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{{Infobox Weapon
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Launcher, Grenade, 40 mm, XM148
|name=Launcher, Grenade, 40 mm, XM148
|image=[[File:XM148 Grenade Launcher.jpg|300px]]
| image= XM148 Grenade Launcher.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=The XM148 grenade launcher.
|caption=The XM148 grenade launcher.
|origin={{flag|United States}}
|origin={{flag|United States}}
Line 9: Line 10:
|is_UK=
|is_UK=
<!-- Service history -->
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|service=
|used_by=[[U.S. Army]], [[U.S. Air Force]], [[Australia]]
|used_by=[[U.S. Army]], [[U.S. Air Force]], [[Australia]], [[South Vietnam]]
|wars=[[Vietnam War]], [[1989 Philippine coup attempt]] (U.S.A.F. issue)
|wars=[[Vietnam War]]<br>[[Laotian Civil War]]<br>[[1989 Philippine coup attempt]] (USAF issue)
<!-- Production history -->
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= Karl R. Lewis
|designer= Karl R. Lewis
Line 17: Line 18:
|manufacturer=[[Colt Firearms]]
|manufacturer=[[Colt Firearms]]
|production_date=
|production_date=
|number=
|number=
|variants=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight=3 lb (1.36 kg)
|weight=3 lb (1.36 kg)
|length=16.5 [[Inch|in]]
|length={{convert|16.5|in|cm|abbr=on}}
|part_length=10 in
|part_length={{convert|10|in|cm|abbr=on}}
|width=
|width=
|height=
|height=
|crew=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=40x46mm grenade
|cartridge=40×46mm grenade
|caliber=
|caliber=
|action=Single shot
|action=Single-shot
|rate=
|rate=
|velocity=247 ft/s (74.5 m/s)
|velocity=247 ft/s (74.5 m/s)
|range=
|range=
|max_range=437 yd (400 m)
|max_range=437 yd (400 m)
|feed=
|feed=
|sights=Quadrant sight
|sights=Quadrant sight
}}
}}


⚫
The '''XM148''' was an experimental [[40 mm grenade|40 mm]] [[grenade launcher]] developed by [[Colt Firearms]] as the CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher). Colt manufactured the launcher for field testing during the [[Vietnam war|Vietnam]] era. After problems with the experimental design were discovered, the XM148 was replaced by [[AAI Corporation]]'s conceptually similar [[M203 grenade launcher|M203]] design, which became the primary grenade launcher used by the [[US armed forces]] and others until its ongoing replacement with the [[M320_Grenade_Launcher_Module|M320]].

==Description==
[[File:Colt AR-15 with XM148 Launcher.jpg|thumb|left|The XM148 mounted to an early Colt [[M16 rifle|AR-15]] rifle.]]
[[File:Colt AR-15 with XM148 Launcher.jpg|thumb|left|The XM148 mounted to an early Colt [[M16 rifle|AR-15]] rifle.]]
⚫
The Colt XM148 grenade launcher was created by Colt's Design Project Engineer, gun designer [http://www.rareguncollection.com/ Karl R. Lewis]. The May 1967 "Colt's Ink" newsletter announced that he had won a national competition for his selection and treatment of materials in the design. The [https://web.archive.org/web/20090207103659/http://207.234.249.73/rgc/coltsink.jpg newsletter] stated in part, "In only 47 days, he wrote the specifications, designed the launcher, drew all the original prints, and had a working model built."


The weapon was designed for installation below the barrel of [[M16 rifle|M16]]-type rifles, and was intended to replace the stand-alone [[M79 Grenade launcher|M79]] correcting the problem of grenadiers relying on pistols as a secondary weapon.
The '''XM148''' was an experimental [[40 mm grenade|40 mm]] [[grenade launcher]] developed by [[Colt Firearms]] as the CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher). Colt manufactured the launcher for field testing during the [[Vietnam war|Vietnam]] era.


In July 1966 the US Government contracted Colt Firearms to provide nearly 20,000 XM-148s with the weapon arriving in South Vietnam in December 1966. The weapon was pulled from service in the fall of 1967.<ref>p. 38 Walter, John ''Rifles of the World'' Krause Publications, 25 Mar. 2006</ref>
⚫
It was designed for installation below the barrel of [[M16 rifle|M16]]-type rifles, and was intended to replace the stand-alone [[M79 Grenade launcher|M79]] correcting the problem of grenadiers relying on pistols as a secondary weapon. After problems with the experimental design were discovered, the XM148 was replaced by [[AAI Corporation]]'s conceptually similar [[M203 grenade launcher|M203]] design, currently the primary grenade launcher used by the [[US armed forces]] and others today.
⚫
Originally made for use with the [[M16 rifle|M16 Rifle]], the XM148 was also used by US Special Forces in conjunction with the [[XM177#CAR-15 Commando .28XM177 series.29|XM177E2]] and the Australian SASR in conjunction with the modified [[L1A1#Production and use|L1A1]], nicknamed "''the bitch''".


⚫
Originally made for use with the [[M16 rifle|M16 Rifle]], the XM148 was used by US Special Forces in conjunction with the [[XM177#CAR-15 Commando .28XM177 series.29|XM177E2]] and the Australian [[Special Air Service Regiment]] in conjunction with the modified [[L1A1#Production and use|L1A1]] and [[Sterling Submachine Gun]].<ref>Neville, Leigh ''Guns of the Special Forces 2001 – 2015'' Casemate Publishers, 31 Mar 2016</ref> The weapon was also adopted by the [[United States Air Force Security Forces]] in 1968.
⚫
The launcher's barrel could slide forward to accept a single 40 mm round into the [[Breech-loaded weapon|breech]]. It came with a primitive version of the quadrant sight later used with the M203. It differed from the later model by featuring an external cocking handle and an extended trigger that allowed the weapon to be fired without removing the hand from the rifle's pistol grip. This same extended trigger was also one source of the weapon's problems as it allowed accidental discharges of a loaded weapon if caught by tree branches, gear, or anything else capable of overcoming the 6 to 11 pound trigger pull.


==Problems==
⚫
Another problem with the weapon was that it was overly complicated compared to the [[M-203]]. It was difficult to disassemble and had many small parts that could be easily lost while cleaning the weapon in the field. Where the M-203 broke down into receiver group, barrel group, hand guard group and quadrent sight (the quadrent sight being the smallest piece). The XM-148 broke down into barrel, pistol grip, receiver, hand guard, quadrent sight, and several small pins amd clips.
⚫
The launcher's barrel could slide forward to accept a single 40&nbsp;mm round into the [[Breech-loaded weapon|breech]]. It came with a primitive version of the quadrant sight later used with the M203. It differed from the later model by featuring an external cocking handle and an extended trigger that allowed the weapon to be fired without removing the hand from the rifle's pistol grip. This same extended trigger was also one source of the weapon's problems as it allowed accidental discharges of a loaded weapon if caught by tree branches, gear, or anything else capable of overcoming the 6 to 11 pound trigger pull.


⚫
Another problem with the weapon was that it was overcomplicated compared to the [[M203 grenade launcher|M203]]. It was difficult to disassemble and had many small parts that could be easily lost while cleaning the weapon in the field. Where the M203 broke down into receiver group, barrel group, hand guard group and quadrant sight (the quadrant sight being the smallest piece), the XM148 broke down into barrel, pistol grip, receiver, hand guard, quadrant sight, and several small pins and clips. These issues led the [[U.S. military]] to adopt the M203 over the XM148, though the U.S. Air Force did keep a number of the XM148s. In fact [[U.S. Air Force Security Forces]] were still being trained on the XM148 in lieu of the M203 as late as 1989{{cn|date=February 2019}}. Some security police units still had them in their armories until the 1990s.
⚫
The Colt XM148 grenade launcher was created by Colt's Design Project Engineer, gun designer [http://www.rareguncollection.com/ Karl R. Lewis]. The May 1967 "Colt's Ink" newsletter announced that he had won a national competition for his selection and treatment of materials in the design. The [http://207.234.249.73/rgc/coltsink.jpg newsletter] stated in part, "In only 47 days, he wrote the specifications, designed the launcher, drew all the original prints, and had a working model built."

⚫
== Sources ==
⚫
*TM 9-1005-249-14 Technical Manual Rifle, 5.56-mm, M16; Rifle, 5.56-mm, XM16E1; and Launcher, Grenade, 40-mm, XM148 dated 1 August 1966 (reprint)


==See also==
==See also==
* [[XM174]]
* [[XM174]]


⚫
== Sources ==
⚫
[[Category:Grenade launchers|XM148]]
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Vietnam War weapons]]
⚫
*TM 9-1005-249-14 Technical Manual Rifle, 5.56-mm, M16; Rifle, 5.56-mm, XM16E1; and Launcher, Grenade, 40-mm, XM148 dated 1 August 1966 (reprint)

*Patent US 3279114 A Grenade launcher
{{firearms-stub}}
*Gordon L. Rottman, ''US Grenade Launchers – M79, M203, and M320'', Weapon series 57, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2017. {{ISBN|978 1 4728 1952 9}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}


⚫
[[Category:Grenade launchers of the United States]]
[[ja:XM148 グレネードランチャー]]
[[pl:Granatnik XM148]]
[[ru:XM148]]
[[zh:XM148榴彈發射器]]

Revision as of 04:44, 3 April 2024

Launcher, Grenade, 40 mm, XM148
The XM148 grenade launcher.
TypeGrenade Launcher
Place of origin United States
Service history
Used byU.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Australia, South Vietnam
WarsVietnam War
Laotian Civil War
1989 Philippine coup attempt (USAF issue)
Production history
DesignerKarl R. Lewis
Designed1964
ManufacturerColt Firearms
Specifications
Mass3 lb (1.36 kg)
Length16.5 in (42 cm)
Barrel length10 in (25 cm)
Cartridge40×46mm grenade
ActionSingle-shot
Muzzle velocity247 ft/s (74.5 m/s)
Maximum firing range437 yd (400 m)
SightsQuadrant sight

The XM148 was an experimental 40 mm grenade launcher developed by Colt Firearms as the CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher). Colt manufactured the launcher for field testing during the Vietnam era. After problems with the experimental design were discovered, the XM148 was replaced by AAI Corporation's conceptually similar M203 design, which became the primary grenade launcher used by the US armed forces and others until its ongoing replacement with the M320.

Description

The XM148 mounted to an early Colt AR-15 rifle.

The Colt XM148 grenade launcher was created by Colt's Design Project Engineer, gun designer Karl R. Lewis. The May 1967 "Colt's Ink" newsletter announced that he had won a national competition for his selection and treatment of materials in the design. The newsletter stated in part, "In only 47 days, he wrote the specifications, designed the launcher, drew all the original prints, and had a working model built."

The weapon was designed for installation below the barrel of M16-type rifles, and was intended to replace the stand-alone M79 correcting the problem of grenadiers relying on pistols as a secondary weapon.

In July 1966 the US Government contracted Colt Firearms to provide nearly 20,000 XM-148s with the weapon arriving in South Vietnam in December 1966. The weapon was pulled from service in the fall of 1967.[1]

Originally made for use with the M16 Rifle, the XM148 was used by US Special Forces in conjunction with the XM177E2 and the Australian Special Air Service Regiment in conjunction with the modified L1A1 and Sterling Submachine Gun.[2] The weapon was also adopted by the United States Air Force Security Forces in 1968.

Problems

The launcher's barrel could slide forward to accept a single 40 mm round into the breech. It came with a primitive version of the quadrant sight later used with the M203. It differed from the later model by featuring an external cocking handle and an extended trigger that allowed the weapon to be fired without removing the hand from the rifle's pistol grip. This same extended trigger was also one source of the weapon's problems as it allowed accidental discharges of a loaded weapon if caught by tree branches, gear, or anything else capable of overcoming the 6 to 11 pound trigger pull.

Another problem with the weapon was that it was overcomplicated compared to the M203. It was difficult to disassemble and had many small parts that could be easily lost while cleaning the weapon in the field. Where the M203 broke down into receiver group, barrel group, hand guard group and quadrant sight (the quadrant sight being the smallest piece), the XM148 broke down into barrel, pistol grip, receiver, hand guard, quadrant sight, and several small pins and clips. These issues led the U.S. military to adopt the M203 over the XM148, though the U.S. Air Force did keep a number of the XM148s. In fact U.S. Air Force Security Forces were still being trained on the XM148 in lieu of the M203 as late as 1989[citation needed]. Some security police units still had them in their armories until the 1990s.

See also

Sources

  1. ^ p. 38 Walter, John Rifles of the World Krause Publications, 25 Mar. 2006
  2. ^ Neville, Leigh Guns of the Special Forces 2001 – 2015 Casemate Publishers, 31 Mar 2016
  • TM 9-1005-249-14 Technical Manual Rifle, 5.56-mm, M16; Rifle, 5.56-mm, XM16E1; and Launcher, Grenade, 40-mm, XM148 dated 1 August 1966 (reprint)
  • Patent US 3279114 A Grenade launcher
  • Gordon L. Rottman, US Grenade Launchers – M79, M203, and M320, Weapon series 57, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2017. ISBN 978 1 4728 1952 9

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