Posted on 05/15/2018 2:45:45 PM PDT by MplsSteve
The U.S. Air Force lost a box of grenade rounds in northwest North Dakota that fell off a Humvee earlier this month, and now is seeking the public’s help in locating the explosives.
A 91st Missile Wing Security Forces team from the Minot Air Force Base lost the ammunition container on May 1 while traveling between missile sites in Mountrail County, according to a news release the Air Force issued late Friday.
The team was traveling on rough gravel roads about four miles west of Parshall when the back hatch of the vehicle opened, and an ammunition container fell out, the Air Force said.
The ammunition is considered safe as long as the container is intact, said Lt. Col. Jamie Humphries, a spokesman for the Minot Air Force Base. However, damage to the container or its contents could lead to an explosion or injury, he said.
If the ammunition is located and is damaged, the area should be evacuated and people should call 911 or the Minot Munitions Reporting Hotline at 701-723-7909.
The missing ammunition is a belt of grenade rounds, contained in a green metal ammo container, that is meant for use with an MK19 machine gun grenade launcher, the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Office said Friday afternoon. The ammunition will not operate in any other launching device.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Yes
The rounds arm themselves after about 18 to 36 meters.
IIRC the M918 TP (Target Practice) rounds arm in 18 meters, while the M383 HE (High Explosive), and the M430 HEDP (High Explosive - Dual Purpose) arm in 36.
The HE and HEDP have a kill radius of 5 meters and can wound out to 15 meters
The max range is 2,212 meters against area targets, with an effective range against point targets being 1,500.
The Mk-19 Mod 3 was my baby when I was in 2nd ACR. The serial number of mine was 2700.
When I went through Ft Knox a long time ago, there was a story of a DAP (Dumb A$$ Private) who upon return from the range was tossing a HE round up in the air and proceeded to scatter himself to the four points of the compass.
“The poor bastards are already at Minot. How do you punish them further?”
Send them to Ft Polk.
Quite an upgrade from the single-shot M-16 mounted M-148’s and M-203’s I used to carry in the Air Force back in the late 1970’s.
One of the units from DIVARTY 1AD “lost” a Copperhead round.
They shut Graf down for almost a month until they found what was left of the round about 1200 meters outside the impact area.
They’re sure they want them back? Airmail?
I’ve been to Shemya, there was a woman behind every tree.
SAC stood down on 1 Jun 92. Since that time the fighter jocks have run things into the ground and both the bomber and missile forces are treated like redheaded step children.
The intensity and discipline of SAC was thrown away.
Can you imagine a Mexican drug cartel or MS-13 having a MK19 machine gun grenade launcher and a full box of grenade rounds?
This box of ordnance is likely now for sale on the black market on the dark web.
Sad. It was comforting to know that highly skilled and disciplined professionals stood at the ramparts 24/7 only to learn that elite warriors have shrank in number, replaced by what liberals have given us with the remnants of their social engineering experiments.
Considering the entire USAF leadership was fired by SECDEF immediately after that incident, I’d say, no, it’s not actually a message or something.
They’re armed after a certain number of revolutions after being fired and explode on impact. They are live rounds. My understanding is that they’re also different from what is used by M203 gunners. If you fire a Mk19 round out of an M203 grenade launcher, it’ll probably break a shoulder.
Wow! Thanks for that detailed reply!
Since he was the NBC officer he then had to oversee all the expired medications and other stuff being disposed of properly.
For several years I lived and breathed Mk-19.
Qualified “Distinguished” numerous times, and was in charge of bringing new soldiers to the troop up to speed on the system.
Thank you for your service! I bet that grenade machine gun was a BLAST!
I know NOTHING!
The Mk-19 is fun. IMO it’s forgiving even for a new gunner, and was a snap to clean.
The last year and a half I was with 2ACR, I was moved over to be an anti-armor section leader using the TOW. The TOW was fun (when they worked). But that was before the Regiment got raped by the infantry mafia.
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