Tactics-wise, what is the point of a fully automatic grenade launcher?

Question

The rounds are MUCH slower than average so an agile person could actually move out of the way. It has to be mounted so it doesn't have mobility, I guess a helicopter door gunner could make use of it but they put them on humvees and other things too.

Edymemelord · Accepted Answer

OMG GRENADE LAUNCHERS FINALLY SOMETHING I CAN ACTUALLY HELP WITH.
So whether it's on a video games or in real life grenade launchers have actually been an amazing addition to the infantry force. (Set up on a corner with a shooter, connected to the 50 cal on the Stryker or part of the tank).
Theyre very good at actually getting rid of people and more importantly backing them off. They've been used often times to push back the front line and gain the advantage. It can also go MUCH further on the automatic machine than what the average person can throw.
When set up behind a wall or stone and shot upwards you're very well protected and dealing major enemy to the opposing force.
This is not to say they're the best thing ever, there are also several disadvantages.
They are HEAVY this is not the average weapon one person can carry on their back, not in the slightest.
When there's a malfunction the private (usually) shooting is most likely dead.
Really hope I was helpful.
If you have any questions just reply :3

RJGraveyTrain · Accepted Answer

I... have no idea. I assume explosions are effective? @BertMacklinFBI you're a gun guy yeah? Enlighten my ignorant ass if you could.

BertMacklinFBI · Accepted Answer

well it's the same concept as automatic machine guns.

being able to fire more rounds faster means you have more potential to hit more targets in a short amount of time, meaning kill them before they can kill you.

WW2, when the Germans had machine guns and the allies were using the iconic bolt action M1 Grand, the Germans were able to mow down TONS of allied soldiers within seconds while it takes the allies longer to kill 1 German with every shot.

now yes... it is a grenade launcher, it has an explosive radius to kill and do damage, but the fact that it is automatic makes it THAT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT at what it does.

normalice · Accepted Answer

localized artillery. It's like "one big bomb" that you can divide up for a more controlled explosion zone. plus, it's an excuse to give a couple billion in tax money to military contractors..

JohnDoe3000 · Answer

Area denial/suppression I suppose: spray them at some passage and the enemy can't come through there (I suspect that's what they're used for the most). Other uses would be against light vehicles and if you can fire them quickly enough you could kill a mass of enemies in open areas (no cover).

madhatters4 · Answer

you said the rounds are slower than average. so you mean that an automatic grenade launcher is slower than manually re-loading?

mostwomenshouldstfu · Answer

Releastically it creates a larger splash area for more effective damage but there is a diminshing return in the inverse square law where the amount of surface area of the flame front increases faster than the kill zone. So you're wasting grendaes with explosion overlap. On the flip side, focusing rounds in a single area adds fuel to the fire burning hotter for more hardier targets.

IMHO.

Kindoflonelyguy · Answer

The Mark 19 is an excellent weapon to use for suppression. If what you're shooting at doesn't die, it still won't be able to cause you any trouble. The Mark 19 also fires HE, AP, Willie Pete, and smoke rounds.

SlightlyCrazy · Answer

The point is to create a area of effect to suppress the movement of the enemy. The large fragmentation radious makes them effective at indirect fire. Addronalky they are a suitable way to clear a room without taking out a building

jacquesvol · Answer

I only trained with add on grenade launchers, attached to a FAL rifle.

Redstang88 · Answer

Suppressive fire would be my guess. With frags you don't need a direct hit to be effective, and with that kind of firepower you'll have pretty good control over the enemies movement.

llorando · Answer

To takeout/disperse a large number of enemy targets in a short amount of time.

rjroy3 · Answer

Just makes it faster at scoring kills. More rounds fired, more destructive force.

Anonymous · Answer

Modern combat isn't usually so up close and personal. Firing grenades from behind cover towards the enemy's cover would be a useful tactic.

meatballs21 · Answer

Saturate the area around the target so they can't escape.

Zorax · Answer

Well, a grenade launcher can be useful in the case of Zombie apocalypse :P

Knkutz · Answer

They're good for clearing out enclosed spaces, like trenches. Rather than shooting enemies directly, gunners "spray and pray"

Muhammad1999 · Answer

It can kill very easily and no one can run from blast radius , so automatic one will be very effective

Azgeda · Answer

Why have a mounted MG when we have LMGs eh?

lime_rampljuset · Answer

to blow stuff, but faster

SeraBarton · Answer

Noobs got to have something I guess.

Other_Tommy_Wiseau · Answer

I mean shrapnel is also a thing

KatGrabber83 · Answer

You can outrun a grenade blast?

Blitzkrieger · Answer

Its probably useful for supressive fire.

Tactics-wise, what is the point of a fully automatic grenade launcher?

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