The XM148 was an experimental 40 mm grenade launcher developed by Colt Firearms as the CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher). Colt manufactured the launcher for field testing during the Vietnam War era.

Mar 1, 2010 · The XM148 was a revolutionary weapon that allowed infantry soldiers to engage the enemy beyond the range of hand grenades without the weight and complexity of light mortars.

Dec 11, 2019 · The idea was that in a SWAT team, instead of one man being armed with only the 37mm tear gas launcher, he could have an AR-15 with an attached launcher, the XM148. XM148s in this mode were still seen in some U.S. police department armories as late as the turn of …

Feb 19, 2019 · Right side view of the XM148’s trigger, cocking mechanism and pistol grip (Vic Tuff) Initial reports from the field were promising with troops praising the “tactical advantage of both the point fire and area fire system” concept.

The XM148 was the first grenade launcher designed to fit under the barrel of a rifle, making the M16 two weapons in one. The idea was to equip grenadiers—those squad or fire team members assigned to the M79—with something other than a pistol for protection.

While the XM148 proved to be a failure it played an important role in proving the operational viability of the rifle mounted grenade launcher system. The muzzle-launched rifle grenade is all but obsolete, superseded by the under-slung grenade launcher.

Dec 11, 2019 · It was moved quickly through development and 10,500 were ordered in January 1966 as the XM-148. Field reports quickly turned sour, though, and in May of 1967 the XM-148 was ordered out of...

Oct 29, 2024 · The Colt XM148 mounted under the barrel of an M16 rifle, allowing an infantryman to have both a primary weapon and a grenade launcher. The Early Years The first successful prototype grenade launcher for under barrel mounting was the Colt CGL-4.

The Colt CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher, officially designated Launcher, Grenade, 40mm, XM148)[1] was a prototype American underbarrel grenade launcher designed by Karl R. Lewis and Robert E. Roy in 1964[2] and produced from 1964 to 1970 by Colt Industries Inc. Colt's entrant into a competition...

The Colt CGL-4 / XM148 grenade launcher is a single shot weapon which is normally mounted below the barrel of a host rifle, using special mounting brackets, provided with the launcher. It features a forward-sliding barrel, mounted inside a stationary outer housing.