The firepower that can be carried by one person has risen dramatically in recent years, with the bar raised again in the form of a potent new M-32 Multiple shot Grenade Launcher that will be fielded by the United States Marines as an experimental weapon. The M-32 is the latest development in a long line of multi-shot, revolver-type, 40mm, hand-held, grenade launchers from South African armaments manufacturer Milkor, and it offers a massive firepower increase compared to the Marines’ existing single shot 40mm launchers.
That the M-32 can deliver six 40mm grenades within three seconds is frightening enough, but several factors make it particularly devastating . The first is the sighting scope that allows a Marine to “follow” the grenade to the target and immediately adjust and follow up with a lethal volley of indirect fire. The second is that amongst the wide range of ammunition available to the M-32 is the Martin Electronics (MIE) Direct Range Air-Consuming Ordnance (DRACO) Grenade. MIE’s brochure on the thermobaric DRACO round says it all – When you absolutely, positively need to eliminate the enemy! Now you can deliver six DRACOs in three seconds anywhere within 400 metres. One MIE DRACO will turn a building into rubble. Oh, and the M-32 weighs just six kilograms empty or 7.5 kilograms with six DRACOS.
