Airtronic's Modernized 40mm China Lake Grenade Launcher

Рет қаралды 720,475

Күн бұрын

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In 2004, a trio of small arms enthusiasts began an effort to reproduce the Vietnam-era China Lake 40mm pump action grenade launcher. They displayed their first prototype at SHOT Show, and (not surprisingly) got quite a lot of interest in it. Their production plans quickly went form 1 to 3 to 10 and then to 50 units...far too many to built one by one by hand as the prototype had been. Looking for a source for barrels, they wound up in contact with the Airtronic corporation. Airtronic was then primary contractors making M203 grenade launchers for the US military. They could easily produce a few dozen barrels, but they expressed an interest in mass producing the gun.
At about the same time (in the aftermath of the Battle of Fallujah), the USMC began a process to find a multiple-shot 40mm launcher. Specific interest was expressed by the Marines in the China Lake, and Airtronic began to change the original design to better fit modern military needs. Some of these changes were simple and suitable, like replacing the old M79 iron sights with Picatinny rail for modern optics, and replacing the stock with an AR-pattern pistol grip and buttstock. The really problematic change was an attempt to lengthen the receiver and allow the gun to use the high pressure grenades of the Mk19 automatic grenade launcher. This would not have proven feasible, but the project never got as far as a completed, firing prototype.
Instead, questions of ownership, licensing, and money broke out. The original three partners and Airtronic wound up in a lengthy and destructive lawsuit, which would lead to Airtronic declaring bankruptcy and no complete guns, either original pattens or modernized, being completed. This prototype is the only surviving example. The USMC would end up trialling the South African Milkor MGL-140, modifying it a bit, and ultimately adopting it as the M32A1.
Many thanks to Dutch Hillenburg for making this video possible!
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Пікірлер: 1 700

@soldadoryanbr7776 3 жыл бұрын

**casually pulls granade launcher from under the table**

@gnaskar 3 жыл бұрын

three times in one video too.

@volusian95 3 жыл бұрын

I read this at the exact moment he first did it

@bobroberts2371 3 жыл бұрын

The equivalent of Paul Harrell's range jacket?

@mikesadillan5834 3 жыл бұрын

excuse me, sir, but he took it out of his pocket

@Mixu. 3 жыл бұрын

@@bobroberts2371 this fits so well I'm kinda impressed I hadn't already thought of it

@wila5477 3 жыл бұрын

I think the world needs more, not less, pump action grenade launchers.

@billhsu6349 3 жыл бұрын

Pump action grenade launchers have a strick requirement regarding the length of grenade, which means newer longer grenades are not suitable for these weapons.

@magniwalterbutnotwaltermag1479 3 жыл бұрын

@Viktor' 'Hyrst much easier to target republicans in their homes, "an enemy without manueverabilityis without victory" -Son of zoo probably

@flightlesschicken7769 3 жыл бұрын

This comment thread went from 0 to 100 real quick

@user-dh2ev9sc4c 3 жыл бұрын

russian GM-94 smiles at you)

@jic1 3 жыл бұрын

They're actually pretty common in the law enforcement market, here is one made by Penn Arms: www.combinedsystems.com/product/p640-3cer-cerakoted-pump-multi-launcher-6-cyl-collapsing-stock-w-combo-rail/

@Spaceman404. 3 жыл бұрын

"I want those! Give me china lakes!" Don't we all, eh?

@ab5olut3zero95 3 жыл бұрын

One? Shoot- I want to be able to give these out for Christmas.

@crazysilly2914 3 жыл бұрын

CHYYYYYNA

@gewuerzwanze5627 3 жыл бұрын

Just imagine loading slugs into these bad boys.

@GOPGonzo 3 жыл бұрын

The perfect Christmas gift.

@gewuerzwanze5627 3 жыл бұрын

@keith moore yes a BIG bullet

@PJA264 3 жыл бұрын

Best collections of rare firearms ecclectica: 1: Cody Center for the West 2: RIA 3: Ian's crotch

@jic1 3 жыл бұрын

That sound you can hear is Jonathan Ferguson crying.

@TheArkTheArkTheArk 3 жыл бұрын

“He pulled an M2 browning out of his pants?! How did- where was he- what?”

@spacewater7 3 жыл бұрын

He's like Wile E .Coyote.

@jonathanferguson1211 3 жыл бұрын

@@jic1 *sob* I'm not crying. You're crying.

@axelord4ever 3 жыл бұрын

I bet his undies has ACME embroidered across the backside in golden script.

@pricklypear3625 3 жыл бұрын

The universe couldn't let something as cool as the China Lake fade into history.

@ravener96 3 жыл бұрын

but then promptly did

@w0rloko 3 жыл бұрын

@@staringgasmask people are still using them in the middle east 🤘

@FreshBarn 3 жыл бұрын

@@w0rloko To be fair I think they're using anything they can find out there.

@matt_1984_ 3 жыл бұрын

but the courts can and did.

@pricklypear3625 3 жыл бұрын

@Alexi Malenkov You're right. A lot of weapons are forgotten, and the China Lake isn't one of them.

@finnmcool2 3 жыл бұрын

Feature creep sure seems to kill a lot of military projects. With some of these 'requirement' lists I keep expecting to hear 'and a puppy'.

@ebreshea 3 жыл бұрын

Was that the reason though? Ian mentioned some problems with the high pressure rounds, but it never actually got to that point and said it died due to a lawsuit.

@alichi101 3 жыл бұрын

@@ebreshea Without featurecreep it was pretty much ready to be produced

@bobroberts2371 3 жыл бұрын

Look up the 1998 movie " The Pentagon Wars "

@ebreshea 3 жыл бұрын

@@alichi101 The original design, or the one modified to meet military spec? They never fixed the takedown issue from the original which was probably a requirement.

@dimasakbar7668 3 жыл бұрын

@@bobroberts2371 funnily, in the original book (Reformer Challenge the Old Guard), the role wasn't as black and white. Look it up if you're interested

@kennenandersen 3 жыл бұрын

Paint it blue and yellow, suddenly it shoots tennis balls for your dog.

@DH-xw6jp 3 жыл бұрын

@@onkelpappkov2666 just make it like a massive spring action airsoft gun

@DH-xw6jp 3 жыл бұрын

@TheRabbit _123 slibgshot rubber you say? Where is joerg sprave when you need him!

@aiyahuntacheimumbi236 3 жыл бұрын

@@onkelpappkov2666 Nerf already makes them lol I own one

@forcesightknight 3 жыл бұрын

Would not fit. The law rocket however. Its base tube is the perfect size for a tennis ball. Had one once but my crack head cousin stole it. He never served, I did. God bless America.

@FitzPenn 3 жыл бұрын

“if it ain’t broke you haven’t tinkered enough”

@TheCaptainSplatter 3 жыл бұрын

Really the only thing that broke it was the high pressure rounds

@ME262MKI 3 жыл бұрын

That thing is a worthy representative of a "Metal Slug" Shotgun

@Joshua_N-A 3 жыл бұрын

In game they shoots full auto and multicaliber.

@LOUDcarBOMB 3 жыл бұрын

S H O T G U N !

@CommodoreFan64 3 жыл бұрын

I was just playing Metal Slug on my Wii last night, and you are 100% right. 👍😂

@ArcturusOTE 3 жыл бұрын

@@Joshua_N-A So essentially an autocannon

@MarcinP2 3 жыл бұрын

1 1/4 gauge?

@philips.5563 3 жыл бұрын

This whole story comes back to the ancient wisdom of never letting the Corps do their own procurement.

@crashcourseinbruhsurgery 3 жыл бұрын

Don't even let them procure the basics, such as glue, crayons and dip.

@Joshua_N-A 3 жыл бұрын

Navy should do the buying and Marine do the firing.

@user-njyzcip 3 жыл бұрын

Mmmm HK416 anyone?

@dogboy0912 3 жыл бұрын

"ok Marines, you get to pick one nice thing for yourself" Marine Corps: we demand STOVL in our next gen fighter that will ruin development even though the common chassis will have non interchangeable variants anyway.

@springbloom5940 3 жыл бұрын

I knew a Ranger that wanted to carry a 2" 12ga, because one blast will take out everyone in a room. If you let soldiers choose their own kit, they'll all be carrying Desert Eagles and Calicos.

@Mr_Bunk 3 жыл бұрын

This thing without any stock: _Now I am become dislocation, destroyer of wrists_

@jongreenshields2815 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah probably if you shot the high pressure 40mm out of it

@stevejones1488 3 жыл бұрын

The low loads have almost zero recoil. Try using high pressure it would explode into many bits, creating a hand held claymoore mine. Probably not a good idea...

@DeadNoob451 3 жыл бұрын

@@stevejones1488 You just need to attach a shield and you have a terrifying melee/cqb weapon.

@meeperdudeify 3 жыл бұрын

@@DeadNoob451 still have to deal with that recoil...

@WingMaster562 3 жыл бұрын

I wonder if this is california compliant

@Horizontalvertigo 3 жыл бұрын

The space beneath any table Ian sits behind becomes a hammer-space from whence Ian can pull any firearm ever made

@oceanman3804 3 жыл бұрын

On the first day of Christmas, Ian gave to me... *Two China lake grenade launchers in a pear tree!*

@Mad.player 3 жыл бұрын

FIVE GARAND PINGS!

@kovacsnovak6745 3 жыл бұрын

@@melbertdecamos7300 8 BELT BUCKLE GUNS.

@Skele7ronfuckyoutubeitsmyname 3 жыл бұрын

@@kovacsnovak6745 9 "AH GERMANS!"

@dave.of.the.forrest 3 жыл бұрын

@@Skele7ronfuckyoutubeitsmyname 10 Borchardts banging

@bravo6959 3 жыл бұрын

@@dave.of.the.forrest 11 enfeilds

@karsten11553 3 жыл бұрын

"Because it was awesome." No further reason needed!

@Pitchlock8251 3 жыл бұрын

Cough, cough, Brownells Retro China Lake 40mm Grenade Launcher, Cough.

@gregsmall5939 3 жыл бұрын

Slow down skippy. Let's get a 37mm version first!😉

@jic1 3 жыл бұрын

@@gregsmall5939 Sadly, I think the number of people willing to pay $1500-plus to be able to fire three flares in rapid succession is vanishingly small.

@mpetersen6 3 жыл бұрын

@@gregsmall5939 P D's might be interested in them for riot duty. I'm not sure what the size the gas cartridges today are. But if they are still 37mm that would be one way to differentiate them from military weapons. At least in a legal situation. Truthfully the old Bloop Tube reminded me of the older tear gas launchers. It's just my opinion but the pump action looks like it would be far more user friendly in terms just carrying the damn thing. That revolving cylinder on the one that was adopted might work. But it's big. And yes they should have stuck to the Hi-Lo 40mm. At least in terms of chambering. I could see the idea behind being able to shoot flares if needed though. If they wanted to fiddle with the design (some things they did make sense) why not look at adapting say the Remington 1100 autoloader action. But only if it allowed a faster follow up shot without an increase in complexity. For sights a simple Red Dot optic that rotates on its mount for elevation. One question. Do they make 40mm Flash Bangs. If the US deploys troops into a combat situation I want them to win. If it takes killing the opposition fine. After all they had a choice and made it. But there are times when I could see it might be useful to take the opposition alive if possible. Intelligence for one thing. Another is why make a martyr out of somebody if killing them just helps create 2 or 3 new enemies.

@jic1 3 жыл бұрын

@@mpetersen6 PDs already have access to 40mm pump-action launchers, if they want them: www.combinedsystems.com/product/p640-3cer-cerakoted-pump-multi-launcher-6-cyl-collapsing-stock-w-combo-rail/

@BasnettJames 3 жыл бұрын

@@jic1 speak for yourself! We also need rapid smoke deployment

@s.sradon9782 3 жыл бұрын

This story made me cry. I wish that one day we will live in a perfect world where every kid owns a 40mm pump action grenade launcher.

@JTruong3rd 3 жыл бұрын

For a moment I thought they cut the stock off and tried to make this an underslung launcher for rifles.

@Hellhound23691 3 жыл бұрын

@@peterclarke7240 M240.

@charlesoppland7778 3 жыл бұрын

Microzombie just goofing around in AFG I tried mounting a 320, on a 249 and 240. It only fit on one of them. (I think the 240) but even then it wouldn’t lock onto the rail.

@15sherpinski 3 жыл бұрын

The marines were involved so that was probably suggested at some point

@CynicalOldDwarf 3 жыл бұрын

For what, an M107?

@VallornDeathblade 3 жыл бұрын

@@peterclarke7240 The M134? I'm sure you can attach it to a minigun if you try hard enough.

@roflchopter11 3 жыл бұрын

"You know that China Lake? This. This is what I want. I want this. Give me these. "

@VallornDeathblade 3 жыл бұрын

Honestly, as soon as they had to redesign the whole thing for high pressure grenades it kind of defeated the purpose. Using the same grenades as the M203 makes the China Lake easy to resupply, especially in the field, since other soldiers can carry extra grenades for use in either their m203s or for the China Lake guy. It's a shame that the legal wrangling caused the whole project to fall apart in the end.

@swisstraeng 3 жыл бұрын

well, it was supposed to fire both high pressure and regular ones. It's just that, who would want to fire high pressure grenades? Anyone wants to lose a shoulder?

@DeUser1337 3 жыл бұрын

Bypass Vent the system to a muscle break **muzzle brake* that pushes the gun forward. That way you usw high power rounds, lose some max range and keep your shoulder. Yes ist a different design, but it's way easier in the ammunition department.

@oktayyildirim2911 2 жыл бұрын

@@DeUser1337 "Muscle break"? You mean "muzzle brake"?

@DeUser1337 2 жыл бұрын

@@oktayyildirim2911 yes I wanted to write that.

@wurstelei1356 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, he should at least put the missing parts on it like the pistol grip and the stock. I mean they are common and available. The poor weapon looks totally naked.

@jamesgilbert124 3 жыл бұрын

"Yeah, but why?" What part of "Because it's awesome" seems to be eluding you?

@vincentalmerico6165 3 жыл бұрын

US Military: “We want to modernize the China Lake” Airtronic: C H R O M E

@skeltonslay8er781 3 жыл бұрын

“Everything’s chrome in the future”

@Joshua_N-A 3 жыл бұрын

Spongebob episode when Squidward use the time machine.

@moonman5880 3 жыл бұрын

If it don't work, chrome it up!

@spicy1570 3 жыл бұрын

haha

@arthurhucksake2665 3 жыл бұрын

SHINY AND CHROME

@saber5821 3 жыл бұрын

would that stand up in court Me: id like to make a grenade launcher government:why? Me:cuz there awesome

@Dirtbag-Hyena 3 жыл бұрын

*They're

@cahilla54 3 жыл бұрын

Drtbag39 couldn’t just go along with the joke?

@Tunkkis 3 жыл бұрын

@@cahilla54 Why do folks always get their panties in a twist when a mistake is corrected, especially when it's not even their own mistake?

@Treblaine 3 жыл бұрын

Apply for a sporting exemption, you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

@jamesb3497 3 жыл бұрын

"Sure. Pay us large amounts of money and fill out a room full of paperwork please." Destructive device permits do exist.

@Doc_Hawk 3 жыл бұрын

My brain kept reading "Atomic china lake" Im like WTF mini fatman launcher?

@ragingjaguarknight86 3 жыл бұрын

That kind of exists already, check out the M-29 Davy Crockett nuclear recoiless rifle. ^_^

@Rinzler0001 3 жыл бұрын

Airtronics: "It ain't broke, let's fix it!" 🤦‍♂️

@IanCaine4728 3 жыл бұрын

When people ask me what "stepping on your own dick means," I'm just going to link them this video.

@jic1 3 жыл бұрын

It actually was kind of broke, in that the original design wasn't optimized for mass production, had a known issue in the trigger guard/takedown lever, and needed to be updated for modern use.

@IanCaine4728 3 жыл бұрын

@@jic1 True, beyond the takedown issue, it most certainly would have needed some redesign for efficient mass production. You're right about that.

@elijahaitaok8624 3 жыл бұрын

@NerfBeard ' not broken.... yet....

@hailexiao2770 3 жыл бұрын

They somehow managed to make the same mistake as the Chinese, 40 years later: deleting the rear grip from the RPG-7.

@Leander_ 3 жыл бұрын

That's so cool - I'm amazed by how many one off prototypes with unique stories you can dig up, Ian. Keep up the great work!

@Dirtbag-Hyena 3 жыл бұрын

You would think that'd be a series on its own.

@amichiganboiwhosereallazy1544 3 жыл бұрын

Can’t wait for when he gets his hands on a KS-23

@cerqy 3 жыл бұрын

Airtronic: you shall ride eternal. shiny and chrome.

@bgezal 3 жыл бұрын

"This is a grenade launcher" *Shows a Warhammer 40k bolter*

@509Gman 3 жыл бұрын

With the high pressure round... almost

@thomasstuart2936 3 жыл бұрын

Without the high pressure round, it's just a little somethin' for the local arbites to disperse crowds with.

@Jebu911 3 жыл бұрын

Always thought those guns looked straight outta 40k

@CynicalOldDwarf 3 жыл бұрын

I was joking the other day that it looked like the Ogryn shotgun.

@justarandomtechpriest1578 3 жыл бұрын

bolters are 75 cal

@ifyoudontfailyouarenoteven6210 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, there's some not directly related but pretty cool grenade launcher from Poland, called Pallad M. It never goes beyond the prototype, but it's box-magazine fed semi-auto launcher, with delayed blow-back system I believe. Made by Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow, in Poland.

@jerrell1169 3 жыл бұрын

Really too bad that they never produced them, and due to over-engineering too which is just dumb. I’d love to see the gun with a stock and grip though.

@COlson-rh3dg 3 жыл бұрын

Over-engineering and greed.

@ravener96 3 жыл бұрын

they should have started low pressure and put the high pressure off for the future.

@flakmag1004 3 жыл бұрын

"Over engineered " So... every german gun 😂

@alichi101 3 жыл бұрын

More featurecreep than overengineering. Not as if they managed to make what they planned.

@KinreeveNaku 3 жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t call it over engineering, it’s more just scope creep

@worldtraveler930 3 жыл бұрын

The thumbnail makes it look like the stapler size self-defense weapon out of South America.

@themarlboromandalorian 3 жыл бұрын

Aye. I only clicked on this because it read "China lake".

@kinghoodofmousekind2906 3 жыл бұрын

Q: "Why do we need a modernized China Lake?" A: 1:00

@rosinros 3 жыл бұрын

To be honest, I would actually use the original China Lake.

@charlesdemers1197 3 жыл бұрын

Who wouldn’t?

@DAEDRICDUKE1 3 жыл бұрын

I'll dual wield both please

@rosinros 3 жыл бұрын

@@DAEDRICDUKE1 bro same

@toffee5266 3 жыл бұрын

@@DAEDRICDUKE1 they’re- they’re pump action...

@sillylittleowlguy2392 3 жыл бұрын

@@toffee5266 not stopping him from dual wielding

@anthonywilliams379 3 жыл бұрын

Should have left good enough alone, the stock and pistol grip is a stroke of genius, as is the rails, but everything else seems a little overboard

@anthonywilliams379 3 жыл бұрын

@keith moore yeah, that's a given, I meant on top of fixing the problems

@KinreeveNaku 3 жыл бұрын

It’s a common trope in government agencies for everyone to stick their hand in the pot with their own two cents. It leads to severe scope creep because the government agencies are just a customer and the manufacturer has it in their best interest to just do everything that’s asked of them, no matter how pointless the feature is.

@jic1 3 жыл бұрын

@@KinreeveNaku Did the Marine Corps actually *ask* for the ability to chamber high-pressure rounds? The video makes it seem like that was something Airtronic decided to do on their own.

@shawnr771 3 жыл бұрын

@@KinreeveNaku The M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle comes to mind.

@Jebu911 3 жыл бұрын

Some people mostly designers are what they call perfectionists. They dont know when to stop the improvements.

@derekk.2263 3 жыл бұрын

It never occurred to me that he could have another gun on his lap during ever video.

@keithklassen5320 3 жыл бұрын

It's his emotional support China Lake.

@patrickscalia5088 3 жыл бұрын

Okay folks, cool it. All this talk of "big guns in Ian's lap" is starting to sound a little homoerotic. Children might be watching so....

@xy3124 3 жыл бұрын

but the old one looks way cooler in my opinion, just like a giant shotgun, with a classic wooden grip

@Mr_T_Badger 3 жыл бұрын

And I am told that apparently 40mm buckshot loads exist, which if you loaded them into a China Lake would make me a happy little lunatic.

@Jebu911 3 жыл бұрын

@@Mr_T_Badger Yeah but its not as awesome as you might think. Gun is too light to handle a massive shotgun shot so its actually just scaled down ammo. But it sure is cool to think them putting some massive shotgun shells in them even tho thats not reality.

@FitzPenn 3 жыл бұрын

I’d like to see this with the AR furniture

@AtheistOrphan 3 жыл бұрын

@@FitzPenn - Agreed. That would look great.

@Mr_T_Badger 3 жыл бұрын

@@Jebu911 so I’m told, which is kind of a pity. Rule of Cool however would make it all kinds of interesting if it worked.

@noahboat580 3 жыл бұрын

The fact that its a pump action grenade launcher with no grip makes it so chaoticly evil. By the time you see chrome, thats when you run away

@thaswami9900 3 жыл бұрын

would fit right into doom

@cdgonepotatoes4219 3 жыл бұрын

To use it without the grip you put your thumb inside the screw hole, then press the trigger and pray to whoever you won't have to stitch it back. Alternatively rest it on your chest and bend a couple ribs

@spiderjerusalem8284 3 жыл бұрын

Check the Russian GM-94, it´s basically the realistic version of this, it has a pistol grip and a underbarrel wire stock. There is a cool 90s Ad of it on YT.

@F1ghteR41 3 жыл бұрын

@@spiderjerusalem8284 More importantly, there's a booklet on it by two frequent guests of this channel: armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/The-Russian-GM-94-Grenade-Launcher.pdf

@IanCaine4728 3 жыл бұрын

That story reminds me of the scene from "the Pentagon Wars" about the Bradley fighting vehicle development. "What if it had a big-ass cannon... oh! And amphibious!"

@davidgillon2762 3 жыл бұрын

To be fair, the previous two USAr MICV programmes (MICV-65 and AIFV) had had cannon, the Germans were procuring the Marder, with cannon, to replace the HS.30, with cannon, the UK was developing the Warrior, with cannon, the French were developing the AMX-10P, with cannon, and the BMP had a much bigger cannon than anyone ever wanted to stick on the Bradley (and linking back into today's topic, the 73mm on the BMP is another High-Low Pressure system),

@IanCaine4728 3 жыл бұрын

@@davidgillon2762 True, and, ultimately the Bradley was a pretty good platform by the time it was refined. Just a far cry from the "armored bus" concept. And, it was a development by mission-creep, not by intent. The movie was over the top, but Cary Elwes and Kelsey Grammer were hilarious.

@bronco5334 3 жыл бұрын

@@IanCaine4728 It wasn't, though. It was intended, like the MICV and AIFV, to be an infantry fighting vehicle with a turreted autocannon, which was intended to allow the infantry to fight while mounted or dismounted, and to stay and contribute firepower to the infantry, rather than drop them off and leave (like an APC). There was no significant "mission creep" in the Bradley development; the closest there was was the reduction of size of the infantry squad (which was mandated by practical limits to the size of the vehicle), and it's adoption as a scout vehicle... which, fundamentally, was just replacing another tracked vehicle with the same intended armament, so that they didn't have to maintain a logistical base to support two vehicles that had near-identical capabilities.

@IanCaine4728 3 жыл бұрын

@@bronco5334 Interesting. That's counter to everything I've ever read about the Bradley, I wonder if the book "the Pentagon Wars" skewed the record and just became the popular zeitgeist. Do you know of a good book or something that covers it's development? It's been awhile, but I know I read somewhere it was a replacement for the M59.

@bronco5334 3 жыл бұрын

@@IanCaine4728 Oh, the book absolutely DID skew the record and misrepresent reality. The Chair Force chud that wrote the thing was a political hack, part of a group of morons that were convinced that weird minimalist designs were TeH bESteSt! Seriously, they wanted fighters with no radars or guns, they wanted 50 million M113 variants with various WW2-style weapons layouts, (and no modernization of infantry carriers beyond that), and they thought the 1950s-tech M48 tank with open, unprotected ammo stored all around the turret was more "survivable" than the M1 Abrams. No shit, they thought that strapping a 90mm gun onto an M113 in a casemate mount was TeH WeY oF THe FyUCheR!!! (and not just the less armored rendition of a 1930s era StuG that it, in fact, was) Why the hell anyone thought an airdale with absolutely no training or experience in mechanized ground warfare had ANYTHING of value to say about a tracked vehicle's merits is beyond me. Frankly, they were morons, who were seeking fame and notoriety by obstructing good projects.

@gunnarhassing5875 3 жыл бұрын

Ian your enthusiasm for particularly cool guns like this show and it makes me incredibly happy to see. Please keep doing this for as long as you can!

@charliepirhonen9734 3 жыл бұрын

I love the sound when the weapon is handled, sounds so bad ass.

@user-njyzcip 3 жыл бұрын

I really want to see this with an M4 stock and pistol grip installed… Bad

@davidashurov5255 3 жыл бұрын

Just imagine imagine a hilariously oversize mossberg 590a1 receiver barrel/pump/magazine tube on a standard size ar15 stock and pistol grip assembly

@jimmiller5600 3 жыл бұрын

"Scope Creep" -- the enemy of "good enough, build it now".

@gnarly6 3 жыл бұрын

I am sure someone could convince the Elbonians that one of these things firing high pressure grenades is the way to go.

@LonelySpaceDetective 3 жыл бұрын

and that they don't need a grenade machine gun when they can just buy this

@thesturm8686 3 жыл бұрын

And no stock for paratrooper carry

@manicdonkey 3 жыл бұрын

Really enjoying the 40mm series, Ian!

@FirstDagger 3 жыл бұрын

Feature creep if I ever heard it.

@IanCaine4728 3 жыл бұрын

From the makers of "Mission Creep (TM)" try new and improved "Feature Creep (TM)!" Individual results may vary. May lead to presence patrols and/or being sent to find IEDs with your feet.

@davidhoran7116 3 жыл бұрын

IanCaine4728 “if individual results *don’t* vary, money back guaranteed”

@michelangelangelo7091 3 жыл бұрын

Last time i was this early Ho Chi Minh city was still called Saigon

@JohnSmith-hd2tl 3 жыл бұрын

It still is

@jcon5698 3 жыл бұрын

@@JohnSmith-hd2tl by sore losers yeah

@stevejohnson6593 3 жыл бұрын

@@jcon5698 if you find pride in war then please participate yourself.

@vietlong114 3 жыл бұрын

@@jcon5698 cope harder commie

@jcon5698 3 жыл бұрын

@@vietlong114 cope? Agent Orange lost the war lol you still calling it Saigon after the US losing hard despite all of its advantages is the cope

@jonathanthacker3791 3 жыл бұрын

You may be cool, but you'll never be "Ian casually pulling a grenade launcher off his lap" cool

@GarfieldEnjoyer1878 3 жыл бұрын

Remind me when Squidward went to the future and everything was shiny

@MrRenegadeshinobi 3 жыл бұрын

FUTURE... FUTURE...FUTURE!!!!

@wesleysmith5580 3 жыл бұрын

Best Vocational School project ever, I dont know who their instructor was but I nominate him for "Teacher Of The Year."

@captainawesome3544 3 жыл бұрын

3 minutes and 21 comments already ? Damn Gun Jesus draws a crowd

@bansheemania1692 3 жыл бұрын

Everyone's welcome under this roof. Amen

@haselnussbraunschwarz1212 3 жыл бұрын

Gary Pack Karen took your r now your name is gay

@captainawesome3544 3 жыл бұрын

@@haselnussbraunschwarz1212 What ????????????????????

@captainawesome3544 3 жыл бұрын

@@haselnussbraunschwarz1212 No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@andrewthemetalworker2595 3 жыл бұрын

Love this gun , I worked for airtronic and was involved in this project, you did get a couple of things wrong about why we lengthened the feed system , but all in all a pretty good summery of the weapon.

@andrewthemetalworker2595 3 жыл бұрын

@@catacombshadows it wasn't to accept the high pressure round, it was so it could fire some of the longer L.T.L. rounds .

@raibeartcahill4295 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation as usual!

@Mossy500A 3 жыл бұрын

From China Lake, to China Beach. Pack-a-Punch, Pack-a-Punch, YAAAHHOOOOOO!!!

@grumples1517 3 жыл бұрын

"China Lake launcher was probably the coolest weapon used by SEALs in Vietnam." -Cries in Stoner 63

@att7364 3 жыл бұрын

Pew pew vs boom boom

@thecoltster1 2 жыл бұрын

it looks absolutely wicked

@Soupcan13 3 жыл бұрын

Wow that a uniquely cool piece of history!

@roughneckmp 3 жыл бұрын

Every time I see a “China Lake” I think of it’s counterpart in Fallout New Vegas, along with the PGM Hecate 2.

@charlesdemers1197 3 жыл бұрын

Isn’t it called the "Grenade Rifle" in New Vegas?

@piratekingthaszar7912 3 жыл бұрын

@@charlesdemers1197 nah, it's just the "grenade launcher." The "grenade rifle" is based off the m79.

@Unit93JV 3 жыл бұрын

you mean holorifle, the energy weapon shotgun

@charlesdemers1197 3 жыл бұрын

@@Unit93JV also that, fuck Elijah though

@piratekingthaszar7912 3 жыл бұрын

@@Unit93JV ew, energy weapons.

@biborkiraly394 3 жыл бұрын

My best guess is that Airtronic deliberately overengineered it enough to be able to kick the original guys out of the picture.

@yappojilla 3 жыл бұрын

“It’s a totally different design!” - airtronics, probably

@tonysatin5820 3 жыл бұрын

I know I mentioned it on Facebook page, but for those didn’t see it. At NO time we were planning to use HP rounds in an aluminum barrel. There was a conversation about HP rounds in the future and I even had a SS barrel on my desk, but just a conversation. Everything else is surprisingly accurate. For those that think I received information from someone else. I was the one reverse engineered and redesign this weapon system.

@ouchieusa 3 жыл бұрын

John Stryker Myer has mentioned that one of his team members carried an experimental pump action grenade launcher on one of their MACV-SOG missions..... I've been wondering if it was a China Lake. Thanks for these videos Ian!

@kunklemanchevrolet5966 3 жыл бұрын

Behold, The GRENADE OBREZ

@MattMerica76 3 жыл бұрын

@@0neDoomedSpaceMarine They indeed do! They have modified them as pistols and under barrel launchers.

@bionmccool 3 жыл бұрын

Click-Click Big-Boom

@grantgardson 3 жыл бұрын

I just watched the China Lake video literally yesterday. I must have ESP or some shit.

@lordmanatee439 3 жыл бұрын

"Ooooooo shineeeyyyy" - US Marines upon seeing this

@silvadossantos6803 3 жыл бұрын

But can we melee with it?

@garthenar 3 жыл бұрын

Uh.. Ian... This so damn coooool! I would love to see more prototypes.

@mcnuttington7122 3 жыл бұрын

Imagine the confidence boost when holding one of those in battle

@haryanfajarkamka9427 3 жыл бұрын

Modernized Vietnam War Grenade Launcher

@paulEG6 3 жыл бұрын

Words can’t express how much I want that thing!

@ss-sq1hn 3 жыл бұрын

This must be one of the coolest things i have ever seen.

@jmurelli8416 3 жыл бұрын

The prototype looks cool af

@patrickturner6878 3 жыл бұрын

**Doom marine breathing heavily noises**

@Joshua_N-A 3 жыл бұрын

T-800: *40mm pump action* *loads round* You can't do that.... T-800: *WRONG*

@Ashminigun 3 жыл бұрын

Combat Shotgun Explosive Shot attachment

@Journey_Awaits 3 жыл бұрын

Qlz-87 would be a more destructive fit

@Sugarmountaincondo 3 жыл бұрын

The mark II Version Sub assembly "B" Model with the clamp on option was renowned for helping the Grinch to "Steal Christmas" and that is why it is a so often seeked weapon around this time of year.

@SolidBandit. 2 жыл бұрын

There’s also a part of me that wishes I can buy a grenade launcher at my local gun shop

@jamesmatthews291 3 жыл бұрын

"The prototype was hand built by a master machinist. But you're not gonna do 50 like that."

@stevejones1488 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah man i will take one each in 600 & 700 nitro express please. A million dollars? Yeah i might cancel that please

@jim99west46 3 жыл бұрын

They also make a light weight RPG that uses a carbon fiber launch tube.

@hardrivethrutown 3 жыл бұрын

Love the look of the old one with that wood-grain effect

@theKaisersose101 3 жыл бұрын

Just from how frequently i listen to the videos the folks at Forgotten Weapons produce, I have to admit Ian's voice is easily within the top ten voices I would to have as a standard for audio-books. There said my piece, have a good day.

@maxterchefe 3 жыл бұрын

Does this one slame fire? Cuz that would be an improvement.

@skeltonslay8er781 3 жыл бұрын

If only

@maxterchefe 3 жыл бұрын

Real improvement would have been to copy a semi auto shot gun

@RokuroCarisu 3 жыл бұрын

This thing looks so 90's, it probably has blast processing instead.

@jic1 3 жыл бұрын

@@maxterchefe Well, it was a semi-auto design that was adopted in the end.

@maxterchefe 3 жыл бұрын

@@jic1 yeah grenade revolver is cool but not grenade shotgun cool, personally preferance I guess

@xSilentVeterenx 3 жыл бұрын

Nothing quite like a pump action thumper.

@darkoflight4938 3 жыл бұрын

Simply wonderful!

@jamesconner1639 2 жыл бұрын

Dude. This is SO COOL! thank you Mr Ian for doing what you do,! I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL

@onetruedodd 3 жыл бұрын

Engineer: “This system has practical limitations, but, within its parameters, will serve its purpose exceptionally well.” Pentagon: No! We want it to be and do everything! $10 billion later, the project is abandoned.

@Norkans5 3 жыл бұрын

Not the case here. Airtronic fucked it up.

@Dragonstorm1557GAMING 3 жыл бұрын

@@Norkans5 it really is such a bummer. I would love for a game like call of duty or battlefield to make it just so I can see the finished product

@johntrimpe2032 3 жыл бұрын

@@Dragonstorm1557GAMING Just photoshop the launcher with a beautiful black melonite finish and AR-15 furniture (or with an SB3 brace to spite the ATF/DOJ Despots>: )

@jasonswiatkowski9127 2 жыл бұрын

Modular! Networked! Synergy!

@geomicat 3 жыл бұрын

Random retro gun : American : I GOTTA PUT RAIL AND AR-15 STOCK ON THIS

@Roland191145 3 жыл бұрын

YEAH?!? SO WHAT?!?! ;)

@peyotepete4903 3 жыл бұрын

Now I know what I want for Xmas!

@OriginalEric 3 жыл бұрын

I love that Ian was sitting there with a grenade launcher in his lap basically just to lift it up for emphasis.

@bondrewdthelordofdawn3744 3 жыл бұрын

This thing like something out of quake game

@enricopaolocoronado2511 3 жыл бұрын

Honestly, I like the aesthetic of the original China Lake. The wooden furniture just looks sexier than polymer furniture in my eyes.

@Dirtbag-Hyena 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I'm partial to the M79 myself, but I'd take polymer over wood in the field. Weight.

@ptrd4111 3 жыл бұрын

@@Dirtbag-Hyena agreed, always prefer wood for looks, but if its something you're planning on lugging around synthetic is so much nicer.

@enricopaolocoronado2511 3 жыл бұрын

@@Dirtbag-Hyena Understandable viewpoint.

@JippaJ 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this!

@mgancarzjr 3 жыл бұрын

7:35 Elk Grove. Neat. Looks like they have a building in Elgin still.

@trainsbangsandautomobiles824 3 жыл бұрын

*Need a shirt with one saying "because its awesome"*

@shortinos 3 жыл бұрын

You call it Airtronic's Modernized 40mm China Lake Grenade Launcher I call it Rail Gun from Quake 3

@jakubkloska7191 3 жыл бұрын

Ian is at his level of success, when he can make reference to his previous videos three times during the course of the video.

@ChevTecGroup 3 жыл бұрын

These were all thought to have been destroyed! Great find

@Internetspaceships 3 жыл бұрын

We need bullpup weapons with this as underbarrel attachment for when we go out into space to fight the bugs.

@melasauce9943 3 жыл бұрын

The grenade launcher on the thumbnail looks like a Wii remote attachment

@FazhirrShadowclaw 3 жыл бұрын

I find it interesting you can still see the blue layout fluid on the top of the receiver. Very much a machine shop prototype.

@knightofdrawnschooltables3849 3 жыл бұрын

God damn that's sick af.

@NathanPa-xo3zj 3 жыл бұрын

Isnt this Men In Black Inventory??

@Joshua_N-A 3 жыл бұрын

And you need to be requiring 5 years of experience and higher pay grade to carry this weapon.

@ratagris21 3 жыл бұрын

@@Joshua_N-A standard sidearm issue with this weapon is a cricket.

@Chickenjump 3 жыл бұрын

Classic military: “We want one gun that can do everything!”

@snaketanker 3 жыл бұрын

They never learn

@PatrickMHoey 3 жыл бұрын

That’s totally classic bureaucracy….the military is built upon it. So much would be benefited if the military didn’t need to give upwards handjobs all the time.