Beagle-zebub
Member
I've heard people call it a number of things, but what was shorthand terminology for the M-79 grenade launcher, specifically during the Vietnam War?
Real nicknames for the M-79 among actual grunts
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cpt-t
Member
Their were many nicknames for the M79, but the only one that I can remember right now, and I think the most widely used by us. Was the ((( BLOPPER ))) and it ammo was referered as ((( EGGS ))). The M79 would shoot 90 metters direct fire and up to 300 metters indirect fire. And it had a 10 meter Kill Zone and a 20 meter Sevire Wound Zone. The rounds we had for it were HE, WP, Flechetts, Buck Shoot, Flares, and several colors of Smoke. Oh yes one of my Guys called His M79, His ((( PEE BRINGING SOB ))) and in His hands it was just that. This Mans name was Buliva Elgin Hamiliton, But we just called him ((( HAMP ))). Hamp and His best friend CUSS`s were two of the best M79 Gunners I ever seen and they rode on my track and they save our butts many times. Several times, when we were in a fight in a open terain. I can remember HAMP & CUSS`s haveing 3 to 4 rounds apeice, in the air befor the first rounds hit the ground and went off. Sorry if I got long winded or I bored you, with the ramblings of an old man reliveing my youth.
ken
ken
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MasterSergeantA
Member
Some called it the "Thumper".
Dmitri Popov
Member
I don't think you'll bore anyone. These are the stories I love seeing in regards to weapons. Personal experiences by the people who were there.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Thumper here also. I was a Medic but our guy was so one with that weapon it was amazing to see.
He was always right on the money.
He was always right on the money.
moxie
Member
Thumper or just M79.
But I gladly defer to cpt-t.
But I gladly defer to cpt-t.
03fatboy
Member
My uncle was in Vietnam and he called his M79 the toothpick special.
Float Pilot
Member
BLOOPER.
They are more accurate with the direct sights than the M203 and the longer barrel provides a bit more velocity and range.
The break action also allows longer cartridges and rocket flares to be fired as compared to the m203.
37mm rocket flares work just fine in an M79....
The old M79s are still around. Many in navy Pirate Gun trim.
Here is a pic from the late 90s when we were giving a class on their use. That's my old buddy Jeff Becker, then a Ssgt weapons instructor, now a Lt Col.
They are more accurate with the direct sights than the M203 and the longer barrel provides a bit more velocity and range.
The break action also allows longer cartridges and rocket flares to be fired as compared to the m203.
37mm rocket flares work just fine in an M79....
The old M79s are still around. Many in navy Pirate Gun trim.
Here is a pic from the late 90s when we were giving a class on their use. That's my old buddy Jeff Becker, then a Ssgt weapons instructor, now a Lt Col.
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LeonCarr
Member
Dad called it "The Blooper" or "The 79".
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
cpt-t
Member
I can`t belive I could not remember the name (( THUMPER )). I really never had any for real experiance, with the 203 Unit that fit under the barrel of a M-16. And all I have heard was it was heavy, akward, and caught on every wait a minute vine in the area like a magnet. I dreamed about the M79 last night, and I could see (( HAMP & CUSS)) walking thru the Rubber with their M79`s in their right hands and carrying 3 to 4 rounds between fingers on their left hands, with that large large First Aid Bag hanging on their left side full to the brim with M79 rounds that they always carried. They were always Laughing or they had a big Grin on their faces, I guess that was the way they coped, but darn they were both good in a fight and never shirked not once. HAMP & CUSS were also famous for setting hair triggered Booby Traps. They could set real breathiers and nobody ever wanted to have to take one of their Booby Traps down. Thanks again for letting an Old Man ramble about the most exicting part of His life.
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ken
MutinousDoug
Member
For some reason, my unit called the M79 a "Chunker". 1970, I think we got the M203s around the time we went into Cambodia in May.
chieftain
Member
"Blooper".
3rdMarDiv 67/68/69.
The best M-79 grenadiers took their weak and gangly sights off, and still rarely missed. Those issued sights hung up on everything in the bush, and would get bent and break VERY easily.
A great weapon. I hope those new overunder grenade launchers are as accurate as ours were.
Welcome home my brothers.
Fred
"I no longer fight the NVA, I now must fight the VA to live." -- Me
3rdMarDiv 67/68/69.
The best M-79 grenadiers took their weak and gangly sights off, and still rarely missed. Those issued sights hung up on everything in the bush, and would get bent and break VERY easily.
A great weapon. I hope those new overunder grenade launchers are as accurate as ours were.
Welcome home my brothers.
Fred
"I no longer fight the NVA, I now must fight the VA to live." -- Me
breakingcontact
Member
Revolver in that holster?
Float Pilot
Member
Negative, it is an issue M9 Beretta 9mm popgun.
Our unit issued black nylon web gear for use around the base when transporting weapons and taking troops out to the range.
I think I am wearing the same type of gear in this pic, where I am explaining how the Easter Egg hunt is about to begin during the night firing stage....
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dogtown tom
Member
My Military Science instructor was an Army Captain in Vietnam.........he referred to both the M79 and M203 as "Bloop Tubes".
Field Tester
Member
Link to this story please?
MagnumDweeb
Member
The M-79 has been a long time interest of mine. Modern ballistics did a lot to help make the grenade launcher a legit weapon.
Look at http://www.peashooter85.com/post/48661523798/18th-century-musket-grenade-launcher-attachments.
Also for a clue to one of my long term projects is http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/handmortar.htm. The problem is that a black powder grenade would still likely have to be an NFA registered explosive device. And I don't think I would use a real grenade with it either. But oh the possibilities.
No one in my family ever used one as far as I know but I've read up on them and can see how in open terrain they'd add a definite advantage against machine gun nests, charging waves of attackers, and entrenched ambushers and defenders.
Look at http://www.peashooter85.com/post/48661523798/18th-century-musket-grenade-launcher-attachments.
Also for a clue to one of my long term projects is http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/handmortar.htm. The problem is that a black powder grenade would still likely have to be an NFA registered explosive device. And I don't think I would use a real grenade with it either. But oh the possibilities.
No one in my family ever used one as far as I know but I've read up on them and can see how in open terrain they'd add a definite advantage against machine gun nests, charging waves of attackers, and entrenched ambushers and defenders.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
We called them Thump Guns in my 5th. Army unit in 1968.
They made a 'Thump' sound when you dropped a round in the chamber.
They made a 'Thump' sound a little distance away from them when you shot them.
They only 'Thumped' your shoulder when you shot them with very little recoil.
And they sure as heck 'Thumped' whatever you shot with them pretty good enough!
I found them highly accurate about as far as you could see something to shoot at with one too!
I loved shooting them, if it weren't for the ammo weight carrying it.
rc
They made a 'Thump' sound when you dropped a round in the chamber.
They made a 'Thump' sound a little distance away from them when you shot them.
They only 'Thumped' your shoulder when you shot them with very little recoil.
And they sure as heck 'Thumped' whatever you shot with them pretty good enough!
I found them highly accurate about as far as you could see something to shoot at with one too!
I loved shooting them, if it weren't for the ammo weight carrying it.
rc
Beagle-zebub
Member
Did it really make sense to shift from the M79 to the M203? Because it seems like one guy who specializes in the M79 will be a lot more accurate than three guys who aren't. I would imagine that the main advantage of the M203 is that the whole fire-team can fire at once, and that one guy going down doesn't remove the qualified grenade guys from your team.
Sergei Mosin
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The M79 weighs almost as much as the M16, so the M79 gunner either didn't have a rifle, just the M79 and a .45, or he was humping a lot more weight if he did carry a rifle. The M203 increased the squad's firepower by giving the grenadier a rifle without adding too much extra weight to his load.
Spade5
Member
25th inf div 70-71
They were bloopers to us. We mostly carried HE rounds. Only had one per platoon and he also carried a worn out 1911. I seem to recall there was a safety right behind the break action that could bite you from the recoil. I didn't carry the blooper and only fired it in training. It could come in mighty handy in the right hands. I liked shooting it at the rang.e
They were bloopers to us. We mostly carried HE rounds. Only had one per platoon and he also carried a worn out 1911. I seem to recall there was a safety right behind the break action that could bite you from the recoil. I didn't carry the blooper and only fired it in training. It could come in mighty handy in the right hands. I liked shooting it at the rang.e
Float Pilot
Member
The M-79s that I used last in the Air Force were old Navy issue weapons that had been re-built and stored at the Naval Weapons Depot with synthetic stocks which reduced the weight a little. The weighed about 5.5 pounds empty. It has a 14 inch barrel.
A big guy could carry one in a scabbard and still carry a CAR-15 / GAU5 carbine.
The original M-203s weighed a little over 3 pounds before they were mounted on a rifle. with a 12 inch barrel.
So on an old lightweight M16 or M16A1 you ended up with a 9 or ten pound weapon.
The heavier barreled A2s were really nose heavy with the M203 attached.
Later they made a short barreled version of the M203 for the M4 carbine with a 9 inch barrel.
The Army is replacing the M203 with the M320. The M320 can be also be configured and fired as a stand alone weapon,,, just like an M-79. So what was old is new again.
A big guy could carry one in a scabbard and still carry a CAR-15 / GAU5 carbine.
The original M-203s weighed a little over 3 pounds before they were mounted on a rifle. with a 12 inch barrel.
So on an old lightweight M16 or M16A1 you ended up with a 9 or ten pound weapon.
The heavier barreled A2s were really nose heavy with the M203 attached.
Later they made a short barreled version of the M203 for the M4 carbine with a 9 inch barrel.
The Army is replacing the M203 with the M320. The M320 can be also be configured and fired as a stand alone weapon,,, just like an M-79. So what was old is new again.
seeker_two
Member
With PDWs like the FN P-90 as a backup, a dedicated grenade launcher like the M203 could make a lot of sense in a squad.
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