Grenade Launchers
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo | Explosion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | Radius | |||||
 VC |
 GP-25 |
 |
Zombies | 1 / 2 | 125 | 200 |
 US |
 China Lake |
 |
Special Loadout Zombies |
3+1 / 12 | 125 | 200 |
US |
 M203 |
 |
 Assault |
1 / 2 | 125 | 200 |
US |
 M79 |
 |
 Engineer |
1 / 2 | 125 | 200 |
US |
 M79 SOG |
 |
Engineer |
1 / 2 | 125 | 200 |
VC |
 RPG-2 |
 |
Engineer |
1 / 2 | 125 | 200 |
US |
 XM148 |
 |
Assault |
1 / 2 | 125 | 175 |
Grenade launchers are firearms (or firearm attachments) designed to project explosive grenades farther and more accurately than hand-thrown grenades, typically in a high-arc trajectory to reach targets behind cover or in “dead space.” Most man-portable grenade launchers are built around low-velocity grenade ammunition (commonly 40mm) and are used for close fire support against point and area targets at practical ranges measured in hundreds of meters. In the Vietnam War era, grenade launchers became a standard way to give small infantry units organic explosive capability without relying on mortars or heavier crew-served weapons.
DEFINITION & CHARACTERISTICS
“Grenade launcher” is a broad category covering dedicated shoulder-fired launchers and under-barrel (or stand-alone) launchers mounted to rifles. The defining feature is the purpose-built launching of explosive (or specialty) grenades—often optimized to deliver an arcing shot into windows, trenches, vegetation, or other cover where direct-fire small arms may be less effective.
- Common traits
- Role: Close fire support for infantry—engaging enemies behind cover, in dead ground, or in positions difficult to hit with direct fire.
- Typical cartridges: Commonly 40mm low-velocity grenades for handheld launchers (with other calibers and patterns existing by nation/era).
- Typical fire modes: Most handheld launchers are single-shot; the “grenade launcher” category also includes multi-shot and automatic systems in broader military use.
- Typical feeding: Single-shot breech-loading is common (especially in classic designs); some systems use magazines or linked feeding depending on type.
- Common engagement ranges: Generally intended for short-to-mid range indirect fire (often a few hundred meters), depending on launcher, ammunition, and sights.
- Notable tradeoffs: Powerful effects and versatility (HE, smoke, illumination, signaling, CS, practice, etc.) versus slower rate of fire and limited carried ammunition; arcing trajectories require range estimation and minimum arming distances.
HISTORY
Modern infantry grenade launchers expanded rapidly in the mid-20th century as armies sought a lightweight way to deliver explosive effects beyond hand-grenade distance, especially into cover and defilade positions. A major development was the “high-low” (high-pressure/low-pressure) concept used by many low-velocity 40mm systems, which allows a shoulder-fired launcher to fire an explosive projectile while keeping recoil manageable. By the Cold War period, grenade launchers existed in both dedicated forms (where the grenadier carried the launcher as a primary weapon) and combination/attachment forms that let a grenadier retain a full rifle while still providing organic explosive fire.
In the Vietnam War era, grenade launchers became a recognizable part of small-unit firepower. U.S. and allied forces used dedicated 40mm launchers such as the M79 to “bridge the gap” between hand grenades and heavier support weapons, and the M79 was commonly integrated into squad and fire team structures as a dedicated grenadier weapon. As the war continued, under-barrel systems like the M203 were developed and fielded to keep that explosive capability while allowing the grenadier to remain a rifleman—reducing the tradeoff of carrying a single-purpose launcher. In practice, these weapons were used to engage enemies in vegetation, trenches, and fighting positions, to clear rooms or bunkers with explosive effects, and to deliver smoke/illumination when needed.
Sources
- https://www.bulletpicker.com/pdf/FM-23-31.pdf FM 23-31: 40mm Grenade Launchers M203 and M79 (1972) | U.S. Army Field Manual (scan)
- https://www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/amd-us-archive/FM3-22.31%2803%29.pdf FM 3-22.31: 40-mm Grenade Launcher, M203 (2003) | U.S. Army Field Manual (archive)
- https://www.usmcmuseum.com/uploads/6/0/3/6/60364049/vietnam_marine_weapon_descriptions_-_copy.pdf Marine Corps Vietnam Gallery Weapons (includes M79 description) | National Museum of the Marine Corps
- https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2018/March/Infantry-Squad-Part-2/ The Infantry Squad Part 2: How Did We Get Here? (mentions M79 in Vietnam squads) | Army University Press (NCO Journal)
- https://www.forgottenweapons.com/m203-underbarrel-grenade-launcher/ M203 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher (standardization/contract notes) | Forgotten Weapons