SKS Grenade Launchers - The Firearms Forum

Terry G · 03-20-2004, 01:57 PM

I'm curious as to why all Yugoslavian SKS's carry a grenade launcher. In the '60's the U.S. TO&E was one or two per squad. I was wondering why all the added expense of launcher, sights, added training, etc. Did the Yugoslavian's base their small unit tactics on a lot launched grenades?

JohnnyRobotic · 03-20-2004, 11:54 PM

Who needs accuracy when you have splash damage !?

merc · 03-21-2004, 07:21 AM

They make the rifle look cool

Terry G · 03-24-2004, 04:51 PM

Thanks for the responses. When you actually know something, I would appreciate an intelligent reply.

JohnnyRobotic · 03-24-2004, 04:55 PM

"start menu"
"run"
"www.thefirearmsforum.com +/HumorOff"

Terry G · 03-24-2004, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnnyRobotic
"start menu"
"run"
"www.thefirearmsforum.com +/HumorOff"

I think I have a sense of humor. I was asking a question, you did not dignify it with an intelligent response. If you don't know the answer, that's fine. If I want jokes about firearms, I'll look up Hangun Control, Inc.

JohnnyRobotic · 03-24-2004, 09:24 PM

Touche !

Terry G · 03-24-2004, 09:41 PM

Touch? Touch what?

JohnnyRobotic · 03-25-2004, 09:16 AM

Used to acknowledge a hit in fencing or a successful criticism or an effective point in argument.

Marlin · 03-25-2004, 11:15 AM

To distinguish it from "touch", it should be "touché"!!!!

LIKTOSHOOT · 03-25-2004, 11:52 AM

These were made in lots, then issued. That is how they did things. Make a run, then switch.....make another. These are probably the last of the last. These were made prior to the RPG, now that takes the place of GL rifles......cept fer the US versions (M16)

LTS

1952Sniper · 03-25-2004, 01:01 PM

Keep in mind that the Yugoslavian M59/66 is not the "first run" of SKS's in Yugoslavia. They started using the SKS in 1959 with the M59 model, which was just a plain-jane SKS (no grenade equipment). It wasn't until 1966 that they started the switch to the M59/66 configuration.

As for why they did this, I really couldn't tell you. There isn't a whole lot of information out there about the Yugoslav military doctrines from that time period. But I would imagine that since their military wasn't the best equipped in the world, and they were not exactly on the Soviet Union's buddy list, they had to do something to make up for their lack of mechanized infantry. I guess they just found it cheaper and more effective to provide each soldier with a grenade launcher on his rifle. This makes the soldiers more mobile. Rather than tie a lot of men to a piece of equipment that relies on roads and gasoline, they gave each soldier the versatility of being able to fire standard small arms rounds or grenades.

From what I've read of the Balkan wars, this was very effective in urban environments. They would wear a large belt-looking device with rifle grenades strapped to their backs. The grenade cartridges were stored in the tail booms of each grenade. All they had to do was turn off the gas system, raise the grenade sight, lock the grenade on the launcher, load the grenade firing cartridge, aim and shoot. Then they could lower the grenade sight, turn the gas system back on, load a stripper clip of regular ammo, and fire away. In fact, grenades can be fired even without unloading the rifle. I gotta say, that's handy for any battle environment. It gives each soldier versatility.

Buford Allen · 05-12-2004, 10:01 PM

Well it looks to me like 1952 Sniper was the only one who had any valuable information on the reason for grenade launchers being on Yugoslavian SKS's. I do, however, have to agree that these particular SKS's are the most pleasing for me to look at, especially when they are tricked out with a pistol grip stock and 30 round magazine.

Buford Allen

kingjoey · 05-13-2004, 12:07 AM

You also have to consider that the Yugo grenade launcher setup is much cheaper and lighter than the M203 setup used by the US. They aren't going to incur much additional cost in outfitting the rifles with a rudimentary launcher and no one's gonna bitch about humping a rifle that's 4-6oz heavier than the regular version as opposed to the M203 which is about like carrying a second rifle

That's just MHO.

03-20-2004, 01:57 PM	#1
Terry G V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 120	SKS Grenade Launchers I'm curious as to why all Yugoslavian SKS's carry a grenade launcher. In the '60's the U.S. TO&E was one or two per squad. I was wondering why all the added expense of launcher, sights, added training, etc. Did the Yugoslavian's base their small unit tactics on a lot launched grenades? __________________ "An Armed Society is a Polite Society." -->

03-21-2004, 07:21 AM	#3
merc V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pelham, NH Posts: 309	They make the rifle look cool __________________ Merc Living without Liberty is not Living

03-24-2004, 04:51 PM	#4
Terry G V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 120	Thanks for the responses. When you actually know something, I would appreciate an intelligent reply. __________________ "An Armed Society is a Polite Society."

03-24-2004, 09:41 PM	#8
Terry G V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 120	Touch? Touch what? __________________ "An Armed Society is a Polite Society."

03-25-2004, 11:15 AM	#10
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	To distinguish it from "touch", it should be "touché"!!!! __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

03-20-2004, 11:54 PM	#2
JohnnyRobotic V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wareham, Massachusetts Posts: 265	Who needs accuracy when you have splash damage !?

03-24-2004, 04:55 PM	#5
JohnnyRobotic V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wareham, Massachusetts Posts: 265	"start menu" "run" "www.thefirearmsforum.com +/HumorOff"

03-24-2004, 09:24 PM	#7
JohnnyRobotic V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wareham, Massachusetts Posts: 265	Touche !

03-25-2004, 09:16 AM	#9
JohnnyRobotic V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wareham, Massachusetts Posts: 265	Used to acknowledge a hit in fencing or a successful criticism or an effective point in argument.

03-25-2004, 11:52 AM	#11
LIKTOSHOOT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 9,367	These were made in lots, then issued. That is how they did things. Make a run, then switch.....make another. These are probably the last of the last. These were made prior to the RPG, now that takes the place of GL rifles......cept fer the US versions (M16) LTS

03-25-2004, 01:01 PM	#12
1952Sniper Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 5,138	Keep in mind that the Yugoslavian M59/66 is not the "first run" of SKS's in Yugoslavia. They started using the SKS in 1959 with the M59 model, which was just a plain-jane SKS (no grenade equipment). It wasn't until 1966 that they started the switch to the M59/66 configuration. As for why they did this, I really couldn't tell you. There isn't a whole lot of information out there about the Yugoslav military doctrines from that time period. But I would imagine that since their military wasn't the best equipped in the world, and they were not exactly on the Soviet Union's buddy list, they had to do something to make up for their lack of mechanized infantry. I guess they just found it cheaper and more effective to provide each soldier with a grenade launcher on his rifle. This makes the soldiers more mobile. Rather than tie a lot of men to a piece of equipment that relies on roads and gasoline, they gave each soldier the versatility of being able to fire standard small arms rounds or grenades. From what I've read of the Balkan wars, this was very effective in urban environments. They would wear a large belt-looking device with rifle grenades strapped to their backs. The grenade cartridges were stored in the tail booms of each grenade. All they had to do was turn off the gas system, raise the grenade sight, lock the grenade on the launcher, load the grenade firing cartridge, aim and shoot. Then they could lower the grenade sight, turn the gas system back on, load a stripper clip of regular ammo, and fire away. In fact, grenades can be fired even without unloading the rifle. I gotta say, that's handy for any battle environment. It gives each soldier versatility.

05-12-2004, 10:01 PM	#13
Buford Allen V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vernon, TX Posts: 134	Yugo SKS Well it looks to me like 1952 Sniper was the only one who had any valuable information on the reason for grenade launchers being on Yugoslavian SKS's. I do, however, have to agree that these particular SKS's are the most pleasing for me to look at, especially when they are tricked out with a pistol grip stock and 30 round magazine. Buford Allen

05-13-2004, 12:07 AM	#14
kingjoey V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 290	You also have to consider that the Yugo grenade launcher setup is much cheaper and lighter than the M203 setup used by the US. They aren't going to incur much additional cost in outfitting the rifles with a rudimentary launcher and no one's gonna bitch about humping a rifle that's 4-6oz heavier than the regular version as opposed to the M203 which is about like carrying a second rifle That's just MHO.