XM148 grenade launcher

Launcher, Grenade, 40 mm, XM148
The XM148 grenade launcher.
Type	Grenade Launcher
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Australia
Wars	Vietnam War, 1989 Philippine coup attempt (USAF issue)
Production history
Designer	Karl R. Lewis
Designed	1964
Manufacturer	Colt Firearms
Specifications
Weight	3 lb (1.36 kg)
Length	16.5 in
Barrel length	10 in
Cartridge	40×46mm grenade
Action	Single shot
Muzzle velocity	247 ft/s (74.5 m/s)
Maximum firing range	437 yd (400 m)
Sights	Quadrant sight

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 era. After problems with the experimental design were discovered, the XM148 was replaced by AAI Corporation's conceptually similar M203 design, currently the primary grenade launcher used by the US armed forces and others today.

The Colt XM148 grenade launcher was created by Colt's Design Project Engineer, gun designer Karl R. Lewis. The May 1967 "Colt's Ink" newsletter announced that he had won a national competition for his selection and treatment of materials in the design. The newsletter stated in part, "In only 47 days, he wrote the specifications, designed the launcher, drew all the original prints, and had a working model built."

The weapon was designed for installation below the barrel of M16-type rifles, and was intended to replace the stand-alone M79 correcting the problem of grenadiers relying on pistols as a secondary weapon.

In July 1966 the US Government contracted Colt Firearms to provide nearly 20,000 XM-148s with the weapon arriving in South Vietnam in December 1966. The weapon was pulled from service in the fall of 1967.

Originally made for use with the M16 Rifle, the XM148 was used by US Special Forces in conjunction with the XM177E2 and the Australian Special Air Service Regiment in conjunction with the modified L1A1. The weapon was also adopted by the United States Air Force Security Forces in 1968.