Mk.19
The Mk 19 (pronounced Mark 19) is an American 40 mm [b]automatic [[grenade launcher]][/b] that was first developed during the [[Vietnam War]]. Entered [[military]] service since 1968. It replaced the earlier hand-cranked "Mk 18":[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_18_Mod_0_grenade_launcher].

The Mk 19 is a belt-fed, blowback-operated, air-cooled, crew-served, fully-automatic [[weapon]] that is designed not to cook off. It fires 40 mm grenades at a cyclic rate of 325 to 375 rounds per minute, giving a practical rate of fire of 60 rounds per minute (rapid) and 40 rounds per minute (sustained). Though the Mk 19 has a flash suppressor, it serves only to save the eyesight of its operator, not concealing the weapon's position. For [[night]] operation, a picatinny rail quadrant sight can be added for [[thermal scope|thermal]] and [[night vision]] [[optical sight|optics]]. 

Due to its low recoil and comparatively light weight, the [[weapon]] has been adapted for use on many different platforms, including small attack [[boat]]s, [[aircraft]]s, fast attack vehicles such as the [[Humvee]], AAV and Stryker, military [[jeep]]s, and a large variety of naval mounts.

h4. See also
* [[AGS-30]] - The Russian "counterpart".
* [[List of weapons]]
* Wikipedia page: "Mk 19 grenade launcher":[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_19_grenade_launcher]
mk19 grenade launcher