The AG36 is a single-shot
40 mm underbarrel
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 ...
that operates on the
high-low system and was designed primarily for installation on the
G36 assault rifle
An assault rifle is a select fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge, intermediate-rifle cartridge and a Magazine (firearms), detachable magazine.C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', F.A. Moyer '' ...
, designed by the German
weapons
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 ...
manufacturing
company
A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...
Heckler & Koch of
Oberndorf am Neckar. It originally appeared as Heckler & Koch's candidate for the US Army's Enhanced Grenade Launcher requirement, evaluated for use with the
XM8 and
FN SCAR
The FN SCAR (SOF (Special Operations Forces) Combat Assault Rifle) is a family of gas-operated short-stroke gas piston automatic rifles developed by Belgian manufacturer FN Herstal (FN) in 2004. It is constructed with modularity for the United ...
rifles. As is commonly mistaken, the "A" is not an addition to the name "G36", which is short for ''Gewehr 36'', but is in fact an abbreviation of the German ''Anbaugranatwerfer'', literally meaning "attached grenade launcher" and the 36 coming from the name of the primary weapon it was designed to enhance – the G36. It can also be used dismounted, with a stock attached as a stand-alone model, or a
LLM01 laser light module can be attached to it.
Design details

As in many modern weapon systems, including the
G36 series, extensive use of
polymer
A polymer () is a chemical substance, substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeat unit, repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their br ...
s and high-strength
aluminium
Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
in the AG36 launcher contributes to its low mass and high durability. It is capable of firing almost all
40×46mm grenade rounds, including plastic training cartridges,
flexible baton round
Flexible may refer to:
Science and technology
* Power cord, a flexible electrical cable.
** Flexible cable, an Electrical cable
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an e ...
s,
CS gas
The compound 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called ''o''-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile; chemical formula: C10H5ClN2), a cyanocarbon, is the defining component of the lachrymatory agent commonly referred to as CS gas, a tear gas which ...
, and
oleoresin capsicum (OC, the same chemical used in
pepper spray
Pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum spray, OC spray, capsaicin spray, mace, or capsicum spray is a Tear gas, lachrymator (tear gas) product containing as its active ingredient the chemical compound capsaicin, which irritates the eyes with burning ...
) gas cartridges,
white phosphorus
White phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, or simply tetraphosphorus (P4) is an allotrope of phosphorus. It is a translucent waxy solid that quickly yellows in light (due to its photochemical conversion into red phosphorus), and impure white phospho ...
, and
HE ammunition. With the grenade launcher fitted, when firing 5.56 mm ammunition, the G36 Rifle’s mean point of impact shifts approx. downwards at a range of . The AG36 is a part of Germany's
Infantryman of the future program.
The AG36 is a single-shot weapon with a break-action
steel
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...
barrel and unlike its American counterpart, the
M203, the AG36 swings out laterally for loading, allowing for the use of longer rounds when necessary, e.g. baton or flare rounds. When open, the breech is on the left. For installation, the rifle's existing barrel handguard is removed and replaced by the AG36. The weapon has a trigger group with a manual safety lever and a pistol grip for ease of handling. Aiming is accomplished using standard ladder sights, which are located on the left side of the launcher body and folded down when not in use.
Due to its modular design, the launcher can be readily adapted to other rifles, such as the
M16-series and the
Diemaco C7 and C8.
Variants
The L17A1 and L123A2 UGL (Underslung Grenade Launcher) are the under-barrel 40 mm grenade launchers used by the
British Army
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
in conjunction with the
L85A2 rifle (L123A2 UGL), and in small numbers with the
L119A1 carbine
A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges.
The smaller size and ligh ...
used by
United Kingdom Special Forces
United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) is a directorate comprising the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, the Special Forces Support Group, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forces A ...
and the
Pathfinder Platoon
The Pathfinder Platoon is a Pathfinders (military), pathfinder unit of the British Army, and an integral part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team. The Pathfinder Platoon acts as the brigade's advance force and reconnaissa ...
(L17A1 UGL). It is designed and built by Heckler & Koch and is a modified variant of the AG36. The UGL was first deployed during
Operation Telic in 2003. The UGL replaced the muzzle-launched
Rifle Grenade General Service. One UGL is issued per
fireteam
A fireteam or fire team is a small modern warfare, modern military sub-subunit, subordinated element of infantry designed to optimize "Non-commissioned officer, NCO initiative", "combined arms", "bounding overwatch" and "fire and movement" mi ...
within
infantry
Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...
s.
A further version of the AG36 is the
Heckler & Koch AG-C/EGLM.
Users

*
*
* : Replacing the
Heckler & Koch HK69A1.
* Used by
Kopassus
The Kopassus (, Special Forces Command) is an Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as Direct action (military), direct action, unconventional warfare, sabot ...
and
Denjaka
*
*
[Jones, Richard D. ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010''. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). .]
* :
Lithuanian Armed Forces
The Lithuanian Armed Forces () are the military of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of the Lithuanian Land Forces, the Lithuanian Navy, the Lithuanian Air Force and the Lithuanian Special Operations Force. In wartime, the Li ...
.
*
*
*
*
*
* : Used by
Special Forces Command (Turkey)
The Special Forces Command () is a corps of the Turkish Armed Forces, initially established as a brigade in 14 April 1992, operating directly under the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey, Turkish General Staff. According to the Turkish Arme ...
* : L123A2 Variant
* : Designated as
M320 grenade launcher
See also
*
M203 grenade launcher
*
M320 grenade launcher
*
GP-25
The GP-25 ''Kostyor'' ("Bonfire"), GP-30 ''Obuvka'' ("Shoe") and GP-34 are a family of Russian 40 mm under-barrel muzzleloaded grenade launchers for the AK family of assault rifles. The acronym GP stands for ''Granatomyot Podstvolnyj'', " ...
*
Milkor UBGL
*
Heckler & Koch AG-C/GLM
References
External links
Heckler & Koch – official page
The Infantry's Explosive Punch (Asian Military Review article)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heckler and Koch AG36
40×46mm grenade launchers
AG36
Post–Cold War weapons of Germany
Grenade launchers of Germany
Underbarrel weapons