Infantry weapons / Grenade launchers / MGL
MGL
General Facts
- TYPE
Grenade launcher - ORIGIN
South Africa - NICKNAMES
Granatkast Gevär 90 (Swedish service)
M32 MGL (US marines)
Mk 14 (US SOCOM)
Multi Grenade Launcher (Indian production)
Rucni Bacac Granata / RBG-6 (Croatian production)
Y2 (South African service) - DESIGNED
1980 - 1981 - DESIGNER
Milkor - PRODUCTION
1983 - present - PRODUCERS
Colombia - Indumil
Croatia - Metallic
India - Ordnance Factory Board
South Africa - Milkor
Vietnam - state arsenals - QUANTITY
At least 24.000, 50.000 claimed - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Much higher rate of fire than single shot launchers
Robust and reliable
Limited ergonomics on earlier models
Much heavier than single shot launchers
Introduction
The MGL is a grenade launcher of South African origin. It was developed to provide more firepower than the M79. At the time of introduction the MGL was the first revolver type grenade launcher. Nowadays it is one of the most common stand alone grenade launchers next to the American M79 and German HK 69.
Design
The MGL is a revolver type multi-shot grenade launcher. The revolver and rear cover are attached to a tubular frame. The barrel aligns with the top chamber and features a progressive rifling. The rear cover of the revolver can swing open to allow for reloading. A double action trigger is positioned at the pistol grip. The revolver is spring operated, but does not switch to a next round upon a misfire. This allows for a second try to fire the round. An occluded eye gunsight is mounted on top. The standard models have a metal shoulder stock that folds over the sight. Later models feature a polymer retractable stock.
Firepower
The MGL fires standard 40x46mm low velocity grenades as used in most Western grenade launchers. The maximum range is 400 m, although the sights allows for only 375 m. The direct fire range is about 100 m with a minimum range of 30 m. An experienced operator can accurately fire up to 18 rounds per minute. That is about three times as much as a single shot grenade launcher. In theory all 6 rounds can be fired in 3 seconds, which can be useful during an ambush.
Users
The first user of the MGL was South Africa since 1983. Up to this momement the MGL has been sold to over 30 nations and it has become a common sight particularly in South America. One of the major sales has been to the US Marine Corps, who adopted a heavily modified version as the M32.
MGL
The MGL is a six shot grenade launcher The original MGL was produced from 1983 to 1996. Based on user experience the design was upgraded as the MGL Mk 1. The Mk 1 features some minor differences that increase reliability and ease maintainance. The major difference between the Mk 1 and the original model is the barrel, which is now made out of steel. Both the MGL and MGL Mk 1 can use rounds up to a length of 105 mm. In order to support rounds that are longer the MGL Mk 1L was introduced in 2000. The Mk 1L has a longer cylinder and can fire rounds with a length of up to 140 mm. The Mk 1L also features a Picatinny sight rail instead of the fixed sight unit and has a rubber buttpad. The latter two features were also adopted in 2004 on the original size MGL which was named the MGL Mk 1S.
| Type | Grenade launcher |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 40x46mm NATO |
| Magazine | Fixed 6 round revolver |
| Operation | Spring operated |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 300 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 1.200 mm progressive twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 76 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 730 mm / 630 mm |
| Width | 160 mm |
| Height | 270 mm with standard sight |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.6 kg empty |
| Sights | Occluded Eye Gunsight |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Grenade launcher |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 40x46mm NATO |
| Magazine | Fixed 6 round revolver |
| Operation | Spring operated |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 300 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 1.200 mm progressive twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 76 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 765 mm / 665 mm |
| Width | 160 mm |
| Height | 270 mm with standard sight |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.0 kg empty |
| Sights | Occluded Eye Gunsight |
| Remarks | - |
M32
For a contract of the US Marine Corps the furniture and ergonomics of the MGL were upgraded. The barrel is covered by a slotted barrel shroud that has been fitted with four Picatinny accessory rails. A retractable stock that functions similar to the one used on the M4 carbine is fitted. A new sight unit with an accessory rail on top is standard. With the new furniture the MGL Mk 1S with the chamber for 105 mm rounds is known as the MGL-105 and the Mk 1L for 140 mm rounds as the MGL-140. The MGL-140 was adopted as the M32 MGL.
| Type | Grenade launcher |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 40x46mm NATO |
| Magazine | Fixed 6 round revolver |
| Operation | Spring operated |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | ? |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 1.200 mm progressive twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 76 m/s |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 775 mm / 674 mm |
| Width | 165 mm |
| Height | 266 mm with sight unit |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.2 kg empty |
| Sights | M1A2 reflex sight |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Grenade launcher |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 40x46mm NATO |
| Magazine | Fixed 6 round revolver |
| Operation | Spring operated |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | ? |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 1.200 mm progressive twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 76 m/s |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 812 mm / 711 mm |
| Width | 165 mm |
| Height | 266 mm with sight unit |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.9 kg empty |
| Sights | M1A2 reflex sight |
| Remarks | - |
XRGL40
The XRGL40 is a project by Milkor to increase the effective range of the MGL. XRGL40 stands for extended range 40mm grenade launcher. The standard MGL has a maximum effective range of 400 meters. By using proprietary 40x51mm rounds the XRGL40 has a range of up to 800 meters. The XRGL40 is fitted with GR40 sight unit or GRF40 sight unit with integrated laser range finder. Both sight units are more complex than the OEG sight used on the MGL and allow for better accuracy. Besides extending the range the XRGL40 has been significantly lightened compared to the MGL. The MSGL40 is the MGL Mk 1S which has been lightened in the same manner.
| Type | Grenade launcher |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 40x51mm or 40x46mm NATO |
| Magazine | Fixed 6 round revolver |
| Operation | Spring operated |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 260 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 1.200 mm progressive twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 756 mm / 676 mm |
| Width | 156 mm |
| Height | 265 mm with sight unit |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.9 kg empty |
| Sights | RG40 or RGF40 sight unit |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Grenade launcher |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 40x46mm NATO |
| Magazine | Fixed 6 round revolver |
| Operation | Spring operated |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 260 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 1.200 mm progressive twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 725 mm / 645 mm |
| Width | 156 mm |
| Height | 265 mm with sight unit |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4 kg empty |
| Sights | GR40 reflex sight or MS40 mechanical sight |
| Remarks | - |
RBG-6
The RBG-6 is an unlicenced Croatian copy of the original model of the MGL. The RBG-6 differs in some minor details. As with the MGL Mk 1 the barrel is made out of steel. What sets the RBG-6 apart from the MGL series is the constant rifling of the barrel, whereas the rifling of the MGL progresses.
- Specifications:
- RBG-6
| Type | Grenade launcher |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 40x46mm NATO |
| Magazine | Fixed 6 round revolver |
| Operation | Spring operated |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | ? |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 76 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 777 mm / 566 mm |
| Width | 158 mm |
| Height | 260 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.4 kg empty |
| Sights | Occluded Eye Gunsight |
| Remarks | - |