China Lake NATIC

Infobox Weapon
name=China Lake Pump-Action Grenade Launcher


caption=
origin=flag|United States
type=Grenade launcher
is_ranged=yes
service=1968-
used_by=Navy SEALs, Force Recon, 5th SFG
wars=Vietnam War
designer=China Lake Naval Weapons Center
design_date=1968
manufacturer=China Lake Naval Weapons Center
production_date=1968
number=Less than 50
variants=
weight=kg to lb|4.63|sp=us|abbr=on|precision=2|wiki=yes loaded convert|3.72|kg|abbr=on empty
length=mm to in|875|abbr=on|precision=1|wiki=yes
part_length=convert|356|mm|abbr=on|1
cartridge=40 mm grenade
action=Pump-action
rate=15 rounds/min
velocity=convert|76|m/s|0|lk=on|sp=us|abbr=on
range=350 m
max_range=
feed=3-round tubular magazine
sights=Open, leaf-type, square-notch/blade

The China Lake Model (or China Lake Pump-Action Grenade Launcher) is a pump-action grenade launcher that was developed by the Special Projects Division of the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, which provided equipment to Navy SEALs. Navy SEALs were unsatisfied with the single-shot nature of the M79 and XM148 grenade launchers, and the repeating T148E1 grenade launcher was unreliable, so they made a request to China Lake engineers. SEAL Teams were pleased with the resultant pump-action grenade launcher, since the tubular magazine held three 40x46mm grenades, and so with one grenade in the chamber, four grenades could rapidly be fired before reloading. In fact a skilled operator could fire four aimed shots before the first one landed. The grenade launcher was extremely light for its size, since a significant portion of it was made of aluminum. The weapon actually weighs 1-1/2 pounds less empty than an empty M79. Loaded with 4 of the 8 ounce rounds, the 4 shot weapon weighs only 1/2 pound more than the single shot M79. Despite this advantage in firepower, it did have limitations as it could not reliably feed the more oddly-shaped 40 mm grenades.

The pump-action grenade launcher featured leaf iron sights similar to the M79. The front sight is a fixed square notch. Depending on if the leaf is folded or not, the rear square notch is either fixed or adjustable from 75 to 375 m in 25 m increments.

Though meant for the SEAL Teams, a handful were used by Marine Force Recon and Army 5th Special Forces Group. Sources differ as to how many weapons were produced. One claims that between 20 and 30 were made. The highest original receiver number found is 50, but it may never have been made into a functional weapon. cite book |last=Dockery|first=Kevin|title=Weapons of the Navy SEALs|year=2004|month=December|publisher=Berkley Publishing Group|location=New York City|pages=382|isbn=0-425-19834-0] However, according to another source, only 16 were made.cite journal | last =Bruce | first =Robert | year =2006 | month =December | title =Treasures of the UDT-SEAL Museum | journal =Small Arms Review | volume =10 | issue =3 | pages =46 | issn =1094-995x] Since it was made on an ad hoc basis for special operations forces, it was not formally adopted and has no official designation. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the EX-41 and or the "China Lake NATIC". The EX-41 was a design concept created in the mid-1980s based upon the earlier China Lake Model Pump 40mm. The EX-41 was produced in prototype form a full 2 decades after the China Lake Model was produced. Similarly, the China Lake NATIC designation is also erroneous as the weapon was never known by that designation.

At least two grenade launchers are on display in museums. One, serial number 4, is at the UDT/ SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida while the other, serial number 13, is found in the War remnants museum in Vietnam.

An effort to produce an improved version of the weapon began in 1992 when Samuel "Dutch" Hillenburg a firearms writer specializing in military weapons teamed up with master machinist, Brian Fauci. In 2003, they achieved a breakthrough and were able to convince fellow writer and firearms enthusiast Captain Monty Mendenhall to finance their research effort. By 2004, they had a functional prototype and began the process of product refinement.Fact|date=July 2007 Brian Fauci later manufactured for the U.S. commercial market a limited number of such prototypes, calling the "Ultimate M79"; this weapon has a 4-rounds feeding tube, and is marked "Canal Side Guns". The "Ultimate M79" is considered a destructive device under US laws and BATFE regulations, and is on sale through Armament Services International Inc. out of Richboro, Pennsylvania.

In June 2007, they were in limited production and ready to market the weapon to the military. At that time, they were approached with an offer from Airtronic USA (the current government manufacturer of the M203) to acquire a license for military production and sales.Fact|date=July 2007

In July 2007, Airtronic USA announced that they were entering large scale production with an initial order for 500 units destined for US military forces. This announcement occurred simultaneously with the taping of an episode of the popular military technology program, "Weaponology".Fact|date=July 2007

ee also

*EX 41 grenade launcher
*M79 grenade launcher
*M203 grenade launcher
*M32 grenade Launcher
*M320 grenade launcher
*Mk 19 grenade launcher

References

External links

* [http://www.autoweapons.com/products/destructivedevices.html Canal Side Guns version, including a movie of it in use]