,Liberty call ,The Grenadiers were always the first out on liberty !
Ian : Racks the china lake
Me : "I'm glad it isn't November."
Made me chuckle...good one
this one is break-action...
@@killjoy9864 didn't watch the last ten seconds?
same
@@killjoy9864the China lake is a different weapon
The iconic “bloop Tube” I love it
Tenanter 2 baby
@@ShawnWilsonPrime do you mean Terminator? Lol
i think you mean noob tube but to each their own :-)
@@gooondie no, I don't. Can't you read?
In Basic in’68 with shortages of rounds, the Drill Sergeant had me be the demonstration shooter for the company because I couldn’t miss. Loved to watch it arc into the bunker.
Carried one in 1968 Vietnam. No sight and stock was cut leaving it like a pistol grip. Fired hand held flares from the 79 worked well with that also. No I didn’t cut the stock nor remove the sight. Got pretty darned good with it. Have know idea who done the butcher job on it. Front sight remained. Commonly called a blooper gun.
“Roach! Someone on the wire disliked the video!”
“.....yea man...I hear him”
“You need a flare?”
“.......nah”
He's close man, real close.
Cue Voodoo Child...
@@lesmup2159 slight return
Great scene in a weird ass movie
Was hoping someone would mention the Roach. I think he had some type of zen targeting on the VC caught in the wire.
"Simple, Elegant and Deadly."
- a random Gun Nut.
Retro ahoy?
Eh, it's ok.
Simple and deadly. I would give the elegant part to the HK69A1
I see you're a man of culture as well.
I was in charge of a SEAL support detachment in Ca Mau 1970. We were Team 2’s “taxi”, and we opped most nights with an awesome MSSC (Medium SEAL Support Craft). The M-79 was my weapon of choice in the open cockpit next to the radio, and using it saved us on 2 occasions. I was always loaded with buckshot round. After dropping off the SEALs, we remained bow first to the bank and silent until they returned.
One night, as we waited, a small drifting/paddled dug out with 2 VC bumped into the side of our boat. They were startled, automatic fire thru our canvas canopy, and while crew ducked, I fired one-handed at them at 8 ft range... was over in seconds.
On another opp, we were “pinned’ by 50 cal fire to our stern, from across a small river. We tried to suppress with our 5.56 mini gun, and our 50 and 60 on that side, but could not. The VC kept firing. I radioed for air support and an Air Force 104 returning loaded from a target replied. I used a white parachute round thru the M-79 to mark the drop, and the result saved us. I discovered the pilot’s name and we made contact after nearly 50 years.
The M-79 "blooper gun" is something I always wanted a chance to fire while in the service but never had an opportunity. I didn't much care for the M-203, but it wasn't like we had lots of opportunity to train with it either.
All this discussion and no talk of the Cyberdyne Shootout of 1991? Some crazy guy with a minigun and an M79 blew up dozens of cop cars before blowing up half the building.
I liked when he shot the swat team with the tear gas launcher and took thier knees out with the 1911
Heard they shot him full of holes with MP5s and nothing stopped him. Crazy stuff.
Never forget...
No shit. Rumour has it was the same lunatic behind the West Highland Police Station Massacre of '84.
You know the rumors about senator Connor's mom Sarah being connected to that apocalyptic cult back in the '90s? I heard that guy was actually his dad and that he shot up that police station in '84 looking for her after a lover's spat.
Gun Jesus performed the Miracle at the end and pulls out a China Lake grenade launcher. He is worthy of our praise
Wasn't the China Lake a pump-action launcher?
@@Dutch_is_a_Weird_Language watch the last 15 seconds of the video
Boooo you spoiled it
@Alexi Malenkov didn't they only make like 3 china lakes?
Ooh good call, I missed that!
When I was in the Corps (1969-1971), the Blooper and M14 were my two favorite weapons. 👍
What about the m14 did you like?
@@gingergorilla695 The caliber and its general ruggedness. It was relatively long and heavy, but very solid and I was a young teenaged Marine so the weight really didn't bother me all that much. Now that I'm approaching my 70th year, I can't believe how much heavier they are now! 😁
@@XTrooper3936 that's awesome
man. Glad you served us sir, even if the country at the time didn't look at you guys that well. We're proud of you now.
@@gingergorilla695 Thank you! I greatly appreciate that. 😉 The truth is, for most of us, I think, the only goal was our survival and that of our fellow Marines.
Is this the one out of Terminator 2 where he blew the liquid one to bits ?, loved that gun.
Yup
This explains why 40mm cartridges always looked so weird on the inside
Especially considering the propellant portion is made more or less out of plastic.
They should really explain this better to people who actually use the things for government work. Give some more appreciation for how ingenious of a tool it is.
@@MalikCarr 7 years in and I never knew why, just that they were like that after we fired them.
@@1337penguinman Glass reinforced nylon to be exact.
@@feralferret8626 not the live rounds. Perhaps you mean the training round.s
"Simple, reliable, and effective"
Sadly these are design parameters largely forgotten by modern military weapons designers.
F35
@@jacobcastro1885 "simple"
Cough cough Ar15 cough
It's the same way for most modern defense contractors.
@@MidnightSvn Not really effective in modern desert conficts, where there are
Big distance engagements
Forgotten weapons is easily one of, if not the best and most informative channels dealing with weapons of all kinds, Tim's knowledge is exceptional and I love the way he tells the audience the story/facts behind the weapon that no one else does, brilliant work.
With the ammo types available, the grenade launcher is one of my favorite weapons I've been issued. I had thought a standalone (or at least detachable like the new M320) launcher would be super helpful instead of lugging around a whole extra weapon if the situation didn't require it. The SEALs still use the M79, and apparently from what I've been told, the sight is incredibly precise.
My old man was in the Marines around the time the M203 was completely replacing the M79. He said these things were a blast to shoot.
He aint your old man no more
They may as well have stamped him [PROPERTY OF THE US GOVERNMENT] long ago
@@user-gs6wt5op7p Maybe in your cartoon world. Did you read that in a magazine somewhere?
@@FIREBRAND38 nah i came up with it on the fly just then
The Navy still kept them around, i remember seeing and handling one in the Armory of the USS Laboon in 2007
Me: "Oh cool, m79 video. I hope someday he has access to one of the 20 or so China Lake launchers ever made."
Ian: *Produces China Lake from under the table*
That's not a grenade launcher
THIS is a grenade launcher
There was another company that started to make the China Lake launchers again. One appears on Gunbroker every once in a while.
@@RemoteCamper Yes, but I thought those were non-functional. Or they are 37mm flare launchers. I also remember seeing plans posted on a forum somewhere on how to build a China Lake replica.
I thought there were only 4 ever built, or still around
@@nickperryjackkson284 Apparently the number made was rumored to be between 20-30, a SEAL historian named Kevin Dockery confirmed that there were 22 completed guns in Navy records, and at this point only 3 originals remain unmodified under Navy control, with the rest having been deactivated and/or plugged.
Years ago in the Guard, I got to fire the M203 with some real rounds, frag or explosive rounds for a qualification. It was badass. I didn't have a magazine so it was a PITA to shoot it, but still loads of fun.
Had the HE round and the Beehive round.
The Beehive has a bunch of small needles that acted like a shotgun.
This weapon is not forgotten by anyone that used or saw them used.
flechette rounds?
A Vietnam veteran once told me "Son, you can do a lot of damage with that thing". I'll never forget the look in his eyes and the way he said it.
Hah
That's neat
Yeah 40 mike rounds are gnarly
Especially the acid and flame rounds
what kinda look was it?
@@Wolvenworks Just stared at me for a moment with a grim look while nodding. He seemed sad when he talked about his time there and would never go into much detail, and I never asked him to. Hope he's doing well.
Ah yes Roach's grenade launcher. " Hey soldier do you know who's in command here?........... Yea.... "
Just saw this - I commented later about the same scene! :)
“Ain’t you?”
My favorite movie clip EVER!
Ah yes.... Roaches tiger striped m79... One of the coolest things ever to be seen
@@chuckwhite7941 It's in Killing Floor 2
Very concise explanation of the preassure mechanics of a 40mm grenade launcher! Very interesting to hear a easy to understand explanation of why there is the little mound inside a 40mm greande shell with holes around it, even in modern HK grenade pistols!
There was also a nice illumination round. Essentially a flare on a parachute. I loved my M 79.
Can't see the M79 without thinking of the Do Long Bridge scene in Apocalypse Now, where 'Roach' does that long range night shot just going on the voice of the VC soldier!
Ever read 'Despatches' by Michael Herr? That scene is lifted from an event recounted in the book.
I was looking for exactly this comment. So cool and totally bizarre.
@@nolanolivier6791 Thanks Nolan! I'll look that up!
As with many folk who grew up reading about Vietnam (and who enjoyed the film T2) there's a place in my heart for this classic.
This is great!
This could be the ultimate overt entry tool! Roach in Apocalypse Now is the most memorable for me!
The M79 has been my favorite firearm for years. I just love the way it looks, and I'm happy to see it getting some videos on this channel.
I got one for Airsoft
Good presentation Ian....Ive wanted to know how these work literally for years...thank you man.🙂🙂
me: how about the China Lake?
Ian: pulls out the China Lake from under the table
me: squeals with glee.
The China lake was pump action.
Ian is like doraemon. But with guns
@@simpdetector7689 did you watch the whole video?
ew china lake nasty gross put it back under the table
same here
As a straight male I’ve never been more curious about what a man has hiding in his pants than I was when Ian pulled that second grenade launcher out of his lap
And man, what a massive thing he had there! :-D
Is that a weapon in your pamts or are you just happy to see me :)
Loved firing this back in 1972 during my army service. Thanks for bringing back memories! I also enjoyed using the M-203.
The "Thumper." I was a Navy RM in BMU2 early 1980's. We all had to be familiar with a lot of weapons even if not qualified. So me and another teammate (tentpeg) got on the M79. We both hit our targets so well the jarheads was giving us thumbs up.
The famous Thumper
Thumper
Or China Lake
@@dondarius7262 China lake is a different 40 mm grenade launcher
@@dondarius7262 the china lake is a pump action launcher
I am semi surprised this is the first time this has really been shown on this channel.
I mean, it's hardly "Forgotten." It's certainly interesting, though!
me too
but not as much surprised since he posted MG42 just weeks ago
@@Thenlar Don't get too hung-up on the channel name, he actually does a lot of videos on common weapons.
Oh that ending pump is oh so satisfying. Pump action, lever action, and bolt action guns are just so satisfying to listen to.
So used to just paging through these videos as my heart desires. Was looking all over for the next video before I realized this was just released two days ago! Thanks for the entertaining videos!
*sees M79 video*
Arnold Schwarzenegger: "Excellent."
Now get to the chopper
The weapon of choice for every demolitionist, trapped in a ruined city and surrounded by hungry clones.
"Oh I've missed you, my little laun-cher!"
"We don't care" blasting in the background.
It makes such a satisfying thwump when fired... I truly do miss it
60mm mortars give you a mix of a bloop tube and artillary. Which is why its loved. Professionals can fire closer range from the hip.
I got to use an M79 out on the wire on Hill 65 I Corps Vietnam. They have a 26 round vest to carry these H.E. rounds. WP and buckshot rounds were available. Fun to shoot as there is very little recoil and it sounds like bloop sound. Ours was on loan to our gun pit for that nite. Well made weapon and easy to load real fast. No muzzle blast of any kind just that weird sound and they hit where you aim them.
I would have said the M-79 was a replacement for rifle grenades rather than the bazooka.
Yeah I thought the LAW and recoilless rifles replaced the Bazooka and Super Bazooka.
depends on how you look at it. you got to remember that the bazooka was outdated pretty fast in world war II in Europe due to the increase of armor on German tanks. You saw a lot of GI's use bazookas as an anti-emplacement weapon to take out bunkers and sniper nests. I'm guessing that mindset of the bazooka as an anti-emplacement weapon was the inspiration for the 40mm grenade systems.
Well, antitank weapons always doubled as anti-emplacement weapons. And, like Stagger Lee said, new anti-tank systems were introduced to replace the bazooka and super bazooka. I still think is a strange claim that the M-79 was meant to replace the bazooka.
@@thebadblokke maybe it was to replace the bazooka in Vietnam, not generally.
@@perfekt526 The M-79 entered service in 1961, way before US troops were deployed to Vietnam. Its development probably goes back even further to the mid-50s.
this video is exactly what i had the notifications on for
I saw a automatic 40mm cannon that used the M79 ammo with wire links used on a helicopter in Vietnam 1968-1970 Tay Ninh province. Pretty effective when friendly troops were near.
Having served in Vietnam as an Infantryman I have a few stories about the M79. I carried an M60 in my first 5 months yet in my Company never saw an M79 with the rear sight attached. Early in my tour we were on a sweep though dry paddies, laying on top of the dry and hard soil was a M79 round. One of my squad decided to kick it like he was kicking a can back in Detroit, it went off and he and another member was Dusted off, both survived with the kicker losing a foot. I'm guessing that the round was fired when the paddy was flooded and didn't go bang when it hit the water, yet it was armed. Once during a fire fight the gunner had a round hang up in the tube. Being real important to get that gun back in service I pushed the round out the front with a star cluster tube. Must have been a scribe load of propellant as the it went right back to work with no other hang ups. One recall I remember for M79 rounds, those were armed as soon as they left the tube. We were given two new weapons to test in combat, one was an auto M79 that took an oval 10 round magazine. We were Mech Infantry and mounted it on the track, first fight it jammed. Got rid of that thing quick. Once there was a completion between two Company commanders for a bottle of Scotch. They each picked their best M79 guy and had a shoot off at a target about 300 yards.
After reading that title, anyone who says they didn’t hear that noise in their head is lying
I heard a Minecraft Lava bloop
iconic
*[Thoonk]*
Or has never heard it. To me, it always sounded like a firecracker going off under a tin can.
Made a firecracker pop then bloop as it left the tube. Sounds like a tennis ball launcher.
Ian just sitting there for 15 minutes making a video with a grenade launcher hidden on his lap
"Is that a pump action grenade launcher in your pants or are you just happy to see me?"
If he's just happy to see you be afraid. Be very afraid.
My buddy was a Ranger Lurrp in Nam. He LOVED this weapon. It was just about his favorite. Perfect for clearing houses .
the wood stock on that is beautiful. the shape, the wood itself, the aging. what a beautiful gun
When I was in S.O.I. we were told to never toss the grenade and spin it because the fuse would rotate out and arm. My first thought was "why would anyone toss a grenade". My second thought " if they had tell us this someone probably has done it". Reflecting back after years in the infantry and it makes sense. Lol.
Seems like 'lore' to me. It may be physically possible to throw a launcher grenade by hand over 30m while putting enough spin on it to arm the fuse (assuming that there's no additional safety that prevents it arming while it's still in the cartridge case), but I'm skeptical.
Golf balls lead to FORE-ty millimeter grenade. How appropriate!
Beautiful pun, sir. I can smell it from here! 😂
Slow golf clap, well played sir....
Nice
I love they tested the idea in the court yard of the pentagon. That probably sure must have gotten a bunch of desk jockies attention.
@@cenccenc946 that was a spring launched golf ball. I doubt many even noticed
The system Rheinmetall developed at the end of WWII was called the PAW 600 or 8H63. It was actually used in combat at the end of the war, and pretty darn effective. IIRC effective range against point targets was out to ~750 meters, the weapon itself was right between the 37mm Pak 38 and 50mm Pak 38 in size and weight (less than half the weight of a Pak 40) and its hollow-charge munitions were powerful enough to frontally penetrate just about any WWII tank. The HE round was basically an 81mm mortar shell with some modifications, and the gun could lob that out to something like three times the range of a mortar, meaning it also more than fulfilled the light artillery/infantry gun role.
Looking forward to the pump action video Ian, excellent history and analysis as always
I can't stop thinking about guys in lab coats breaking Pentagon windows with golf balls.
Ian, your challenge now is to find and review the legendary double barrel M79 that was maybe a military myth ? - used by the Australian Army, SASR in Vietnam.
My initial M79 developed a broken firing pin !!! The replacement had a different designation; it used a3 round clip (magazine?) pushed by a coiled spring!! You could fire thump, thump,thump!! Very lethal!!
We called it the Thumper because of the sound it made when you fired it. I was in the Army in 1972-1975
"Soldier, you know who's in command here?"
"yeah"
I thought you were sir lol
Nice Apo Now reference?
@@leeannepolvi9440 "Go get the Roach!!"
ua-cam.com/video/f96p-IhcZhQ/v-deo.html
"Aint you?" I used that one myself when asked that
A very disturbing scene
Would love to see a video on the AK 50, so Brandon remembers it exists
@Grape - it's a humbug.
did you miss the update a few days ago?
Yea he just did an update and shot stuff
Someone should upload that meme to his meme review.
I’m waiting for Ian to pull out a Javelin from under the table
Fun fact: there are still some on the books in the army. I served at an eod unit at ft Polk and they still had one in the arms room, presumably for smud operations