Heckler & Koch GMG

The GMG (Granatmaschinengewehr or "grenade machine gun") is an automatic grenade launcher developed by Heckler & Koch for the German Army. It is also often referred to as GMW or GraMaWa (Granatmaschinenwaffe).^[1]

GMG
A GMG of the German Army.
Type	Automatic grenade launcher
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	1990s–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed	1992–1995
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	1996–present[citation needed]
Variants	GMW
Specifications
Mass	28.8 kg Gun, 10.7 kg tripod and 8 kg softmount.
Length	1090 mm
Barrel length	415 mm
Width	226 mm (without ammunition box)
Height	208 mm
Cartridge	40x53 mm
Action	API Blowback
Rate of fire	340 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	241 m/s
Effective firing range	1500 m
Maximum firing range	2200 m
Feed system	32-round disintegrating, closed-link belt
Sights	Reflex sight and back-up leaf sight

Design details

The GMG fires 40 mm grenades at a rate of about 340 rounds per minute.^[2] It is belt-fed, and can be loaded from either side, making it easy to mount on most platforms. With a variety of day and night sights available, the GMG can be used for most medium range infantry support situations.

The weapon is 1.09 m long and has a 415 mm rifled barrel; the ammunition box has dimensions of 470 × 160 × 250 mm. The gun cycles on a recoil-operated blow-back basis. It weighs 29 kg; the tripod is an additional 11 kg.

Testing and operation

The HK GMG was tested in the Yuma desert in Arizona in 1997 in order to compete for future United States contracts.

Users

Map with Heckler & Koch GMG users in blue

• Belgium: Mounted on the army's Jankel FOX Rapid Reaction Vehicles ^[3]
• Canada: 304 ordered.^[4] Designated as the C16 Close Area Suppression Weapon (CASW) and licence-built by Rheinmetall Defence Canada.^[5]
• Finland^[6] Locally known as 40 KRKK 2005
• Germany^[7]
• Greece^[7]
• Ireland: Irish Army^[8]
• Latvia^[7][9]
• Lithuania: Lithuanian Armed Forces.^[10]
• Malaysia: Used by Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) of the Royal Malaysian Navy.^[11]
• Netherlands^[12][13]
• New Zealand^[14]
• Norway^[15]
• Poland: Wojska Specjalne.^{[citation needed]}
• Portugal: Used by Portuguese Army, Portuguese Marine Corps and National Republican Guard.^[7][16]
• Slovenia^[17]
• Sri Lanka: Used by Sri Lanka Armoured Corps on its Main Battle Tanks & Used by Sri Lanka Navy on its Fast Attack Crafts.
•  Ukraine: 100 donated by Germany in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as of July 2024.^[18]
• United Kingdom: 44 purchased in 2006 for use in Afghanistan and Iraq.^[19] Designated as L134A1.^{[citation needed]}
• United States: Used by USSOCOM.^[19]

• 
  Another GMW/GMG of the German Army.
• 
  HK GMG on display.
• 
  GMG German armed reconnaissance vehicle Fennek
• 
  Manned GMG in Finnish service.
• 
  GMG remotely operated on board a GTK Boxer
• 
  GMW/GMG of the Royal Malaysian Navy on display.

See also

• List of API blowback firearms
• Comparison of automatic grenade launchers