I've seen this in a couple of films but never in use by any millitary. Was it real or just a bond like gadget for the movie???
When clouds moisten rain forms, when rain dries clouds form
According to Dlask Arms: "The Dogs of War, starring Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger, required a special assault weapon for the commando team. Dlask Arms helped to create the unforgettable 12-gauge combat shotgun with a 20-round rotary magazine that perfectly met the movie's needs."
http://web.archive.org/web/20040207231344/http://dlask.com/movie.htm
Here BE a link to said gun:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manville_gun
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080641/goofs
QUOTE:
The original Manville Gun was designed in 1935 by Charles Manville as a 12gauge multi-barrel shotgun (24 shot capacity). However, the XM-18 in DOW is based on an updated 1936 design as a 25mm grenade launcher with an 18 shot capacity (hence the "18" in XM-18). The movie version was still considerably more powerful than WWII era 25mm grenades were capable of. Unable to interest the military in his design, Manville's company stopped making the weapon.
Ironically, in the early 1980's, the movie Dogs of War served to generate some interest from the military. Utilizing updated manufacturing processes and materials, the XM-18 type grenade launcher has actually seen some military service as a 25mm (18 shot) or 40mm (12 shot) grenade launcher. It is used by US Special Forces as well as some South American and African countries. With a range of between 150-350 meters, and with modern explosive technology, the 25mm grenade is fully capable of causing as much or more damage as was portrayed in the film. The 40mm grenade version uses the same projectile as is used in the Mk 19 grenade launcher which is widely used in the US Army. The current manufacturer is the Hawk Engineering Company who makes it under the designation MM-1
The movie weapon must have been specialy designed and would probably have made use of special 20mm HE ammo. In the SADF, we used a six shot drum fed "magazine" similar in principle to say a .38 revolver. You would have noticed in the movie how long they took to re-load. The SADF 40mm MGL (multiple grenade launcher) could, in experienced hands fire off the first six rounds, be re-loaded, another six shots fired and then have the first round explode up to 800m away.
shareI recall reading about "The Dogs of War" in "Soldier of Fortune" magazine (the self-described trade journal for mercenaries, of course) when the film came out in 1981. The author of the article was puzzled about the "XM-20," or whatever the drum-style grenade launcher was called in the film, and upon investigation found out that it was indeed an actual weapon for sale to appropriate police and military officials. However, its 25mm grenades were not compatible with the single-shot M79 40mm grenade launchers used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps in the Vietnam era. I recall the article mentioned plans to adapt the design to a 40mm grenade, but nothing much seems to have come of it or the original 25mm design. One would think that a multiple grenade launcher in 40mm would be pretty devastating, but as someone else alluded, the reload time may have made it less practical than the M203 40mm grenade launcher, attached to a standard M16A2, now in common use by the U.S. armed services. The "Dogs of War" weapon (and the movie)is listed as the "MM1" at this site:
http://www.pmulcahy.com/grenade_launchers/us_grenade_launchers.htm
The handheld multiple grenade launcher also seems to have been superseded by larger belt-fed launchers like the M19, although the USMC has recently made plans to purchase a six-shot, hand-held 40mm launcher. See:
http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=800
The actual weapon is a tear gas launcher made in the 1930's. It is not capable of launching grenades.
shareI love weapons with drum clips. I appreciate the "street sweeper," a kind of combat shotgun that uses a drum instead of the usual shotgun loading methods. These are illegal for civilians in the U.S. Gas grenade launchers are great too.
crazydave. You say such a weapon is incapable of launching grenades. The device to which you refer launches smoke GRENADES. To fire off modified rounds may be feasible if the launching method is compatible. Have you any specialties in this type of device? You post indicates that you must.
I remember reading an article about the weapon dave regrences back when the movie came out. I rember that it fired a variety of rounds gas/smoke,explosive, and cannister(buckshot). It was developed in the 30s. I research some more and get back to you.
I'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney, than driving with Ted Kennedy
Actually the only grenade I've fired was a 40mm grenades from a single shot M203, and handled the US military frag and smoke hand grenades. I don't know if you can modify the rounds for the weapon in the movie, maybe. I'm sure for the movie the weapon was firing blanks. I would not know how to modify a round, sound very dangerous to me.
shareIt is real. It is known as the Manville gun. I believe that is the name of the company that made it. It was made to shoot tear gas. I have seen a couple at gun shows. They are very rare, bringing around $2000 today.
shareThat's it The Manville Gun----I'm still sure it fired a varety of ordanance. I'll check into it and get back
I'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney, than driving with Ted Kennedy
It was fake all the way. But it is what the military wants. A hand held, low recoil, high explosive, maximum range assault weapon. Albert Einstein worked on getting more bang out of less material. They ARE coming closer, however. There are rifle rounds that will explode when close to a target. But standing one hundreds yards away and shooting a round that will blow up a car is a complete fantasy. There are RPG rockets but they are loud, the exhaust will burn anything it touches, there is great recoil and they are huge. LAWS rocket is just as bad.
shareIn 1936, Manville also came up with a 25mm version of the Manville Gun; this version was nearly identical to the 12-gauge weapon, but used a somewhat simplified weapon and the cylinder held 18 rounds instead of the 24 of the 12-gauge Manville gun. Early models of the 25mm Manville Gun used a 9.75-inch barrel, while later versions used a 9.5-inch barrel and were somewhat lighter than the early models. The later version was much improved in the areas of structural strength and reliability, as well as having more ergonomic pistols grips and foregrips. Both versions could have inserts put in the barrels and cylinders to allow the use of 12 gauge and .38 Special ammunition (though these ammunition types could not be mixed, since they involved a barrel insert as well as cylinder inserts. (The late-model 25mm Manville Gun was used in the movie Dogs of War, called the XM-18 in the movie, though the effects seen in the movie were far greater than an actual 25mm Manville Gun was capable of producing.)
http://pmulcahy.100megs3.com/grenade_launchers/us_grenade_launchers.htm