The Howa Type 96automatic grenade launcher (AGL) (96式40mm自動てき弾銃, 96-shiki 40-miri jidōtekidanjū) is a Japanese automatic grenade launcher made by Howa since 1996.
The Howa Type 96 can be used by both infantry and armored vehicles, the former with a tripod and the latter by being placed on a weapon mount.[1] It is seen as one of the main weapons mounted on the Type 96 armored personnel carrier.[4][5]
Operational details
On the left side of the Type 96 is a feeding bay where the 40mm grenades belt can be loaded onto the AGL.[6]
It can be placed on a tripod mount on the ground if required and can also be used as an anti-personnel and anti-armoured vehicle grenade by attaching a tripod mount. It uses a belt-linked feeding system and has single- and continuous-fire capabilities. For automatic reloading, a blow-forward system is used, in which the barrel is moved back and forth and loaded, rather than by a loose bottom.[7]
Ammunition is supplied from a magazine on the left side of the barrel. The type of ammunition used is Daikin Industries 40x56mm "40 mm anti-personnel and light armour-piercing round" (ammunition length 112 mm, weight 371 g), a multi-purpose grenade with moulded explosive. In addition, a '40 mm training round' is also available. It is not interchangeable with the 40x53 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher equipped by the AAV7 amphibious vehicle operated by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force. [7][8]
