The 25 mm grenade is a type of
explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An ex ...
ordnance used in some modern
grenade launcher
A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires a specially designed, large caliber projectile, often with an explosive, Smoke screen, smoke, or tear gas, gas warhead. Today, the term generally refers to a class of dedicated firearms firing unitary gre ...
s. 25 mm grenades are armed after launch, after traveling a safe distance. Many types
explode
An explosion is a rapid expansion in volume of a given amount of matter associated with an extreme outward release of energy, usually with the generation of high temperatures and release of high-pressure gases. Explosions may also be generated ...
on
impact
Impact may refer to:
* Impact (mechanics), a large force or mechanical shock over a short period of time
* Impact, Texas, a town in Taylor County, Texas, US
Science and technology
* Impact crater, a meteor crater caused by an impact event
* Imp ...
, but others are designed to
explode in mid-air after traveling a certain distance—used to clear entrenched or barricaded positions.
Examples of
weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime (e.g., murder), law ...
s designed to launch 25 mm grenades are the experimental
XM25, the
Barrett XM109
The Barrett XM109, originally known as the Objective Sniper Weapon (OSW) and now called the Anti-Materiel Payload Rifle (AMPR), is a prototype semi-automatic grenade launcher. It is chambered for 25 × 59 mm grenade rounds and was developed by ...
payload rifle, and the
XM307 ACSW. The original use for this round was for the OCSW, now known as the XM307 ACSW. Later, a low
velocity
Velocity is a measurement of speed in a certain direction of motion. It is a fundamental concept in kinematics, the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of physical objects. Velocity is a vector (geometry), vector Physical q ...
variant of the OCSW round was chosen for the XM25,
which is derived from the
XM29
The XM29 OICW (''Objective Individual Combat Weapon'') was a series of prototypes of a new type of assault rifle that fired 20 mm HE airbursting projectiles. The prototypes were developed as part of the Objective Individual Combat Weapon p ...
OICW.
There are two different versions of the 25mm grenade: the 25×40mm low-velocity round developed for the XM25, and the 25×59mm high-velocity round developed for the XM109 and XM307.
See also
*
25 mm caliber
References
External links
25 mm ammunition - Global Security
Grenades
Large-caliber cartridges
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