Lance-grenade individuel Mle F1 (LGI Mle F1)
| LGI | |
|---|---|
|
Training grenade being loaded into an LGI | |
| Type | mortar / grenade launcher |
| Place of origin |
 France |
| Service history | |
| Used by |
France Monaco[1] |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Titanite S.A. |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.8 kg |
| Length | 605 mm |
| Crew | 1 |
|
| |
| Cartridge | 51 mm grenade |
| Rate of fire | up to 30 rounds per minute |
| Effective firing range | 675 metres |
The lance-grenade individuel Mle F1 (LGI, "individual grenade launcher") is a French close-support weapon infantry weapon designed to be used by one man, which provides soldiers with a lightweight indirect-fire support weapon akin to a small mortar. In many ways it is a modernized version of the Type 89 grenade discharger used by the Japanese Army during World War II. The LGI is in use by the Foreign Legion and other French Army forces since the 1990s.[2]
French squads are divided into a 300-meter fireteam each armed with a FAMAS 5.56 mm assault rifle and carrying an AT4 anti-tank weapon and a 600-meter fireteam with a FN Minimi another FAMAS and a LGI.
The mortar uses bombs with a method of propulsion called FLY-K, a closed combustion chamber to capture all the propulsion gases. The propellant charge is inserted into the stabilizing tail of each projectile so the weapon transmits the ignition impulse to the grenade via an enclosed internal system. This concept assures little in the way of noise, muzzle flash, smoke and without a significant thermal signature. The noise made on firing is only 52 dB, making it hard to detect the launching point and high rates of sustained fire are possible as the weapon does not heat up.
The LGI can fire anti-personnel, anti-materiel, blinding, smoke and illumination rounds.
Specifications
- Diameter: 51 mm
- Weight: 4.8 kg
- Length: 605 mm
- Maximum range: 675 m
- Effective kill radius: 20 m
- Rate of fire: up to 30 rounds per minute
Ammunition
- 51 mm (GRExPL AP LGI F1) High Explosive bomb 51 mm
- 51 mm ( GR 51 FUM PH LGI F1) smoke bomb 51 mm
- 47 mm (GR 47 ECL LGI F1) Flare 47 mm
- Practice bombs (coloured blue as in the main picture)
An Infrared bomb is in development that will allow Accurate Night shooting when used with a Night Vision Device (NVD).
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Giletta, Jacques (2005). Les Gardes Personnelles des Princes de Monaco (1st ed.). Taurus Editions. ISBN 2 912976-04-9.
- ↑ http://foreignlegion.info/equipment/