Brügger & Thomet GL06
The Brügger & Thomet GL06 is a dedicated stand-alone shoulder-fired 40×46 mm (1.8 in) grenade launcher intended for military and police applications.[1]
Brügger & Thomet GL06 | |
---|---|
Type | Grenade launcher Riot gun |
Place of origin | Switzerland |
Production history | |
Designer | Brügger & Thomet |
Manufacturer | Brügger & Thomet |
Variants | LL06 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2.05 kg (4.52 lb) |
Length | 590 mm (23.2 in) stock extended / 385 mm (15.2 in) stock folded |
Barrel length | 280 mm (11.0 in) |
Width | 60 mm (2.4 in) stock extended / 95 mm (3.7 in) stock folded |
Height | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
Caliber | 40×46 mm (1.8 in) |
Action | Break action |
Muzzle velocity | 85 m/s (279 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 300 m (980 ft) |
Feed system | Breech-loaded, single-shot |
Sights | Ghost ring iron sights 339 mm (13.3 in) sight radius Picatinny rail |
History
The GL06 was developed in 2006[2] in response to a recent request from the police force of a leading European country which sought to obtain a less-lethal weapon for anti-riot application with the particular need for pin-point accuracy at standoff ranges (beyond 40 m (130 ft) for such scenarios) when firing impact rounds. The Thun-based Brügger & Thomet (B&T) company provided its client with both a weapon and a special round, with the added benefit of compatibility with a wide array of lethal and less-lethal ammunition produced in the 40 mm (1.6 in) low-velocity class.
Design
The GL06 is a stand-alone shoulder-firing weapon intended for military and police applications. A special "less-lethal" version of GL06 was produced as the LL06. Although the LL06 was marketed as a variation of the GL06, the only difference is the bright yellow color of the frame, compared to the standard black of the GL06. Both weapons are fully capable of firing a complete range of lethal and less-lethal 40×46 mm (1.8 in) ammunition.
The GL06 is lighter and more compact than other stand-alone weapons of the same class (such as the US M79 or German HK69A1), yet it is capable of greater accuracy, tactical flexibility and has good ergonomics.
Production
The GL06 is also produced by four different manufacturers around the world.[2]
Users
- Canada:[3] several police departments : Sûreté du Québec (SR), Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, Toronto Police Service[4]
- Estonia : Estonian Defence Forces
- France – Used by the Police Nationale (since 2008), the Gendarmerie Nationale and others[5]
- Hungary:[3] Hungary Police
- Ireland:[3] Garda Síochána : Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and Armed Support Units (ASU)[6]
- Kazakhstan : Kazakh Police
- Kuwait:[3] Kuwait Police
- Lithuania:[3] Lithuanian Police Department
- Poland : Policja
- Spain – Mossos d'Esquadra[7]
- Sweden:[3] Swedish Police Authority
- Switzerland – several police departments
- Ukraine – produced as Fort-600[8]
- USA : U.S. Customs and Border Protection, LL-06[9]
Others
Between one and seven B&T Gl-06 and LL-06 have been exported in other countries : Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Island, Serbia, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Oman, South Africa, Malaysia, Kenya and United Arab Emirates.[3]
References
- http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=462
- Jenzen-Jones, N. R.; Rice, Graeme (April 2016). "The Online Trade of Light Weapons in Libya". Security Assessment in North Africa Dispatch. Small Arms Survey (6).
- Lanceur de balles de défense LBD 40. Une arme dangereuse, Interpellation 19.3188 de Fridez Pierre-Alain (PS), 20 mars 2019 et avis du conseil fédéral du 15 mai 2019, parlament.ch
- La SQ remplace ses balles de plastique par des projectiles aussi controversés, 6 avril 2018, Radio-Canada.
- http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/brugger-thomets-swiss-40mm-grenade-launcher/
- "2 octobre 2017 Parliamentary Questions"..
- https://www.europapress.es/sociedad/sucesos-00649/noticia-mossos-contaran-nueva-arma-antidisturbios-dispositivo-copa-rey-dispara-espuma-compacta-20110418161437.html
- "Grenade launcher Fort-600". Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- B&T USA Contracted to Provide GL06 40mm Launcher to US DHS, 13 novembre 2018, theoutdoorwire.com.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to B&T GL-06. |