Lance-grenade individuel Mle F1 (LGI Mle F1)
The LGI Mle F1 is a lightweight, close-support infantry weapon designed to be used by one man, to provide indirect-fire, fulfilling the same role as the Japanese Type 89 grenade discharger used during World War II. The LGI has been used by the French Army since the 1990s[2] and fires high explosive, smoke, and illumination rounds.
| LGI | |
|---|---|
 Loading a practice bomb | |
| Type | mortar / grenade launcher |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  France Monaco[1] |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Titanite S.A. |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.8 kg |
| Length | 605 mm |
| Crew | 1 |
| Cartridge | 51 mm grenade |
| Rate of fire | up to 30 rounds per minute |
| Effective firing range | 675 metres |
Deployment
French squads are divided into a 300-metre fireteam each armed with a Heckler & Koch HK416 assault rifle and carrying an AT4 anti-tank weapon and a 600-metre fire-team with a FN Minimi and a LGI.[3]
Operation
The launcher uses a closed combustion chamber to capture the propulsion gases. The propellant charge is inserted into the tail of each round and transmits an ignition impulse via an enclosed internal system, assuring little in the way of noise, muzzle flash, smoke, or thermal signature. The noise made on firing is only 52 dB, making it hard to detect the launching point and high rates of fire are possible as the weapon does not heat up.[4]
Ammunition
- 51 mm (GRExPL AP LGI F1) High Explosive bomb 51 mm
- 51 mm ( GR 51 FUM PH LGI F1) smoke bomb 51 mm
- 47 mm (GR 47 ECL LGI F1) Flare 47 mm
- Practice bombs (coloured blue as in the main picture)
An Infrared bomb is in development that will facilitate low light engagements when used in conjunction with a Night Vision Device.
See also
External links
- LGI Specifications (French), archived by the Internet Archive
- LGI information French Army (French), archived by the Internet Archive
- Rheinmetall webpage on FLY-K
References
- Giletta, Jacques (2005). Les Gardes Personnelles des Princes de Monaco (1st ed.). Taurus Editions. ISBN 2 912976-04-9.
- "Equipment | French Foreign Legion Information". Archived from the original on 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- French Armored Infantry Section - Brendan Matsuyama
- Anthony G Williams. "Mortar Ammunition: an International Survey" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.