DVIDS reporting from Helmand Province documents U.S. Marines firing a MK-19 grenade launcher from an observation post during a July 2011 firefight near Gereshk.
Role detailsInfantry Weapons
40 mm automatic grenade launcher
Also known as
- Mk-19 grenade launcher
- Mark 19 grenade machine gun
- Mark 19 grenade launcher
- Mk 19
- Mk 19 Mod 3
- MK19 grenade machine gun
- 40AGL Mk2
- CIS 40AGL
- STK 40 AGL
- SB-40 LAG
- LAG 40
- HK GMG
- Heckler & Koch GMG
- GMW
The 40 mm automatic grenade launcher class covers belt-fed crew-served grenade machine guns such as the U.S. Mk 19 Mod 3, ST Engineering 40AGL Mk2, Heckler & Koch GMG, and Spain's LAG 40 family. Direct reporting documents Mk 19 use by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, coalition partner training against Islamic State, and Ukrainian frontline employment in the Russia-Ukraine War.
Role in Conflicts
DVIDS reporting documents U.S. soldiers employing a MK-19 automatic grenade launcher during a March 2008 firefight in Jisr Diyala, Iraq.
Role detailsDVIDS documents an Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service trainee firing a MK-19 near Baghdad under CJTF-OIR partner-force training against ISIL, and a 2020 coalition Mark 19 live-fire exercise at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.
Role details- Side
- Ukraine
Militarnyi reported that Mk 19 grenade launchers were already in Ukrainian Defense Forces frontline units in 2023, and later reporting tied Mk-19 or AGL-53 integration to Ukrainian robotic fire-support systems.
Role detailsProfile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Multiple countries
- Built by
- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical SystemsU.S. OrdnanceST EngineeringHeckler & KochMKE, Sarsilmaz, KalekalipVarious manufacturers
- Type
- 40 mm automatic grenade launcher
- Service note
- Cold War-era class still in service
- Designer
- Multiple designers
- Designed
- 1960s-present
- Unit cost
- $18,000 (FY 2008 Army procurement unit cost)
- Produced
- 1968-present
Specifications
- Caliber
- 40x53 mm high-velocity class for Mk 19-type launchers; other 40 mm AGLs vary by model
- Feed
- Disintegrating-link or belt-fed depending on model
- Mounting
- Tripod, vehicle, remote weapon station, ring, soft, cupola, or naval/marine craft mount depending on model
- Role
- Crew-served support fire
- Ammunition
- 40 mm high-velocity grenades, including M430A1 HEDP rounds
- Mk 19 cyclic rate
- 325-375 rounds per minute
- Mk 19 maximum range
- 2,212 m
- Mk 19 effective range
- 1,500 m against point/soft targets; U.S. Ordnance also lists 2,000 m against area targets
- Mk 19 weight
- 77.6 lb / 35 kg without mount
- GMG example
- 40x53 HV, 32-round ammunition box, 340 rounds/min, left- or right-side belt feed, and 1,500 m effective range
- Ammunition cost
- Tactical 40 mm rounds reported at $50 or $60 each; day training rounds about $7
Ammunition Context
Most Mk 19-type automatic grenade launchers use linked 40x53 mm high-velocity ammunition rather than the lower-velocity 40x46 mm rounds fired by shoulder or under-barrel grenade launchers. U.S. Army acquisition reporting identifies M430A1 HEDP as the primary high-velocity tactical round for Mk 19 grenade machine guns, and U.S. Ordnance lists M430A1 among the rounds fired by the MK19 MOD 3.
High-velocity family
40x53 mm linked ammunition for automatic launchers such as Mk 19, Mk 47, HK GMG, and Vektor Y3 AGL.
Representative tactical round
M430A1 HEDP, described by Army acquisition reporting as the primary 40 mm HV tactical cartridge.
40 mm AGL Family Comparison
The main Western 40 mm automatic grenade launcher families share a crew-served support role, but differ in feed direction, operating system, weight, and mounting options.
| Family | Feed / mount | Source-backed distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 19 Mod 3 | Tripod or vehicle | U.S. Army and U.S. Ordnance list a 77.6 lb 40 mm grenade machine gun with 1,500 m point-target range and 2,212 m maximum range. |
| CIS / STK 40AGL | Belt-fed; tripod, vehicle, marine craft, cupola | Army Guide supports the Singapore family background and its vehicle or marine-craft mounting context. |
| LAG 40 SB | Linked feed; tripod, vehicle, craft, helicopter | Army Guide lists the LAG 40 as a belt-fed 40x53 mm automatic grenade launcher with 1,500 m effective range. |
| Heckler & Koch GMG | Left/right belt feed; remote or vehicle station | H&K lists 40x53 HV ammunition, semi-automatic or full-automatic fire, 32-round ammunition box, 340 rpm rate of fire, and 1,500 m effective range. |
Variants
This class page groups comparable 40x53 mm automatic grenade launcher families rather than treating every model as one lineage.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 19 Mod 3 | U.S. 40x53 mm grenade machine gun | U.S. Army and U.S. Ordnance data describe the Mk 19 Mod 3 as a belt-fed, blowback-operated, air-cooled 40 mm grenade machine gun with a 325-375 rpm cyclic rate. |
| 40AGL Mk2 | Singapore 40 mm automatic grenade launcher | ST Engineering describes the 40AGL Mk2 as a high-velocity 40 mm launcher with modular assembly and sight or mount options including reflex sight, lock-and-fire mount, and softmount. Sources: ST Engineering 40AGL Mk2 |
| CIS 40AGL / STK 40 AGL | Earlier Singapore 40 mm AGL family | Army Guide's CIS 40AGL profile supports the Singaporean family background and its vehicle or marine mounting context. |
| LAG 40 / SB-40 LAG | Spanish 40x53 mm automatic grenade launcher | Army Guide lists the LAG 40 as a belt-fed 40x53 mm automatic grenade launcher with an effective range of 1,500 m. |
| Heckler & Koch GMG | German 40x53 mm grenade machine gun | Heckler & Koch describes the GMG as a 40x53 HV support weapon with belt-linked ammunition, semi-automatic or full-automatic fire, left- or right-side belt feed, and 1,500 m effective range. Sources: GMG | Heckler & Koch |
Mounted Platforms
Army and partner reporting document vehicle mounts for the 40 mm family, including the HMMWV and the Al-Shibl 2.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Light tactical vehicle | Army Reserve Cold Steel says soldiers train and qualify on the MK19 grenade launcher on mounted and dismounted military platforms, including the HMMWV. Sources: Cold Steel mounted weapons |
 | Light armored personnel carrier | Army Guide explicitly lists a multi-weapon ring mount on the Al-Shibl 2 that accepts a 40 mm grenade launcher. Sources: Al Shibl 2 |
 | High-speed assault and landing craft | The BK-16 ship-specifications PDF lists a 40 mm automatic antipersonnel grenade-launcher complex among the boat's armament options. |
Compatible Triggers
DevDroid lists an electric trigger as compatible with Mk-19, and Frontline Robotics describes Mk 19 as part of a launcher family that uses electric trigger systems for remote control.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Electric trigger | DevDroid lists the electric trigger as compatible with Mk-19, and Frontline Robotics describes Mk 19 as part of a launcher family that uses electric trigger systems for remote control. Sources: DevDroid product page, Frontline Robotics BURIA 2.0 article |
Carrier Vehicles
The Cougar MRAP can be fitted with a roof-mounted 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle | Army Recognition says the Cougar MRAP roof can be fitted with an open-top weapon station or a remotely controlled weapon station armed with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. Sources: Poland signs contract to purchase 300 second-hand Cougar MRAP vehicles from US |
Timeline
40 mm automatic grenade launcher Key Events
MK-19 used in Jisr Diyala firefight
DVIDS reporting describes U.S. soldiers employing a MK-19 automatic grenade launcher during a March 2008 firefight in Iraq.
MK-19 fires from Helmand observation post
DVIDS reporting from Helmand Province documents U.S. Marines using a MK-19 during an engagement near Gereshk, Afghanistan.
Partner-force MK-19 training against ISIL
A DVIDS image record documents an Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service trainee firing a MK-19 near Baghdad during CJTF-OIR training.
Ukrainian frontline Mk 19 sights delivered
Militarnyi reported that 60 special sights for Mk 19 launchers had reached Ukrainian Defense Forces units at the frontline.
Media
40 mm automatic grenade launcher Videos
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
CIS 40AGL (Automatic grenade launcher)Publisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports CIS 40AGL family background and that this class is marketed for vehicle and marine-craft mounting. | Accessed: 2026-06-2340 mm Automatic Grenade LauncherPublisher: MKE USA | Note: Supports class-level technical characteristics for a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, including belt feed, cyclic rate, range, and vehicle-oriented support-weapon role. | Accessed: 2026-06-23Al Shibl 2Publisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports the Al-Shibl 2's multi-weapon ring mount that accepts a 40 mm grenade launcher, plus the vehicle background and specifications shown on the Army Guide page. | Accessed: 2026-06-23LAG 40 SB (Automatic grenade launcher)Publisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports LAG 40 / SB-40 LAG family identity, 40x53 mm ammunition, belt feed, rate of fire, and effective range. | Accessed: 2026-07-03high speed assault combat boat - BK-16Publisher: Kalashnikov Concern | Note: Supports the BK-16 armament specification sheet, including the 40 mm automatic antipersonnel grenade-launcher complex fit. | Accessed: 2026-06-25MK19 Grenade Machine GunPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports MK19 background and technical characteristics, including the system's role, weight, cyclic rate, range, and general service description. | Accessed: 2026-06-27US Ordnance MK19 MOD 3Publisher: U.S. Ordnance | Note: Supports MK19 MOD 3 specifications, U.S. Ordnance production context, M430A1 compatibility, mounting options, and open-bolt/blowback operating description. | Accessed: 2026-07-03ST Engineering 40AGL Mk2Publisher: ST Engineering | Note: Supports the 40AGL Mk2 family row, high-velocity 40 mm ammunition, modular assembly, safety features, and sight/mount options. | Accessed: 2026-07-03GMG | Heckler & KochPublisher: Heckler & Koch | Note: Supports GMG identity, 40x53 HV chambering, belt-linked ammunition, 32-round ammunition box, effective range, rate of fire, feed direction, and remote/vehicle weapon-station role. | Accessed: 2026-07-03MK-19 Grenade Machine Gun budgetPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the MK19 Mod 3's manufacturer context, Saco production line, and FY 2006-2009 procurement unit cost in the Army budget justification book. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Cold Steel mounted weaponsPublisher: U.S. Army Reserve | Note: Supports MK19 carriage on the HMMWV and other mounted military platforms in Operation Cold Steel III mounted-weapons training. | Accessed: 2026-06-27New 40 mm grenades to enhance training readinessPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the MK19's 40 mm high-velocity grenade ammunition context and the reported tactical-round and day-training-round costs used in Army training reporting. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Delivering the next generation of 40 mm grenadesPublisher: U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center | Note: Supports the ammunition context section by distinguishing high-velocity Mk 19 grenade-machine-gun ammunition from low-velocity 40 mm rounds and identifying M430A1 HEDP as the primary 40 mm HV tactical round. | Accessed: 2026-07-033/4 Marines take, return fire near Gereshk, AfghanistanPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict use by documenting U.S. Marines using a MK-19 grenade launcher during a July 2011 firefight in Helmand Province. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Soldiers turn ambush around on criminalsPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War conflict use by documenting U.S. soldiers employing a MK-19 automatic grenade launcher during a March 2008 firefight in Jisr Diyala, Iraq. | Accessed: 2026-07-03ICTS Trainee Shoots Machine GunPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State conflict use by documenting an Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service trainee firing a MK-19 during CJTF-OIR partner-force training against ISIL. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Coalition members conduct Mark 19 live-fire exercisePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State conflict use by documenting coalition members conducting a Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine-gun live-fire exercise at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, under CJTF-OIR. | Accessed: 2026-07-03The military received 60 special sights for Mk 19Publisher: Militarnyi | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War conflict use by reporting Mk 19 grenade launchers and special sights already in Ukrainian Defense Forces frontline units. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Ukraine's ground robot armed with a grenade launcherPublisher: UNITED24 Media | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War conflict use by tying Ukraine's codified Droid NW 40 robotic system to a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher fit using either Mk-19 or AGL-53. | Accessed: 2026-07-03DevDroid product pagePublisher: DevDroid | Note: Supports the Mk-19 compatibility note for DevDroid's electric trigger product page. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Poland signs contract to purchase 300 second-hand Cougar MRAP vehicles from USPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports Cougar MRAP carriage of a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher on the roof weapon station. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Frontline Robotics BURIA 2.0 articlePublisher: The Defender | Note: Supports the Mk 19 launcher-family compatibility context by describing Mk 19 as part of a family that uses electric trigger systems for remote control. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Mk 19 grenade launcher imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a representative Mk 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher image on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-23Mk 19A imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a second representative Mk 19 family image on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-23Seabee fires MK-19 grenade launcher imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the primary U.S. Navy Seabee MK-19 training image used as this entry's hero image. | Accessed: 2026-07-03