The Howa Type 96 automatic grenade launcher (AGL) (96式40mm自動てき弾銃) is a Japanese automatic grenade launcher made by Howa since 1996.

History

With the need of a heavy fire support weapon in Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) service aside from the use of the Sumitomo Type 62 GPMG and the Sumitomo M2HB machine gun, Howa first created and produced the weapon in 1996.

Use

The Howa Type 96 can be used by both infantry and armored vehicles, the former with a tripod and the latter by being placed on a weapon mount. It is seen as one of the main weapons mounted on the Type 96 armored personnel carrier.

Operational details

On the left side of the Type 96 is a feeding bay where the 40 mm grenades belt can be loaded onto the AGL. It can be placed on a tripod mount on the ground if required and can also be used as an anti-personnel and anti-armoured vehicle grenade by attaching a tripod mount. It uses a belt-linked feeding system and has single- and continuous-fire capabilities.For automatic reloading, a blow-forward system is used, in which the barrel is moved back and forth and loaded, rather than by a loose bottom. Ammunition is supplied from a magazine on the left side of the barrel.The type of ammunition used is Daikin Industries 40x56mm "40 mm anti-personnel and light armour-piercing round" (ammunition length 112 mm, weight 371 g), a multi-purpose grenade with moulded explosive. In addition, a '40 mm training round' is also available. It is not interchangeable with the 40x53 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher equipped by the AAV7 amphibious vehicle operated by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force. A variant with an additional sight was introduced in the 2011 Fuji General Firepower Exercise.