The M79 was a large-bore, single-barrel, single-shot weapon that was breech loaded and fired from the shoulder. It launched a 40mm by 46mm grenade in a round that resembled a huge bullet.
The close-support infantry weapon reportedly was nicknamed “Thumper, Blooper, Thump Gun, or Bloop Tube” by some soldiers due to its distinctive report. But I do not recall anyone I knew calling it by any of those names.
Some Australian forces fighting in Vietnam also allegedly referred to the M79 grenade launcher as the more colorful ‘Wombat Gun’.
The M79 was popular with the Vietnam-era soldiers, easy to use, highly reliable, and required little maintenance.
