M129 (40 mm)
Contents
Description
Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.
Available ammunition
- Default: HEATGR
| Penetration statistics | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | |
| Default | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Belt details | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | ||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | |||||||
| Default | HEATGR | 244 | 0.25 | 0.02 | 0.1 | 60.8 | 62° | 69° | 73° |
Comparison with analogues
Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.
Usage in battles
Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Does decent damage to ground vehicles
- High ammo count and low rate of fire allow for spraying
Cons:
- Low rate of fire
- Very low muzzle velocity and heavily arcs, not useful against aircraft
History
Development of an automatic grenade launcher began in the late 1950s by Philco-Ford.[1] A patent was filed in 1961 of the new automatic grenade launcher and the grenade launcher was designated with XM75.[2] By late October 1962, this weapon system was tested at Springfield Armory as a feasible weapon on the nose below the UH-1 helicopter in a turret system designated XM138. The weapon was subsequently adopted in 1963 as the M75 and sent to Vietnam attached to UH-1As in 1964.[1] The turret system would be redesigned by 1964 and then accepted in 1966 as the M5 armament subsystem.[1][2] However, the M75 grenade launcher had drawbacks in its design. A 1964 report on US Army aircraft armament showed that the m75 could leave live rounds in the breech after firing stops, which then could allow for a "run-away" with the launcher firing without any gunner input.[2] The M75 also produced excessive torque when firing due to the barrel position below the cam assembly, which also led to rapid parts wear.[1]
The issues with the M75 caused Philco-Ford to begin developing an improved design in 1963 as the XM129.[2][3] The most notable change was the placement of the barrel from being below the operating drum to concentric with the drum. The issue of the live round being left in the breech was also resolved as well. Tests of the XM129 began in 1965, with results proving well enough that the development of the M75 grenade launcher was halted in 1967 as the XM129, now standardized as the M129, took its place.[2]
The M129 grenade launcher was reportedly used in the UH-1 Huey's M5 armament subsystem in modification packages around 1967-1968, though they were certainly used in the XM94 armaments subsystem that would mount the M129 as a door gun on the UH-1. The M129's most prominent usage was as a weapon in the new AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Mounted in the new M28 armament subsystem next to a M134 minigun, The M129 was also mounted on the XM8 and XM51 armament subsystem, which were under consideration for the Light Observation Helicopter program and the AH-56 Cheyenne respectively.[1][3]
Over 1,667 units of the M129 grenade launchers were produced.[4] The weapon was produced by Philco-Ford until 1971, and then production continued under the Maremont Corporation in 1972.[3]
Media
- Videos
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- GlobalSecurity.org "M129 40mm Grenade Launcher." GlobalSecurity.org, Website. Accessed 13 Mar. 2021.
- GlobalSecurity.org "M75 40mm Grenade Launcher." GlobalSecurity.org, Website. Accessed 13 Mar. 2021.
- Peake, Michael A. "40mm Grenade Launchers." centaursinvietnam.org, Website. Accessed 13 Mar. 2021.
- Pike, John; Sherman, Robert. "M129 40mm Grenade Launcher." Federation of American Scientists - Military Analysis Network, 09 Jan. 1999, Website. Accessed 13 Mar. 2021.
| USA aircraft cannons | |
|---|---|
| 20 mm | AN/M2 · Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 0 · Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 · FMC T-160 |
| M3 · M24A1 · M39 · M39A1 · M39A2 · M39A3 · M61A1 · M195 · M197 · Mk 11 · Mk 11 mod 5 · T31 | |
| 30 mm | M230E-1 · XM140 · GAU-8/A · GAU-13/A · LR30 |
| 37 mm | M4 · M9 · M10 |
| 40 mm | M75 · M129 |
| 75 mm | M10 · T13E1 |
| Foreign: | |
| 20 mm | Hispano 404 (France) · Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · MG 151 (Germany) · Type 99 Model 1 (Japan) |
| 30 mm | ADEN Mk.4 (Britain) |
| Israel aircraft cannons | |
|---|---|
| 20 mm | GIAT M.621 (France) · Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · Hispano Mk.V (Britain) · M50 (France) · M61A1 (USA) · M195 (USA) · M197 (USA) · MG 151 (Germany) · Mk 11 mod 5 (USA) |
| 30 mm | DEFA 551 (France) · DEFA 552 (France) · DEFA 552A (France) · DEFA 553 (France) · M230E-1 (USA) |
| 40 mm | M129 (USA) |
