Army launches 'grenade' machine gun

13 April 2012

It fires six high-explosive grenades per second, and can destroy enemy troop positions or vehicles up to a mile-and-a-half away by day or night.

This fearsome weapon is the latest addition to the British Army's arsenal, and is set to be in use against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan by the end of next month following urgent requests for more firepower from commanders on the ground.

Unveiling the new Automatic Lightweight Grenade Launcher ministers promised a 'significant enhancement in firepower' following mounting concerns over the size and strength of the force which Britain has committed to operations in the volatile southern Helmand Province.

Sources described the system as a 'small artillery piece in all but name', which can be mounted on a Land Rover for rapid movement.

Commanders are hoping it will prove ideal for tackling groups of heavily-armed Taliban fighters who mount lighting strikes against British camps and patrols before melting back into the rugged landscape.

Ironically the grenade launcher was developed by arms manufacturers Heckler & Koch in the 1990s when the company was British-owned, but only now has the MOD signed up as a customer - four years after BAE Systems sold the operation to German buyers.

Defence chiefs responded to calls from commanders in Afghanistan by striking an urgent deal to buy 44 of the weapons for £4.3million including ammunition - almost £100,000 per weapon.

It can be mounted on a tripod to defend airstrips or camps or fitted to a Land Rover for mobile patrols. Some infantry troops already carry grenade launchers fitted to their assault rifles, but the larger weapon has a far greater range and rate of fire.

Unveiling the grenade launcher on Salisbury Plain yesterday defence minister Lord Drayson said: 'This new system will significantly enhance the firepower available to units on operational duty in Afghanistan.'

He claimed it was proof of the MOD's commitment 'to ensuring our forces have the right equipment to do their job.'

Soldiers serving in Afghanistan have complained of a serious shortage of equipment particularly helicopters needed to move troops and supplies around the dangerous and mountainous battlefield.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in