Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the standalone grenade launchers category.
01 / Overview
M79 grenade launcher
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1961–1971
Quantity
350,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
STANDALONE GRENADE LAUNCHERS · EARLY COLD WAR
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
87
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the standalone grenade launchers category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
- Weapon Typegrenade launcher
- Service Entry Year1961
- Weight0.003 kg
- Calibre40 mm
- In ServiceYes
◈Operation5MOD.5
- Action TypeBreak-action
- Crew1
- Shoulder-FiredYes
- Reload Typesingle-shot
- Sight TypeBlade and leaf type
▣Performance4MOD.4
- Muzzle Velocity273.6 m/s
- Effective Range0.35 m
- Maximum Range3.5 m
- Minimum Arming Range30 m
◇Warhead & Effect2MOD.2
- Warhead Typeexplosive
- HE RoundYes
◆Ammunition1MOD.1
- Ammunition Typesexplosive, anti‑personnel, smoke, buckshot, flechette, illumination
▤Production1MOD.1
- Total Production350,000
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1961Production started
- 1971Production ended
65
years in service
10
years in production
350,000
units produced
47
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
M79 GRENADE LAUNCHER · CONFLICTS SERVED IN18% win·9% loss
Total Conflicts
11
Victories
2
Ongoing
0
Losses
1
2003–2011Iraq WarDecisive victory→2001–2021War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)—→1988–1998Bougainville conflict—→1979Sino-Vietnamese War—→1979–1992Salvadoran Civil War—→1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→1967–1975Cambodian Civil War—→1965Dominican Civil War—→1965–1983communist insurgency in Thailand—→1959–1975Laotian Civil WarDecisive victory→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries49country
AustraliaACTIVE
BrazilACTIVE
CambodiaACTIVE
ChadACTIVE
ColombiaACTIVE
Costa RicaACTIVE
Dominican RepublicACTIVE
El SalvadorACTIVE
EritreaACTIVE
EthiopiaACTIVE
FijiACTIVE
GreeceACTIVE
GuatemalaACTIVE
HaitiACTIVE
HondurasACTIVE
IndonesiaACTIVE
IranACTIVE
IraqACTIVE
IrelandACTIVE
IsraelACTIVE
JamaicaACTIVE
JordanACTIVE
KenyaACTIVE
LebanonACTIVE
MalaysiaACTIVE
MyanmarACTIVE
New ZealandACTIVE
NicaraguaACTIVE
NigerACTIVE
OmanACTIVE
PanamaACTIVE
ParaguayACTIVE
People's Republic of ChinaACTIVE
PhilippinesACTIVE
PortugalACTIVE
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesACTIVE
Saudi ArabiaACTIVE
SomaliaACTIVE
South KoreaACTIVE
SpainACTIVE
TaiwanACTIVE
ThailandACTIVE
TurkeyACTIVE
United KingdomACTIVE
United StatesACTIVE
VietnamACTIVE
YemenACTIVE
LaosRETIRED
South AfricaRETIRED 06 / MASS Score
STANDALONE GRENADE LAUNCHERS RANKING Standalone Grenade Launchers · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
43STANDALONE GRENADE LAUNCHERS1EARLY COLD WAR · STANDALONE GRENADE LAUNCHERS1706UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS3PERFORMANCE/PRICE · STANDALONE GRENADE LAUNCHERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theStandalone Grenade Launcherscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE2terms
High Explosive (HE) round: an artillery or mortar projectile containing explosive filler designed to inflict damage through blast and fragmentation effects.
A portable rocket or missile launcher designed to be operated by a single soldier from the shoulder.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources