This is a general collection of the world's many types of ammunition for grenade launchers in caliber.
Several countries have developed or adopted 40 mm-caliber grenade launchers.
NATO NATO currently uses three standardized 40 mm grenade families: 40 mm low-velocity (LV), 40 mm medium-velocity (MV), and 40 mm high-velocity (HV). Low- and medium-velocity cartridges are used for different hand-held grenade launchers, while the high-velocity cartridge is used for automatic grenade launchers.
40×46 mm LV (40 mm low velocity)
40×46 mm LV (low velocity) is a NATO-standard high–low grenade launcher cartridge meant for hand-held grenade launchers, such as the M79, M203, Milkor MGL, Heckler & Koch AG36 and M320 Grenade Launcher Module.
The propellant has low pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type.
40 mm low-velocity ammunition types (NATO)
HE, high explosiveM381HE, high explosiveBasic high-explosive shell.M386HE, high explosiveBasic high-explosive shell.Missing imageM406HE, high explosiveBasic high-explosive shell.M441HE, high explosiveBasic high-explosive shell.Missing image AB, air burstM397, M397A1 AB, air burstOctol filled fragmentation grenade with a time fuze. The A1 has a different fuze from the regular M397.Missing image DP, dual purposeM433HEDP, high-explosive dual-purposeShaped charge with ability to damage soft targets and penetrate armor. Armor penetration: 2.5 inches (63 millimeters).M433A1 HEDP
M433A1 uses the improved M550A1 fuze. The projectile consists of a copper-shaped charge in an explosive-filled steel cup covered with tungsten spherical fragments over-molded with a plastic aerodynamic body. MP, multiple projectileM576MP-APERS, multiple projectile anti-personnelBuckshot cartridge with twenty 24-grain bullets. Missing image IL, illuminationM583A1Illumination/signal flare, parachute star (white flare)Flare grenade with parachute for illumination and signaling.M585Illumination/signal flare, cluster star (white flare)Grenade containing five nose-ejected, free-falling pyrotechnic star pellets used for signaling.Missing imageM661Illumination/signal flare, parachute star (green flare)Flare grenade with parachute for illumination and signaling.Missing imageM662Illumination/signal flare, parachute star (red flare)Flare grenade with parachute for illumination and signaling.Missing imageM992Infra-red illumination flareFlare grenade with parachute for infrared illumination. S, smokeM676Smoke canopy (yellow smoke)Smoke grenade with parachute for signaling and marking.Missing imageM680Smoke canopy (white smoke)Smoke grenade with parachute for signaling and marking.Missing imageM682Smoke canopy (red smoke)Smoke grenade with parachute for signaling and marking.Missing imageM713Ground marker (red smoke)Smoke grenade for signaling and marking.Missing imageM714Ground marker (white smoke)Smoke grenade for signaling and marking.Missing imageM715Ground marker (green smoke)Smoke grenade for signaling and marking.Missing imageM716Ground marker (yellow smoke)Smoke grenade for signaling and marking.Missing image G, gasM651CS gasTear gas grenade.Missing image TB, thermobaricXM1060ThermobaricThe XM1060 is a 40 mm thermobaric grenade developed by Picatinny Arsenal.Missing image P, practiceM781P, practiceTraining ammunition consisting of a steel body filled with orange signal chalk capped with a plastic ogive cap.
Besides combat ammo, there is also crowd-control ammunition such as sponge grenades.
40 mm low-velocity ammunition types (Sweden) Sweden currently operates the M203 grenade launcher (designated in Sweden) and thus uses the 40 mm low-velocity cartridge. Going against Swedish military tradition, the 40 mm low-velocity cartridge currently lacks a specified indigenous designation in Swedish service. Instead only the projectile types have designations.
Currently, these projectile types can be found in Swedish service manuals.
HE, high explosive40 GSGRHE, high explosiveName: 40 GSGR, abbreviation for , Swedish for 40 mm rifle high-explosive grenade. The fuze is designated ÖHKBAR 40 GSGR, an abbreviation for + shell designation, Swedish for 'instant high sensitivity base impact fuze'.Description: The type is a high-explosive grenade meant against soft targets.Construction: The shell consists of a fragmentation body outfitted with internal steel balls for extra fragmentation damage. A highly sensitive, zero-delay fuze is located at the bottom of the shell.Marking: The shell has a yellow head and green body. The side of the shell features the marking "ST" in yellow, which stands for ('steel balls'). 40 GSGR dataCartridge weightShell weightPrimary charge PETNMain charge RDXPropellant NCGLHigh pressure70 MPaLow pressure15 MPaMuzzle velocityNEMSourcesMissing image DP, dual purpose40 GPSGRHEDP, high-explosive dual-purposeName: 40 GPSGR, abbreviation for , Swedish for "40 mm rifle high explosive anti-tank grenade".Description: The type is a high-explosive dual-purpose grenade meant for use against both soft and lightly protected targets. It is probably equivalent to the American 40 mm M433.Construction: The shell consists of a fragmentation body, a high-explosive charge and a shaped charge.Marking: The shell has a green head and green body. The side of the shell features the marking "RSV" in yellow, which stands for ("shaped charge", lit. "directed explosive effect"). 40 GPSGR dataCartridge weightShell weightPrimary charge CH-6Main charge Comp A5Propellant NCGLHigh pressure70 MPaLow pressure15 MPaMuzzle velocityNEMSourcesMissing image P, Practice40 GÖVNGR 07P, practiceName: 40 GÖVNGR 07, abbreviation for , Swedish for 40 mm rifle practice grenade 07.Description: The type is a practice shell for combat training and practice shooting.Construction: The shell has a steel body with a plastic cap and is filled with red signal chalk.Marking: The shell is colored in NATO blue training color. 40 GÖVNGR 07 dataCartridge weightShell weightPrimary charge -Main chargeRed signal chalkPropellant NCGLHigh pressure70 MPaLow pressure15 MPaMuzzle velocityNEMSourcesMissing image
Mockups and inert types also exist for loading exercises and educational purposes.
40 mm low-velocity ammunition types (Romania) Romanian arms producer ROMARM has produced a version of their 40 mm rifle-mounted grenade launcher, AG-40, chambered in 40×46 mm NATO (then designated AG-40PN). Production of Romanian 40 mm low-velocity ammunition is handled by the arms factory , a subsidiary of ROMARM. The projectiles seem to be of Romanian origin based on available information.
HE, high explosiveGrenade 40 NATO ExplozivaHE, high explosiveDescription: Romanian 40×46 mm low-velocity high-explosive cartridge.Construction: The shell is made of steel and has a point fuze. The main explosive charge is located at the bottom of the shell. Below the main explosive charge is a layer of metal balls for extra fragmentation damage. Grenade 40 NATO Exploziva dataCartridge lengthCartridge weightShell weightMuzzle velocityLethal radiusSelf-destruct16-23 sSourcesMissing image P, practiceGrenade 40 NATO InertaP, practiceName: The cartridge is named Inerta (inert), but the cartridge is live. Inert refers to the projectile, which is a solid material projectile.Description: Romanian 40×46 mm low-velocity practice cartridge.Construction: The shell is solid in construction and made of duralumin. Grenade 40 NATO Exploziva dataCartridge lengthCartridge weightShell weightMuzzle velocityLethal radius -Self-destruct -SourcesMissing image
SAGM fuze The United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) began development of a 40 mm smart airburst fuze (proximity fuze) in 2011 to improve the ability of grenade launchers like the M203 and M320 to engage targets in defilade. Called small arms grenade munitions (SAGMs), they double the lethality of the standard M433 grenade round by adding a small "smart" fuze sensor that detonates in the air to hit targets in cover or behind obstacles. The airburst function is similar to the XM25 CDTE, which has an onboard laser system to determine the distance to the target, but SAGMs are considered complementary to the XM25 rather than competing against it, as the XM25 provides low-angle fire while 40 mm launchers fire a lobbing trajectory. Integrated sensors and logic devices scan and filter the environment, then autonomously airburst the fuze without being told by the firer, thereby not requiring the soldier to carry extra weapon accessories. SAGMs enable soldiers to accurately incapacitate personnel targets in defilade at ranges between 50 and 500 meters. The round is engineered with three firing modes: airburst, point detonation, and self-destruct. A successful demonstration occurred in November 2013."Enhanced grenade lethality: On target even when enemy is concealed". US Army, 4 September 2014 Although the SAGM sensor does not need a laser rangefinder or any pre-fire programming sequence, it does require some skill by the user to aim and fire the round correctly so that it can detect the wall or obstruction to detonate in the air. The SAGM was to undergo evaluation in July 2015 and, if successful, transition into an official Army Program of Record by the end of the year."ARDEC's airburst round to begin evaluation this summer". US Army, 8 December 2014 Not only does the fuze burst over walls, but it can detonate when passing cover like trees, bursting just as it senses and passes the trunk. The sort of sensor SAGMs use to differentiate clutter from triggering obstacles is highly classified, but shows airburst reliability of 76 percent."New light machine gun: M249 put on weight control". US Army, 6 May 2015
40×51 mm MV (40 mm medium velocity) 40×51 mm MV (medium velocity), also known as 40×51 mm extended range low pressure (ERLP), is a NATO-standard high–low grenade launcher cartridge meant for hand-held grenade launchers. Its purpose is to serve as an intermediate cartridge between the 40×46 mm low-velocity and 40×53 mm high-velocity cartridges and is thus referred to as the 40 mm medium-velocity cartridge.
The propellant has medium pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type. It has a maximum range of 800 meters, exceeding conventional extended range low-velocity variants by up to 375 meters.
The 40×51 mm MV cartridge was designed by Rheinmetall Denel Munitions for the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) after a 2008 requirement for enhanced range and lethality from hand-held 40 mm grenades. Rheinmetall answered by developing a new family of 40 mm grenades named 40 mm medium velocity and by 2019 the cartridge was undergoing NATO qualification.
Besides NATO the cartridge has been ordered by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as the cartridge for their next generation multiple grenade launcher, the Milkor Y4. SANDF approved acquisition in February 2018 but deliveries could not be finished until the end of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
40×53 mm HV (40 mm high velocity)
40×53 mm HV (high velocity) is a NATO-standard high–low grenade launcher cartridge meant for mounted or crew-served automatic grenade launchers, such as the Mk.19 AGL, Mk 47 Striker, HK GMG, STK 40 AGL, and Daewoo K4.
The propellant has high pressure and gives the projectile an average velocity of depending on the ammunition type.
40 mm high-velocity ammunition types (NATO)
HE, high explosiveM383HE, high explosiveHigh explosive shell filled with composition A5. (Comp 5A = hexogen + graphite according to Swedish manuals). Wound radius: 15 meters. Arms: 18-36 metersMissing imageM384HE, high explosiveHigh explosive shell filled with composition A5. (Comp 5A = hexogen + graphite according to Swedish manuals).Missing image