This vintage war weapon is becoming a household name now that it has been used in numerous attacks during the ongoing political turmoil.
The grenade launchers are available mostly through the black market along ThaiCambodian border and smuggled into Thailand through networks of "people in uniforms".
Dating back to the Vietnam War, the launchers go for around Bt10,000 with each round of different kinds of munitions priced at about Bt300, a military weapons expert said. After being used a few times, the launchers are then resold to minimise the chance of users getting caught.
Genuine USmade launchers can ensure more accura¬cy, while the replicated launchers, like those seized recently in a police raid at an Ayutthaya workshop, are less reliable.
The M79 grenade launcher is a nonguided weapon of choice for hitandrun attacks in urban areas because it requires minimal preparation for relatively untrained shooters.
Rounds can be fired from a narrow launch site at any street corner and produce a minimal bang compared to similar weapons.
With modern technology such as the global positioning system or with the aid of Google Earth, an M79 grenade launcher can locate its targets more easily. Besides, its size - a maximum length of 73.1 centimetres - makes it easy to hide.
