M7 Grenade Launcher - Design Details and Employment

Design Details and Employment

The M7 grenade launcher was a tube shaped device. One end fitted onto the barrel of the M1 Garand rifle enclosing the muzzle and was held in place with the rifle's bayonet lug. The other end was cylindrical with a small clip that held the grenade in place by friction. To launch a grenade, a special high powered blank cartridge (M3 .30-06 Springfield) made specifically for the purpose was inserted into the rifle. Using markings engraved onto the device to determine the desired range, the rifle grenade was slipped over the launcher and held in place by the clip. When fired, the resulting expanding gases propelled the grenade a considerable distance depending on the grenade type, the vertical angle that the rifle was held, and how far the grenade was positioned onto the launcher. Since the device disabled the semi-automatic function of the rifle to prevent damage to the gun from firing grenades, the rifle could not be fired normally when the M7 launcher was in place, although, the gun could be fired in an emergency as a single action. Fragmentation, anti-armor and smoke grenades were available along with an adapter to enable the use of hand grenades. Three M7 grenade launchers were issued to each rifle squad.

The M7 series grenade launcher came with accessories. The M15 auxiliary sight was mounted on the left-hand side of the stock. A spirit level allowed the user to figure out the arc of the weapon to aid in aiming the grenade. A rubber recoil boot (part # B200968) could be slipped on the butt of the Garand's stock to reduce recoil when it was fired.

The M8 grenade launcher was similar except it was designed to be mounted on the M1 carbine and used the .30 Carbine M6 Grenade Blank. The recoil could crack or break the stock.