Denel Y3 AGL

The Y3 was launched during the 2003 United Kingdom Defence Systems & Equipment (DSEi) International Exhibition.

• Name — Denel 40mm Y3 Automatic Grenade Launcher • Type — High-velocity Automatic grenade launcher • Origin — South Africa • Is Ranged — yes • Used By — South African National Defence Force • Designer — Aram (Pty.) Ltd. of Pretoria • Design Date — 1992 • Manufacturer — Denel Land Systems • Production Date — 2003 [Model № FPM-03] • Weight — 18 kg (weapon only), 32 kg (with tripod) • Length — 844 mm • Part Length — 300 mm • Width — 281 mm • Height — 267 mm • Crew — 3 • Cartridge — 40×53 mm grenade • Caliber — 40mm • Action — Long recoil; open breech • Rate — Maximum cyclic: 425rds/min (~7 rounds/second) [can be reduced to 360rds/min] • Velocity — 242 m/s • Max Range — 2176 m • Feed — R/L Line-fed M16A2 linked 20 round belt, box cased ammunition [with a 55.5mm pitch] • Sights — Optical or electronic [on-board ballistic computer, or 'LobSight']

The launcher fires 40x53mm high velocity, medium trajectory calibre grenades at a rate of 360 to 425 rounds per minute. Operating via the long-recoil principle, the Y3 fires from an open breech (minimising the opportunity for grenade cook-off within the magazine) when in counter-recoil. Whilst all moving assemblies are buffered to reduce recoil and vibration, the unit lacks a conventional feed-lever mechanism. The feed direction and ammunition box mountings may be changed in-field without additional components, and are also able to be dual-loaded: enabling selection of two different types of 40mm rounds on the fly. It can be mounted on vehicles or used with a ground-mount tripod. Manned by a team of three, the AGL is normally fired using a manual trigger; on a vehicle, this can be replaced with a firing solenoid. Due to its low recoil force and lightweight breech block, can be used on light-weight aircraft.

Due to the parabolic trajectory path of the 40mm grenades used, it is possible to use the Y3 against a target that is out of the user's direct sight (such as over cover or obstacles, or around corners; up to an elevation of 60 degrees). This indirect fire mode is, however, only realistically feasible during combat situations if the coordinates of its target are already known (for instance, calculated from a forward observation post); as otherwise the unit acts as a mortar (albeit with a relatively smaller lethal radius). The linked electronic ballistic computer [known as the 'LobSight'] can also be used to reinforce this 'electronic' sight line. By calculating the position, direction, and the angle required for the AGL to hit a given target, the LobSight greatly assists aim modification: providing optimum grenade impact and ammunition usage. If this data is unknown, the AGL may still be used to lay down suppressive fire against possible enemy locations but, again, at a reduced accuracy unless a laser sight or aiming scope is added.

The 40mm Y3 AGL can fire a wide range of "high velocity" 40×53mm 40mm grenades linked in belts of 20 or 32. The 40×53mm type grenade is also used by other automatic grenade launchers such as the Mk 19 and Mk 47 Striker and are more powerful than the 40×46mm round used in hand-held launchers. • High Explosive (HE) Grenades • Designed primarily for use against vehicles and personnel (with a casualty radius of 5m) • High Explosive; Dual Purpose (HEDP) Grenades • Whilst this round has some armour-piercing capability (penetrating cleanly through 50mm of armour plating, or 350mm of concrete), it is mainly designed for use against armoured vehicles and fortifications. • Practice (P) Grenades • This grenade, whilst not 'live', produces a flash and smoke on firing; intended for realistic simulations and training. • Target Practice Tracer (TPT) Grenade • Although similar to the Practice round, this round also produces a visible light trail similar to other tracer ammunition. • Target Practice (TP) Grenade • This round is inert, although possessing the same ballistic properties as the HE and HEDP rounds. Also used during simulated exercises.

A transport case, weapon and sight harness, ammunition harness and tripod, cradle and toolkit harness are supplied with the weapon; along with a toolkit, aiming light and post. Further customisation via tactical and covert accessories may also be retrofitted.

• Kurdistan – Peshmerga • South Africa