M129 grenade launcher
Encyclopedia
The M129 is a 40mm automatic grenade launcher
that was used as an aircraft weapon in United States service. It was developed from the earlier M75
and was capable of using both the high-velocity 40x53mm grenade and the lower velocity 40x46mm grenade.
grenade launcher that featured reduced recoil and improved mounting and provided an increased rate of fire of up to 400 rpm compared to 225 rpm for the M75. The M129 was used with the chin-mounted M28 series armament subsystem used on the AH-1G
, MOD AH-1S, and production AH-1S Cobra. The M129 was also used on the:
Grenade launcher
A grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
that was used as an aircraft weapon in United States service. It was developed from the earlier M75
M75 grenade launcher
The M75 is a 40mm automatic grenade launcher that was used primarily as an aircraft weapon in United States service and was one of the first weapons to use the high velocity 40x53mm grenade.-Overview:...
and was capable of using both the high-velocity 40x53mm grenade and the lower velocity 40x46mm grenade.
Overview
The M129 was a redesign of the M75M75 grenade launcher
The M75 is a 40mm automatic grenade launcher that was used primarily as an aircraft weapon in United States service and was one of the first weapons to use the high velocity 40x53mm grenade.-Overview:...
grenade launcher that featured reduced recoil and improved mounting and provided an increased rate of fire of up to 400 rpm compared to 225 rpm for the M75. The M129 was used with the chin-mounted M28 series armament subsystem used on the AH-1G
AH-1 Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
, MOD AH-1S, and production AH-1S Cobra. The M129 was also used on the:
- AH-56A Cheyenne on the XM51
- UH-1H Huey on the XM94
- OH-6A Cayuse on the XM8
- OH-58 KiowaOH-58 KiowaThe Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S...
light observation helicopters on the XM8 - AH-56 CheyenneAH-56 CheyenneThe Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne was a single-engine attack helicopter developed by Lockheed for the United States Army's Advanced Aerial Fire Support System program to produce the Army's first dedicated attack helicopter...
on the XM51
Design
The M129 was effectively a redesign of the older M75 to incorporate a concentric cam and improved mount. The major problem with the M75 was the torque created due to the barrel being below the operating drum. In the M129 the barrel is concentric with the drum and the excessive torque is thus eliminated. Otherwise, operation of the weapon is extremely similar to that of the M75, with the reciprocating barrel and cam assembly still presenting itself, the weapon still being electrically driven and ammunition still fed trough a belt system. Some other improvements were made to the M129, most notably that of the addition of special feed tray to permit the firing of low-velocity and high-velocity ammunition, a mechanism to provide instant interchange between electric operation and manual hand-crank operation and a dynamic braking unit to guarantee that the launcher barrel always stopped in the forward (safe) position when the firing trigger is released.See also
- M75 grenade launcherM75 grenade launcherThe M75 is a 40mm automatic grenade launcher that was used primarily as an aircraft weapon in United States service and was one of the first weapons to use the high velocity 40x53mm grenade.-Overview:...
- U.S. Helicopter Armament SubsystemsU.S. Helicopter Armament SubsystemsThe United States military has developed a number of Helicopter Armament Subsystems since the early 1960s. These systems are used for offensive and defensive purposes and make use of a wide variety of weapon types including, but not limited to machine guns, grenade launchers, autocannon, and rockets...
- List of grenade launchers