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This is a lore summary, presenting intradiegetic or in-universe information about the subject. For game characteristics and similar data, consult the table on the right.
Game-specific articles
Fallout 3Grenade launcher Cut contentIcon cut
FO: New VegasGrenade launcher
Grenade rifle
Mercenary's grenade rifle
Thump-Thump
Great Bear grenade rifle
Red Victory grenade rifle
Grenade machinegun
Mercy
Fallout 76M79 grenade launcher
Auto grenade launcher
FO TacticsGrenade launcher
Grenade pistol
Heckler Cut contentIcon cut
 
Gametitle-FO3 BSGametitle-FNVGametitle-F76Gametitle-FOT
Gametitle-FO3 BSGametitle-FNVGametitle-F76Gametitle-FOT

A grenade launcher refers to a weapon designed to project specially-designed grenades at ranges far greater than the average soldier could, with superior accuracy and velocity. The term encompasses a broad array of weapons, from small, hand-held launchers to crew-served automatic weapons.

Models[]

M79 grenade launcher[]

GrenadeRifleFNV

One of the earliest United States grenade launcher designs, built around the 40mm grenade. Utilizing the High-Low propulsion system, the M79 allows the operator to deliver high explosive rounds at a range of hundreds of meters, while its rugged design - consisting of just five major parts, a receiver, fore-end, barrel, sight, and stock - offers excellent reliability. The one drawback is that the grenade launcher is single-shot only, reducing its rate of fire and precluding a sustained volume of fire. However, it is quite compact, especially with the stock sawed off, while the straightforward optics, consisting of a fixed blade sight on the front and a folding leaf sight on the rear, enable accurate fire with just pointing and shooting. These qualities kept it in use well into the late 21st century, showing that simplicity is beauty.[1][2]

Pump-action grenade launcher[]

Grenade launcher
Gameplay article:

A pump-action weapon with a tubular magazine holding four 40mm grenades, the grenade launcher is an excellent tool for delivering explosives over long distances. Leaf iron sights similar to the grenade rifle are mounted on it. The front sight is a fixed square notch.

While the feed system makes the launcher significantly heavier than a standard grenade rifle, the launcher's body makes an excellent platform for experimental energy weapon conversions.

Automatic grenade launcher[]

GrenadeMachinegun
Gameplay articles:

The automatic grenade launcher, sometimes referred to as a grenade machinegun, is a belt-fed, blowback-operated, air-cooled automatic weapon designed to lay down a heavy volume of explosive ordnance and support infantry and vehicle operations. Designed for use as a crew-served weapon, the automatic grenade launcher was intended for use against a variety of targets ranging from infantry and light vehicles to fortifications and other materiel. The sheer weight of the weapon and bulk of the ammunition limited its versatility, until the advent of power armor. Since then, many units were converted for use on foot, rather than from a tripod.[3]

U.S. automatic grenade launchers were manufactured in two major variants, accepting 25mm and 40mm grenades, together with a variety of additional equipment, such as an electronic fire control system (though most of these systems have failed in the decades after the war, becoming little more than dead weight).[4]


Grenade pistol[]

Mini-FOT LogoThe following is based on Fallout Tactics and some details might contradict canon.
Tactics grenade pistol
Gameplay article:

Single Shot Grenade Pistol. Heavily modified flare-gun, chambered to fire a 40mm grenade.

Combat grenade launcher[]

Icon cut contentThe following is based on Fallout 3 cut content and has not been confirmed by canon sources.
COMBATSHOTGUN
Gameplay article: Grenade launcher (Fallout 3)


A grenade launcher that looks exactly like a combat shotgun but used frag grenades instead of shotgun shells for ammunition.

Heckler[]

Icon cut contentThe following is based on Fallout Tactics cut content and has not been confirmed by canon sources.
Heckler
Gameplay article:

A semi-automatic magazine-fed grenade launcher.

References

  1. Weapon appearance and naming.
  2. https://archive.is/CUwpQ
  3. Appearance of the weapon and parallels with the Mark 19 Mod 3 automatic grenade launcher.
  4. Automatic grenade launchers in the games.
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