Background

Low Pressure Gas Generation

Launchers

In addition to the 40mm grenade launchers listed below there are the spigot-type STANAG type 22mm rifle grenades (Wiki). These are not 40mm, but rather just a different type of grenade.  Most modern military rifles have a flash hider that's made to work with these rifle grenades (Wiki).  There are three types: those that require a blank cartridge, those with a hole all the way through so a regular round can be used, and those that trap a bullet.

Very Pistol (Wiki)

Named after Edward Wilson Very (Wiki) there are two spellings Wiki shows Verey, the patent shows Very. His cartridge looks similar to a shotgun except there's a couple of pyrotechnic balls that ignite as soon as the cartridge is fired and so, like a tracer round, there's light from the muzzle until burnout after reaching maximum altitude.  He patented the signal cartridge (not a pistol) which came to be called the Very Light.

Also see the AN-M8 Pyrotechnic Flare Pistol and Flares on the Radar Warning Receivers web page.

Signal Cartridges were intended to be used like Signal Flags (Wiki) or Morse Code (Wiki) and Aldis lights 1867 (Wiki), that's to send a message. 
In 1846 Henry J Rogers (short bio at: Famous Americans -Mr. Rogers published (visual signaling codes for daytime use?).

• "Telegraph Dictionary and Seaman's Signal-Book" (Baltimore, 1845);
  
• "American Semaphoric Signal Book " (1847) ;
  
• " American Code of Marine Signals " (1854); and,
  
• with Walter P. Larkins. edited "Rogers's Commercial Code of Signals for all Nations" (1859).

In 1859 the Coston colored fires were being used.

An example is in Season 7, Episode 1, Murdoch Ahoy, of the Murdoch Mystery series near the end as a ship is going down.  You see two red balls of light arching up and then down.

The Telegraph - Weapons invented in the heat of the conflict - Flare Pistol - Geophone - they got the flare pistol wrong, it was not invented for illumination or attention getting but instead for sending signals using 1 to 3 red or white shooting stars.

  12528 Breech-loading fire-arm, Eollin White, Mar 13, 1855, oldest patent in class 42/28 - falling block
  15496 breech-loading fire-arm, Gilbebt Smith, Aug 5, 1856, oldent patent in class 42/8 - hinged barrel
  23536 System of Pyrotechnic Night Signals, B.F. Coston, Apr 5, 1859, 102/345; 102/360; 200/81.5 - boxes with red, white & blue fires.
The prior patents set the stage for the Very patent below.

190263 Signal-Cartridge, E. W. Very, May 1, 1877, 102/346 - oldest patent in this class, 300 feet up 8 seconds burn time (starts burning in barrel) -
        oldest in class 102/346 AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES\PYROTECHNICS\Gun-type cartridge
        RE8167 Signal Cartridge, E.W. Very,  April 9, 1878, 102/346; 102/342  (reissue of 190263)

191843 pyrotechnic signal-cartridges, Jacob J. Detwillee, Jun 12, 1877,  102/346 
197339 Signal-cartridge, Henry H. Coston, Nov 20, 1877, 102/346; 102/360 - "Colston telegraphic night signals" successive colors  
202126 breech-loading fire-arms, Chaeles W. Sneldee, Apr 9, 1878, 42/28 -  falling block rifle
216552 pyrotechnic signal cartridges, Adam H. Bogardus, Jun 17, 1879, 102/346 - sub munition with balls inside
508152 Pyrotechnic projectile, Stauth & Wiebach, Nov 7, 1893, 102/335; 124/21; 42/54 - muzzle loaded into rifle     
1306407 Flare-Light Shell, Samuel Cleland Davidson, Jun 10, 1919, 102/342, 102/346 - to light up an area for a minute or more, lands on it's base still burning 
2097023 Firearm, Driggs Jr Louis L, Faber Henry B, Oct 26, 1937, 42/40, 102/340, 42/1.15 - removable barrel (part of flare) pistol.
2351268 Signal pistol, Molins Machine Co Ltd,  Patrick Jackson Donald Richard, Jun 13, 1944, 42/41, 42/1.15, 42/71.2, 42/44, 42/70.8 - connects to aircraft port
2360168 Flare pistol, Glen R Severance, Frederick K Comiskey, Hilten E Jones, Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co, Oct 10, 1944,  42/46, 42/1.15 - AN-M8 shoots British AND  American flares.
3168788 Signal Pistol, Feb 9, 1965, 42/1.15, 42/69.1, 42/41 - cheap to make uses pins & coil springs rather than conventional shaped trigger, sear, &Etc.
 6257146 Noise making projectile, Christopher P. Stonebraker, Stoneco, Inc., Jul 10, 2001, 102/346, 102/360, 102/502, 102/513, 102/503, 102/501 - whistles then explodes to scare game

AN-M8 Flare Pistol

Can fire both flanged "American" shells as well as grooved "British" shells.

2347645 Flare pistol, John M Sherrer, Glen R Severance, Ephraim S Huntington, Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co, May  2, 1944, 42/69.1, 42/44
2360168 Flare pistol, Glen R Severance, Frederick K Comiskey, Hilten E Jones, Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co, Oct 10, 1944, 42/46, 42/1.15 
2363203 Flare pistol, John M Sherrer, Glen R Severance, Ephraim S Huntington, Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co, Nov 21, 1944, 42/69.1

Flare (Very) Pistol references

Lieutenant Very's Pistol by F.H. Baer
German Flare Pistols and Signal Ammunition by Dr. Lorenz Scheit - YouTube book review - publisher: Simpson Ltd - Standard Ed, Leather Bound Ed

Notes on Signal and Illuminating Devices and the Apparatus for Projecting Them, from the French Edition of 1917, Translated and edited at the Army War College, May 1917. - mentions 25 & 35mm flares

M-320 Grenade Launcher Module (GLM)

XM-25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System (CDTE)

XM307Advanced Crew Served Weapon

M79 Rifle Stock shoulder fired single shot

[pg 132] "The launcher length of barre, fourteen inches, evolved as the length to make it unlikely that the gunner would accidentally get his fingers in front of the muzzle on firing.  The barrel length required for interior ballistics was only a few inches, as the pressure dropped quite rapidly.  Peak pressure on the low side is only three thousand pounds per square inch, compared to thirty thousand pounds per square inch in the high pressure chamber."

Manuals

Bore Brush (missing Thong FSN: 1010-474-5465 FSN: 1010-474-5466	Tool: 2 screwdrivers, firing pin spanner, brush FSN: 4933-736-8575 DAAAF03-73-C-1381
Fiberglass Stock FSN: 1010-951-4531 Stock Assembly, Plastic, Launcher, Grenade, M79. 1 each DAAA09-74-C-7113 Mounting screw is 5/16"-18

King Arms M79 Airsoft

Air Soft M79 40 mm gernade launcher.
Tip is the inlet valve to pressurize the round.
	Stock mounting screw is 8mm-1.25mm (not interchangeable with real M79 stock)

SARCO REP42-NO HG M79

This paint ball replica is made by SARCO and uses a number of factory parts. Which?

Fig 1	Fig 2	Fig 3
Fig 4 "NOSHOC" i.e. No Shock 1418532 Recoil pad, James R Caldwell, Seamless Rubber Co, 1922-06-06, 42/74 -	Fig 5  The M79 barrel has 6 groove, 1/48 right hand twist This barrel appears to have zero twist, maybe a concession to the ATF to prevent real use. The twist is part of the safe and arm system.

China Lake Pump 40mm

YouTube: Forgotten Weapons: China Lake 40mm Pump Action Grenade Launcher - Airtronic's Modernized 40mm China Lake Grenade Launcher -

3435549 Pump type tubular magazine repeating firearm, Alfred F Kermode, 1969-04-01, -40mm China Lake Pump, patterned after the Remington 870 pump 12 Ga shotgun (Wiki).
Remington 870 History - offered in gauges: 12, 16, 20, 28, .410  and many variations in each gauge. (28 July 2020 Remington (Wiki) filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy).
2635378 Magazine plug for firearms, George E Pinckney, Philip R Haskell, Remington Arms, 1953-04-21, -
2645873 Slide-actuated firearm with tilting locking block, Lexie R Crittendon, Philip R Haskell, Remington Arms, 1953-07-21, - Remington 870
2751702 Cartridge feeding in a tubular magazine firearm, Lexie Roy Crittendon, Ellis William Hailston, Remington Arms, 1956-06-26, -
2824400 Rockable breech bolt locking block, Lexie Roy Crittendon, Ellis William Hailston, Remington Arms, 1958-02-25

M203 Fits under M16 barrel, single shot

A derivative of the Colt XM-148 (Wiki).

Mk19 Pedestal mounted automatic (Wiki)

40x53mm cartridge.

TM 9-1010-230-10 MACHINE GUN, 40-MM, MK19, MOD 3
TM 9-1010-230-23&P MACHINE GUN, 40-MM, MK19 MOD 3
2379784 Gun, Brand Samuel, IBM, App: 1943-02-06, Pub: 1945-07-03, 124/6; 102/274; 124/78; 124/51.1 - ? too early?

M32 Multiple Grenade Launcher (MGL) "Six Pack Attack"

Wiki - Milkor - MGL Mk 1L (L for Long chamber, i.e. high pressure) - MEI - ammo - Helhound (400m) - Mercury (800m) - Huntir (camera)
YouTube: Forgotten Weapons:  Milkor M32 and M32A1 40mm Grenade Launchers -

The M2A1 sight in the photo below appears to me to be pointed at a steeper angle than the barrel centerline.  (Maybe an artifact from a wide angle lens?)
I would think it would be pointing down.
Maybe it's parallel to the barrel centerline and it can be tilted down judging from the angle scale.

The radio at the lower left looks like the Bowman.  LEMO connector in front with cable to headset and stubby antenna in background
In this photo you can see the use of the rail mounting system on four sides of the forearm.
Picatinny rail (Wiki) = MIL-STD-1913 = STANAG 2324
Although first used just for mounting scopes it's now used as a general purpose mounting system.

	2151521 Gas Gun, Charles J. Manville, App: 1935-10-05, Pub: 1939-03-21, - D100350 Gas Gun, Charles J. Manville, July 7, 1936, - Design 12 Ga revolver that only shoots gas rounds.  Pins (53) in each chamber prevent loading 12 Ga shot shells.  Only gas round with longitudinal grove (107) can be loaded.
	2101148 Machine projector, Charles J Manville, 1937-12-07, - D98775 Gas Projecting Apparatus, Charles J Manville, March 3, 1936, - Manville Gun (Wiki) - 12 Ga, 26.5mm & 37mm versions. From Milkor M32 and M32A1 40mm Grenade Launchers - "The history of this weapon goes back to South Africa, where designer Andries Piek was inspired to create it after building the 37mm "Stopper" for the South African police and then seeing a Manville 25mm gas launcher in the movie "Dogs of War" Spring wound drum magazine. Forgotten Weapons: Manville Gas Gun -
	2172800 Shell, Charles J Manville,1939-09-12, -
	ZA200904650, Firearm, Andries Christoffel Piek, Milkor, 2010-04-28, -  multiple non-lethal loads

M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System MASS (Wiki)

This is an 12 gauge shotgun that mounts like the M203.  Replacing the M500 (Wiki) shotgun.

Because it's length is too short to qualify as a shotgun I doubt it can be sold in a civilian version.
Although it might be classified as a shotgun pistol.

Ammunition (Wiki)

There's a question about what ammo fits what.
For example the practice ammo for the Mk19 & M79 shown below does not fit the AN-M8 flare pistol.  I have a Webly & Scott 1.5" (40mm) flare pistol on the way to help resolve this.
The AN/M8 Flare Pistol  will not chamber 40mm grenade rounds.

The low pressure 40x46mm rounds that fit the M79 and China Lake are shorter than the high pressure rounds used in the machine gun.

Photos

M385 High pressure round

40 mm practice rounds 1969 M385 These rounds do not use the .38 blank  but might be using an aluminum 12 ga short blank or just a pistol/rifle primer? These are for the Mk 19, not the M79/M203. See: Amron- 40mm Cases & Bodies  & Grassi below The M118/M195 case appears to use the .38 blank.	Case marked: CTG 40MM RACM?? AMM LOT MA-355-44 Case Cartridge M169 RNO-3-29-69	Solid aluminum projectile marked: CTG             40 MM PRACTICE    M385 Note different colors of center and outer case around primer.
		Empty M169 case You can see the huge hole where a plug (12 gauge?) with primer fits. Photo from Island Ordnance

Case Cartridge Practice M212

November 2017 from eBay seller: coolkollectables
body outside dia: 41.25mm

Fig 1 used rounds	Fig 2 hollow nose cones.	Fig 3 using .357 Mag to substitute for a .38 blank to show size.	Fig 4
Fig 5 SARCO M79038 Bandolier w/6 Dummy rounds

Ping Pong Ball Adapter for Webley & Scott No. 3 Mk I Flare gun.

While traveling in Canada many decades ago picked up a ships port or starboard kerosene lantern and a flare pistol from a maritime surplus store.  The flare pistol was old pitted metal with handmade wooden grips.  The flare was a standard 40mm size?  For fun a friend made an adapter to allow shooting a ping pong ball by making the bore of the adapter 1.48" I.D.  (37.6mm) (Wiki: Ping Pong ball 38mm then 40mm) Propulsion by means of a small rifle/pistol primer (external web page with dimensions) (no powder) with a pocket diameter near 0.175" I.D.  The main body diameter is about 39.8mm, but at the time I didn't know about 40mm grenades and so just made the OD to fit the flare gun.

If the ping pong ball is used by itself the primer may blow a hole into it, so a few disks of cardboard are needed as packing/wadding below the ping pong ball.  It will shoot the ball over the top of power lines never to be seen again.
YouTube: Webley & Scott No. 3 Mk I Flare Pistol Firing Ping Pong Ball -

40mm (37mm?) antenna cartridge

This was a Vietnam era round probably used by the special forces in conjunction with the GRC-109 to put a wire antenna up in the tree canopy.

40mm Collection

M406

Wiki: M79\Ammo\Explosive

Fig 1 M406	Fig2	Fig 3 HE + Shell, Fuze, Ogive	Fig 4 Ogive
Fig 5 HE + Shell	Fig 6 Fuze 3326132?	Fig 7 Fuze	Fig 8 Ogive
Fig 9  .38 Blank?

M576 Buckshot

Wiki: M79\Ammo\Close Range, M576

Fig 1

Fig  2

XM651E1 CS

Wiki: M79\Ammo\Non-lethal, M651 CS

Fig 1

Fig 2

XM585 White Star Cluster

Fig 1

40mm ammo Manuals

AMMUNITION FOR GUNS AMMUNITION FOR GUNS AMMUNITION FOR GUNS AMMUNITION FOR GUNS AMMUNITION FOR GUNS
TM 9-1300-251-20&P ARTILLERY AMMUNITION FOR GUNS, E LAUNCHERS
TM 9-1300-251-34&P ARTILLERY AMMUNITION FOR GUNS, HOWITZERS,MORTARS, RECOILLESS RIFLES AND 40MM GRENADE LAUNCHERS
SB 742-1310-94-50 Cartridge, 40-mm: Riot Control, CS, M674 & Red Smoke, RS, M675
SB 742-1310-94-51 CARTRIDGE, 40-MM: TACTICAL CS, M651
SB 742-1310-94-52 CARTRIDGE, 40-MM, RED SMOKE,GROUND MARKER, M713, CARTRIDGE, 40-MM, GREEN SMOKE,GROUND MARKER, M715, CARTRIDGE, 40-MM, YELLOW SMOKE,GROUND MARKER, M716
TB 9-1300-279-12 UNIT LEVEL MAINTENANCE INFORMATION ON CARTRIDGE, 40MM: DUMMY, M922A1
TB 9-1310-253-12 CARTRIDGE 40MM: NON-LETHAL, XM1006 (40MM SPONGE GRENADE-MODIFIED GOVERNMENT VERSION) FOR 40MM M203 GRENADE LAUNCHER
TB 9-1310-257-10  OPERATOR INFORMATION FOR CARTRIDGE, 40MM: MULTIPURPOSE, XM1060 FOR 40MM M203 GRENADE LAUNCHER
TM 43-0001-28 ARMY AMMUNITION DATA SHEETS ARTILLERY AMMUNITION GUN, HOWITZERS, MORTARS, RECOILLESS RIFLES, GRENADE LAUNCHERS, AND ARTILLERY FUZES

Grassi

Baselining of the 40mm Family of Ammunition, James Grassi, 30 March 2006 -
page 11 illustration of 3 cases:


Establishment of Production Line for Manufacture of 40mm M169 Cartridge Case, Andrew Vargo, Amron Corp.

MIL-C-63062 40 mm cartridge case M169, Cup Closing
MIL-C-63063 (PA), 29 March 1976 plug for M169, dwg: 8886332, MIL-DTL-0060982C
MIL-C-48070 M169 40mm case inert metal parts May 1970

MJU-32A/B Infrared Decoy pyrotechnic Flare

Moved to the Radar Warning Receivers web page, Chaff & Flare section - MJU-32.

Ammo Patents

1321455	1321455 Percussion Fuse, David Kennedy, Nov 11, 1919, - "all-ways" Stokes shell (Wiki: Stokes mortar, Mortar) H: domed cover plate Ogive (Wiki)
	3146714 Delay fuze for rotating munition, Patrick H Moore, Honeywell, App: 1963-06-20, Pub: 1964-09-01
	3157125 Rotor safety lock for munition fuze, Arthur M Lohmann, Honeywell, App: 1963-07-01, Pub: 1964-11-17, -
	3279114 Grenade launcher, Karl R Lewis, Robert E Roy, Colts, 1966-10-18, - XM-148 (Wiki) Photo from Wiki: Forgotten Weapons: XM-148: Colt's Vietnam Grenade Launcher - CGL-4 M203 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher - Ford and AAI also made prototypes.
	3304866 Centrifugally armed fuze, Richard C Johnson, Honeywell, App: 1965-04-16, Pub: 1967-02-21, -
	3318033 Grenade launching arrangement, Irwin R Barr, AAI, App: 1965-09-29, Pub: 1967-05-09, - Using a riot shotgun to fire large diameter gas grenades.
3326132	3326132 Delay fuze for spinning projectiles, Elvin W Tlam, Honeywell, App: 1965-06-16, Pub: 1967-06-20, - "Successfully operated models of this fuze have been built in a package that measures 1/2 inch in diameter by 3/4 inch in length."
	3346983 Automatic cartridge ejector device, Julius E Brooks, Olin Corp, 1967-10-17 Pistol 4 Barrels 12 Ga Similar to the YouTube: Forgotten Weapons:  Winchester's Liberator Shotguns -
	3425354 Centrifugally armed fuze, Donovan Carlson, Honeywell, App: 1967-10-30, Pub: 1969-02-04, - "... arming and time delay mechanism for spin operated fuzes"
	3507067 Grenade launcher having a rotatable forwardly sliding barrel and removable firing mechanism, Henry A Into, Colt Ind, App: 1967-12-14, Pub: 1970-04-21, -
	3604137 Sighting system for a firearm-carried grenade launcher, Stanley D Silsby, Army, 1971-09-14 - for use with M203
	3687078 Ammunition round, Walter A Gadomski, Bennedetto A Marziano, Army, App: 1970-03-31, Pub: 1972-08-29, - Hi-Low pressure interior ballistics system 22: High pressure up to 20,000PSI 23: Low pressure up to   2,000 PSI
	3721195 Liquid revolution counter for fuze arming, W Egli, A Severson, Honeywell, App: 1971-06-01, Pub: 1973-03-20, - safe & arm based on the number of revolutions.
	3738271 Grenade round with means giving forward momentum to the fired case, Costa N La, AAI Corp, App:1970-12-18, Pub: 1973-06-12, - This uses a telescopically rolled tubular actuator.  These were developed by AAI for actuating mechanical devices as an alternate to using compressed air or hydraulics. 3106131 Cartridge actuated device   Typically for one off applications like separating two assemblies.  They tend to be silent in action. The rolled tubular actuator has been incorporated in small arms rounds as a way to get a really silent projectile. This device also includes it's own barrel.
	3776136 Ammunition arrangement, M Dix, Costa N La, AAI Corp, App: 1971-12-30, Pub: 1973-12-04, - Prior art High-Low is cited: 3687078 Ammunition Round (above)
	3802345 Multiple projectile sabot assembly for use in rifled barrel, Costa N La, AAI Corp, App:1962-05-02, Pub: 1974-04-09, -  maybe Flechette (Wiki) round for M79?
	3894492 Deterrent ammunition, Irwin R Barr, Paul L Brown, Jr Robert W Schneppe, AAI Corp, App:1973-07-12, Pub: 1975-07-15, - Rubber round with marking powder.
3922967	3922967 Closed-breech-gun-fired rocket-assisted projectile, William J Mertens, Avco, 1975-12-02, - Cittions: 2884859 Rocket projectile, James M Alexander, Oris T Homan, 1959-05-05, - Rocket assist artillery projectiles 57 - 280mm 3105440 Fuse, Denoix Paul Emile, Energa,  1963-10-01, - nose fuze for shaped charge 3326128 Rockets and combinations of rockets and cases, Paul V Choate, Norris Ind, 1967-06-20, - "Rockets capable of being fired from a portable shoulder supported launcher..." Ref 3122059 see LAW rocket below Norris Cylinder, LA, CA - 3424086 Missile with firing cartridge, Chandley W Lambert, 1969-01-28, - why? 3446147 Casing for the sabot of a projectile, 3623432 Hollow charge projectiles, Gerhard P L Schminke, Rheinmetall Air Defence AG, 1971-11-30, - 3750979 Rocket assisted projectile, J Nelms, W Nelms, 1973-08-07, -
	4041868 Thin walled steel cartridge case, Roy E. Rayle, Robert J. Brey, Wilbur John Woodruff, Amron Corp, App: 1973-03-16, Pub: 1977-08-16, - 7.62?
	4092927 Delay arming mechanism for fuzes, Roy E. Rayle, Avco Corp, App: 1968-11-14, Pub: 1978-06-06, - works with both spin and non spinning (fins) rounds. I doubt this was put into production because the small hole in the nose would be easily plugged. prior art fuzes for spinning shells: 3264995 Mechanical fuze operable on grazing impact, Terry L Libby, Webb George, Avco Corp, App:1964-05-11, Pub: 1966-08-09, - contact detonation fuze for spinning round includes safe and arm that depends on spinning round. 3366059 Fuze for spin stabilized projectiles, Martin L Myers, John V Murphy, Avco Corp, App: 1967-01-09, Pub: 1968-01-30, -
5081929	5081929 Projectile having a movable interior fuze, Jan 21, 1992, 102/273, 102/246, 102/248, 102/255 Citations: 1321455 see above 1462173 Percussion Fuse, Haas Rudolf, Techno service Corp, 1923-07-17, - 1545866 Instantaneous impact fuse for high-explosive shells, Pieter Daniel Van Essen, Bethlehem Steel Corp, 1925-07-14, - 1749720 Impact ignition device, Scaglia Gregorio, Soc It Ernesto, 1930-03-04, - 3105440 Fuse, Denoix Paul Emile, Energa,  1963-10-01, - nose fuze for shaped charge Cited by: 3922967 Closed-breech-gun-fired rocket-assisted projectile see above 20070028792 Impact part of a projectile, Josef Bissig, Saab Bofors, 2007-02-08, - works at oblique angles on ceramic plates

Rifle Grenades

Rifle Grenades (Wiki) are based on the idea of using a rifle to launch a grenade (Wiki) using either a blank cartridge (Wiki) or live round.  Note that the term "Aerial hand-grenade" or "Aerial mortar" was an early term for what we now call bombs.

Rifle Grenade	Description	Wt grams (lbs)	Dia mm (In)	Len mm (In)	Velocity fps Note 1
M9	Shaped Charge Anti-Tank	590 (1.3)	50 (1.96)	284 (11.2)
M10			60 (2.36)	254 (10)
M11
M11A2	Practice				180
M11A3	Practice				145
M13
M28	Shaped Charge Anti-Tank
M29	Practice M28
M31	Shaped Charge Anti-Tank Practice

Note 1:  Information on Rifle Grenade velocity from Ed at Inert-Ord.Net:
Had to go to Cartridges of the World , 6^th Edition:
Cartridge, Cal .30, Rifle Grenade, M3, (40gr Black Powder): M11A2 Practice,  180 ±15fps @ 5.5 ft
Cartridge, Cal .30, Carbine, Rifle Grenade, M6, (21gr IMR 4809 & Black Powder): M11A3 Practice, 145 ±15fps @5 ft

BC: Note that the M6 (first generation) Bazooka rockets travels at 265 fps, much faster, cutting the Time Of Flight way down, thus increasing hit probability.

The NATO standard for a rifle grenade launcher is a 22mm diameter.
FM 23-30 Hand and Rifle Grenades: Rocket, AT, HE, 2.36-Inch, 14 February 1944

Ch 1 Hand Grenades
Ch 2 Rifle Grenades - M9: Ogive (noise) sheet metal, Body - casting, Stabilizer Tube -sheet metal, Fin- sheet metal
Ch 3 Rocket Launcher (Wiki: Bazooka) -M1A1 & M9 launchers, M6A1 & M6A3 HE rockets.  The M6A3 has the look and feel of the M9 rifle grenade.  see: U.S. 2.36" (60mm) H.E.A.T. Rocket -

M9 Rifle Grenade Dr. L. J. Paddison	Dr. L. J. Paddison one of the scientists who developed the proximity fuse, displays an army rifle grenade with which man-made meteorites were shot from a German V-2 rocket at the White Sands, N. M. proving grounds. (AP WIREPHOTO.) Dec 19, 1946

Added this paragraph after seeing a photo on eBay of Dr. L. J. Paddison with the eBay title: 1946 press photo of Dr. L. J. Paddison, and the news clip.

Since I have the same model rifle grenade shown in the photo it caught my eye.  I did not find his name on the China Lake Patents web page where there's a lot of proximity fuze patents listed.  The Wiki page for rifle grenades shows it with the caption: "An M7 grenade launcher with M9 rifle grenade fitted on the end of an M1 Garand rifle."

The SIG stgw57 was designed expressly to launch grenades.  Prior rifles would break after launching a few, so this was quite an engineering feat to get it to hold up.

There are spigot or rod rifle grenades where the rod goes down the barrel. These must be made to match not only the bore diameter of the rifle but also the amount of powder in the cartridge.

There are also cup type rifle grenades. This design is much more flexible than the Spigot type and that's probably why it's been the standard for many decades.  Modern military rifles typically have flash hiders that also act as grenade launchers.  See: FN-FAL, Tavor SAR, Steyr AUG, SIG stgw57, Heckler & Koch G3, and many many others. 

The Launched Grapnel Hook is very similar to a rifle grenade in many respects.  It has a similar weight and shape.  Fits the flash hider/grenade launcher on modern rifles and works with live rounds.

The Retriev-R-Trainer is a similar device in that it throws a soft object some distance using the power from a blank cartridge.

1094340 Rifle shell or grenade with percussion-fusee, Richard Machenbach, SPRENGSTOFF A G CARBONIT, 1914-04-21, 102/225; 102/483; 102/488 - Spigot type, fan on threads provides arming delay
1290981 Apparatus for shooting hand-grenades, Karl Hagen, 1919-01-14, 42/105 - a cup type which holds what may have been an aerial hand-grenade or bomb common at the time? the center of mass of the cup, which gets thrown along with the grenade is not at all in line with the gun bore so there's going to be a lot of problems.
1301907 Projectile, James Brooks Close, 1919-04-29, 102/253; 42/105; 102/483; 102/501 - Spigot rod has grooves to set range.
1316269 Rifle-grenade, D.L. Britten, 1919-09-16, 102/483; 42/105- cup type for M1903 Springfield Rifle (Wiki) centerline symmetrical design, specialized grenade.
1375463 Rifle-grenade, John V Mcadam, 1921-04-19, 102/484; 42/105 - bullet passes through short barrel inside grenade (not bullet trap).
1376119 Rifle-grenade, Creedy C Sheppard, United States Ordnance Co, 1921-04-26, 102/484; 42/105 - Spigot type
1534011 Percussion fuse, Charles P Watson, 1925-04-14, 102/234; 102/483; 102/487 - early shaped charge, but not called that
1534012 Percussion fuse, Charles P Watson, 1925-04-14, 102/234 -

M31 Practice Rifle Grenade (Wiki)

SARCO

Fig 1

M9, M10 Rifle Grenades (Wiki) & Bazooka (Wiki) Matching publication dates some held by all years of W.W.II so probably Secret or higher classification
	33089 Shell (hand-grenade), William F. Ketchum, 1861-08-20, 244/3.3; 102/385; 168/28 - Ketchum Grenade (Wiki) Cast iron case.  Made in sizes between 1 and 5 pounds.  Probably overall weight, so explosive power considerably less. Because a right angle hit was required to detonate, they could be caught in blankets and thrown back. This may have been an impetus to use a time fuse instead. Has the look and feel of the Cap Bomb. Early miners worked with liquid Nitroglycerin (Wiki).  I expect this device was about as safe for those handling it.
	1178092 Grenade and other like apparatus, William Mills, 1916-04-04, - Mills Bomb (Wiki)
	1223598 Grenade and the like, William Mills, 1917-04-24, 102/261; 102/483; 102/487 - Note <p> is a threaded socket for a throwing handle or rifle bore bar.  Not for filling.
	1900790 Grenade, Brandt Edgar William, 1933-03-07, - works with ball ammo. cited by 43 patents.
	2203640 Hand grenade, Hines John, Segal Louis, Charles M. Palmer, 1940-06-04, 102/261; 102/488 - pineapple grenade (Wiki) also see the Hines Key System sold by Segal Lock & Hardware Co.
	2335299 Grenade launcher, Wiley T Moore, App: 1941-11-21, Pub:1943-11-30, - Spigot
	2339285 Grenade launcher, Wiley T Moore, US Army, 1944-01-18, 42/105 - M7 adapter (Wiki) for M1 Grand (Wiki)?
	2353971 Portable grenade gun, Cleve F Shaffer, Herman J Fanger, Gruenhagen Henry, 1944-07-18, 42/51; 42/73; 89/1.3; 42/74 - similar to the Retriev-R-Trainer Maybe the Navy Pyrotechnic Projector? Contract N288s11320, Date of Packing, June, 1943 Distress Signal.
	2383053 Mounting device for projectiles, Herman J Fanger, Gruenhagen Henry, Cleve F Shaffer, 1945-08-21, - A holder for a conventional hand grenade so it can be fired from a rifle.
	2412636 Grenade Fuse, Short Frank, App: 1943-02-18, Pub: 1946-12-17, 102/487; 102/269 - pineapple grenade (Wiki)
	2412695 Projectile, Rost Helge Fabian, Claesson Per Harry Elias, Svensson Rolf Albin, App: 1942-09-16 (all of W.W.II) Pub: 1946-12-17, 102/397; 102/251 - "... devices for igniting bursting charges of projectiles, for example rifle grenades, grenades for trench mortars (Wiki) and guns, aerial bombs ..."
	2413680 Ogive mounting means for projectiles, George W Blackinton, John J Calhoun, Budd Co, Filed: 1942-11-21 (W.W.II) Pub: 1947-01-07, -
	2423993 Grenade adapter, Panter Carl, Joseph H Borden, Paul L Christensen, Walker W Holler, App: 1945-02-08, Pub: 1947-07-15, 102/483 - cage to hold Pineapple grenade. Projection adapter M1 used with fragmentation grenade Mk II. FM 23-30 pg 69 See patent 2412636 above.
	2427989 Projectile, George W Blackinton, John J Calhoun, App:1942-08-19 (all of W.W.II) Pub: 1947-09-23, 102/483; 102/476 - has the key elements of the M9 rifle grenade. A shaped charge (Wiki) works by very high pressure reforming the copper (or other ductile metal) into a narrow stream of metal.  Note the metal is not melted so for proper operation it needs to be ductile (Wiki: Ductility, Talk: Ductility) like copper.  This has to do with the ability of the metal to be formed into a wire. M9 anti-tank early W.W.II ?or? M11 practice version of M9 A shaped charge rifle grenade may have been intended to take out tanks.  BUT . . . it's almost impossible to hit a moving tank using a high angle of fire device like a rifle grenade or mortar. By coupling the shaped charge to a rocket motor which will be fired near horizontal the time of flight is now short enough to have a good change of hitting the target.
	2441388 Projectile, George W Blackinton, John J Calhoun, App:1942-08-19 (all of W.W.II) Pub: 1948-05-11, 102/476; 411/967; 244/3.24 - has the key elements of the M9 rifle grenade.  Note fuze location at rear of shaped charge, not at tip of nose. M9 or M10?
	2466726 Projectile, Wiley T Moore, Joseph H Church, Wilfred E Thibodeau, US Army, App: 1941-03-28, (Delay all of W.W.II) Pub:1949-04-12, -
	2892407 Shaped cavity explosive charge, Norman A Macleod, 1959-06-30, -

Bazooka

The development started with the 60mm diameter M10 Rifle Grenade (Wiki).  The M9 Rifle Grenade was 50mm diameter.  Note both the M9 and M10 were shaped charge devices.  As a rifle grenade the time of flight was too long to hit a moving tank.  So, a rocket motor was added and a launch tube developed.  The Bazooka fired at an almost flat trajectory so the time of flight was much shorter than the high angle of fire of the rifle grenade.  They could not use a more powerful rifle to launch the grenade because the existing rifle grenades were breaking the stocks of the rifles.  The SIG stgw57 was designed strong to it could launch heavy rifle grenades.
The Bazooka (Wiki) is a W.W.I  time frame weapon.  A rocket propelled grenade in today's parlance.  Idea from Robert Goddard (Wiki).  A key concept was the shaped charge (Wiki).
The M-9 Bazooka Blew Things Up Real Good by Paul Huard -

Variations

Launcher	2.36"	Rockets	YouTube: Forgotten Weapons:
M1		M6 HEAT M7 Practice
M1A1		M6A1 HEAT M7A1 Practice
M9		M6A3 Heat M7A3 Practice M10 Smoke
M9A1			The M9A1 Bazooka: Now With Optics and Quick Takedown
M18
M20	3.5"	M28A2 HEAT T127E3/M30 WP
M20A1	3.5"		M20A1B1 Super Bazooka - It's a Super Bazooka. Need I Say More?, 15:39.
M20B1	3.5"
M25	3.5"

SARCO M1A1 Replica SKU MISC502

Ordered 23 Feb 2021. Arrived 10 March 2021.  I don't like white plastic peanut packing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was preceded by the M1 Bazooka.

Manual TM 9-924 2.36-Inch A.T. Rocket Launcher M1A1, 27 Sep 1943
Data:
Length of launcher (approx.): 54.5 in
Weight of lancher (approx.): 13.26 lb
Internal diameter:            2.37 in
Length of rocket:             21.6 in
Weight of rocket:              3.5 lb
Muzzle velocity:       265 ft per sec
Propellant burn time  0.02 to 0.03 sec
Battery, 2 active + 2 sapre: BA-42 or "C" cell
Electrical system negative ground.  Only wire for hot side. Latch makes ground connection to rocket tail fin.

It was followed by the M9 (Wiki: M9).
The M18 (Wiki) aluminum version of the M9 was experimental only.
The M20 3.5" came next.

Fig 1

Fig 2

Fig 3 No piano wire wrap on rear of tube, no insulating sleeve below contacts and supporting band, no shunt strap on latch handle, metal tube instead of contact spring.

Fig 4 Light bulb wired in parallel with rocket so lights when trigger is pulled.

Fig 5 Shown upside down 100 yd at bottom of this photo, 200 or 300 yard at top of this photo flash deflector not part of this replica

Fig 6 Round access plate for electrical circuit and spare lamp.  Hinged battery cover.

Fig 7 The latch will work with the M7A1 rocket because the rocket tail fins have "V" shaped notch which will allow it to pull free of the latch.

Fig 8 The latch will not work with the M7A3 rocket.  The latch finger needs to be modified to have a 45 degree slope. ---or... The replica M7A3 rocket is missing a "V" groove for the latch?  Let me know.

2.36" Manuals

TM 9-294 (TM9-294.pdf) 27 September 1943, 28 pgs - 2.36-Inch A.T. Rocket Launcher M1A1. Uses M6A1 (M6A3) Yellow HEAT & Blue M7A1 (M7A3) practice.
TM 9-294 1 March 1946 (1946TM9-294.pdf), 71 pgs - 2.36-Inch, Rocket Launchers, M9, M9A1 and M18 [Declassified Jun 21 1956]

M-9A1 Sight

Optical reflector sight replaced the iron sights beginning in September 1944. (Wiki).

Need to find out more about the optics.

Reticule

To make the photos of the reticle the sight was held against a cell phone camera so Fig 5 and Fig 6 have the same camera to sight geometry.

From Fig 5 the center dot spans 5" (wheel center) at a distance of 34 feet.
The included half angle of the center dot is 0.3510726 degrees = 0.00612737278 radians = 6 milli radians (Wiki), or about 12 mils for the full angle.
But . . .  the mils numbers seem too high?

From Fig 6 measurements on the reticule.
The Lead Miles per hour column comes from TM 9-924 March 1, 1946.

Feature	Size	mils note 1	Lead MPH From TM 9-294 Sec. XVII
OD Center dot	0.515	12
ID Circle 1	4.695	110	10
ID Circle 2	9.738	230	20
ID Circle 3	14.869	350	30
ID Circle 4	20.132	460	40
Bar OA len	11.081	260

Note 1:  I was thinking that the circles were a range finding by means of stadia, like in modern telescopic sights, but that's not the case here.  They are for leading moving tanks.

Fig 1 Reticle (Wiki) seen from eye side.	Fig 2 Front of optic looks like convex mirror	Fig 3 Marked:  "2.36 IN" so for the M9A1 From Wiki: Bazooka\M9A1: "An optical reflector sight replaced the iron sights beginning in September 1944" (Ref 2)
Fig 4 Shown folded for storage. Big screw: Windage (Wiki) adjustment (no change when folding for storage) Spring finger: Elevation adjustment	Fig 5 center ring = 5" from 34'  Vehicle=Ranger	Fig 6 to measure reticule

The following three Images courtesy of International Military Antiques, Inc ima-usa.com which sold an M9A1 Bazooka and retained very high quality photos.

Fig 7

Fig 8

Fig 9: 0 to 600 yards.

Bazooka Sight Patent

I'm pretty sure this is the patent for the "Optical reflector sight".

2420252 Optical interference sight for guns, cameras, or the like, Edwin H Land (Wiki), Polaroid Corp, 1947-05-06, - "It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sight in which the rigidity of the standard sight is dispensed with and in which slight movements of the eye of an observer with respect to the firearm or other device with which the sight is associated do not impair the operation of the sight itself." Fig 5 has a lot of similarities to the 2.36 In Bazooka sight.

2420253 Optical interference sight for guns, cameras, or the like, including polarizers and a biaxial birefringent element, Edwin H Land, Polaroid Corp, 1947-05-06, -

SARCO M20B1 Parts Kit (SARCO: RL023)

This appears to be a de-milled M20 sold as a kit.

The Wiki Bazooka web page for the M20 Rocket Launcher, M20 "Super Bazooka" Larger 3.5 in (88.9 mm) caliber warhead (Panzerschreck was 88 mm caliber) Could penetrate up to 11 inches (280 mm) of armor Extended range by about 150 m Originally a larger version of the M9A1, designated M20 in late 1944. Entered active service just before the start of the Korean War.

Rocket Launcher, M20A1 "Super Bazooka" Product improved variant with improved connector latch assembly, entering production in 1952 Improved version of the M20 Rocket Launcher, M20B1 "Super Bazooka" Lightweight version with barrels made of cast aluminum, other components simplified Used as a supplement to the M20 Rocket Launcher, M20A1B1 "Super Bazooka" M20B1 upgraded with M20A1 improvements

  SARCO M20B1 Bazooka Photos

Fig 1 parts in random order	Fig 2 Front two tubes	Fig 3 Rear two tubes
Fig 4 Both Front & Rear tubes - front view	Fig 5 Both Front & Rear tubes - left veiw	Fig 6 Both Front & Rear tubes - right view
Fig 7 Both Front & Rear tubes - rear view	Fig 8 Joint showing pinch lever	Fig 9 Joint faces
Fig 10 Shown in Latched together position	Fig 11 Shown in Latched together position	Fig 12 Shown in Latched relative positions

YouTube: Forgotten Weapons: M20A1B1 Super Bazooka - It's a Super Bazooka. Need I Say More?, 15:39.

M20 Manuals

TM 9-1055-201-12
Operator and Organizational Maintenance Manual,
including Repair Parts and Special Tool Lists,
Launcher, Rocket 3.5-Inch M20A1 W/E (NSN: 1055-840-1841)
Launcher Rocket, 3.5-Inch M20A1 B1 W/E (NSN: 1055-840-1842)
Oct 1968, 86 pgs

TM 9-1055-201-35
Direct Support,
General Support and Depot Maintenance Manual Including Repair Parts and Special Tools List,
Launcher, Rocket 3.5-Inch M20A1 W/E (NSN: 1055-840-1841)
Launcher Rocket, 3.5-Inch M20A1 B1 W/E (NSN: 1055-840-1842)
December 1968, 49 pgs

FM 23-32
3.5-Inch Rocket Launcher "Super Bazooka"

Rocket Stability

A ballistic missile (Wiki) is technically anything moving through the air, without propulsion and effected by gravity.  This would include a rock thrown by hand, a cannon ball, bullet or arrow.  The stability of these objects depends on factors such as the center of mass, the center of pressure, spin rate, uniformity of the material used, &Etc.  An arrow is stable because the center of pressure is far behind the center of mass.  If an arrow was fired tail first it would be very unstable.

Early rockets, like the Congreve (Wiki) and some fireworks rockets use a simple stick that's about 5 times the rocket length.  This acts like the tail on an arrow to keep the rocket pointed tangent to it's flight path.

A key aspect of rocket stability has to do with how it's guided while the rocket engine is burning.  In the simplest case the rocket has mechanical guidance such as being in a tube or on a rail during all the time the engine is burning.  In this case the rocket becomes a ballistic missile after leaving the launcher.  The Bazooka rocket is burned out by the time it leaves the barrel.  Many model rockets keep burning after leaving the launcher, so they need tail fins that work.  The pop bottle rockets that use water and compressed air can be unstable because the center of mass is near the rear, behind the center of pressure and the water is still leaving the nozzle after the rocket is clear of the launch rail.  Adding big washers on the bottom (front) of the pop bottle will move the center of mass forward making for more stability, but adding weight lowers the maximum elevation.

In a more complex case the rocket engine continues to burn after it leaves the launcher.  This presents a problem since the thrust vector may not go through the center of mass of the rocket.  When that happens the thrust will push the tail end of the rocket sideways and it becomes unstable.  There are many videos of rockets doing this from the early 1950 when they were being developed.  Rockets, like the V-2 (Wiki), which have no guidance as part of the launcher are in this case.  One way to stabilize these rockets is to add tail fins.  Another way is some type of active stability system.

If tail fins are used for stability it matters what the shape of the rocket body is just in front of the fins.  If the body is as large in diameter as the fins the air flowing on the fins may be turbulent leading so some instability.  It's better if the body diameter just prior to the fins is small compared to the fin diameter.

Note that a spin stabilized projectile fired at an elevation angle of 45 degrees will be traveling sideways when it reaches the target because of the gyroscopic action.  Even at smaller elevation angles the gyroscopic action will cause problems.

Bazooka Rockets

List of U.S. Army rocket launchers (Wiki)

Rocket model	dia inch	Type	Launcher
M6A1	2.36	HEAT	M9 Bazooka
M6A3	2.36	HEAT
M7	"	practice	"
M10	"	smoke	"
M27	"	gas	"
T12*	"	HEAT	"
T23*	"	practice
M28	3.5	HEAT	M20 Bazooka
M29	"	practice	"
M30		smoke	"

* 6 Forward Folding Fins See: China Lake Patents, Reference Ref 8, Chapter 2
There are a number of patents by China Lake for the Sidewinder missile and other rockets.

M6A3 Rocket Replica

Sarco MISC447 M6A3 High Expolsive Rocket (inert) - replica Bazooka rocket

Fig 1 Real M6A1 Bazooka rocket shown above replica M6A3.

Fig 2

Fig 3

Service of Supply - YouTube -
Homemade rifle grenades on AK 47 -

Rocket Patents

Leslie A Skinner (Wiki) worked on both the Bazooka (Wiki) and the M8 rocket (Wiki). 
Both the Bazooka and M8 are launched from a tube. 
The M8 was modified to work as an aircraft rocket by adding fins.  It was mounted to a "zero length" rail, i.e. just a couple of studs.  See Ref 3.

The 3.5" Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket (Wiki) was initially (1942) launched from a 92" long rail.  In 1945 a zero length launcher was introduced.

The 1944 High Velocity Aircraft Rocket (Wiki: HVAR) is launched without a tube.

The Zuni (Wiki) rocket was developed by China Lake in the 1950s.  The Zuni was the basis of the Sidewinder missile (Wiki) which was designed to shoot down high altitude bombers.

The Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (Wiki: FFAR) aka: "Mighty Mouse". was also designed to be an air-to-air missile for shooting down bombers.  The 1951 article in Popular Science says they are equipped with proximity fuzes.  2-3/4" diameter by 4' long.  Shot from a tube launcher, hence the folding fins.  Developed in the late 1940s it was abandoned in the late 1950s because it had very poor accuracy.  It was then used as an air-to-ground weapon on helicopters since accuracy was not that important.

So the below patents may be for any of them except where it's obvious.

	53933 Rocket, Willam Hale, 1866-04-10, - spin stabilized instead of the Congreve rocket (Wiki) which uses a long stick for stability.
	1102653 Rocket apparatus, Robert H Goddard, 1914-07-07, 102/350; 60/225; 60/915; 74/5.22; 89/1.1; 89/1.808 - Solid fuel Two stage with camera
	1901852 Rocket, Hermann Stolfa, Rudolf Zwerina, 1933-03-14, 60/225; 60/250; 60/253; 102/347; 60/770 - 45 patents cite this one. "...the correct relation between the diameter of the exhaust orifice and the diameter of the combustion surface... shaping the charge that the burning surface forming the conical or tapering bore will be the maximum surface attainable with the smallest practicable diameter and shortest length of bore... increasing, during the latter stages of the combustion process, the burning surface to an extent unobtainable from the known types of rockets" Shaping the burning surface of grain gives more specific impulse.
	1994490 Rocket projectile, Leslie A Skinner, 1935-03-19, - has the look and feel of a mortar shell, no nozzle cited in 2457839 as intended to be projected initially from a gun tube by a propelling charge as discussed in this patent.  So more like a mortar.  This patent is cited in many of the Boozka patents.  Also see 2721518 below.
	2043268 Rocket, Leslie A Skinner, 1936-06-09, - just the motor itself The warhead is shown but not the fins.
	2206057 Rocket projectile, Leslie A Skinner, 1940-07-02, - has nozzle,
	2393604 Bomb stabilizer, William F Berger, App: 1943-02-10 (W.W.II) Pub: 1946-01-29, - Fins that are directly behind a blunt cylinder are in turbulent air flow and do not work well. By tapering the tail end of the bomb housing, as shown in this patent, the air flow over the fins is more laminar and the fins work better.
	2407093 Method and apparatus for cutting or punching sheet material, Henry H Mohaupt, Geston et D'exploitation de Brevets, Filed: 1942-05-21, Pub: 1946-09-03, -shaped charge  Mohaupt invented a lot of explosive related devices used in oil wells to fracture the surrounding rock to let the oil seep out.
	2427217 Rocket fin assembly, Harry J Lebherz, Leslie A Skinner, App: 1943-09-23 (W.W.II) Pub: 1947-09-09, - M8 rocket,  see China Lake Ref 8, chapter 4 I don'f think so, because the FFAR fins fold to the rear, these fold to the front. Spider (10) that holds the 6 fins is sheet metal rather than prior art casting. Retainer Ring (30) holds the fins in place.  The hole in the center of the retainer ring is small enough so that the rocket motor will blow it off. A dimple (29) was supposed to hold the fin in the open position, but this did not happen.  See the improved fin patent 2465401 below with rocket gas opening of the fins.
	2429021 Barrage rocket projector, Albert S Gould, Frederick C Lindvall, Navy, App: 1945-03-15, Pub: 1947-10-14, - Jeep mount.  Navy 4.5" Beach Barrage Rocket (Wiki) "Mousetrap" (Wiki) 2532643 Rocket launcher, Lorenzo A Richards, Frederick C Lindvall, Sec of Navy, App: 1945-08-13, Pub: 1950-12-05, - modular to allow an nunber of troughs 2550072 Rocket launcher, Frederick C Lindvall, Sec of Navy, App: 1944-12-29, Pub: 1951-04-24, - single trough tripod mounted 2568455 Rocket launcher, Frederick C Lindvall, Paul E Lloyd, Sec of Navy, App: 1945-03-28, Pub: 1951-09-18, - three troughs
	2430896 Rocket stabilizing fins, Edward G Uhl, Leslie A Skinner, Sec of War, App: 1944-01-08, (W.W.II), Pub: 1947-11-18, - these fins fold to the front. Maybe for T12 & T23 2.36" Bazooka rockets, see China Lake Ref 8, chapter 2 Air pressure on end tabs (8) hold the fins out during flight. Retainer ring is part of the cast/machined nozzle (2). Bazooka rocket with folding fins Had problem with fins opening and then breaking the pivot wire (12). Not clear what keeps fins in the closed position. This looks very much like the fins on the M8 Rocket (Wiki: M8 Photo Gallery) The M8 was developed in 1941
	2440271 Rocket projectile, Clarence N Hickman (Wiki), Sec of War, Filed: 1944-06-26, Pub: 1948-04-27, - Maybe M8 or M9, see China Lake Ref 8, General photo & Chapter 4 "Development of warfare has made increased and insistent demand for use at the immediate front line of combat encounter of larger caliber and heavier projectiles than can be fired from prior weapons with which the individual foot soldier can be armed, or which may be fired from light structure mobile material. Satisfaction of this demand by increased use of artillery is prohibited by its initial impedance and unsuitability for advance by portage, and by the mass of Carriage, barrel and mechanism being too great for light weight highly mobile equipment. To a Certain extent rifle grenades have effected a small advance in this direction, but stopping far short of requirements, and the Stokes mortar (Wiki) has also been of some benefit, though lacking because of its unsuitability for direct fire, its immobility, and dependence on an earth foundation to absorb recoil. The field equipment now required by armies must be light, fast, and extremely mobile and in present military tactics speed and mobility is of ever increasing importance such as to sub ordinate factors of economy previously thought to be dominating, and which were thought to exclude consideration of rocket propulsion for projectiles. It is therefore an important object of this invention to present a practical construction of a high explosive rocket projectile in which full advantage is taken of the effectiveness for propulsion of available explosives in proportion to the Weight and bulk, with a minimum sacrifice of energy in moving the effective or destructive elements of the projectile. Hickman (Wiki) patents 2362484 Pressure gauge, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed: 1943-05-10, Pub: 1944-11-14, - See NBS: No. 185, Experiments on Copper Crusher Cylinders.pdf Uses copper sphere to provide a more linear response. 2434652 Igniter, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed: 1944-03-01, Pub: 1948-01-20, - for rocket.  propellant looks like stacked washers. "One of the important features of the wafer stack arrangement of rocket propellant is that the burning time may be controlled by varying the web thickness of the disks. In this manner an extremely short burning time of the propellant charge may be realized, which is an essential safety requirement when firing a rocket projectile from a shoulder launcher." 2464179 Smokeless powder tester, Clarence N Hickman, Arthur J Dempster, Sec of Navy, Filed: 1943-09-02, Pub: 1949-03-08, - 2574479 Propellant having an opacifier (Wiki) for preventing self-ignition by radiant energy radiations, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed:1943-01-30, Pub: 1951-11-13, -"It, therefore, becomes another object of this invention to provide a rocket propellant in the form of a powder grain having a substantially constant burning surface throughout the burning time." 2459163 Thermal igniter, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed:1944-06-01, Pub:1949-01-18, - used to ignite a flare on top of a rocket. 2503269 Rocket propelled illuminating flare, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed: 1944-06-01, Pub:1950-04-11, - includes parachute
	2440305 Rocket projectile, Leslie A Skinner, Sec of War, App: 1942-01-20, (W.W. II) Pub: 1948-04-27,  nozzle & arrangement of solid fuel cores, to be used in a manner similar to artillery. This looks like the M8 rocket (Wiki)??  These were fired from tube launchers so the tail fins needed to fold up.
	2442386 Safety for a firearm hammer mechanism, Edward G Uhl, Sec of War, 1948-06-01, - This is for the all mechanical design Bazooka that was not put into production.
	2444957 Flash reducer, Leslie A Skinner, Sec of War, App: 1944-09-27 (W.W.II), Pub: 1948-07-13 - to reduce the signature of the rocket exhaust. maybe M8 , M9, see China Lake Ref 8, General photo & Chapt. 4
	2446537 Thrust gauge, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed:1944-11-16, Pub: 1948-08-10, -
	2446560 Rocket charge suspension arrangement, Leslie A Skinner, App: 1941-09-19, (W.W. II) Pub: 1948-08-10, - nozzle & arrangement of solid fuel cores
	2447200 Exhaust nozzle for rocket motors, Fred S Miller, Aerojet Rocketdyne, App: 1943-09-03, Pub: 1948-08-17, - - JATO (Wiki) - Instead of using Venturi to describe the nozzle it's called a de Laval nozzle (Wiki).  Supersonic flow at throat. This idea can be used to make a supersonic wind tunnel, see: 2515069 Wind Tunnel 2478958 Pressure release, Francis E Wheeler, Zola Colman, Aerojet Rocketdyne, App: 1944-03-28, Pub: 1949-08-16, - see pressure curve for cracked or flame between grain and wall at 2563265 2561670 Ignitor, Fred S Miller, Zola Colman, Aerojet Rocketdyne, App: 1945-07-30, Pub: 1951-07-24, -
	2451522 Rocket projector, Edward G Uhl, Leslie A Skinner, App: 1942-12-02, Pub: 1948-10-19, - Bazooka? with multi round magazine, requires mounting, not to be carried by soldier.
	2457839 Rocket, Leslie A Skinner, Sec of War, App: 1941-09-08, (W.W.II) Pub: 1949-01-04, - "It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a pressure block for positively protecting the driving charge from the influence of the pressure generated by the charge in the gun tube. It is a further object of the invention to furnish the means by which ignition of the driving charge can be accomplished through the medium of the pressure block." This is a rocket fried from a gun where the charge in the gun pushes the rocket out and lights the rocket engine.  A Bazooka has an open tube so this is not applicable to the Bazooka.
	2458475 Rocket device, Charles C Lauritsen, McMorris John, Sec of Navy, App: 1943-04-02, Pub: 1949-01-04, - 7.2" Demolition or "Mousetrap" ASW Rocket (Wiki)   see China Lake Ref 8, chapter 5 This is a retro-rocket that's fired from a plane and the payload is a "float light" that ends up on the ocean. Maybe to mark a MAD (Wiki) hit that's probably a submarine.  No need for a retro rocket since MAD flights were very close to the water. Prior art float lights where shaped like small bombs and would travel forward below the plane and so would hit the water long after they were released. For the rocket see 2464181 Rocket device below.
	2460289 Rocket projectile, Clarence N Hickman, 1949-02-01, -
	2461574 Firing mechanism, Leslie A Skinner, Julius A Folse, App: 1944-01-31, (W.W.II), Pub: 1949-02-15, - This looks like an all mechanical firing mechanism for the Bazooka.  I don't think it was ever produced?
	2462135 Rocket primer, Leslie A Skinner, App: 1944-04-06 (W.W. II), Pub: 1949-02-22, - Electrical primer
	2464181 Rocket device, Charles C Lauritsen, Sec of Navy, App: 1943-04-02, Pub: 1949-03-08, - 7.2" Demolition or "Mousetrap" ASW Rocket (Wiki)   see China Lake Ref 8, chapter 5 "...a standard 2.25-inch (57 mm) rocket motor..." Mousetrap (Wiki) M10 (4 rail) & M22 (8 rail) launchers. Use with flares is mentioned in the patent. The Skinner patent 2206057 fills the combustion chamber completely with propellant. In the Stolfa patent 1901852 shapes the burn surface at the center of the cylinder. This is a single grain that burns on both the OD and ID.  Also it gets ignited at the front end, unlike all the Bazooka rockets that are lit at the rear end. This appears to be a much simpler engine.  But it may have a much longer burn time for a different application? 2495216 Method of manufacturing propellants, Paul A Longwell, Alvin D Ayers, Bruce H Sage, Sec of Navy, App: 1944-08-07, Pub: 1950-01-24, - double base propellent. Improvement on solvent & hot rolling processes.  Makes "Hercules Bullseye" aka: “Army Specification PXS 633, Revision 5' plus improvements. 2628561 Propellant powder grain for rocket motors, Bruce H Sage, William N Lacey, Sec of Navy, App: 1943-03-17, Pub: 1953-02-17, - as shown in 2464181. 2685837 Igniter, Bruce H Sage, McMorris John, Glen W Miller, Navy, App: 1943-04-02, Pub: 1954-08-10, - for use with this and 2458475 Rocket device (retro-rocket for "float light". 2035185 Aircraft float light or smoke bomb, Harry J Nichols, 1936-03-24, - 2114213 Self-extensible float light, Herbert C Clauser, 1938-04-12, - 2119697 Float light, Robert J Anderson, Victory Fireworks, 1938-06-07, - 2509943 Marker flare, Gene A Silvey, Dept of Navy, App: 1947-03-10, Pub: 1950-05-30, - used with torpedoes that use an influence detonator for testing. 2793492 Rocket assembly, Bruce H Sage, Kenneth H Robinson, Sec of Navy, App: 1944-11-24, Pub: 1957-05-28, - nozzle cap with storage for Igniter cable & connector 2813487 Deflagration inhibited powder grains and method of making same, Glen W Miller, Paul A Longwell, Bruce H Sage, Sec of Navy, App: 1945-09-26, Pub: 1957-11-19, - several seconds of burning,
	2465401 Rocket fin assembly, Leslie A Skinner, App: 1943-09-23 (W.W.II) Pub: 1949-03-29 M8 rocket "This invention relates to rocket projectiles, and more particularly, to the tail fins provided thereon to stabilize their flight. The prime object of invention is to devise a tail fin assemblage for rocket projectiles the blades of which are readily folded in ineffective position so as to offer no protrusion to the passage of the projectile through the gun barrel but which are automatically turned by the rocket blast to their effective position protruding radially from the projectile as the projectile leaves the gun barrel." rocket gas fed by ports to push open the fins, improvement of  2427217 above.
	2465402 Rocket launcher firing mechanism, Leslie A Skinner, Julius A Folse, App: 1943-09-25, Pub: 1949-03-29, - This is for the mechanical version Bazooka, not produced.
	2466752 Electrically fired rocket projectile, Edward G Uhl, Leslie A Skinner, App: 1943-09-22, Pub: 1949-04-12 M6 HEAT rocket the M1 Bozooka.  Note the two electrical connections are (1) on nose cone and (2) on tail.  There are no wires coming out of rocket in this first generation Bazooka rocket. Fixed fins.
M6A1 rocket	M6A1 rocket: left to right (patent 2466752 above & 2487053 below) Conical end cap (5) Explosive head (2) Tube (3) contains rocket engine Nozzle (4) Fins (10) See 2692557 Fuse for the base detonating fuze.
	2472108 (Laterial) Thrust gauge for projectiles, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed: 1944-11-16, Pub: 1949-06-07, - Cu spheres
	2481910 Rocket launcher, Ardenne Walter H D, Heintz Manuf Co, App: 1946-06-05, Pub: 1949-09-13, - 2421893 Rocket firing control mechanism, Albert L Lambert, Ardenne Walter H D, Heintz Manuf Co, App:1944-11-02, Pub: 1947-06-10, - positions for up to 20 rockets 2448962 Rocket stop assembly, Ardenne Walter H D, Heintz Manuf Co, Heintz Manuf Co, App: 1946-09-25, Pub: 1948-09-07 The M8 4.5" rocket (Wiki) was fin stabilized and did not work that well, but over 2 million were made. This might be related to the M16 4.5" Spin Stabalized Rocket (Wiki). T66 Rocket Launcher:
	2484355 Reaction motor with propellant charge mounted in it, John W Parsons, Aerojet Rocketdyne, App: 1945-04-23, Pub: 1949-10-11, - JATO (Wiki) You can see where the term "JATO Bottle" came from. Parsons also holds a number of patents on liquid fuel reaction motors.
	2487053 Obturator trap for rocket propellants, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed:1944-11-16, Pub: 1949-11-08, -   Bazooka rocket
2490389	2490389 Quick action fuse, Jr Nathaniel B Wales, Army, Filed: 1946-11-01 W.W.II, Pub: 1949-12-06, - "One of the difficulties heretofore encountered in detonating shells and rockets, especially of the shaped charge type, has been to achieve detonation early enough to produce the most effective explosive force at the instant of impact of the projectile."  i.e. this may be for the Bazooka.
M1 Bazooka	2496316 Rocket projector, Leslie A Skinner, Edward G Uhl, App: 1943-09-22, (W.W. II), Pub: 1950-02-07, - Electrical connections to rocket: one on nose and one on tail, no wires. Launcher, Rocket, 2.36 inch, Anti-Tank, M1 Note M6 HEAT rocket shown in Fig 12 wiring diagram. Electrical ignition uses Eveready 791-Abattery (made up of two series "C" cells).
	2502458 Trap for rocket propellants, Clarence N Hickman, App: 1944-11-16, Pub: 1950-04-04, - rods of propellant secured only at their front ends
	2503270 Trap for rocket propellants, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed:1944-11-16, Pub: 1950-04-11, - Fig 3 bears a strong resemblance to the M6A1 rocket or JATO (has bolt on nozzle plate) 5: Venturi nozzle, not sure why, maybe Joule–Thomson effect (Wiki) 30: BBQ grill type trap supports propellant rods 21: Electrical squib (Wiki) 22: blow out disk
	2503271 Rocket projectile, Clarence N Hickman, App: 1945-02-06, Pub: 1950-04-11, - has to do with center of mass in relation to the center of thrust causing more dispersion in rockets then shells fried from guns.
	2504160 Rocket projector, Leslie A Skinner, Julius A Folse, App: 1944-10-03 (W.W.II), Pub: 1950-04-18, - tripod, very heavy, single tube
	2504648 Projectile, Edward F Chandler, App: 1941-10-25, Pub: 1950-04-18, - Jets angled to cause spin.  Early M8 rocket?
	2519905 Driver rocket, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed:1945-05-17, Pub: 1950-08-22, - Conventional 4.2" mortar can not be used at low angles of fire because the round will not impact the firing pin with enough force to set off the primer.  By putting a small rocket on the nose of the mortar round to drive it down the barrel it will then fire.
	2524591 Rocket projectile, Edward F Chandler, App: 1944-07-19, Pub: 1950-10-03, -
	2549811 Powder trap, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed: 1944-08-24, Pub: 1951-04-24, - Bazooka "This invention relates to improved powder traps for trapping the propellant charge of rocket projectiles. In many forms of rocket propelled projectiles the burning of the propellant powder must be completed within the projector tube, especially rocket propelled projectiles fired from a shoulder projector. Therefore in order for the projectile to attain its maximum velocity within the projector tube the acceleration of such projectile must be very rapid. This rapid acceleration however, forces the powder column contained within the projectile against the trap holding such propellant with considerable force thereby heavily overloading the powder trap. Furthermore the gas flow within the combustion chamber is extremely violent. As the propellant material generally utilized in rocket projectiles is quite fragile the propellant is subject to fracture due to impact against the powder traps because of the sudden acceleration of the projectile, or due to the ending action of the gas flow. Any fracture of the propellant. charge increases the burning area of Such charge which results in a corresponding increase in the burning rate of the propellant. An increase in the burning rate of the propellant likewise causes a considerable increase in pressure within the projectile which could readily develop into a dangerously high chamber pressure. Further, the propellant material breaking away from the propellent charge tends to clog around conventional traps, which are generally located at nozzle of the projectile, thereby restricting the gas flow thru such nozzle, resulting in higher chamber pressures. Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide improved powder traps for a rocket projectile to securely hold the propellant charge of such projectile in such fashion as to prevent damage to the propellant charge due to the rapid acceleration forces of the projectile."
	2545204 Jet-accelerated armor-piercing bomb
	2557151 Spring actuated generator for rocket launchers, Leslie A Skinner, Julius A Folse, App: 1944-08-24 (W.W.II), Pub: 1951-06-19, - Replaces the battery with a spring activated magneto.  This is the basis for the M9 Bazooka. The same idea as a Blasting Machine. Lever (19) tensions spring (20).  When trigger (37) is pulled it frees spring which pulls sector gear (24) which in turn drives gear (25) on armature shaft (10) rotating armature in field provided by permanent magnet (9).
	2563265 Rocket motor with solid propellant and propellant charge therefor, John W Parsons, Aerojet Rocketdyne, App: 1943-09-21, Pub: 1951-08-07, - JATO (Wiki)
	2563969 Toy spring rocket launcher, Leslie A Skinner, 1951-08-14, - A toy Bazooka designed by the inventor of the real one! Cites 6 prior art patents: Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title US468089A *    1892-02-02                  cSpring toy gun US1381639A *  1921-06-14                   Toy gun and projectile US1473507A *  1922-09-29  1923-11-06  Obermaier Carl August  Casting rod US1473419A *  1922-09-05  1923-11-06  George R Cudlipp  Toy pistol US2213496A *  1939-05-10  1940-09-03  John E Kahler  Swatter gun US2225629A *  1939-08-08  1940-12-24  Neal M Fraser  Novelty gun Also see my Pop Gun web page.
	2579323 Rocket projectile, Gregory J Kessenich, App: 1944-02-14, (Top Secret) Pub:  1951-12-18 This is the first Bazooka rocket.  It has fixed tail fins unlike all the others which are folding fin rockets. The low trajectory makes this suitable to attack moving targets, like tanks. The rocket (1) has what amounts to the M9 shaped charge grenade (20) (Wiki) screwed on the front. The grenade has an impact fuse (3) at the tail end that can be secured with a cotter pin (hole in firing pin (23). A thermal insulating disk (4) separates the rocket propellant from the firing mechanism. The front of the grenade is a thin sheet metal ogival (13). British patent 28030 covers the explosive charge (14). The conical liner (15) is probably copper, but that's not mentioned. DTIC A144098.pdf Ministry of Defence, Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment, Report 2/84, Some Historical Aspects of the Development of Shaped Charges, R.F. Eather & N. Griffiths, 1984 There's a problem if the hot high pressure rocket gases find a pin hole into the explosive chamber.
	2583570 Nozzle for rocket motors, Clarence N Hickman, App: 1945-06-28, Pub: 1952-01-29, - temperature compensating
	2586229 Replaceable firing pin for mortars, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, 1944-11-29, Pub: 1952-02-19, - 4.2" chemical mortar
	2605607 Trap for rocket propellant, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, Filed:1944-11-16, Pub: 1952-08-05, -
	2612747 Rocket having adjustable discharge passage, Leslie A Skinner, Sec of War, 1952-10-07, - "Another purpose of the invention is to provide a means for automatic adjustment of the Orifice cross-section of a rocket for optimum performance depending upon ambient temperature at the time of firing."
	2620732 Mortar charge, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, App: 1944-11-29, Pub: 1952-12-09, - change in charge density to change range.
	2643184 Propellant charge for jet-propelled devices, Robert W Cairns, Sec of War,App: 1944-01-15 (W.W.II) Pub: 1953-06-23, - rocket fuel.  By coating grains much larger than are used in guns the only part of the grain that light is the exposed part.  So, for example, a rod coated on the cylindrical surface would only light on the exposed end.
	2692557 Fuse, Jr Nathaniel B Wales, Army, Filed: 1946-06-14 (W.W.II) Pub: 1954-10-26, - This is the base detonating fuze for the M6A1 Bazooka rocket Wales also has patents on the Proximity Fuze Reserve Battery. also see 2490389 above
	2697400 Projectile with shaped charge and point initiating fuze, Lyle K Liljegren, App: 1944-02-14, W.W.II, Pub: 1954-12-21, - Probably artillery shell. The hollow cone (21) is described as "thin material".  Copper or other ductile metal for the liner (Wiki) is not mentioned.
	2721518  Projectile (Mortar), Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, App: also see 1994490 for early rocket propelled mortar The washer shaped propellant grains are for use in a spinning projectile
	2757611 Shaped charges, Joseph H Church, Gregory J Kessenich, US Army, 1956-08-07, 102/307 - Shaped Charge (Wiki) Filed in 1950 after W.W.II
	2764091 Piezoelectric fuse, Colin M Hudson, Leslie A Skinner, Sec of War, App: 1945-04-27 (W.W.II), Pub: 1956-09-25
	2801587 Folding fins for rockets and missiles, Albert S Gould, (@ China Lake) 1957-08-06, -  "permits launching of the rocket through a launching tube with the fins in folded position.. . . a novel folding fin and ex 'haust nozzle construction. - 4 small nozzles actuating the fins to their extended positions, utilizing the pressure in the rocket motor reaction chamber Piston (40) employed in rockets of relatively small calibre. - FFAR 2.75" (Wiki) With fins that fold toward the front there's no problem with the exhaust melting the fins.  But in this case the fins fold to the rear and so are in the path of the exhaust gas.  So . . . instead of a single nozzle Gould has used 4 nozzles. 2.75-In. Folding Fin Aircraft Rocket, Final Report, 1969, 259pgs,  DTIC 501432.pdf - 1600 PSI for 2 seconds then tapers off 4150540 Rocket nozzle system, Harold A. Krayenbuhl, Gene Dolgonas, Charles J. Rogers, US Air Force, 1979-04-24,
	2835170 Rocket launcher, James H Kindelberger, North American Aviation, 1958-05-20, - see 2968245 below.
	2857258 Jet propellant, Charles A Thomas, Monsanto Chemicals, App: 1945-08-22 (13 years delay), Pub: 1958-10-21, - contains some theory and "burning law" equations relating the burning area with the nozzle throat area. Glyptal 1201 used to glue grains together. Specific Impulse: 160 - 170. Ref: 1892400 Diphenyl resin and method of producing the same, Russell L Jenkins, Joseph A Sikarski, Swann Research, 1932-12-27, - Example VI non-crystalline, chlorinated polyphenyl resin 2171882 Urea formaldehyde resins, Oskar R Ludwig, Resinous Prod & Chemical, 1939-09-05, -
	2945442 Explosive separation device, Barnet R Adelman, James D Burke, Sec of Army, 1960-07-19, -
	2968245 Spinning rocket, George P Sutton, Albanese Philip, John R Conyers, Noel W Pion, Herbert H Isaacs, North American Aviation, 1961-01-17, - spinning
	2976804 Separation means - drop empty rocket housing?
	3139794 Launcher and rocket, Jr Vernon M Barnes, Jr Jerry A Burke, Irving R King, Robert L Wolf, Texaco Experiment, 1964-07-07, - This is a new to me propulsion system that's more powerful than the 2-liter pop bottle using water + compressed air.
	3326128 Rockets and combinations of rockets and cases, Paul V Choate, Norris Industries,1967-06-20, -
	3292536 Shaped explosive charges, Joseph H Church, Gregory J Kessenich, Sec of Army, 1950-04-25, (16 year delay) Pub: 1966-12-20, 102/306 - for general demolition use
	3561361 Detonation system for shaped charges, Gregory J Kessenich, Joseph H Church, Sec of Army, App: 1950-04-18 (delay 21 years= Top Secret) Pub: 1971-02-09 - for general demolition use
	3620162 Rifle launched rocket, Paul C King, Navy, 1971-11-16, - HE not shaped charge. Note stepped disks in rocket motor to get the desired cone shape. Shown on M14 rifle.  This would solve the problem with conventional rifle grenades breaking the stock.
	4112849 Smokeless slow burning cast propellant, John Leslie Jones, California Institute Research Foundation, App:1949-02-11 (29 year delay), Pub: 1978-09-12, -
	4140562 Solid propellant with alginate binder, Silvio P. Gualillo, Regis Raab, Edward G. Uhl, 1979-02-20 a recipe for a water based ammonium nitrate propellant that's then molded at a few thousand PSI, and dried. Burns at very high pressure and temperature.

2633702 Multiple Nozzle Rocket, Clarence N Hickman, Office of Scientific Research and Development,
2724237 Rocket projectile having discrete flight initiating and sustaining chambers
2471745 Spacer trap for rockets
2437694 Method for blending powder grains, Clarence N Hickman, Sec of War, - smokeless powder utilized for rocket propellants.  Uses the heat of the rocket motor to arm.  Possible problem if there are any pin holes allowing hot high pressure gases to get to the explosive.
2522514 Arming Device, Clarence N Hickman, OSRD (Wiki), depends on the heat of the propellant
2596644 Automatically detachable flashless nozzle for rockets
2502842 Electromagnetic Relay, Bell Telephone
2585010 Wire Connecting Tool, Wire Wrap, Bell Telephone
2589806 Selective Signaling, Bell Telephone, cross bar switching
2485601 Multiple Cartridge Launcher, OSRD - V-1 rail launcher
2567812 Code transmitter - 2x5 keypad -> 5 level paper tape, Bell Labs

References

Also see China LakePatents Ref_8 and many of the following references.

Ref 1: The Bazooka, Gordon L. Rottman, 2012, ISBN: 978 1 84908 801 5 -
Ref 2: Bazooka vs Panzer: Battle of the Bulge 1944 Paperback – November 22, 2016
Ref 3: U.S. Rocket Ordnance Development and use in W.W. II (pdf) Div 3 of NDRC: Rockets, Sec H Alleganu Ballistics Lab, WV & Cal Inst of Tech, Pasadena, CA (& NOTS)
Ref 4: U.S. Ground/Air Launched Rockets -
Ref 5. Expedient Recoilless Launchers, Panzerfaust, Jonathan Wild, ISBN: 978-0-578-76286-9
Ref 6. The Poor Man's RPG: Shoulder Fired Anti-Tank Grenade, George Dmitrieff, ISBN: 0-876947-154-9 - many M9, M18 & M20 Bazooka drawings & some Panzerfaust drawings.
Ref 7. The Rocket Propelled Grenade (Weapon),Rottman, Gordon L.
Ref 8. 3.5-Inch Rocket Launcher "Super Bazooka" Field Manual: FM 23-32, Department of the Army
Ref 9. Launch Magazine's History of American Rocketry: The Space Race, Model Rockets, and The New Frontier, Mayfield, Mark
Ref 10. TM 43-0001-30 Technical Manual Army Ammunition Data Sheets for Rockets, Rocket Systems, Rocket Fuzes, Rocket Motors FSC 1340, Dec 1981 (C14).

1. Introduction
2. Ground Rockets, 3.5", M72 LAWS
3. Aircraft Rockets, 2.75"
4. Fuzes, 2.75"
5. Rocket Motors, Mk22 demo charge tow, Mk 20 & Mk 66 (2.75"), M3A2 & M8 JATO

Ref 11. OP1664 US Explosive Ordnance

1. Projectiles Propellants and Projectile Fuzes
2. (pdf 148) Rockets and Rocket Fuzes

2.1 Intro
2.2 Army Rockets
    2.36"... 154
    3.25" ...157
    4.5" ...158
    5" & 7.2" ...160
2.3 Army Developmental Types ...161
2.4 Navy Rockets ...pdf165
    2.25" A.R. Practice
    3.25" Targets...166
    4.5" B.R. ...173
    5.0" A.R. ...171
    7.2" H.E. Mousetrap...179
    11.75" A.R. Tiny Tim ...184
2.6 Rocket Fuzes ...186
    2.6.2 Army Nose Fuzes ...187
    2.6.3 Army Base Fuzes ...191
    2.6.4 Army Exp Fuzes
    2.6.5 Navy Nose Fuzes ...195
    2.6.6 Navy Base Fuzes ...219
    2.6.7 Navy Auxiliary Detonating Fuze ...228

3. Pyrotechnics ...231
    3.1 Pistol & Hand-size Signals ...233
    3.2 Drift Signals ...240 (forms a slick on water visible at 15,000 feet.
    3.3 Navy Flares
    3.4 Depth Charge & Slick Markers
    3.5 Army Flares (M9 for AN/M8 Pyro Pistol)
    3.6 Target Flares
    3.7 Target ID Bombs
    3.8 Smoke Streamer Bombs ...264
    3.9 PhotoflashBombs ...266
    3.9 Ground Protechnics ...269
    3.10 Shipboard Pyrotechincs ...285
    ------------ End of this volume
4. Grenades
5. Land Mines and Firing Devices
6. Bombs and Bomb Fuzes
7. Guided Missiles and Fuzes

Light Anti-Tank Weapon Wiki: M72 LAWS

A next generation Bazooka which fires a rocket that's very close to the diameter of the 2.36" early version Bazooka.

Rocket

eBay listing "M72 Law 66mm 1:1 scale model rocket kit Estes D12 motor vietnam inert replica A1" eBay seller: techcom - $60 including shipping.
This is a 3D printed full size LAWS rocket and may be compatible with Estes rocket motors.

Fig 1

Fig 2 Compared to Bazooks rockets M3A3 (top) and M6A1 (bottom). The LAWS is larger in diameter and will NOT fit the Bazooka launcher tube. Note: 2.36" = 60mm.  LAWS is listed as 66mm on Wiki.

eBay "M72 Law 66mm 1:1 scale model rocket kit estes D12 motor vietnam inert replica A1" item# 324389294508

Length (Nose to Nozzle): 20"
Largest Diameter: 2.65"
Weight: 7.2oz with Estes D12 - Thrust-time curve -
Altitude and Speed with D12: 500ft @ 125mph
Motor: D12 or Motors with the same Diameter as the D12 (0.95")

using: The Rocket Simulator - shows an altitude of 48.8 meters (160 feet) by the time the motor burns out.  This is based on a constant thrust of 10.21 Newtons rather than using the Thrust v. time curve.  But the point is that the D12 engine would be burning after it left the launch tube.

Time	Drag Force	Thrust	Net Force	Mass	Acceleration	Velocity	Altitude	Area	Velocity (mph)	Air Density
t	Fd	Ft	F	M	Acc	V	Y	Area	mph	rho
0	0.00000	10.21	7.82546	0.24332	32.16120	3.21612	0.48242	0.00356	7.19446	1.22000
0.10	0.01684	10.21	7.82105	0.24205	32.31132	6.44725	1.28870	0.00356	14.42250	1.21994
0.20	0.06766	10.21	7.78264	0.24079	32.32189	9.67944	2.41825	0.00356	21.65291	1.21983
0.30	0.15249	10.21	7.71023	0.23952	32.19059	12.89850	3.86906	0.00356	28.85395	1.21969
0.40	0.27073	10.21	7.60441	0.23825	31.91762	16.09026	5.63767	0.00356	35.99392	1.21950
0.50	0.42122	10.21	7.46634	0.23698	31.50570	19.24083	7.71928	0.00356	43.04174	1.21928
0.60	0.60219	10.21	7.29779	0.23572	30.96001	22.33683	10.10777	0.00356	49.96750	1.21901
0.70	0.81137	10.21	7.10102	0.23445	30.28810	25.36564	12.79577	0.00356	56.74294	1.21870
0.80	1.04604	10.21	6.87878	0.23318	29.49961	28.31560	15.77483	0.00356	63.34201	1.21836
0.90	1.30308	10.21	6.63416	0.23191	28.60601	31.17620	19.03548	0.00356	69.74117	1.21797
1.00	1.57912	10.21	6.37053	0.23065	27.62020	33.93822	22.56740	0.00356	75.91981	1.21756
1.10	1.87062	10.21	6.09145	0.22938	26.55612	36.59384	26.35957	0.00356	81.86041	1.21710
1.20	2.17395	10.21	5.80054	0.22811	25.42835	39.13667	30.40038	0.00356	87.54873	1.21662
1.30	2.48552	10.21	5.50139	0.22685	24.25168	41.56184	34.67782	0.00356	92.97383	1.21610
1.40	2.80184	10.21	5.19749	0.22558	23.04071	43.86591	39.17961	0.00356	98.12804	1.21555
1.50	3.11962	10.21	4.89213	0.22431	21.80954	46.04686	43.89335	0.00356	103.00684	1.21497
1.60	3.43583	10.21	4.58834	0.22304	20.57143	48.10401	48.80661	0.00356	107.60866	1.21437
1.70	0.00000	0.00	-2.17776	0.22222	-9.80000	47.12401	53.47001	0.00000	105.41640	1.21374

Manuals

TM 43-0001-30 Rockets, Rocket Systems, Rocket Fuzes, Rocket Motors, Federal Supply Class 1340, Dept of Army, Dec 1981, (pdf) 157 pgs, C14 17 Aug 2001,

Ch 1 Intro
Ch 2 Ground Rockets: 3.5" M28A2, M29A2, M30; 66mm LAW M72, M74; 35mm subcaliber M73 (Promethium-147 (Wiki) is used in front sight.
Ch 3 Aircraft Rockets: 2.75" LSFFAR, WDU-4A, M255, M151, M229, M156, M230, WTU-1, M257, M278, M259, M247, M261, M267, M73, M75, M274, M264
Ch 4 Fuzes 2.75" Rockets: M423, M433, M429, M435, M439
Ch 5 Rocket Motors: Mk22, Mk40, JATO M3A2, M8; Mk66

TM 9-1340-214-10 Operator's Manual, for, 66 mm Light Antitank, Weapon (LAW) System M72A1, M72A2 with Coupler, M72A3, and, Practice Rocket Launcher M190, with M73 Practice Rocket, Dept of Army, 31 May 1991

LAWS Patents

	3122059 Rocket launchers, Paul V Choate, Charles B Weeks, Flightex Fabrics, 1964-02-25, -
	3182553 Rocket launcher and end covering means therefor, Paul V Choate, Charles B Weeks, Hesse Eastern, 1965-05-11, -
	3200708 Rocket launchers, Paul V Choate, Norris-Thermador, 1965-08-17, - LAWS
	3208347 Rocket launchers and rear sight therefor, Paul V Choate, Norris-Thermador,1965-09-28, - LAWS
	3256777 Rocket launchers, Paul V Choate, Charles B Weeks, Frank A Spinale, Norris-Thermador,1966-06-21, - LAWS
	3279072 Thermally responsive sights, Paul V Choate, Alton F Carr, Norris-Thermador, 1966-10-18, - temperature has a noticeable effect on rocket performance
	3319566 Non-spin rockets and their guidance, Paul V Choate, Michael A Nee, Norris Industries Inc, 1967-05-16, -
	3326128 Rockets and combinations of rockets and cases, Paul V Choate, Norris Ind, 1967-06-20, - "Rockets capable of being fired from a portable shoulder supported launcher...
	3331251 Apparatus for testing objects with force generated by suddenly released energy, Willis F Tibbetts, Norris Ind, App: 1964-08-21, Pub: 1967-07-18, - for testing fuzes
	3371578 Rocket launchers, Paul V Choate, Frank A Spinale, Norris Ind, App:1966-06-20, Pub: 1968-03-05, -
	3494249 Weapon system including a launcher of the rocket launcher type and a projectile of the rocket type, Paul V Choate, Norris Industries, 1970-02-10 - Looks like the Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (Wiki)
	CA 761211 Rocket launchers, V. Choate Paul, B. Weeks Charles, A. Spinale Frank,
	GB1100515 Improvements in or relating to a rocket launcher, Paul Vincent Choate, Charles Bailey Weeks, Frank Anthony Spinale, Norris Ind, App: 1966-06-01, Pub: 1968-01-24, -
	4607445 Temperature compensating front sight, Paul V. Choate, N I Ind,1986-08-26, -
	4129268 Rockets including trajectory controls, Willis F Tibbetts, Norris Ind, App: 1965-10-23, Pub: 1978-12-12, -
	4689910 Front sight for projectile launchers, Paul V. Choate, Robert W. Woodburn, N I Ind, 1987-09-01, - LAWS

Mortars

Mortars (Wiki) have a mode of operation that's similar to the 40mm grenade, i.e. low barrel pressure where the propelling charge is typically a blank cartridge (Wiki).

PIAT

While watching the movie A Bridge Too Far (IMDB, Wiki) there's a battle on a bridge where the PIAT (Wiki) spigot mortar (shoulder mounted) takes out a number of German tanks.  This was part of Operation Market Garden (Wiki). Stewart Backer (Wiki) did a lot of work on spigot mortars (Wiki: Blacker Bombard) and was a co-inventor of the Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank along with the head of UK weapons development Millis Jeffferis (Wiki).
Forgotten Weapons: PIAT: Britain's Answer to the Anti-Tank Rifle Problem -

Patents

	2456812 Recoilless gun, Blacker Latham Valenti Stewart, App: 1938-05-04 (W.W.II SECRET), Pub: 1948-12-21, 89/1.801; 42/105; 89/33.01; 89/179; 89/199; 89/1.813; 89/33.1; 89/194 - Uses a spring and a black cartridge to propel the round. The projectile is a shaped charge very much like that used in Rifle Grenades, including the Bazooka.
Photo from Wiki PIAT	While researching this I learned that the Boys Anti-tank Rifle (Wiki) was not able to stop a tank.  These were offered in used gun catalogs in the late 1950s and I wanted one, but my mother did not agree. Another predecessor to the PIAT was the No. 68 AT grenade (Wiki) which was a small shaped charge.  Wiki: PIAT Development. Note there are many design aspects to the SIG stgw57 in order to make it strong enough to fire a heavy rifle grenade. Normal combat rifles will bread after firing a small number of heavy rifle grenades.
	Flash Gordon (Wiki) dates to 1934 so was around a few years before the PIAT patent.  But it's not clear when the first Zarkov (Wiki) spaceship appeared. Also see my Buck Rogers 25th Century Rocket Pistol - Wiki: Buck Rogers The rocket ship first appeared in the 1930 movie Just Imagine (IMDB).  Although it has a propeller. The 1936 movie Flash Gordon (IMDB) has the probe at the front of the space ship. So the shape was a popular item at the time the PIAT was developed.  The real probe is needed as part of the fuze.

2938460 Finned projectile, Brandt Edgar William, Energa, Filed 1956-09-12, Pub: 1960-05-31, 102/476 -

Rocket-Propelled Grenade

One of the earliest rocket-propelled grenades (Wiki) was the Bazooka (Wiki).  Note the shaped charge used for the Bazooka is the same as for the M9 rifle grenade.  That's why I've grouped Rifle Grenades, Mortars and RPGs.

The Soviet PRG-7 (Wiki) appears in many movies.  Over 9 million have been built because it's a very effective weapon.  Unlike the Bazooka that required a crew of two men, the PRG-7 only requires one man.
AirTronic USA makes a copy of the Soviet RPG-7.
RR Defense Systems makes RPG-7 (which has a 40mm bore) and 40mm grenade launchers.
Numrich sells: Deactivated RPG-7, Optical Sight, ? deactivated rocket?

Individual Integrated Fighting System (Wiki)

A possible follow on to ALICE but was replaced by MOLLE.

8415-01-317-1622 Vest, Grenade Carrier (40mm)
This vest is designed to both carry the 40mm grenades and to also act as suspenders for the standard ALICE belt.  It has built-in shoulder pads and a number of snap/velcro loops at the bottom to attach to the belt.  One size fits all.

Patents

2315753 Grenade gun, Stewart D Long, 1943-04-06, 42/105; 102/438; 89/1.1; 102/483 - look and feel of M79 Rifled barrel.  The wadding (16) may act as an expansion space to provide a low pressure system?

2737889 Incendiary shell, Maurice E Barker, Secretary of War, Filed: Jun 20, 1941, (15 year delay) Pub: Mar 13, 1956, 102/365, 42/106 -

"A system for launching a relatively low velocity projectile, which system generates a low pressure propelling gas supply. The propelling gas supply is generated by burning a propellant comprising a small percentage of a primary explosive intimately mixed with a finely divided fuel-oxidizer mixture. The burning rate of the propellant is slower than the detonation rate of the primary explosive, and the propellant sustains burning and generates gas at a rate which is independent of temperature and pressure."

Stanley D. Silsby Patents

Related

Links

20200070977 Compact unmanned aerial system, Hao Kang, John W. Gerdes, III, 2020-03-05, - "...An unmanned aerial system capable of being launched from a grenade launcher..."

https://www.rocketmotorparts.com/ - spiral would tubes and nozzles
https://www.skylighter.com/ - Chemicals

    .Rocket Initiator 

Electric Match - Rocketry, Military, Pyro - MJG Firewire (ATF non-regulated initiator)
Quick Burst - Hot Shot conductive mix -

5423261 Pyrotechnic trigger, Giat Ind, 1995-06-13, -
7293504 Electro-pyrotechnic initiator, Stephane Phelep, Philippe Pinet, Davey Bickford SAS,
also see Krytron Tube & Electric Initiator with Exploding Bridge Wire

5410966 High reliability model rocket engine igniter system, Michael K. Dorffler, Ronald L. McClaren, Estes-Cox, 1995-05-02, - toothed plug
5509354 Igniter holder, Michael K. Dorffler, Ronald L. McClaren, Estes-Cox,1996-04-23, -