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The Aruncător de grenade automat 40 mm model 1985, also known as the AG-40, was a Romanian-made automatic grenade launcher that was widely used by the Romanian military and various other Eastern European militaries during the late 20th century.

History[]

The AG-40 was designed to provide infantry units with a powerful and versatile weapon for engaging enemy targets at close and medium ranges. It was capable of firing a variety of 40 mm grenades, including high-explosive, fragmentation, smoke, and illumination rounds.

The AG-40 was widely used by the Romanian military during the late 20th century, and it was also exported to several other Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. It was used in a number of conflicts, including the Gulf War and the Bosnian War, where it proved to be a valuable addition to the infantry’s arsenal.

Design Details[]

The AGA-40 is recoil-operated, which is not a very common action for grenade launchers, as most automatic grenade launchers operate via API blowback or something similar. It is fed from the left side of the weapon via belt, which is stored in a drum magazine which is affixed to the left side. Similar to most automatic grenade launchers and mounted machine guns, the AGA-40 has two spade grips with a trigger in between them for the operator to use. The AGA-40 is mounted on a tripod, similar to most other automatic grenade launchers. The weapon has select-fire capabilities.

The AG-40 featured a rotating six-shot barrel, which allowed for a high rate of fire and reduced the need for frequent reloading. It had a maximum effective range of around 500 meters, and the weapon could be fired in single-shot or automatic mode. One of the key features of the AG-40 was its lightweight and compact design, which made it easy for soldiers to carry and operate in the field. The weapon weighed just 12.5 kg and could be easily disassembled into several components for transport.

In terms of reliability, the AG-40 was known for its ruggedness and durability. It was able to withstand harsh battlefield conditions and could continue to function even after being subjected to heavy use and abuse.




Ammunition[]

AGA40grenade

Some grenades used by the AGA-40.

The weapon uses a 40×74.5 mm grenade with three known variants; an inert training round, a shrapnel round with a lethal radius of 1 meter and an armor-piercing round that has a claimed penetration power of 50 millimeters (1.97 inches) of steel.

External links[]

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