Quote Originally Posted by Firn View Post
What can deliver a bigger yet portable bang than a 40 mm at the squad or platoon level?

1) Rifle grenades come in different shapes and sizes, but I doubt that a 5,56 round can propel a medium warhead (1-2 kg) or even a heavy (3-4 kg) to medium distances (300-400 m). Perhaps still a interesting way to deliver grenades like SIMON or a heavy bunker-busting grenade over a short distance.

BTW, the 7,62 should be better suited for such tasks, even better should do the 8,6 Lapua Magnum and best the 12,7. However it might be asked much to develop a specific rifle grenade for the "sniper grenadier".
German AT rifles were converted for long-range rifle grenade fire in the midst of WW2.



Rifle grenades can have a sustainer rocket like RPG, but accuracy (or lack thereof) and possibly a rocket smoke trail may rule it out.


M72'sand RPG18's have been heavily used as infantryman's "infantry gun", but a reloadable weapon would be more weight efficient in that calibre group. The French had SARPAC on offer, that was pretty much a reloadable M72.

There's no real market for this today because of the 40mm MV cartridge. That cartridge hasn't the HE power to deal with structures, but it offers similar effect on soft targets without cover.


The USMC "Spike" missile project may be of interest; it combines one pound explosives, more than a mile range and TV lock-on or (night) semi active laser guidance. It's supposedly $ 5,000 a piece.