HK GMG grenade launcher / machine gun (Germany)

HK GMG on tripod (low position) with ammunition box.
image: Heckler-Koch

 

HK GMG on tripod (high position) with ammunition box; note that ammunition canbe fed from either side.
image: Heckler-Koch

Caliber: 40x53mm High Velocity
Type: blowback operated, belt fed automatic grenade launcher 
Overall length: 1180 mm
Weight: 28.8 kg gun body plus 10.7 kg tripod and 8 kg softmount
Effective range: up to 1500 meters against point targets, up to 2200 mmaximum
Rate of fire: 350 rounds per minute

The GMG (Grenade MaschinenGewehr in German or Grenade Machine Gun in English) was initiated by the famous German Heckler-Koch company as a private venture in around 1992. Bundeswehr (German army) commenced trials of GMG in1995, and by now it is in use by German army, and is also offered for export.

HK GMG is air cooled, belt fed, blowback operated grenade machine gun / launcher.It fires from open bolt and uses advanced primer ignition to decrease the peak recoil. Feed is using NATO-standard disintegrating belts; feed unit can be easily set up to fed belt from either side of the weapon. Cradle for standard ammunition boxes is attached to the mount; standard box holds 32 linked rounds and weights about 19 kg loaded. GMG can fire in single shots or bursts; fire mode is controlled by the safety / fire selector switch. Gun controls includes pade grips at the rear of the receiver with the trigger between. GMG is attached to special tripod or US M3 tripod through proprietary soft mount, which also carries additional trigger and horizontal spade grips, shoulder rod and sight mountings. GMG can be fitted with a variety of day and night sights;backup iron sights are provided by default.