Warning: This infobox has missing parameters: crew and unrecognized parameters: color, era, imageBG
A grenade launcher was a portable weapon used to shoot grenades over longer distances than they could normally be thrown.
Description
Grenade launchers were military weapons that greatly improved the range of grenades. Grenades fired by grenade launchers always exploded on impact, regardless of timers. Grenade launchers were generally not able to hurl thermal detonators because these devices were too big and heavy,[1] however some launchers such as the Thermal Detonator Launcher were specially made to fire these powerful explosives. Grenade launchers could also be mounted on a rifle, creating a dual-purpose weapon.[1] The Under-barrel grenade launcher was one example of this.
The main variants of grenade launchers were the Micro-Grenade Launcher which fired smaller grenades and the Grenade mortar which lobbed grenades over distances longer than a kilometer. Other variant models of grenade launchers included the RD-4 grenade launcher, the TTT-54 "Thumper", the HH-4 grenade launcher, the Concussion grenade launcher, and the EMP Launcher.
Grenade launchers were also attached to a number of vehicles. Examples of vehicles with grenade launchers include the A5 Juggernaut,[5] the Arrow-23 Landspeeder,[5] the All Terrain Personal Transport,[3] and the All Terrain Scout Transport.[1] The Galactic Empire's Merr-Sonn Mobile Grenade Mortar was the vehicle form of a grenade launcher. The Grenade Mortar could fire up to one hundred grenades per second. The Empire also sometimes equipped grenade launchers on a Mobile Defense Unit. Grenade launchers could also be mounted to starfighters, making it possible for some ships to fire concussion grenades. By adding these launchers, a starfighters overall effectiveness could be greatly raised.
History
Mandalorian Supercommandos were known to use underslung grenade launchers attached to their light repeating blasters.[4]
During the Clone Wars, Clone jet troopers would use grenade launchers loaded with EMP grenades which were effective against droid adversaries.[2] During the Rebellion era, Spacetroopers would use grenade launchers with a variety of grenades during their boarding missions.[3]
Appearances
Sources
- The Star Wars Sourcebook (As "Grenade Launcher") (First mentioned)
- Star Wars Campaign Pack
- Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back, First Edition
- Imperial Sourcebook, First Edition
- The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
- Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire|Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Pack: Boba Fett vs. IG-88) (backup link)
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition
- Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised
- Twin Stars of Kira
- Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
- Star Wars Customizable Card Game — [[Unknown set: No set defined!]]
- Arms & Equipment Guide
- Battlefront: Prima Official Game Guide
- Battlefront II: Prima Official Game Guide
- The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption: Prima Official Game Guide
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition Core Rulebook
- Threats of the Galaxy
- The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
- Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
- Galaxy at War
- Scavenger's Guide to Droids
- Galaxy of Intrigue
- The Unknown Regions
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Suns of Fortune
- Dangerous Covenants