Norinco LG5 / QLU-11

Type 11 Grenade Launching Sniper
QLU-11 / LG5
TypeAnti material rifle
Grenade launcher
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service2011–present
Production history
ManufacturerNorinco
Specifications
Mass12.9 kg (28 lb) on bipod
23 kg (51 lb) on tripod
Length1,225 mm (48.2 in)
Cartridge40×53mm HV
35x32mm SR
Actionhybrid short-recoil and advanced primer ignition (API) blowback
Rate of fireSemi-automatic
Muzzle velocity320 m/s (1,000 ft/s)
Effective firing range1,000 m (1,100 yd) (point target)
2,200 m (2,400 yd) (area target)
Feed systemDrum magazine
4 or 15 rounds (40mm HV)
3, 5, or 7 rounds (35mm SR)
SightsY/MJL11-005 fire control sight system
QMD-131 electro-optical daylight scope
QMV-131 electro-optical night vision scope

The LG5 (PLAGF military designation: QLU-11 or QLU-131) is a semi-automatic grenade launcher developed by Norinco and introduced in 2011. The launcher's designation "QLU" stands for "light weapon (Qīng Wŭqì) - grenade (Liúdàn) - sniper (Jūjī)" in Chinese military coding standard.

Description

The LG5/QLU-11 can be equipped with free-floating barrel, a fire-control system with a laser rangefinder, thermal imaging capability, and a ballistic computer that gives it air burst capability. The QLU-11 was tested in combat against Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden by Chinese marines. The LG5/QLU-11 is designed for long-range use and so has been described as a "sniper" grenade launcher.

Befitting that designation, it is said to have a very high accuracy of 3-round R100 accuracy of 1 m (3.3 ft) at 600 m (2,000 ft) range using the BGJ5 ammunition, meaning that with proper aiming the weapon can put three successive high-explosive rounds into a typical window or door. Its development was inspired by the American Barrett XM109 anti-materiel rifle, which fires 25 × 59 mm grenades, and its design is based on the Chinese HSARI LR2 12.7 × 108 mm anti-material rifle.

QLU-11 utilizes a new Type 11 precision cartridge that is derived from the DFJ-87 armor-piercing grenade. The lighter casing reduces the ammunition weight from 217 g (0.478 lb) to 200 g (0.44 lb). Propellant takes a larger percentage of the cartridge space, thus improving the velocity to 320 m/s (1,000 ft/s) (from 195 m/s (640 ft/s)). This modification greatly increases the recoil, which QLU-11 features a recoiling free-floating barrel with advanced primer ignition (API) blowback action, a large muzzle brake, floating receiver, and two sets of buffer mechanism inside the stock and optics rail mounts to mitigate.

To ensure the long-range accuracy, the electro-optical sight system with built-in fire control system is standard issue for the QLU-11. The daylight scope is designated QMD-131, while the night vision version is designated QMV-131. Both scopes feature in-scope HUD, a laser rangefinder, temperature sensor, ammo selection, ballistic calculated reticle, elevation angle sensor, inclination angle sensor, drift correction sensor, self-diagnosis software. The effective range is 1,000 m (3,300 ft) for daylight scope and 800 m (2,600 ft) for night vision scope.

Variants

There are two variants of the weapon, an export version and a domestic version:

  • LG5: Export 40x53 mm (2.1 in) version. Fires 40×53mm HV NATO grenades, which are also exported by China
  • QLU-11: Domestic 35x32 mm (1.3 in) SR version. Fires 35x32mm SR grenades

Ammunition

LG5

  • BGJ5 high-explosive, dual-purpose (HEDP) sniper grenade, 40×53mm
  • BGL3 high-explosive precision grenade, 40×53mm
  • BGL3A programmable airburst grenade, 40×53mm
  • BGH1 high-explosive incendiary grenade, 40×53mm
  • BGR1 incendiary grenade, 40×53mm
  • BGS1 training grenade, 40×53mm

QLU-11

  • Type 11 high speed precision cartridge
  • Type 11 programmable airburst cartridge

Users

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NORINCO LG5 QLU-11 - Modern Firearms". 22 August 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "QLU11这款我军独创的武器 当真是"狙击榴"吗？". Sina News. 16 June 2020.
  4. ^ "中国QLU－１１式狙击榴弹发射器". chinaha (in Chinese).
  5. ^ a b c d "狙击"榴弹炮"，国产131型狙击榴弹发射器". Phoenix Media. 20 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Weapons: Semi-Automatic Grenade Launchers". StrategyPage. November 8, 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Chinese Small Arms from the 7th Beijing Police Equipment Expo". The Firearm Blog. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  8. ^ Yan, Timothy (August 2014). The Chinese QLZ87 Automatic Grenade Launcher (PDF). Australia: Armament Research Services (ARES). ISBN 978-0-9924624-2-0.
  9. ^ "LG5S型40mm狙击榴弹发射器系统". dooland (in Chinese).
  10. ^ "Saudi army uses China's LG5/QLU-11 40mm grenade launcher to hit bunkers". 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2021-04-21.