The domestic AGS-40 Balkan grenade launcher system (or 6G27 according to the GRAU Index) has been produced in Russia since 2008. It is designed as a descendant weapon based on domestic development - the Kozlik automatic machine-gun grenade launcher. This type of weapon is designed to annihilate enemy forces, infantry clusters and damage to telecommunication lines. It will be discussed in this article.
Design features
At the mention of the AGS-40 "Balkan", as well as the fact that this weapon is a grenade launcher, an ignorant person immediately comes to mind a weapon that looks like either the well-known RPG-7 or the tube-shaped RPG-26.
Unlike the mentioned models, the automatic grenade launcher AGS-40 "Balkan" has in its design supports for which it is attached. Due to the peculiarities of firing (almost a burst), the grenade launcher constantly twitches. Therefore, between the rear support frames there is a chair so that the shooter with his weight pressed the weapon to the ground during the shooting. The caliber of the projectile is 40 mm.
Automatic grenade launcher AGS-40 "Balkan" and its characteristics
Unlike the AGS-17 "Flame" automatic grenade launcher currently armed with 30-caliber projectiles, this grenade launcher shows much more effective firing results. The rate of fire of the AGS-40 "Balkan" has a very impressive figure - 400 rounds per minute. That is, in a minute this gun is capable of firing 400 deadly shells, each of which behaves like a bursting grenade.
The grenade launcher store contains ribbons for 20 7P39 grenades. These are shellless shells, the technology for their use is similar to shells for VOG-25 grenade launchers . That is, the projectile chamber flies out of the barrel along with the grenade itself, is an integral part of it.
The weight of the weapon on the machine is 32 kg. Barrel length - 400 mm, firing range of 2500 meters. This is the AGS-40 Balkan.
Grenade launcher
Russia has long been famous for developing weapons. The Balkan complex was developed in the early nineties. The main elements were successfully designed and tested in action, but due to the difficult economic situation in the country, the development was not adopted, the idea of mass production was postponed. Or maybe they just decided to leave for such a significant “trump card in the sleeve” for later. Indeed, at that time, “Kozlik” fully justified itself.
The mentioned combat "animal" has a 40 mm caliber and 16 kilograms of weight. Due to its low weight, it is easy to carry, but when firing, the complex needs additional weighting. The shooter actually has to press the weapon to the ground with his whole body weight.
When comparing with it, the AGS-40 Balkan immediately catches the eye weight - 32 kg. There are no questions with weighting, especially since a seat is provided for the shooter to make it easier to press the shooting monster to the ground. But with transportation there will be some difficulties. On the other hand, during the transfer, the seat plate is adjacent to the back, and not the angles of the machine supports.
Additional devices
In addition to the machine, on which the grenade launcher itself is mounted, it is possible to install additional devices, for example, an optical sight, which allows you to adjust the shooting.
Meal of shells is possible both with the help of tape, and through the installation of a box magazine.
And also it should be mentioned that domestic designers improved the principle of shellless firing by increasing the mass of explosives in Balkan shells from 40 grams to 90, according to a statement by Oleg Chizhevsky, director of the Pribor company manufacturing the Balkan together with Izhmash.
Comparison with AGS-17 Flame
Taken into service by the army of the USSR in the early 70's. After the collapse of the Union entered the arsenal of the republics that were part of it. It was used in many local military conflicts. In particular, in Afghanistan.
Experienced soldiers often “tested” new recruits by firing blankets at shelters, so that soldiers would get used to the combat situation.
The grenade launcher itself has a machine that allows you to adjust the angle of fire and hit the enemy in closed and inaccessible positions: on the back of the hill, in trenches, fortified moats, etc.
In Afghanistan, the practice of welding AGS-17 to the hulls of tanks and armored personnel carriers was widely used. Thanks to such “grenade launchers” it was convenient to etch the mujahideen from the shelters.
The kit included "smart shells" equipped with a rangefinder, fuse and liquidator. That is, the calculation did not have to fear a fragment from its own projectile - if it fell less than twenty meters away, there would be no explosion. On the other hand, a grenade that has flown more than a kilometer will explode automatically.
The grenade launcher was convenient, it was quickly shot in battle, but during transportation both soldiers, based on the calculation of this grenade launcher, were involved to drag it from place to place. When shooting, one participant shoots, the other delivers ammunition and holds the tape.
Thanks to the advanced design of the AGS-40 Balkan, the tape no longer gets stuck. If necessary, use a box. And transportation is easy for one person to handle.
Conclusion
In the end, I would like to say that the very idea of creating the first grenade launcher in the world appeared when a person decided to expand the capabilities of the grenadier - a soldier throwing a grenade.
The first automatic grenade launcher allowed throwing grenades not only farther than a man, but also in bursts. Gradually there was a struggle with difficulties in the operation of such a design. Technical thought and scientific progress do not stand still.