History GunsOfFiction / RocketsMissilesAndGrenadeLaunchers

* Used by Kiritsugu Emiya in ''LightNovel/FateZero'' to shoot down a plane filled with zombies and magical wasps [[spoiler:while his surrogate mother is still on-board.]]

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'', Pitohui turns out to have been hoarding an M9-A1 in her inventory during the Test Play battle in Volume 6. The firepower proves to be crucial when going up against the NPC team's stockpile of RPG-7s. The narration even points out that the [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece M9-A1's age does not at all mean it's weak.]]

* It is actually the [[spoiler:Staff of Destruction]] in ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero''

* Team [=V2HG=] in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'' make use of an M79 in Squad Jam 4 to lay siege to Teams LPFM and SHINC.

* Used by Amata Kihara in the anime adaptation of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' to shoot at the Hound Dog van Accelerator and Index are escaping in during the Academy City Invasion arc, though Vento of the Front quickly blocks the rocket.

* Fukaziroh in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'' falls in love with the Milkor MGL-140 the moment she lays eyes on it, and promptly buys [[DualWielding two of them]] for her primary weapons.

* In Volume 6 of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'', the NPC team in the Test Play battle suddenly uses almost half a dozen RPG-7s to stop Teams T-S, MMTM, and SHINC from breaking into the castle. It comes as a huge shock to all the players, as rocket launchers are widely considered to be overpowered in the game and aren't supposed to have been introduced yet.

[[folder:[=FGM-148=] Javelin]]
[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/homingsports.jpeg]]
Developed in the 90s to replace the unpopular and obsolete M47 Dragon launcher, the Javelin is a crew-served soft-launch missile system, firing a 127mm tandem-charge anti-tank missile designed to defeat modern explosive reactive armour. The weapon consists of a disposable launch tube assembly (LTA) and a command launch unit (CLU) which contains the optics and guidance system; this is detached from the empty LTA after firing.[[note]]Most video games, however, will instead have the entire assembly tossed away for the player to pull a new one out of the ether.[[/note]]

The missile is a fire-and-forget weapon which locks on to the thermal image of the target using imaging infrared: unlike the SACLOS Dragon which required the operator to remain in a seated position for up to 11.5 seconds holding the crosshair on the target, the Javelin team can relocate immediately upon firing. Like most [=ATGMs=], Javelin uses a "soft launch" system where a small thruster which burns out before the missile has left the LTA throws the missile clear of the launcher, with the main engine only igniting once it's reached a safe distance. The Javelin's main booster is used for a steep climb, the missile then gliding to the target and steering itself with pop-out wings and fins. While it has two flight profiles, the initial climb is still present in the "direct" mode, it just makes an immediate diagonal flight towards the target rather than gliding over it and descending steeply: there is no way to fire a Javelin ''directly'' at a target. The missile is armed by inertial forces at around 65m from the launcher in direct-fire mode and 150m in top-attack mode, as a safety feature to protect the crew in case the main thruster fails to fire. Stated maximum range was 2km for Block 0 missiles and 2.5 for the current Block 1, though British testing has scored hits at around twice that range, up to 4.75km. Though mainly intended to destroy armored vehicles, it has seen increasing use against soft targets, such as unarmored vehicles and entrenched positions: this has led to the development of a multi-purpose warhead (MPWH) missile with an added steel fragmentation sleeve. The Javelin's relative portability (compared to other heavy weapons) and soft-launch capability have turned out to be surprisingly handy in urban fighting (though it still has a significant backblast danger area, it is not nearly as large as Dragon's), and even without a missile, its CLU can be repurposed as a thermal imager.

It has seen extensive use during the Russo-Ukrainian War, damaging and destroying large numbers of Russian armoured vehicles and earning itself the nickname of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Javelin Saint Javelin]].

* Seen in three missions in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty4ModernWarfare'', where it's stuck in top-attack mode. It's shown similarly in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2'', even when attacking helicopters where the launcher ''should'' be in direct fire mode.
** There is a direct-fire mode Javelin in ''Call of Duty 4'', in the level "All In". However, it's out of the way, to the point where it's very easy to miss (it's on a balcony above where you take out the two [=BMPs=] around the silos).
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' allows Snake to cart a Javelin around with him; it's shown as user-guided (SACLOS) rather than fire-and-forget, and like in ''Call of Duty'' Snake discards the entire launcher after every shot rather than detaching the launch tube from the CLU.
* The [[Film/TheWarOfTheWorlds 2005 remake]] of ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds'' features this weapon being used by US Army soldiers to bring down one of the alien tripods at the climax of the film when it's discovered its shields are malfunctioning.
* ''VideoGame/AmericasArmy'' has the Javelin as a playable weapon, and allows it to be operated in top-attack or direct-attack modes.
* An unlockable launcher for the engineer class in ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'', though unlike its real life counterpart, it cannot attack aircraft unless they're painted by a laser, and its flight path is entirely dependent on whether the target is painted or not (non-painted means direct attack, laser means top attack even against aircraft).
** The Javelin makes a return in ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'', only this time it is locked in top-down attack mode and requires constant locking onto the target unless they're painted by a laser.
* Presumably names the Allied Javelin Trooper in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'', which may or may not be anachronistic ([[AnachronismStew As though you could tell either way]]). The troopers themselves, however, do not act like it; their missile launchers have BottomlessMagazines and, when used in laser lock-on mode, can achieve a rate of fire that's positively automatic.
* Used by [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Frank Castle]] to blow up a [[TheCartel Cartel]] drug factory.
* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', [[TheDragon Anatoli Knyazev]] uses a Javelin against the [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Batmobile]] during the chase scene at Gotham docks.

[[folder:Igla MANPADS family and derivatives]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/igla_2.jpg]]

The [=9K38=] Igla ("needle", NATO reporting name [=SA-18=] Grouse) is the Soviet counterpart to the FIM-92 Stinger, developed to replace the rather troublesome and (by this point) obsolete Strela MANPADS series. Development proved difficult, however, and as a result the program was split in two; a simplified version (with an IR seeker head based on the Strela-3) would enter service first while the full-capability missile was being finished. \\\
The first variant [=9K310 Igla-1=], NATO reporting name [=SA-16 Gimlet=] was introduced into service in 1981, featuring terminal-maneuver capability (so the missile hits the fuselage instead of the jet nozzles), additional charge to set off remaining rocket fuel on impact, better resistance against countermeasures, reduced minimum firing range compared to the Strela-3, and optional IFF to stop the missile hitting friendly aircraft. \\
The full-version Igla MANPADS entered service in 1983, even better resistance against flares and jamming, a more sensitive seeker head, all-aspect capability, and slightly longer range.\\
Like its predecessor, Igla variants were supplied/sold to anyone willing to buy them. Notably, it was acquired by India (hence the trope {{UsefulNotes/Indians With Iglas}}), South Korea (Russia sold them [=SA-16s=] to pay off debts owed- other systems obtained this way include Metis-M [=ATGMs=] and [=T-80U=] [=MBTs=]), Finland, Iran, Peru, Vietnam, North Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.\\
Related to but distinct from the Igla is the Polish-made Grom ("Thunder") MANPADS, developed due to Poland not being able to update its MANPADS inventory after leaving the Soviet bloc in 1990, and thus the Soviets didn't allow them to licence production of the Igla to replace their aging Strela-2 and 2M missiles. Thankfully, in 1991, the USSR was torn apart into several nations, causing turmoil in Russia which were taken advantage of by Polish intelligence services and resulted in them obtaining plans for the [=SA-16=] missile system in Leningrad. The first batch entered service in 1995 and still featured imported Russian components- near the end of the millenium, these were replaced by Polish-made components. The Grom was sold to Lithuania, Georgia (in turn some examples were captured by Russia in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War), and Indonesia. The current service MANPADS of the Polish Armed Forces, the Piorun ("Lightning"), is essentially a modernized Grom.

* The [=9K38=] appears in ''VideoGame/Battlefield2'' as the [=SA-18=] Igla (a weird example of using the original Russian name and NATO designation, something rarely seen with Eastern-bloc missiles of any kind anywhere else) and returns with the same name in ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' where it is usable in Multiplayer. Strangely, the Igla operates closer to a SACLOS missile in-game, requiring the user to maintain lock until impact (when all IR-guided missiles in reality have been fire-and-forget and don't require people to do this); this is in part to balance it against the Stinger MANPADS, which has shorter range but proper fire-and-forget ability.
* Iglas (or their derivatives) are used by the later MANPADS teams of most REDFOR nations in ''VideoGame/WargameRedDragon'', with the Soviets getting the Igla-N variant (has a much larger warhead) as a prototype MANPADS infantry, with China using the [=QW-1=] Vanguard (a domestic reverse-engineered variant of the [=9K310=] Igla-1 missile which incorporated some features from the Stinger), and Poland using the Grom. The only exception to this is Czechoslovakia, whose top-tier MANPADS team use Strela-3s instead.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Heckler & Koch [=HK69A1=]]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unknown_2_3.jpeg]]
Developed in the 1960s and originally conceived as a weapon that could be mounted under the barrel of the G3 Rifle, this standalone variant was created in 1979 and adopted by the German Army as well as many special forces units. Police use of this weapon is not uncommon, either. The later [=HK79=], as originally intended, is designed to be underslung on the G3.
----

[[folder:[=M1=] / [=M9=] / [=M20 Bazooka=]]]
[[quoteright:337:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/biggertube.jpeg]]
The M1 rocket launcher was developed in the US; while the basic idea of a rocket-powered recoilless infantry weapon had been around since World War 1, the weapon was not first issued until 1942. The name 'bazooka' came from how it resembled Bob Burns's 'bazooka' instrument in the 30s, and the name stuck so well that any biggish gun or rocket launcher risks being called a bazooka. The M9 version used an optic sight, reinforced tube and a more powerful rocket, while the M20 "Super Bazooka" (pictured above), introduced during the Korean War, used a much larger round with increased range. Soviet soldiers found it a very welcome change from obsolete anti-tank rifles when it was provided to them by Lend-Lease, and the Germans soon produced their own version, the Panzerschreck, which was of a larger 88mm calibre. The Bazooka was ultimately phased out during the Vietnam War, replaced by the M67 Recoilless Rifle and the M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon, a disposable rocket launcher.

* More or less any [=WW2=] movie or video game which contains tanks will also contain bazookas to fire at them.
* Used by Easy Company soldiers against German tanks, fortified positions, and roadblocks in ''Series/BandOfBrothers''.
* Used by US Marines on Peleliu and Iwo Jima against Japanese tanks and dugouts in ''Series/ThePacific''.
* The M9 is used in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyUnitedOffensive'', ''3'', and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'', while the M1 is used in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII'' and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard''.
* You end up using (and taking fire from) Bazookas towards the end of the War segment in ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay''. It's in the multiplayer modes, too.
* ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'': One is used by Sgt. Horvath to destroy a lightly-armored Marder III Ausf. H tank destroyer during the climactic assault. He then fires it again at the frontal armor of a Tiger I tank, [[TruthInTelevision against which it does no good]].
* ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAlliedAssault'' features the M1 variant. Lt. Powell gets to use one during the Sniper Town level, to destroy a gate in order to advance, as well as to knock out a Panzer IV later on. In the ''Breakthrough'' ExpansionPack, Sgt. Baker, after retrieving a cache of bazookas from a crashed glider, uses one against Italian tanks in the Gela part of the Sicily level.
* ''VideoGame/ArmyMen'', being effectively a LighterAndSofter version of World War II and Vietnam, arms various soldiers on every side with these. Riff, TheLancer of the squad from ''Sarge's Heroes'', specializes in it.
* Seen in ''VideoGame/MenOfWar'', the [=M1A1=] Bazooka is used by the US AT-infantry, Airborne troops and mounted on certain vehicles, as well as Soviet AT-infantry and Red Guardsmen (TruthInTelevision, as a large number of bazookas were given to the USSR at the time through the Lend-Lease Act).
* US Rangers from ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'' will be equipped with two Bazookas per unit.
* ''VideoGame/DayOfInfamy'' features an [=M1A1=] Bazooka usable by the US Army Engineer class. Notably it has an option to equip ''[[KillItWithFire White Phosphorous rockets]]'' for a less explosive, but area-denying alternative, for only one supply point.
* Shows up memorably in the ''Literature/{{Goldfinger}}'' novel: Felix Leiter wields one when he comes to Bond's rescue at the battle of Fort Knox, modified so he can hold it with his hook prosthetic. Bond later uses it to unsuccessfully try and stop Goldfinger's train from escaping.
* Used in ''Film/{{Windtalkers}}'' against Japanese fortifications.
* Appears in the all three ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'' titles, used against German tanks, half-tracks, and fortifications. In the second game, it appears as a hidden weapon, while in the third game, they're used almost exclusively by a heavy-weapons team.
* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'', Pitohui turns out to have been hoarding an M9-A1 in her inventory during the Test Play battle in Volume 6. The firepower proves to be crucial when going up against the NPC team's stockpile of RPG-7s. The narration even points out that the [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece M9-A1's age does not at all mean it's weak.]]
* ''VideoGame/HellLetLoose'' issues the [=M1A1=] variant to the US anti-tank class, along with a primary weapon and 2 rockets. It's later made available for the Soviet Anti-Tank class as their final weapon unlock.
* [=M20 Super Bazookas=] are used by Danish, Yugoslavian and South Korean reservists in ''VideoGame/WargameRedDragon''.
* ''VideoGame/GunsGoreAndCannoli'': The Bazooka appears in the first game as a pickup weapon, and is commonly used by US Army soldiers. It is notably an anachronism, as it is set in the 1920s, a full 14 years before it's developed and enters US Army service.

[[folder:[=M18=] recoilless rifle]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_9026_3.JPG]]

Based on the designs of captured German recoilless rifles, the M18 was introduced to the United States Army late in the Second World War. It loads a 57mm shell into the breech, where the specialized shells can serve in anti-infantry or anti-armor roles. It can be fired on the shoulder like any rocket launcher, or propped up on the [=M1917=] Tripod. It first saw combat in March 1945 in the European front and later rifles were sent over to the Pacific alongside it's larger counterpart, the [=M20=] Recoilless Rifle loading in the 75mm shell. Many American troops recounted the rifle being a handy weapon during the Battle of Okinawa where the High Explosive and White Phosphorus rounds were effective against the dug-in troops.
\\\
It was used in the Korean War against enemy machine gun nests; unfortunately, the [=M18=] was found ineffective against T-34 tanks deployed by the PVA or the KPA. It also saw some service in the Vietnam War, despite being an obsolete weapon compared to the [=M72 LAW=]. The M18 was also adopted by the French and the Brazilians. RedChina was able to [[EvilKnockoff create their own version]], known as the Type 36 recoilless rifle, using designs captured in Nationalist factories during the UsefulNotes/ChineseCivilWar. It was deliberately designed with the bore and shells being a millimeter wider. This small change allowed the Type 36 to fire captured 57mm shells, but the M18 cannot use the new 58mm shells. The Type 36 was also used by the Vietnamese and the Tanzanians.
\\\
When it shows up in fiction, it was often shown to be in service as early as the Normandy Landings, despite happening a year prior to it's active service. Also expect it to be shown doing much more damage than the regular M1 and M9 Bazooka, the former of which is usually depicted as performing poorly against heavier German tanks.

[[AC: Video Games]]
* It shows up as an upgrade for the US Airborne Squads in ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes''.
* Serves as the American's anti-tank weapon in ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAirborne'', used in Operation Neptune to destroy a Tiger Tank. Upgrades through making kills with the weapon allow you to attach an adjustable scope and carry more ammunition.
* Appears in ''[[VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} Battlefield 1943]]'' as the anti-tank weapon for both American Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army.

[[folder:[=M72=] LAW]]
->A disposable rocket launcher developed to give infantry a means of attacking hard targets such as light armorred vehicles and bunkers. It is light and compact enough for a soldier to carry several at once without being slowed down. The LAW rocket packs quite a punch for such a small package; a single shot can take an entire pack of enemies in one fell swoop.
-->--'''Description of the [=M72A3=]''', ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1920px_m72a2_law.png]]
The [=M72=] LAW (Light Anti-Armor Weapon) is a Vietnam-era development focused on cutting down launcher weight and size when compared to the WWII Bazooka while still allowing a soldier to carry enough firepower to knock out armored targets. It consists of a single unguided 66mm rocket enclosed in a collapsible launch tube. Once fired, a set of fins on the rocket deploy to stabilize it in flight, and it is fused to detonate on contact with the target. Like the Panzerfaust, the design is geared towards simplicity and cheap construction, with the tube doubling as the carrying case for the rocket itself and intended to be discarded after firing, though this soon became a little more complex (the front sight is supposed to be snapped off and handed to a radiation safety officer because the markings are radioluminescent paint, and orders were soon given to destroy spent tubes because the Vietcong liked filling them with explosives and using them as boobytraps). That doesn't stop some movies from making the mistake of treating it as reloadable like the earlier bazooka. As its effectiveness as an anti-armor weapon quickly decreased due to the rapid development of armor schemes for tanks and [=IFVs=], testing got underway in TheEighties to find a successor. The more powerful AT-4 effectively replaced the LAW as the US Army's disposable anti-armor weapon, but the relatively lightweight LAW found a new lease of life as a handy weapon for attacking structures and dug-in positions. A common sight in action movies as it gives the hero the ability to single-handedly deal some serious damage like blowing up vehicles and small structures. The relative ease of finding a spent launch tube on the collector’s market to use as a prop (in many states they have the same legal status as spent rounds of ammunition, and so require no special licenses) also helps.
* '''Cool Action:''' Unfolding the LAW before firing, which is sort of a DramaticGunCock for it and may be enhanced by popping off the end cap, extending the tube with an amount of force more normally associated with trying to start a chainsaw, and / or the addition of an almighty SHUUUNK sound as it extends.

* In ''Film/Ronin1998'', one is employed to blow up a carload of mooks during the car ChaseScene.
* Creator/ChuckNorris uses one to deal with the BigBad at the end of ''Film/InvasionUSA1985''.
* Franchise/{{Rambo}} used this to destroy a helicopter in the second movie.
* Film/DirtyHarry uses one to take out Bobby Maxwell in ''The Enforcer''. Maxwell and his group steal a bunch of them from a military armoury. There's also a humorous scene where Harry has to pull Kate Moore away from the backblast during a demonstration.
* Paul Kersey takes out the BigBad with one of these at the end of ''Film/DeathWish3''. More remarkable than the MissingBackblast that allows him to fire it inside an apartment with his back to a wall is that he apparently obtained the weapon via ''mail order'', something that has also never been possible to do with a rocket launcher in reality.
* "D-Fens" Foster fires one in ''Film/FallingDown''. Humorously enough, Foster has trouble preparing the launcher to fire and has to rely on a nearby youngster to show him how to open it up and unfold the sights.
* The most expensive weapon for the Demolition perk in ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' is called the LAW (though the actual model is mostly based on the British [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAW_80 LAW 80]]); killing the [[{{FinalBoss}} Patriarch]] with it nets you the achievement "[[{{Pun}} The LAW That Broke The Camel's Back]]".
* Appears in ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'': Vietnam used by US / ARVN Anti-Tank troops.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' - Available in both single and multiplayer modes. Accurately used to take out NVA armor during the assault on Khe Sahn in single player, however, multiplayer mode makes the mistake of showing it as capable of locking onto aircraft. Probably an intentional decision, armored vehicles do not appear in multiplayer and leaving it without a vehicle destroying function would make it redundant since the dumb-fire RPG is already available for those who just want to [[NoKillLikeOverkill use rocket launchers on a single person]] for kicks.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne3'' features the LAW during a sequence where Max must destroy an armored truck.
* Jax in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' utilizes this in his Heavy Weapons Variation.
* Used to take out a couple of North Korean tanks late in ''Red Phoenix''. A little later on in the same battle, they provide critical fire support to take out a fortified position menacing the US's only supply and evacuation route into the city.
* It is actually the [[spoiler:Staff of Destruction]] in ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero''
* The BigBad in ''Film/TrueLies'' uses this during the Florida Keys shootout in an unsuccessful attempt to kill [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger Ahnold's]] character.
* The RPG-18, a Soviet equivalent, is available in ''7.62 High Caliber'' and is correctly depicted as disposable.
* Available in ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve'' if you give Wayne 300 Junk and ask him to make you a rocket launcher.
* Snake makes use of one in an interactive cutscene when he first encounters the Chrysalis AI weapon in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker''. From there on, it's available for research and use by the player. The weapon is also usable in ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots Guns of the Patriots]]''.
* One of the ''many'' weapons that [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Frank Castle]] has in his arsenal.
* In the ''Literature/JurassicPark'' novel, Robert Muldoon has the LAW, as well as a customized tranquilizer rocket launcher as his weapons of choice rather than the SPAS-12 in the film. He used the former to kill a raptor and blow the leg off another.
* A very common LAW option for infantry in ''VideoGame/WargameRedDragon'' for BLUFOR forces. The only BLUFOR nations not to use them are France ([=LRAC F1=]), Germany (Panzerfaust series), and Sweden ([=AT4=]). In a rarity for REDFOR forces, Finland and Yugoslavia use [=M72 LAWs=] for their rifle teams

[[folder:[=M79=]]]
->''The Special Purpose Individual Weapon projects of the 1950s and 1960s, an attempt to replace current rifles with flechette-based weapons, were overall a failure. However, one nugget of success came about: attempts to create an explosive weapon with more accuracy and destructive power than muzzle-mounted rifle grenades and more portability than mortars lead to the development of the superb 40x46mm grenade round. Springfield Armory later created the S-3 single-shot break-open launcher for the round, which was eventually refined into the S-5. Fitted with a new leaf sight to account for trajectories, the S-5 was officially adopted by the US armed forces as the M79, just in time for [[UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar things to go south in Vietnam]].''
-->--'''[[https://lpix.org/sslptest/index.php?id=20849 Description]]''', LetsPlay of ''VideoGame/SWAT3''

[[quoteright:321:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/m79launcher_1088.jpg]]
The M79 is a break-action single-shot 40x46mm grenade launcher, most resembling a break-action shotgun with a giant barrel and upside-down stock (to make it easier to point and fire in an upward arc-- this is ''not'' meant to be a close-quarters weapon). First deployed during the Vietnam War with the aim of providing increased firepower to dismounted infantry without resorting to more cumbersome rifle grenade launchers, it functioned mainly as a middle ground between hand-thrown or rifle grenades and full-on mortars (the 40mm grenade was developed expressly for that purpose during the SPIW program of the 50s). Nicknamed the "Thumper" or "Blooper" due to the distinctive report, the M79 was a popular weapon among troops, but its size and weight limited it to designated grenadiers. It was largely replaced with the M203 underbarrel launcher as the latter came into service, since the M203 allowed the user to also function as a rifleman, though the M79 still sees some use (such as explosive ordnance disposal) as its longer barrel than the M203 gives it a longer effective range as a result. The rather old-fashioned, no-nonsense look of the weapon means it's a popular choice as a personal {{BFG}} in both movies and videogames. A rare pump-action four-shot weapon based on the design also exists, known as the China Lake Launcher.
* '''Cool Action:''' Snapping the M79 closed by flicking the barrel upwards after inserting a new round. There's a high chance anyone doing this will go on to fire the weapon one-handed [[{{DontExplainTheJoke}} because the motion may accidentally cause the weapon to fire and possibly break their wrist]]. So in other words: AwesomeButImpractical.

* Likely to be seen in any Vietnam War movie in the hands of a grenadier; in less realistic cases, it might be carried by a regular rifleman. In video games, it's very likely that the weight issue preventing its use alongside a rifle will be ignored entirely, even in games ostensibly using a LimitedLoadout for realism purposes. Still, there were some grenadiers in Vietnam who actively carried an [=M16A1=] as their preferred sidearm instead of a .45.
* One of the most iconic uses is in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', where Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger's Terminator uses an M79 to hold off dozens of cops and finally defeat the shape-shifting T-1000. The arcade game based on the film requires you to grab one in order to beat the T-1000 and finish the last stage.
* A favorite in the ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' video game series, particularly for its effectiveness against enemies wearing body armour or if [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential the player just wants to]] [[BlownAcrossTheRoom see some bad guys fly]]. Gabe used it one-handed in the first three games but it was switched to a two-handed weapon in ''The Omega Strain''.
* A ScaryBlackMan uses one with uncanny accuracy on a name-calling VC infiltrator in ''Film/ApocalypseNow''.
* Former Symbol agent Wan uses one during his introductory scene in ''Anime/{{Gasaraki}}''.
* In episode 3 of ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' Revy uses one of these to finish off Luak's ship as he tries to escape.
* One version of [[ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX Frank Castle's]] tour of duty in Vietnam depicts one of of his squad mates using this weapon on some ''very'' unfortunate Viet Cong. The results were... ''[[LudicrousGibs predictable]]''.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' and is devastating against massed hordes of zombies. Balanced by the fact that it is one of the only weapons that cannot be reloaded from found ammunition stocks.
* ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' features one meant to be used by the Demolition perk; a player that has leveled that perk high enough can even start a game or respawn with one for free. Then there's a BlingBlingBang [[DownloadableContent DLC]] pack that, among others, introduces a gilded M79 with golden shells.
* Shows up in ''VideoGame/FarCry2'', where it is incredibly useful because it provides much-needed long-range punch for use against vehicles, yet occupies the sidearm weapon category, and thus doesn't prevent the player from carrying more general-purpose assault rifles or shotguns. It shows up again in ''VideoGame/FarCry4'', once again in the sidearm slot.
* It appears in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'', ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilSurvivor'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'', using real life explosive and incendiary rounds, and fake ones like acid and B.O.W gas rounds. In the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'' novel, Jill uses one with 40mm buckshot rounds.
** Those buckshot rounds exist in reality, in the form of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M576_40mm_grenade M576 grenade,]] essentially a 12-gauge shotshell with over twenty #4 buckshot pellets, as a way for grenadiers to clear thick brush and defend themselves at close range ([[CaptainObvious grenades aren't very good for the latter purpose]]). [[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m576.htm Be sure to aim at the foot of the target.]]
* First featured in ''Battlefield: Vietnam'' in the ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' series, with a [[ShoutOut familiar]] [[Film/ApocalypseNow tiger-striped camo scheme]]. It returns in ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany 2''[='=]s ''Vietnam'' expansion with the same tiger-stripe camo as a gadget for the Assault class, and then again in ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHardline'' as part of the Syndicate Mechanic's default equipment.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2'' features the Thumper as a secondary weapon. ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' instead features the China Lake, given its propensity toward exotic prototype weaponry. The Thumper would later return again in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsColdWar''.
* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' features both versions, the single shot M79 called the "Grenade Rifle" and the four shot China Lake version dubbed the "Grenade Launcher." The Lonesome Road DLC adds several upgraded versions with patriotic names and color schemes, like the Great Bear Grenade Rifle (which has blue painted furniture and a white US Army star on the stock), while the Dead Money DLC's "[[HardLight Holorifle"]] is also based on the China Lake.
* Available as one of two grenade launchers in ''7.62 High Caliber'', allowing for more precise firing of grenades at longer ranges.
* It appears in ''VideoGame/PaydayTheHeist'' with the Wolf Pack DLC as the "[[{{AKA47}} GL40]]", where it can be fitted with a rangefinder. It reappears under the same name in ''VideoGame/{{PAYDAY 2}}'' with the Gage Assault Pack DLC, where it can be modified with a sawed-off barrel and stock, and with the later BBQ Weapon Pack, loaded with [[KillItWithFire incendiary grenades]].
* Very handy in ''VideoGame/AlienShooter Vengeance'', where it appears as an early-game explosive weapon that will easily reduce whole swarms of the basic bug enemies into a fine red paste.
* The Thumper is Jax's choice of weapon in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'', as he utilizes this as one of his special moves (also named "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Thumper]]") and the last hit during his Fatal Blow.
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'''s Grenade Launcher has the barrel, foregrip, and stock of an M79, but it's more of a revolver grenade launcher, noted below. The Loch-and-Load is an M79 modified to have two barrels in an over-under arrangement.
* An M79 can be found in ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve'' in the hospital's basement, and upgraded versions of it (designated with a "2", "3", etc.) throughout the game from there on.
* The M79 is the grenade launcher found in ''VideoGame/MetalGear1''. Snake gets it by taking out the 4 mercs guarding it, then using it to demolish a gunship and an armored bulldozer respectively.
* Sergei Dragunov can use an M79 as an item move in ''[[VideoGame/{{Tekken}} Tekken Tag Tournament 2]]''.
* One of the three standard weapons used by Tim O'Brien's platoon in ''Literature/TheThingsTheyCarried'', with several members of the platoon carrying one when needed. Tim notes that the launcher itself is quite light, but the grenades are quite heavy. It's also the primary weapon of Ted Lavender, who also carries 34 grenades over the standard practice of 25 in his already heavy backpack.
* MASK de Smith's weapons in ''VideoGame/Killer7'' are [[GunsAkimbo a pair of]] cut-down M79s. His need to reload after every single shot is one of his balancing measures at the start of the game, though as he collects newer wrestling masks throughout the game, he eventually reaches the point where [[BottomlessMagazines he doesn't need to reload at all]].
** Some M79 users in real life did shorten the barrel and/or stock to reduce weight. The most drastic changes involved chopping off the entire stock except for a little nub and cutting the barrel just ahead of its hinge, so that it wasn't much longer than the grenade rounds.
* The M79 appears in ''VideoGame/TheWorldIsNotEnough'' fitted with green synthetic furniture as the GL 40. The grenades fired usually explode upon impact with anything, but on alternate fire they explode after a 5-second delay.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/RisingStorm2Vietnam'' for US, Australian and South Vietnamese forces. In campaign mode, the US Army, USMC, and Australian Army get it from the start, while the ARVN don't get it until the mid-war point. Three different ammo types are available: conventional grenade rounds, smoke rounds to conceal an advance or obscure the vision of enemy positions, and buckshot rounds to give the grenadier an option besides their pistol for close-range self defense.
* Team [=V2HG=] in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'' make use of an M79 in Squad Jam 4 to lay siege to Teams LPFM and SHINC.
* In the late-game stages of ''VideoGame/UrbanChaosRiotResponse'', the Burners start fielding the [=M79=].
* Resistance members in Trunk's BadFuture in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' are seen wielding these, most notably in the "[[MemeticMutation Don't shoot, this man isn't Black!]]" scene.

[[folder:Mark 19]]
[[quoteright:270:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mark19_5826.jpg]]
Designed as a crew-served weapon to provide high firepower to infantry and light vehicles, this 73-pound blowback-operated 40mm grenade launcher first entered service during the Vietnam War where it was used on river patrol boats, and has been in use ever since. Capable of firing at around 350rpm, the weapon is accurate out to just under a mile against point targets, and can be mounted on a tripod; more commonly, however, it is mounted on ground vehicles or helicopters. The weapon's heavy weight is its principal shortcoming, and efforts are underway to replace it with a more sophisticated and modern weapon; the cancelled [=XM307=] was one such attempt, while the Mark 47 Mod 0 is currently being evaluated as a possible candidate. The Mark 19 has been exported and copied extensively, and will likely remain in service in other countries for a long time to come.

* A frequent sight in movies and videogames set during or after the Vietnam War; it's not so frequent to see it actually fired in a movie, however.
* Seen and used very frequently in ''Series/GenerationKill'', usually mounted on US Marine Force Recon's Humvees. Vehicle-1 of Bravo Platoon is mounted with one but frequently jams due to the lack of proper lubricant, much to the chagrin of it's gunner, Corporal Walt. During one ambush, Cpl Anthony "Manimal" Jacks uses one to great effect by to destroying the entire face of a building, saving the entire battalion from the attack.
* Seen in ''Film/JurassicParkIII'' mounted on Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles.
* Usable in the console-only ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} 2: Modern Combat''. Appears in both ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' mounted on the [=AAV-7A1 AMTRAC=]. ''[=BF3=]: Aftermath'' DLC has one mounted on the back of the 'Phoenix' ([[TheAllegedCar a crudely fixed-up Humvee]]) while the ''[[NostalgiaLevel Second Assault]]'' DLC of ''[=BF4=]'' has a Mk. 19 mounted on the Desert Patrol Vehicle.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty4ModernWarfare'' features the Mk 19 during the Shock and Awe mission.
* ''VideoGame/AmericasArmy'' features the Mk 19 as one of the weapons on the CROWS turrets.
* ''VideoGame/FarCry1'' featured a curious depiction of the Mk 19 as a single-shot weapon with an automated rangefinding system. ''VideoGame/FarCry2'' featured a more accurate depiction mounted on trucks and boats, but for balancing purposes the rate of fire was toned down to about one shot every 2 seconds.
* ''Phoenix Force''. A [=Mk19=] mounted on a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Attack_Vehicle Fast Attack Vehicle]] is used to decimate a small army in "Aswan Hellbox".
* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', a [=Mk19=] is one of the weapons used against Comicbook/{{Superman}} by Comicbook/{{Batman}} during their BattleInTheRain. It [[NoSell doesn't]] [[ShootingSuperman hurt him]] and quickly gets destroyed by Clark's [[EyeBeams heat vision]].
* The Mk 19 is used frequently by rebels in ''VideoGame/GhostReconFutureSoldier''.
* ''VideoGame/HotDogsHorseshoesAndHandGrenades'' features a fictionalized man-portable version with chainsaw-type grips. This depiction features 16-round belt boxes as opposed to the real deal's 32 or 48-round boxes, as the larger boxes would make handling the gigantic weapon even more awkward in VR than it already is.

[[folder:MBT LAW/NLAW]]
->''Smart Anti-Tank missile that automatically detects vehicles near the warhead and guide to the target. Easy to use but low damage from all angles of attack. Capable of locking on to laser designated targets.''
-->--'''Description''', ''VideoGame/Battlefield4''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nlaw.jpg]]

A Swedish disposable anti-tank rocket launcher designed by Saab Bofors Dynamics for the British Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon’s-programme and manufactured by Thales Air Defense in the UK, the Main Battle Tank and Light Anti-tank Weapon (MBT LAW), also known under it's British designation as the Next-Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW), was adopted by the Swedish military in 2005 as the Robot 57 (RB 57) and the British military in 2009, replacing the earlier LAW 80 and [=AT4=] rocket launchers in service with them, as well as by Luxembourg, Switzerland, Finland, Malaysia and Indonesia. It features a 115 mm missile body with a 150 mm warhead, a built-in optical sight, a soft-launch system that allows it to be used by infantry within an enclosed space unlike many other rocket launchers, direct and top attack modes, and a guidance electronics system in the missile that uses PLOS (predicted line of sight) to fly autonomously to moving targets after the user tracks them for three seconds, making the necessary corrections according to the data acquired by the tracking, and resulting in it eventually hitting any target that has a constant velocity i.e. that does not suddenly speed up, brake, or turn during the flight of the missile.

By far it's most notable use, however, has been by Ukrainian forces in the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, where 2,000 units of them were supplied to the Ukrainians by the United Kingdom with an additional 1,615 delivered by the 9th of March, 2022, and over 4,000 of them being delivered by the 16th of March, 2022, with Luxembourg sending at least 100 additional MBT [=LAWs=] to them. The weapon has been favored by the Ukrainians for it's ease of use and high effectiveness against Russian vehicles, though its flatter trajectory allows the missile to be more easily intercepted mid-flight compared to the Javelin's top attack mode.

* Appears as the starting launcher for the Engineer in ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'', where it is the weakest of the launchers, but the easiest to use, as the rocket has a self-guidance system that, if it's close enough to the target, will automatically attack the weakest point. It can also be fired in top attack mode at targets painted with the PLD or SOFLAM, dealing higher damage than the usual direct fire rocket.
* An early version of the MBT LAW appears in ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}'', where it is loaded with three rockets instead of only one like the real-life weapon though, the rockets are laser guided, the rear part of the launching tube is extended as part of the arming procedure, and it is used by both Korean soldiers and American Nanosuit teams, with them being able to reload the weapon while it is disposable for the player like the real-life one.
* Added to ''VideoGame/{{ARMA}} II'' in the ''British Armed Force'' pack for Operation Arrowhead. It later returns in ''ARMA III'' as the [[AKA47 PCML]], meaning Person-Carried Missile Launcher, and is the standard launcher for NATO troops, with the weapon being depicted as reloadable in-game.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/{{Squad}}'' as a usable rocket launcher for the British Army Anti-Tank class.

[[folder:Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAW]]
-> Developed especially for the US Marine Corps to defeat light armor and enemy bunkers, the Mark 153 SMAW is capable of defeating both modern armor and emplacements. 83mm unguided rockets are loaded individually at the back of the launcher from disposable sealed 1 time use units at the rear.
-->-- '''Description''', ''VideoGame/Battlefield3''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unknown_293.jpeg]]

Based on an earlier Israeli rocket launcher, the B-300, the Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAW (Shoulder Mounted Assault Weapon) is a reusable American rocket launcher that was developed in the early 80s by [=McDonnell=] Douglas for the USMC and is currently manufactured by Talley Defense Systems. The SMAW features dual grips, a manual safety, and a built-in spotting rifle which holds 6 rounds of 9x51mm tracer bullets with extra ammunition magazines clipped to each rocket container, though this functionality is rarely seen in media.

The SMAW can fire a wide variety of 83mm rockets, including High Explosive Dual Purpose, High Explosive Anti Armor, Follow-Through Grenade and Novel Explosive (Thermobaric) rounds, which allow it to be effective against vehicles, structures, and infantry alike.

A new version of the weapon, the Mod 2, is also now in development, which replaces the spotting rifle component with more advanced optics, including a detachable laser rangefinder in addition to the pad size being increased on the forward grip of the launcher and the addition of foldable backup iron sights. Interestingly, while the SMAW itself is an American weapon, the spotting rifle component and its ammunition were actually developed in the UK by Royal Ordnance.

* Used by the Huge Goon in ''Film/KickAss'' and referred to as a bazooka. Its trigger/firing mechanism strangely looks like the frame of a [=MK23=] mated to the lower receiver of an [=MP5=] instead of a proper SMAW trigger mechanism.
* [[Creator/BrianBloom Pike]] uses a SMAW in ''Film/TheATeam'' to blow a hole in the hull of the cargo ship in the final shootout.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter: The Omega Strain'' as the only rocket launcher in the game, with a incorrect 5-round capacity. However, it is not unlockable, and can only be picked up and used in Belarus 2. Stone also uses one to distract a tank while the player destroys it after he is rescued in that level. It returns in ''Dark Mirror'' in Anti-Infantry and Anti-Tank variants, the later correctly holding only one round, and the Anti-Infantry variant being unlockable this time.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/ProjectReality'' as the USMC's main heavy anti-tank weapon and is one of, if not, the only video game where the built-in spotting rifle is usable, in addition to the main launcher be able to use either HEDP or HEAA rounds.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'' as the US Engineer's default rocket launcher, then returns in ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' as the second-most powerful rocket launcher in the game with the flattest trajectory and as a Battle Pickup in ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHardline''.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare3'' and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' as the default launcher. It is incorrectly depicted as a one-shot disposable rocket launcher instead of the reusable rocket launcher it actually is and with the ability to lock onto killstreaks.
* Inspector Quinn Erari shows up with one in ''Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil'' in response to a wud terrorist situation, though Shizumu quickly talks her out of using it.
* Appears as the Rocket Launcher in ''VideoGame/LaraCroftAndTheGuardianOfLight''.
* Allied Nations troops use them in ''VideoGame/{{Mercenaries}} 2: World In Flames'', where it is called the Anti-Tank Launcher.
* One of the rocket launchers used by USMC forces in ''VideoGame/{{ARMA}} II'', where it can be loaded with either HEDP or HEAA rounds.
* Appears as Valor's Rocket Propelled Grenade in ''VideoGame/{{MAG}}''.
* The third Anti-Tank Weapon team in ''VideoGame/GirlsFrontline''. Unusually for fiction, the spotting rifle component is actually modelled in-game; it is visibly used when the team sets up the weapon, and every missile is preceded by a ranging shot that decreases the targeted enemy's evasion.
* It's the USMC's heavy anti-tank weapon in ''VideoGame/{{Squad}}'', complete with a functional spotting rifle.

[[folder:Panzerfaust]]
->''The Panzerfaust (German for “Armored Fist”) is an anti-tank weapon, launching a small charge designed to penetrate an armored tank or vehicle. Due to the armor-piercing nature of the charge, it's not an effective anti-personnel device. Each Panzerfaust is only a single shot weapon, but one shot is often enough to reduce even the largest tanks to smoldering ruins within seconds.''
-->--'''Description''', ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/panzer_026950_3.jpg]]
Literally “Tank Fist” in German, this was ''the'' anti-tank weapon of the German Army in WWII. It consisted of a small pre-loaded gun tube incorporating the trigger and a calibrated indirect fire sight, that fired a large shaped-charge explosive warhead specifically designed to penetrate tank armor. Operated by a single soldier, it was also the first such weapon designed to be disposable, the spent gun tube (which was made of low-grade steel) was simply thrown away after firing. It was easy to manufacture, simple to use, and, at only eleven pounds, very light compared to the damage it could cause- a solid hit from the Panzerfaust could destroy almost any Allied tank. The final mass-produced versions were nominally accurate to a hundred meters and could defeat up to eight inches of armor.

The overall simplicity also encouraged them to be issued to everyone and anyone from regular soldiers to the most poorly-trained conscripts, and its light weight and easy availability also meant it saw a lot of "[[MundaneUtility utility]]" use, such as knocking holes in the walls of buildings in urban combat ("mouseholing") to allow movement between the two without having to go out onto the street and expose oneself to the enemy. As the conflict drew to a close, some civilian Volkssturm volunteer units were equipped with only this weapon and nothing else, in the hopes they could at least knock out some of the approaching [[ZergRush Soviet armor]] [[note]] this led to some German officers and generals to sarcastically comment that the spent tubes could then be used as [[CarryABigStick clubs]] in hand-to-hand combat [[/note]].

The distinct profile (somewhat resembling half of a giant cotton swab) makes it instantly recognizable and can be the defining "OhCrap" moment when someone pops out of cover with one and takes aim.

* Just about every WWII video game has this filling the "rocket launcher" slot for the Axis side, usually opposite the Allied Bazooka: often it will actually be depicted as a rocket launcher, complete with exhaust flame and smoke trail. In reality, the Panzerfaust was a recoilless gun triggered by a conventional percussion mechanism, using a small amount of black powder to lob a shaped charge bomb.
** ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'', as one of the primary German anti-tank weapons alongside the Pak 36 and later, the 88mm gun. In ''Hell's Highway'', however, the weapon is replaced by the Panzerschreck.
** ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor''
** ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'', at least in the first game; later ones had the heavier, much-less-extensively-used but more powerful and reloadable Panzerschreck take its place. It finally made a return in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard'' where it erroneously depicted as reloadable launcher.
** ''VideoGame/ReturnToCastleWolfenstein''. It is incorrectly depicted as a rocket launcher, with the projectile trailing flame and smoke while in flight, and an electric ignition mechanism that audibly whines prior to firing.
** Appears in ''VideoGame/DayOfInfamy'' as a cheaper, disposable one shot launcher usable by the German Engineer class.
** In ''VideoGame/MenOfWar'', the Panzerfaust is carried by German Panzergrenadiers and the Fallschirmjäger, correctly as a one-shot disposable launcher, compared to the reloadable Panzershreck used by the AT troops.
** Various German infantry from [[CannonFodder Volksgrenadiers]] to [[EliteMooks Knight's Cross Holders]] can fire a Panzerfaust as an ability in ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes''.
** Both the Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck appears in ''VideoGame/BloodRayne'' as one of the heavy weapons available to Rayne.
** ''VideoGame/SniperEliteV2'', ''VideoGame/SniperElite4'', and ''VideoGame/SniperElite5'' feature the Panzerfaust in the hands of German troops, and is the only anti-tank weapon available for use against German and Soviet tanks and armored vehicles. In earlier games, it is erroneously portrayed as reloadable, whereas the final game accurately portrays it as a single-shot disposable weapon.
* The Principality of Zeon and their remnants (and their remnants' remnants) from the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' metaseries make use of giant robot-sized ones called the "Sturm Faust". From when [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamMSIGLOO the Zaku I and the Zudah were competing to be Zeon's first/main mobile suit]], up to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn the conflict over Laplace's Box two decades later]], the Zekes have it as a mainstay in their armouries.
* Appears by name in ''VideoGame/HeavyGear 2'', where they are mostly used for short-range (less than 100 meters) attacks against tanks or the heaver models of Gears. Comes in light, medium, and heavy varieties, in increasing order of cost and power. Good luck scoring a direct hit beyond that 100 meter range, though.
* Plenty show up in the hands of SS troops in ''Film/Fury2014''.
* In ''Literature/MailedFist'', British tank commander John Foley describes a night attack in Holland where German soldiers with Panzerfausts were hiding in a forest to each side of the road. His solution was to tell his three tanks to charge ahead at full speed with "all Besas blazing,"[[note]]The Besa was the standard heavy MG fitted to the Churchill tank.[[/note]] the lead tank firing all its MG's to the left, the second tank to fire all its MG's to the right, and the third tank to "tackle whichever side appears to be giving most trouble". He noted that the civil servants would probably have tutted and described it as "uneconomic expenditure of ammunition", but stated, with satisfaction, none of his tanks were hit, and an awful lot of dead Germans were found in daylight, their Panzerfausts either unfired or having gone woefully wide. He described the trail of fire and sparks left by a Panzerfaust at night as "being as good as tracer" in telling his gunners where to return fire.

[[folder:Panzerfaust 3]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unknown_249.jpeg]]
A futuristic-looking German reusable anti-tank rocket launcher made by Dynamit Nobel AG (Best known as the creators of dynamite/TNT), the Panzerfaust 3/Pzf 3 was developed in the 1980s to replace the aging Panzerfaust 44s and heavy Carl Gustavs that were in service with the Bundeswehr at the time, and entered mass production in the 1990's. It fires a 110mm rocket with several available warheads, including the [=DM12A1=] hollow charge, [=DM22=] tandem hollow charge (Known as the Panzerfaust-IT) or BASTEG bunker-buster (Known as the Bunkerfaust). It also possesses a built-in telescope sight, and is light enough to be carried and fired by one person. The Panzerfaust 3 also has a smaller backblast than most other rocket launchers thanks to its use of the recoilless countermass principle, with the rear of the tube being filled with plastic granulate, which allows it to be fired from enclosures with much less risk than other rocket launchers. A unique Dynarange computerized sight/fire control unit can also be attached to the Panzerfaust 3, which features a laser range finder and ballistic computer which presets the aiming reticule according to the type of round used and measured range to target and nearly doubles the range of the rockets. The Panzerfaust 3 has been adopted by at least 11 countries, including the German, Italian, Belgian, Japanese, and South Korean militaries, and has seen use in Afghanistan.

* Appears in ''VideoGame/ProjectReality'' as the standard rocket launcher of the Bundeswehr, with either [=DM12A1=] rockets for anti-infantry use or [=DM22=] rockets for anti-tank use.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/{{Homefront}}'' as the RPG Launcher, the standard rocket launcher for both sides in the game. It is incorrectly described as a disposable launcher in the multiplayer menu, and enemies are seen firing fictional guided anti-aircraft and EMP rockets in addition to the regular rockets that are available to both the enemies and player. It also comes in a fictional green proximity-detonated rocket variant with a extended tube and different scope in multiplayer.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/BinaryDomain'' as Rachel's signature weapon, the [[AKA47 HEMWL-3.8 Anti-Robot RPG Launcher]]. The trigger has been relocated to the stock of the gun, though it still retains the central grip of the weapon.
* The Panzerfaust-IT appears in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyGhosts'' as the standard rocket launcher in the game, called simply the Panzerfaust.
* Appears as Raven's Rocket-Propelled Grenade in ''VideoGame/{{MAG}}''.
* JSGDF troops wield them in ''Film/Gamera3AwakeningOfIrys''.
* Used by one of Majima's henchmen in ''Anime/LycorisRecoil'' when he tries to blow up the protagonists' car.
* Used by JSSDF troops in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' while infiltratin Nerv headquarters.
* Used by Amata Kihara in the anime adaptation of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' to shoot at the Hound Dog van Accelerator and Index are escaping in during the Academy City Invasion arc, though Vento of the Front quickly blocks the rocket.
* Used by a soldier in ''Anime/{{Noir}}'' during the attack on the Soldats' village to shoot at the church tower in "Journey's End".
* Used in the Anime adaption of ''Literature/{{Gate}}'' by both the JSDF and Dark Elves to kill dragons with. However, the Dark Elves, not use to modern weaponry and forgetting Itami's warning about the backblast, also end up killing, maiming and stunning a number of each other with the backblasts.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/InsurgencySandstorm'' as the Insurgent's disposable launcher of choice. It costs 3 points and is usable only by the demolitions class.

[[folder:Panzerschreck]]
[[quoteright:322:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unknown_1_63.jpeg]]
The Raketenpanzerbüchse, more commonly known as the ''Panzerschreck'', was developed by the Germans during WWII in 1943 after the capture and reverse-engineering of several M1 Bazookas and scaling them up to 88mm. The Panzerschreck was one of the most effective infantry anti-tank launchers in the war (The name "Panzerschreck" translating to "tank terror"), possessing longer effective range and better armor penetration than the allied M1/M9 Bazookas and [=PIATs=], and its rocket was powerful enough to disable most Allied tanks with a single hit.
\\\
A major disadvantage was that in the original [=RPzB 43=], the rocket, unlike the bazooka's, was still burning when it exited the tube: this would burn the operator's face or choke them with smoke unless he was wearing a gas mask and poncho. That issue was later solved with the addition of a blast shield at the cost of adding a bit more weight to the already-heavy weapon. Another drawback that couldn't be so easily solved was the massive backblast, firing one would almost invariably give away the firer's position and gave the weapon the nickname "Ofenrohr" (stove pipe) by German troops. Nonetheless, it remained an effective weapon to the end of the war, inflicting serious damage on Allied tanks, although it was noticeably less widespread than the Panzerfaust, which was simpler and easier to carry, use and manufacture.

* Appears ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyUnitedOffensive'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty2'', ''3'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII'', and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard'' as the main rocket launcher for the Germans, though it does complement the Panzerfaust in ''United Offensive''. It is the only rocket launcher in ''2'', and is the main rocket launcher in the Eastern Front campaign of ''World at War'', though it is not available in multiplayer in that game, the M9 Bazooka being used instead.
* Appears in the ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' series as the main rocket launcher of the Germans, though is not usable until ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAlliedAssault''.
* When not using a Panzerfaust, German infantry can form Anti-Tank squads using these in ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes''.
* ''VideoGame/DayOfInfamy'' features this weapon usable by the Wehrmacht Engineer class as a more expensive but reloadable alternative the the Panzerfaust. It has the heat shield installed and a camo scheme tacked on by default.
* A few are seen in ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', used against [[NoKillLikeOverkill exposed infantry]].
* Used by German anti-tank squads in ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'': ''Hell's Highway'', where they can be picked up by the player.
* Colonel Silver uses a Panzerschreck to shoot down Goku on his Nimbus in ''Manga/DragonBall''. It is incorrectly depicted as a MANPADS like the Stinger. General Blue also uses a Panzerschreck as his "I'll Shoot You" super in ''VideoGame/DragonBallZBudokaiTenkaichi 3''.
* The Old War variant of the Bazooka in ''VideoGame/ConkerLiveAndReloaded'', contrary to the name, is based on the Panzerschreck. It is the primary weapon of the Demolisher and has three ammo types: Standard, your average dumb-fire rocket; Fire And Forget, an anti-air round that allows for a faster reload; and Guided, which is acquired by collecting an upgrade orb and allows the user to manually guide the rocket after firing. It's worth noting that the weapon has some sort of optic behind the blast shield.
* ''VideoGame/HellLetLoose'': The Panzerschreck is available for the German Anti-Tank class, where it is part of their default weapon loadout, alongside a Karabiner 98 rifle, 2 grenades, and 88mm rockets.
* ''VideoGame/PostScriptum'': The Panzerschreck is one of two German AntiVehicle weapons available on maps set from 1944 onwards, the other being the Panzerfaust. Compared to it's disposable counterpart, the Panzerschreck fires more powerful rockets and can hit targets at longer range, on top of being able to reload.
* ''VideoGame/GunsGoreAndCannoli'': ''2'' makes this weapon available for Vinnie Cannoli once he returns to Thugtown, where it turns out that the Nazis have been operating [[RightUnderTheirNoses right under the US Army's noses]] [[WarComesHome on US soil]]. Interestingly, while the launcher itself is the Panzerschreck, the rockets are notably those of the Panzerfaust, which are reloaded by placing the warhead at the front of the launcher. Has 9 reserve rockets, and a rather slow reload.

[[folder:PIAT]]
[[quoteright:288:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/piat.jpeg]]
The Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, or PIAT, was designed by the British Army during WWII in 1942 and deployed in 1943 as an anti-tank weapon for the British Army, which at the time was dependent on grenades and anti-tank rifles to combat tanks. Contrary to popular belief, the PIAT was not a rocket launcher, but rather a mortar-like grenade launcher which used an enormous coil spring fired spigot to set off the propelling charge in the projectile. The PIAT had a claimed range of 109 yards against armor (actually more like 40) and a maximum range of 330 yards in low-arc indirect fire (troops in Italy were also known to use it for high-arc fire, aiming it like a mortar: this was not an intentional feature, and the range is thus not known but would be considerably greater).
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The effective range gradually became less as German armor improved. It had the advantages of being cheap to produce, and a relatively small puff of smoke when the propelling charge detonated, making it harder to find the user when it was fired. Disadvantages included ridiculous weight (32 pounds), a fragile loading tray, muzzle-loading that required the loader to lean out over the weapon or the gunner to pull the weapon back into cover, poor accuracy (due to the heavy spigot moving from one end of the weapon to the other immediately before firing), heavy recoil, requiring excessive force to cock [[note]] to the point that many found it impossible to cock the weapon solo, as well as very few able to do it behind cover, which is of vital importance when fighting a tank [[/note]], the mechanism that was supposed to re-cock the gun on firing almost never working correctly [[note]] Unless it was held ''really'' tight, the propellant would fail to blow the firing pin backwards enough to cock the weapon, and at this point the hapless shooter has to cock it by hand; not fun or safe even when nobody is trying to kill him [[/note]], and unreliable ammunition (mostly duds that failed to either fire or detonate, but there was also an alarming tendency for the propelling charge to tear off the bomb's tail and fire it back at the gun crew), many of which were due to its necessarily rushed production.
\\\
Nevertheless, the PIAT saw widespread use, not only with British forces but also with the French and Polish resistances, the Free French army and even the Red Army, who received 100 as part of lend-lease aid. Six members of the Commonwealth forces were also awarded the Victoria Cross for knocking out tanks or disabling enemy artillery, though British soldiers ruefully stated that one deserved the Victoria Cross just for firing it. After World War 2, it was used by the Israeli Haganah during the Arab-Israeli War, and also saw use with Australia during the Korean War and the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

* Appears in the ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'' series as the Anti-Tank weapon for the British Sappers.
* Appears in the ''VideoGame/{{Commandos}}'' series.
* Perrine uses the PIAT in the third ''Anime/StrikeWitches: Operation Victory Arrow'' OVA, though the design notes refers to it as "Projector, Infantry, Armored-Thing".
* Appears in ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAlliedAssault'' as the standard anti-tank launcher for the British.
* ''VideoGame/DayOfInfamy'' has these in the hands of the Commonwealth Engineer class. Notably, it can carry more rounds (3 in total) than any other launcher in the game (2 total for Bazooka and Panzershreck, 1 for Panzerfaust), but has the shortest drop distance requiring some getting used to.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/DinoDDay'' as one of Blithe-Crossley's weapons, and is the only launcher in the game.
* In his autobiography ''Quartered Safe Out Here'', Creator/GeorgeMacDonaldFraser describes using the PIAT in action in Burma in 1945. Very few of these weapons made it to the Far East as Japanese tanks by then, being light and flimsy and rarely encountered, were seen more as a nuisance than a threat. [=MacDonald=] Fraser discovered a different use for them: he was part of a unit who ambushed Japanese soldiers trying to retreat across the Sittang river. He discovered they could be used productively in an anti-shipping role and used the PIAT to hit a large ship full of Japanese troops, holing it under the waterline several times and sinking the vessel. As the Sittang was full of opportunist crocodiles, he took the point of view that this added a discourtesy detail for the Japs escaping the sinking boat. [[note]]This was rediscovered by Royal Marines in the Falklands War in 1982, who were able to fire Carl Gustavs down into the waterline of an Argentinian warship that came too close to shore. The warship could not depress its weapons enough to return fire, and their ship was only prevented from sinking because the draught under its keel was too shallow - it ran aground and beached.[[/note]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Revolver-type grenade launchers]]
[[quoteright:283:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/milkormgl_4821.jpg]]
There are a large number of launchers that use a revolver-style cylinder magazine, dating back to the ''Manville Machine Projector'', a 1930s tear gas launcher; this formed the basis of the later Hawk MM-1 developed in the 70s. Modern examples include the Russian RG-6 launcher, essentially a frame holding six separate [=GP30=] launcher tubes, and the South African Milkor MGL-140 / M32, which is becoming an increasingly common sight in movies and games due to its tacticool appearance. Such launchers are very popular with police and anti-riot units due to their ability to fire a wide range of incapacitating rounds and sustained fire abilities, and 37mm launchers made by companies such as Enfield and [=DefTech=] are often seen in movies substituting for their more lethal cousins.

* Riot launchers are likely to be seen in anything involving riot police or SWAT units.
* In ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', a SWAT unit equipped with MM-1 launchers loaded with tear gas storms the Cyberdyne building. Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger later takes one of the launchers for himself (tear gas being completely ineffective against a Terminator), at one point firing it point-blank at a hapless officer.
* The ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' feature a variety of revolver launchers used to fire the "special sabot rounds" which are the only thing that can harm the Decepticons. In reality, no such rounds actually exist for grenade launchers: sabot rounds are anti-tank munitions designed to be fired at very high velocities, whereas grenade launchers are designed explicitly to fire projectiles at low velocities.
* The RGB-6 (a Croatian clone of the Milkor MGL) shows in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' as a usable weapon. Raging Raven in ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 4|GunsOfThePatriots}}'' uses an actual MGL, which Snake acquires after defeating her. Snake would use the RGB-6 for his [[LimitBreak Final Smash]] in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.
* An RG-6 is available in ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}: Shadow of Chernobyl'', called the "Bulldog 6" as part of the game's AKA47 tendencies. It's heavy, you can't sprint with it out, reloading time is molasses-slow, and it chews through grenade ammo like you wouldn't believe, but [[RuleOfCool MAN is it]] [[StuffBlowingUp fun to use.]] A variant converted to use Western 40mm grenades is also [[DummiedOut hidden in the game files]].
* The 1980 movie of ''Literature/TheDogsOfWar'' had a number of "XM-18's" (actually Manville guns) used for the climatic attack.
* The Demoman in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' uses one as his primary weapon, though it can hold only 4 shots even if the gun model clearly shows a 6-shot magazine.
* [[Film/{{Inception}} "You musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling."]]
* The RG-6 is one of two grenade launchers in ''7.62 High Caliber'' and the only multi-shot explosive weapon. The Blue Sun mod not only adds the Milkor MGL, but also the Manville 25mm grenade launchers from the above ''Dogs of War''. The ammo is very rare (albeit lightweight) and the gun is just as rare and takes ages to reload, but nothing can put down explosives quite like it.
* The fictional "Volley Gun" in ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'' is basically a SteamPunk MGL, with a fancy gilded cylinder and wooden grips.
* ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' features the M32 launcher for the Demolition perk, the only drawback is its long reload time compared to how fast it can be emptied.
* ''VideoGame/FarCry2'' has a Milkor MGL available, though downgraded to a 4 round cylinder that's incorrectly pulled straight out of the gun and replaced like a magazine (the real gun simply pivots half the gun to the side and you load grenades from the rear like a big revolver....which is what it is). However, it's depicted with a very realistic range and velocity (unlike most video games, which show grenades as having a lower velocity than a pitched baseball). Coupled with a scope and high explosive rounds, the MGL ends up being capable of clearing out an entire checkpoint or a large swath of an enemy base with just a few shots. While one can be acquired early in a buddy mission, it's prevented from being a DiscOneNuke by being in extremely poor condition (as all buddy mission weapons are), meaning that it likely won't last for many shots before breaking.
** The RG-6 appears in ''VideoGame/FarCry6'' as the [[AKA47 MGL-6]].
* A fictional design is available in ''VideoGame/{{GoldenEye|1997}} 007'', famously [[DualWielding dual-wielded]] with a P90 submachine gun by Xenia Onatopp. The guns can, in turn, be taken from her corpse and used together as well.
* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', [[CuteButPsycho Nora]] [[SmallGirlBigGun Valkyrie]] carries a GrenadeLauncher [[SwissArmyWeapon that turns into a]] [[DropTheHammer War Hammer]].
* A [[http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Hot_Shots!_Part_Deux#DefTech_37mm_Launcher DefTech 37mm launcher]] is memorably (and hilariously) used in ''Film/HotShotsPartDeux''. It even causes its (splattered) victim to comment that it is "one hell of a gun."
* An MM-1 grenade launcher becomes available in the late-game segment of ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve2'' if you're on the True Ending path.
* Lara Croft in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderIII'' uses one, though for balancing purposes, she has to reload after every shot instead of being able to fire multiple grenades in rapid succession. The weapon returns in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderTheLastRevelation'' and it comes with multiple ammo types. ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend'' also has the RG-6, which is used by heavy mercenaries in addition to Lara.
* A Milkor MGL turns up in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'', as the [[AKA47 Piglet]]. Compared to the M79, it has far worse accuracy and an incredibly long reload, however its 6 round magazine gives it much greater ability to control crowds, [[KillItWithFire particularly when paired with incendiary grenades.]]
* The M32 MGL appears in ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' as a [[ThrowAwayGuns battle pickup]] found around some maps.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' features two, the Milkor MGL and the Hawk MM-1. The former appears as a killstreak reward, the "War Machine", the latter is given to Jonas Savimbi in the first flashback mission (where, if you pay attention to him when the shooting starts, you'll notice [[FunnyBackgroundEvent he can't get it to fire]]). Completing five challenges in the second flashback mission also unlocks both of them for the player's loadout; while the MGL is an alright weapon, the Hawk is [[GameBreaker an unbeatable terror]], with ''four times'' the ammo capacity, a much faster reload, and rounds that aren't affected by gravity (making it less a grenade launcher and more a [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Bolter]]), with the only downside being that you're slowed down considerably while holding it. The Hawk also made a return in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsColdWar''.
* The Hawk MM-1 is added to the original ''VideoGame/GhostRecon'' with the ''Island Thunder'' expansion, as a new primary weapon for demo soldiers, including the returning specialist Klaus Henkel.
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'': One of Haru Okamura's equippable grenade launchers is a 6 shot "Multilateral MGL", based on the 40-mm Milkor MGL series used by the US army. The ARWEN 37 is also usable by her.
* The Milkor MGL shows up in the ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' series from ''The Omega Strain'' onwards. ''The Omega Strain'' also has a MGL converted into a non-lethal (Though it can still kill enemies with head or neck shots) beanbag shotgun called the Riot Shotgun.
* The ARWEN 37 is available in ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' 0, 1 and 6, where it can be loaded with regular explosive, [[KillItWithFire incendiary]] or fictional [[HollywoodAcid acid]] rounds. 5 also features the MGL-140, which can be loaded with explosive, flashbang and incendiary rounds in addition to even more fictional rounds like the aforementioned acid rounds, [[KillItWithIce nitrogen]] rounds and [[ShockAndAwe electric]] rounds.
* Fukaziroh in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'' falls in love with the Milkor MGL-140 the moment she lays eyes on it, and promptly buys [[DualWielding two of them]] for her primary weapons.
* A Milkor MGL appears as the "Lactic-40", Nader's signature weapon from ''VideoGame/DirtyBomb''. It only fires five rounds and each reload is cooldown based.
* The Milkor MGL appears in ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' as the "M2 Grenade Launcher" as part of the Explosive Combat DLC. The M2 is unusual for a DLC weapon, as it can be upgraded; each level increases its capacity (it holds 8 grenades in a six-round cylinder by default) and Level 2 [[StickyBomb makes the grenades sticky]]. Speaking of which, they have a two-second fuse and can be manually detonated with the grenade throw button.
* The Hogster, a revolving grenade launcher seemingly influenced by the M32, appears in ''VideoGame/ConkerLiveAndReloaded''. The Grunt acquires it after picking up an upgrade orb and it has three ammo types: Frag, which has a fuse; Impact, your standard contact-detonated grenade; and Release, which is manually detonated by pressing the fire button after a round has been fired.

[[folder:[=RPG-7=]]]
->''The successor to the RPG-2, produced and deployed in large numbers as the primary anti-tank weapon for infantry in the Soviet Union and its satellite states. Needless to say, it is highly effective against personnel as well as tanks.''
-->--'''Description''', ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker''

[[quoteright:279:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rpg7_450.jpg]]
Designed in the 1960s by the USSR, the RPG-7 is probably the most distinctive anti-tank rocket launcher aside from the classic Bazooka. Its construction, like most Soviet weaponry, is incredibly simple; it's basically a steel tube with wooden guards. This also makes it incredibly cheap. It was (and still is) fielded by over 40 countries, is popular with both military forces and guerrilla fighters alike, and has seen use in many conflicts across the globe.
\\\
The RPG-7 is also copied widely by multiple countries; China copied it in the form of the Norinco Type 69, which looks almost identical to the RPG-7 except for the second handle being on top. The United States also made their own copy of the RPG-7 (a rarity among Soviet weaponry), the Airtronic RPG-7/Mk.777, which features several improvements over the original RPG-7 like improved material construction, lighter weight, an adjustable shoulder stock, and built-in Picatinny rails. RPG, by the way, stands for ''Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot'' (hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher), though it is often backronymed as "rocket propelled grenade."
\\\
Similar to the AKM, the RPG-7's reputation is such that it is often overshadows the [=RPG-29=] (the succeeding reusable anti-tank rocket launcher). As a result, [[SelectiveHistoricalArmory you will likely not see the RPG-29 at all, even in works featuring the]] UsefulNotes/RussiansWithRustingRockets. In addition, this also applies to the warheads it fires; typically only the basic single-charge [=PG-7VL=] HEAT warhead (the one with the iconic cone-shaped front), even in situations where the tandem-charge [=PG-7VR=] HEAT warhead or the anti-personnel warheads (either the [=OG-7V=] fragmentation warhead or the [=TBG-7V=] thermobaric warhead) would be more appropriate.
\\\
Additionally, there is some confusion regarding the handles. The one with the trigger is in front and is supposed to be held with the right hand, but hand placement or even the grips may be reversed in some depictions. The cocking lever on the back of the front grip is seldom used when reloading the launcher.
* '''Cool Action''': A rocket being loaded into the front of the tube, twisted to secure, and hefted onto a person's shoulder as they emerge from cover makes an ominous and recognizable start to an ambush.
* '''Un-cool drawback:''' The RPG-7 is typically portrayed as horrifically inaccurate and therefore close-ranged: while it is close-ranged for an antitank weapon, this is still far longer than is usually shown. The inaccuracy is more to do with complexities of compensating for the RPG-7's extremely counter-intuitive behaviour in crosswinds: the projectile will turn ''into'' the wind rather than turning away from it as one might expect, and one needs to have a fairly accurate idea of how far away a target is to know how to lead it. According to a US Army TRADOC report from 1976, most well-trained gunners would misjudge range to the target by 15-20% on their first shot. The Soviets claimed an effective "point blank" range of 300m for the weapon, though US testing on a stationary, fully exposed M60 tank found that at this range the chance of scoring a hit with the first shot was less than 30% in a 7mph wind, though this rose to greater than 50% on the second shot.

* If this weapon is not in the hands of Soviets/Russians or the Warsaw Pact countries, it typically is in the hands of Middle-Easterners and in Africa. Wherever the AK-47 is, the RPG-7 will be as well.
* Used when fighting DirtyCommunists in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull''. Despite the movie taking place in 1957, four years too early for the RPG-7. Presumably a stand-in for much the less famous RPG-2.
* The Joker uses one as part of the various UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror metaphors in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''.
* Hayden Tenno gets to use a weird version in ''VideoGame/DarkSector'', with one handle and what appears to be almost all of an RPG-2 joined upside-down to the front of the tube. It has an optic sight and fires guided missiles instead of unguided rockets.
* ''Series/DoctorWho''. Ace takes out a Dalek with one in ''Remembrance of the Daleks'', though it's supposed to be some sort of fictional British anti-tank weapon.
* ''Film/Water1985''. Two Cuban terrorists use one to interrupt a news conference by a British government mouthpiece.
* Marty [=McFly=] sees one in his rear-view mirror in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', carried by the 'Libyans'. He figures that getting up to 90 would be the best way to evade it. He was off by 2 miles per hour, of course.
* Just one of the many heavy weapons used by Homura Akemi in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' [[spoiler:during the final battle against Walpurgisnacht]].
* One of the weapons used in the Literature/WhateleyUniverse by the Syndicate minions in "Christmas Elves". Generator then uses one to bust Fey out of a trap impervious to Fey's magic.
* Just as in the actual incident, the RPG-7 was the weapon of choice for [[AfricanTerrorists Somali militia]] to bring down the titular helicopters in ''Film/BlackHawkDown''.
* Available quite uncommonly in ''7.62 High Caliber''. Considering the lack of armored vehicles to destroy, it mostly provides a way to deliver explosives at longer range.
* The Soldier's Rocket Launcher in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is strongly based on the RPG-7.
* A strange use in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer 3: Tiberium Wars'' -- Nod militant rocket squads use a recognizable RPG-7 ''[[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110612090639/cnc/images/0/0e/CNCTW_Militant_Rocket_Squad_Cameo.png with two barrels]]'' for... some reason. {{Fanon}} suggests that the second rocket isn't fired from that position, it's just an extra clipped there so the militant can quickly fire again without needing a loader.
* A staple of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' games' Heavy Weapons slots. Unlike the trend, it's pinpoint accurate provided you can aim it correctly with the horrible box-shaped crosshair the game provides. It has to be aimed, too: try to fire it normally and the trigger will just click.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'' with the Overkill Pack DLC, as the [[AKA47 HRL-7]]. It has absurdly high damage (enough so that even the NighInvulnerable Bulldozer will die in one direct hit) and, in odd departure from its usual depictions, is accurate to within the variance of a laser sight. The high damage does come with its own drawbacks, however - namely, that [[HoistByHisOwnPetard explosives affect yourself and your teammates. With how damaging this weapon is, a single misplaced shot can take down your entire team.]] It also only has 4 rounds in total, which can only be replenished via ammo bags. Needless to say, using this weapon in small spaces - or around enemies which can force you to fire your weapon - is not a good idea.
* The RPG-7 appears in several ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' titles:
** Appears as the standard launcher for the Viet Cong and NVA forces in ''Battlefield Vietnam''.
** Only appears in the ''Special Forces'' addon in ''Battlefield 2'' used by the Insurgent and Rebel factions' Anti-Tank classes. Notably the only unguided handheld launcher available as everyone else uses wire-guided handheld launchers like the Eryx or the SRAW.
** In ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany'', it appears as the 'RPG-7 AT' and it's equipped with the PGO-7 scope. Despite being an unguided munition, it magically gains the ability to lock-on to targets tracked with the Tracer Dart, presumably to keep up with the Carl Gustav's similar performance. The RPG-7 returns in the ''Vietnam'' expansion with the standard ironsights.
** Appears in ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'' onwards as the '[=RPG-7V2=]'.
* Common in the ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games from ''4'' onward, and likely to blame for the modern conception that the weapon is horrifically, aggravatingly inaccurate - it's entirely possible to miss entirely even when you're ''five meters'' away from a tank you're supposed to destroy because the grenade will veer off in completely random directions past a couple feet. ''Black Ops II'' swaps it out for a similar launcher based on Airtronic's upgraded version, its accuracy from past iterations only slightly improved; it serves as the middle ground between the SMAW and the FHJ-18, unable to lock onto targets like the other two in favor of its ability to be dumb-fired like the SMAW while coming with one extra rocket like the FHJ.
* Likewise common in the earlier ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' games, both in its standard form and as an upgraded, laser-guided "Annihilator RPG"; ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' swaps it out for the Airtronic variant and makes the laser-guidance system an upgrade.
* The weapon appears in a few ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games. It's notable in [[VideoGame/MetalGear1 the first game]] for being both required to beat the game (as it is the only way to defeat the Arnold/Bloody Brad enemies that hold a Card Key and the only weapon that moves fast enough to hit [[spoiler:Big Boss]]) and being potentially lost forever, making the game UnwinnableByDesign.[[note]]This is because one must be at the maximum rank to get it to appear. Moving up a rank is done by freeing a number of [=POWs=], but killing even one will drop the player down a rank. And since there are just barely enough in the game to get the maximum rank by the point you need the weapon...[[/note]] It is also notably used in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' during the bike chase to defeat the Shagohod, as it is the only weapon that can damage it.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Insurgency}}'', the RPG-7 is the standard rocket launcher for the Insurgent team, acting as a counterpart to the Security's [=AT4=]. Given the game's leanings to realism, the weapon is quite accurate and has the tendency to wipe out clustered groups of enemies ''very easily'', but at the same time usage requires caution due to the close-quarters nature of the game's maps. It is balanced by costing a whopping 5 supply points, being very heavy[[note]]To the point where carrying one would mean sacrificing important equipment like sidearms, ammo pouches and even armour[[/note]] and only comes with one loaded rocket.
** It returns in the sequel ''VideoGame/InsurgencySandstorm'' as the Insurgents' reloadable launcher and costs 4 supply points.
* Present in ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}'', being the epitome of AwesomeButImpractical: both the launcher and the rounds are bulky and ''really'' heavy, ammo is limited, reloading is slow as molasses, and since there are no vehicles in the Zone, only Pseudogiants and Chimeras warrant that much firepower. It can blow up a tight group of enemy stalkers all nice and crispy, but so can the much lighter and more plentiful grenades. If you manage to find one and a stockpile of rockets, they're best saved for special missions.
* Common in the ''Franchise/FarCry'' games starting from ''[[VideoGame/FarCry2 2]]'' as the basic RPG launcher - in that game it doesn't get the laser-guided munitions the Carl Gustav gets, but competes by virtue of [[MissingBackblast not starting fires or destroying vehicles behind you]] when you fire it, and with a little luck can still be used at longer ranges like a mortar (real RPG-7 grenades self-destruct at a thousand yards, though [[TruthInTelevision insurgents have been known to disable that and lob them at further targets]]).
* Often seen in ''Manga/CityHunter'' whenever someone needs heavy firepower. Its most notable use is in the manga finale, where Ryo uses two captured [=RPG-7s=] to [[spoiler:take down the {{Mooks}} holding Kaori hostage, with them terrified and completely unable to understand what Ryo is doing because they don't know he disabled the warheads first]].
* Listed among the unofficial weapons used by Tim O'Brien's platoon in ''Literature/TheThingsTheyCarried'', simply named the RPG and possibly taken from dead Viet Cong or captured stockpiles.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'', ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil5 5]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil6 6]]'' as the Rocket Launcher. It is the most powerful weapon in the games, capable of killing almost any enemy or boss in one hit, but only has one shot before being discarded (And in the case of Resident Evil 4, takes up a lot of space in your inventory). A special version with a red rocket is given to you in the final boss battle of 4 which can be sold for double the price of a regular one in a second playthrough if it is picked up and isn't used, a reloadable version with a night-vision scope can be used during the second battle with [[spoiler:Wesker]] in 5, and a [[InfinityPlusOneSword infinite ammo version]] can be bought in 4 during a second playthrough for a million Pesetas and unlocked in 5 by beating the game in under 5 hours.
* Anna Williams in ''[[VideoGame/{{Tekken}} Tekken 6]]'' has her use an RPG-7 (oddly named "Bazooka") as her item move.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/GoldenEyeWii'' as the MJR-409.
* Seen briefly in ''Film/TropicThunder'' when [[EnfanteTerrible Tran]], the leader of the Flaming Dragon drug cartel, uses it in an attempt to blow up the actors' escaping helicopter.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/RisingStorm2Vietnam'' as a terrifyingly accurate anti-air weapon, and the main launcher of the NVA and Viet Cong. Unlike most depictions, the backblast is modeled ''and'' kills anyone unlucky enough to be caught within 10 meters of it.
* Appears in ''Film/FourLions'' when [[VillainProtagonist Omar and Waj]] are attending the Jihadist training camp in the wilderness of Pakistan, and need some firepower to take out an American drone. The coolness factor is rather undermined by the fact that Waj, [[StupidCrooks being the sort of fellow he is]], holds it the wrong way round and fires the rocket ''backwards'', [[EpicFail destroying the entire camp and killing Osama Bin Laden]] (the movie was released about a year before he was actually killed).
* In Volume 6 of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'', the NPC team in the Test Play battle suddenly uses almost half a dozen RPG-7s to stop Teams T-S, MMTM, and SHINC from breaking into the castle. It comes as a huge shock to all the players, as rocket launchers are widely considered to be overpowered in the game and aren't supposed to have been introduced yet.

[[folder:Strela MANPADS series]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/strela_9.jpg]]

First deployed in 1968, the Strela ("Arrow") series are Soviet-built hand-held anti-air missile launchers developed following experiences from the Korean War and facing a powerful, modern USAAF carrying non-nuclear payloads. While technically the Strela name is used by four air defense systems (all of them share the concept of firing low-altitude, short-range IR missiles), the most common association is the two MANPADS that are in the family: the [=9K32=] Strela-2 (NATO reporting name: [=SA-7=] Grail), and the [=9K34=] Strela-3 (NATO reporting name: [=SA-14=] Gremlin).
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The Strela-2 was the first MANPADS in the series, benefitting from technical data of the [=FIM-43=] Redeye which had recently became available- while by no means a simple reverse-engineered copy, the Strela was influenced by the Redeye. Unfortunately, due to the comparatively crude Soviet technical base, the missile was only deployed beginning in 1968, five years behind schedule.
It was first used in combat in 1969 by the Egyptians against Israelian [=A-4H Skyhawks=]. Furthermore, it was also supplied to Vietnam, other Soviet-aligned Middle East nations, Africa (in particular, they were nasty surprises to Portuguese [=G.91=]s in Portuguese Guinea during the latter's independence war from Portuguese rule), South America, and other Communist-aligned nations. It was licenced for production by Romania, North Korea, and Egypt, while China made an unlicenced copy, the [=HN-5=], which they supplied to Pakistan.
\\\
Nevertheless, the original Strela-2 missile had many issues and performed poorly [[note]] Egypt in a time period of 9 months from 1969-1970 fired 99 missiles at Israelian planes, and only 36 of those hit their targets[[/note]]; in particular, it could only target slow-moving, low-flying aircraft (and even then, it is rear-aspect only, which meant that the operator had to be behind his target to lock on to it), and the small warhead [[NonFatalExplosions often failed to cause much damage to the aircraft that it did hit]]. This resulted in an improved version being ordered in 1968, the intermediate stop-gap [=Strela-2M=] ([=SA-7B=], with the original missile having the [=SA-7A=]), and the ambitious [=9K34=] Strela-3 (NATO reporting name [=SA-14=] Gremlin).\\\
The Strela-2M being a relatively minor improvement (its improvements being a higher-thrust propellant, improved guidance to allow engaging faster helicopters and propeller-driven craft, increasing maximum speed of receding targets, and a simpler firing method) was accepted into service relatively quickly in 1970, only two years after the original missile had entered service. This variant was also licence-produced by many of the same nations that licence-produced the original, and China managed to get their hands on one sample via North Vietnam, eventually producing the improved [=HN-5A=], though by this point relations between the two had broken down and the Vietnam War had recently ended, so the improved Chinese variant never saw action. Yugoslavia also licence-produced the improved variant and gave it a larger warhead for improved lethality.\\\
The [=9K34=] Strela-3 (NATO reporting name [=SA-14=] Gremlin) was introduced in 1974, using a new con-scan/FM-modulated IR seeker head which were significantly less likely to be fooled by flares than the older AM-modulated/spin-scan IR seeker heads on the Strela-2 and 2M. The Gremlin also has a larger warhead and a pressurized liquid nitrogen bottle to cool the seeker head, which expanded the sensitivity of the lead sulphide detector element and allowed the MANPADS to engage cooler targets over longer ranges and even allowed it limited all-aspect ability.
All three MANPADS remain in use to this day in ongoing conflicts, with both government-aligned and rebel forces using them against aerial targets.\\\

There are other Strela missile systems that share the same name with the MANPADS, though they have different NATO reporting names. The [=9K31=] Strela-1 (NATO reporting name: [=SA-9=] Gaskin) was a system of two pairs of missiles mounted on the [=BRDM-2=] amphibious armored scout car and the [=9K35=] Strela-10 (NATO reporting name: [=SA-13=] Gopher), which mounts two pairs of missiles on an [=MT-LB=] amphibious tracked armored utility vehicle.

* The Strela-3 variant appears in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'', alongside a fictional wire-guided variant called the "Valkyrie" rocket launcher. In the Wii version, only the Strela-3 proper appears while the Valkyrie does not due to RAM limitations; all other versions have both variants appear. Both are usable in multiplayer; the Valkyrie as a seven-kill killstreak while the Strela-3 is a purchasable weapon. The Valkyrie returns in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII''.
* ''VideoGame/WargameRedDragon'': All three variants of the two Strela MANPADS appear as standard for earlier, cheaper REDFOR anti-air infantry, with China using the [=HN-5A=] and [=HN-5B=] (their unlicenced Strela-3 copy, which was obtained from Zaire who in turn captured them from Angolan government forces) and Yugoslavia using their own Strela [=2M/A=] variant. Later MANPADS teams for REDFOR use the Igla and their variants/derivatives instead.
* The Strela is the "heat-seeking rocket launcher" of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''. It has all-aspect lock-on ability, strongly suggesting that this is the Strela-3 variant.

[[folder:Type 89 "Knee Mortar"]]
[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unknown_31.jpeg]]
The Type 89 Grenade Discharger, better known as the "Knee Mortar", was a Japanese grenade launcher or light mortar intended to fill the gap in effective range between larger conventional mortars and hand-thrown grenades. The Type 89 was first issued in 1929 and was used throughout the UsefulNotes/SecondSinoJapaneseWar and the Pacific Theater of WWII. Firing 50mm shells (in high-explosive, smoke, or incendiary rounds) or Type 91 hand grenades, it has an effective range of around 120 meters.

Deployed in large quantities, the weapon was, according to some sources, responsible for as much as 40% of Allied casualties in the Pacific, with troops quickly learning to hit the ground whenever they heard its signature "pop" report.

Like many Japanese weapons, production was discontinued after their surrender in 1945, although Indonesia managed to get their hands on some during the Indonesian National Revolution. Nationalist China and the Chinese Communists also captured large amounts of Type 89 mortars and pressed them into service [[note]] Both armies frequently used mortars of all calibers to make up for their lack of support artillery [[/note]], as well as making copies of it as the Type 27 mortar with cost-reducing features.

The correct way of using the mortar was to firmly plant it in some soft ground and support it with one hand. When on the march, Japanese soldiers would have the Type 89 strapped to their legs (giving the weapon the nickname "leg mortar"). When deployed, the Type 89 would stick up at a fixed 45 degree angle relative to the ground. Range of indirect fire could be varied by adjusting chamber space between an inserted grenade and the firing pin. Unlike other mortars, where the projectile hits the firing pin upon being dropped into the barrel and subsequently gets launched downrange, the Type 89 is fired by a lanyard, giving the user more control over timing of supporting fire. Even more unusual is that the weapon has a rifled barrel and will fire a variety of different projectiles, including standard hand grenades.
\\\
A misunderstanding caused by a [[BlindIdiotTranslation literal translation]] of "leg mortar/knee mortar" out of Japanese, together with bad evaluation of captured weapons, saw lots of Australian soldiers think that the intended way of firing was to brace the curved baseplate against the thigh, as the Aussies were tempted to use Japanese weapons against their previous owners to compensate for the obvious lack of proper resupply from the rest of the British Empire. Anybody who tried firing it that way will find their femurs severely bruised if not fractured/broken by the heavy recoil, as a few Australian troops found out the hard way when they were evacuated out of the battlefield with that injury. Eventually, Allied troops were advised that the correct way of using a Type 89 was to brace the curved baseplate against soft ground or a tree-root. American Marines got a bit jealous of the Imperial Japanese Army in that the Type 89 mortar was a far more man-portable way to accurately and rapidly launch grenades down range than their own 60 mm M2 mortars, which required a dedicated team per mortar as opposed to a single grenadier per Type 89. After a failed attempt to adapt the M2 Mortar's tube into a commando mortar, the Americans began focusing on hand-held grenade launchers, culminating in the M79 and the under-barrel grenade launchers.

[[AC: Anime]]
* Anti-Zeon troops from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam'' modified some Knee Mortars to be used as grappling guns.

[[AC: Films -- Live-Action]]
* A Japanese soldier had used this weapon in an ambush in ''Film/{{Windtalkers}}''.
* Shown briefly in ''Film/FlagsOfOurFathers'' when the main characters discover the bodies of recently deceased Japanese soldiers, one of whom was holding this weapon.
* Japanese soldiers in ''Film/TheGreatRaid'', you can also see this weapon being fired during the bridge battle.

[[AC: Video Games]]
* The Light Mortar class of the Japanese in ''VideoGame/RisingStorm'' are issued with the Knee Mortar alongside an Arisaka Type 38. The player can use it for direct or indirect ambushes.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Underbarrel grenade launchers]]
->''"Say hello to my little friend!"''
-->'''Tony Montana''' before firing his [=M203=], ''Film/Scarface1983''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unknown_61.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:An M203 grenade launcher, fitted to an [=M16A1=].]]

Underbarrel grenade launchers, as their name imply, are grenade launchers designed to be mounted directly to a gun. This allows the grenade launcher to be used at a moment's notice, while also reducing the extra weight a soldier would have to carry with a dedicated grenade launcher.

The most well-known underbarrel grenade launcher is the M203. Chambered to fire 40x46mm grenades, it was developed by AAI during the failed SALVO and SPIW trials which were aimed at developing a flechette-shooting gun; the rifles themselves were discarded, but the underbarrel launcher concept eventually found its way onto the M16, replacing the stand-alone M79 grenade launcher. Eventually, the [=M203A1=] was developed for the M4 and [=M4A1=] carbines. The M203 and [=M203A1=] use the rifle's magazine as a grip, and the sliding handguard is used to both cock the weapon and access the breech. While designed for the AR-15 platform, conversion kits exist to fit it to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher#Other_weapons many other rifles,]] or even turn it into a stand-alone weapon.

Other notable 40mm underbarrel grenade launchers include the [=XM148=] (a competitor with the M203, which was passed over due to complexity and safety issues), the German [=AG36=] (a side-loading launcher with a number of advantages over the M203, such as double-action operation, accommodation for a wider variety of ammunition, and an integral sight mounted on the side), the M320 (a modified version of the [=AG36=], which has become increasingly common in media and can be used standalone, usually replacing the [=HK69A1=] in that role), the Czech 805 BREN G1 and the Belgian FN EGLM (aka [=GL1=] or [=FN40GL=], depending on whether it's attached to an F2000 or a SCAR). The Soviets/Russians have their own grenade launchers, the [=GP25=] (for the AK-74), [=GP30=] (for the AK-100 series) and the [=GP34=] (mounted on all existing Russian AK models); all variants of the GP-series are muzzle-loaded and use 40mm caseless grenades, which are not interchangeable with western 40mm grenades. Some of these launchers can have pistol grips and stocks attached to them, which turns them into dedicated grenade launchers; however, since this defeats the whole purpose of the underbarrel launcher, these are rarely seen in real life or fiction. As of 2015 the American Raytheon company has been working on the Pike, a precision-guided missile designed to be launched from the M320 and EGLM, one of the first actual cases of a 40mm round that is too long to use with the M203.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2'' features the Thumper as a secondary weapon. ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' instead features the China Lake, given its propensity toward exotic prototype weaponry.

* ''VideoGame/HellLetLoose'' issues this weapon to the German Anti-Tank class, alongside a primary weapon and 2 rockets.

GunsOfFiction/{{Handguns}} ([[GunsOfFiction/HandgunsAToL A-L]], [[GunsOfFiction/HandgunsMToZ M-Z]]) | GunsOfFiction/{{Revolvers}} | GunsOfFiction/MachinePistols | GunsOfFiction/SubmachineGuns | GunsOfFiction/{{Rifles}} | GunsOfFiction/AssaultRifles | GunsOfFiction/BattleRifles | GunsOfFiction/SniperRifles | GunsOfFiction/{{Shotguns}} | GunsOfFiction/MachineGuns | GunsOfFiction/AutocannonsAndRotaryCannons | GunsOfFiction/{{Flamethrowers}} | '''Rockets, Missiles, and Grenade Launchers''' | GunsOfFiction/{{Others}}]]-]]]

It was used in the Korean War against enemy machine gun nests; unfortunately, the [=M18=] was found ineffective at dealing with Soviet or Chinese T-34s. It also saw some service in the Vietnam War, despite being an obsolete weapon compared to the [=M72 LAW=]. The M18 was also adopted by the French and the Brazilians. RedChina was able to [[EvilKnockoff create their own version]], known as the Type 36 recoilless rifle, using designs captured in Nationalist factories during the UsefulNotes/ChineseCivilWar. It was deliberately designed with the bore and shells being a millimeter wider. This small change allowed the Type 36 to fire captured 57mm shells, but the M18 cannot use the new 58mm shells. The Type 36 was also used by the Vietnamese and the Tanzanians.

* ''VideoGame/HellLetLoose'' issues the [=M1A1=] variant to the US anti-tank class, along with a primary weapon and 2 rockets.

* Appears ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyUnited Offensive'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty2'', ''3'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII'', and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard'' as the main rocket launcher for the Germans, though it does complement the Panzerfaust in ''United Offensive''. It is the only rocket launcher in ''2'', and is the main rocket launcher in the Eastern Front campaign of ''World at War'', though it is not available in multiplayer in that game, the M9 Bazooka being used instead.

* Seen in three missions in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 4'', where it's stuck in top-attack mode. It's shown similarly in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2'', even when attacking helicopters where the launcher ''should'' be in direct fire mode.

* The M9 is used in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: United Offensive'', ''3'', and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'', while the M1 is used in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII'' and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard''.

* Appears ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' ''United Offensive'', ''2'', ''3'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII'', and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard'' as the main rocket launcher for the Germans, though it does complement the Panzerfaust in ''United Offensive''. It is the only rocket launcher in ''2'', and is the main rocket launcher in the Eastern Front campaign of ''World at War'', though it is not available in multiplayer in that game, the M9 Bazooka being used instead.

* Appears in ''VideoGame/RisingStorm2Vietnam'' for US, Australian and South Vietnamese forces. In campaign mode, the US Army, USMC, and Australian Army get it from the start, while the ARVN don't get it until the mid-war point.

Back to UsefulNotes/GunsOfFiction.

* In ''[[Literature/PaladinOfShadows Unto the Breach]]'', the Gustav becomes the WeaponOfChoice for [[MightyGlacier Shota]], and he is rather proficient in its use for being DumbMuscle. He carries and fires it like the other Keldara carry assault rifles.

So named for its 84mm caliber, the [=AT4=] is a Swedish-made recoilless weapon, introduced in the 1980s. Designed on the same principles as the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, it is an unguided single-shot weapon, with the launcher discarded after firing. The weapon has been quite successful on the export market, having been adopted by the US military[[note]]in fact, the US military adopted it before the Swedish military did, despite the latter starting testing of it first, with the Swedish later integrating all the changes the US made to their version, the Pansarskott m/86; the only difference between the two ist he m/86 has a folding foregrip[[/note]] and a number of other militaries, usually as a replacement or supplement for the older M72 LAW. The weapon has several different variants, each firing different types of ammunition, and can be fitted with optical sights, as shown in the image.

* An [=AT4=] is famously used by [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]] to blow up [[OurDemonsAreDifferent the Judge]], bypassing a rule that "no weapons forged" can defeat him.

* The regular version is obtained in ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve'' by defeating a BonusBoss in a BonusDungeon in Day 5. A customized version (dubbed "[=AT4=]-1") is also available in another BonusDungeon during NewGamePlus.

* Earl Harbinger uses one in [[Literature/MonsterHunterInternational Monster Hunter Alpha]] to take out a pack of werewolves.
* Used by the Terminator 'Pops' to guard a young Sarah Connor from terminator attacks in ''Film/TerminatorGenisys''

** In ''Film/GoldenEye'', Q mentions that the BMW Z3 he's giving bond has Stinger missiles behind the headlamps, not that it is actually possible considering that the missiles are half the length of the car and [[MissingBackblast there is nowhere for the backblast to go]].

* Appears frequently in the ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' series as a fire-and-forget anti-aircraft launcher. One notable moment in the single-player campaign of ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'' has the player, Sgt. Blackburn scrambling to acquire a fallen Stinger missile-launcher to destroy a Russian Su-39 Frogfoot harassing the surviving platoon.

* The M9 is used in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: United Offensive'', ''3'', and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'', while the M1 is used in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII''.

[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/images_38.jpeg]]
The [=M72=] LAW (Light Anti-Armor Weapon) is a Vietnam-era development focused on cutting down launcher weight and size when compared to the WWII Bazooka while still allowing a soldier to carry enough firepower to knock out armored targets. It consists of a single unguided 66mm rocket enclosed in a collapsible launch tube. Once fired, a set of fins on the rocket deploy to stabilize it in flight, and it is fused to detonate on contact with the target. Like the Panzerfaust, the design is geared towards simplicity and cheap construction, with the tube doubling as the carrying case for the rocket itself and intended to be discarded after firing, though this soon became a little more complex (the front sight is supposed to be snapped off and handed to a radiation safety officer because the markings are radioluminescent paint, and orders were soon given to destroy spent tubes because the Vietcong liked filling them with explosives and using them as boobytraps). That doesn't stop some movies from making the mistake of treating it as reloadable like the earlier bazooka. As its effectiveness as an anti-armor weapon quickly decreased due to the rapid development of armor schemes for tanks and [=IFVs=], tests have been underway since TheEighties to find a successor. The more powerful AT-4 has effectively replaced the LAW as the US Army's disposable anti-armor weapon, but the relatively lightweight LAW has found a new lease of life as a handy weapon for attacking structures and dug-in positions. A common sight in action movies as it gives the hero the ability to single-handedly deal some serious damage like blowing up vehicles and small structures. The relative ease of finding a spent launch tube on the collector’s market to use as a prop (in many states they have the same legal status as spent rounds of ammunition, and so require no special licenses) also helps.

* Film/DirtyHarry in ''The Enforcer''.

* The most expensive weapon for the Demolition perk in ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' is called the LAW (though the actual model is mostly based on the British [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAW_80 LAW 80]]); killing the [[FinalBoss Patriarch]] with it nets you the achievement "[[{{Pun}} The LAW That Broke The Camel's Back]]".

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' - Available in both single and multiplayer modes. Accurately used to take out NVA armor during the assault on Khe Sahn in single player, however, multiplayer mode makes the mistake of showing it as capable of locking onto aircraft. Probably an intentional decision, as armored vehicles do not appear in multiplayer. Leaving it without a vehicle destroying function would make it functionally useless since the dumb-fire RPG is already available for those who just want to [[NoKillLikeOverkill use rocket launchers on a single person]] for kicks.

* Likely to be seen in any Vietnam War movie in the hands of a grenadier; in less realistic cases, it might be carried by a regular rifleman. In video games, it's very likely that the weight issue preventing its use alongside a rifle will be ignored entirely, even in games ostensibly using a LimitedLoadout for realism purposes.
* One of the most iconic uses is in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', where Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger's Terminator uses an M79 to finally defeat the shape-shifting T1000. It was also the most powerful weapon in ''Terminator 2: The Arcade Game''.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2'' features the Thumper as a secondary weapon. ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' instead features the China Lake, given its propensity toward exotic prototype weaponry.

* It appears in ''VideoGame/PaydayTheHeist'' with the Wolf Pack DLC as the "[[{{AKA47}} GL40]]", where it can be fitted with a rangefinder. It reappears under the same name in ''VideoGame/Payday2'' with the Gage Assault Pack DLC, where it can be modified with a sawed-off barrel and stock, and with the later BBQ Weapon Pack, loaded with [[KillItWithFire incendiary grenades]].

* The M79 appears in ''VideoGame/TheWorldIsNotEnough'' fitted with green synthethic furniture as the GL 40. The grenades fired usually explode upon impact with anything, but on alternate fire they explode after a 5-second delay.
* Appears in ''VideoGame/RisingStorm2Vietnam'' for US, Australian and South Vietnamese forces.

* Usable in the console-only ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} 2: Modern Combat''. Appears in both ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'' and ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' mounted on the [=AAV-7A1 AMTRAC=]. ''[=BF3=]: Aftermath'' DLC has one mounted on the back of the 'Phoenix' ([[TheAllegedCar a crudely fixed-up Humvee]]) while the ''[[NostalgiaLevel Second Assault]]'' DLC of ''[=BF4=]'' has a Mk. 19 mounted on the Desert Patrol Vehicle.

* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', a [=Mk19=] is one of the weapons used against ComicBook/{{Superman}} by ComicBook/{{Batman}} during their BattleInTheRain. It [[NoSell doesn't]] [[ShootingSuperman hurt him]] and quickly gets destroyed by Clark's [[EyeBeams heat vision]].

* Appears in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 3'' and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' as the default launcher. It is incorrectly depicted as a one-shot disposable rocket launcher instead of the reusable rocket launcher it actually is and with the ability to lock onto killstreaks.

Literally “Tank Fist” in German, this was ''the'' anti-tank weapon of the German Army in WWII. It consisted of a small pre-loaded gun tube incorporating the trigger and a calibrated indirect fire sight, that fired a large shaped-charge explosive warhead specifically designed to penetrate tank armor. Operated by a single soldier, it was also the first such weapon designed to be disposable, the spent gun tube (which was made of low-grade steel) was simply thrown away after firing. It was easy to manufacture, simple to use, and, at only eleven pounds, very light compared to the damage it could cause. A solid hit from the Panzerfaust could destroy almost any Allied tank. The final mass-produced versions were nominally accurate to a hundred meters and could defeat up to eight inches of armor. The overall simplicity also encouraged them to be issued to everyone and anyone from regular soldiers to the most poorly-trained conscripts, and its light weight and easy availability also meant it saw a lot of "[[MundaneUtility utility]]" use, such as knocking holes in the walls of buildings in urban combat ("mouseholing") to allow movement between the two without having to go out onto the street and expose oneself to the enemy. As the conflict drew to a close, some civilian Volkssturm volunteer units were equipped with nothing ''but'' this weapon in the hopes they could knock out at least some of the approaching [[ZergRush Soviet armor]]. The distinct profile (somewhat resembling half of a giant cotton swab) makes it instantly recognizable and can be the defining "OhCrap" moment when someone pops out of cover with one and takes aim.

** ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'', at least in the first game; later ones had the heavier, much-less-extensively-used but more powerful and reloadable Panzerschreck take its place.

** ''VideoGame/SniperEliteV2'' and ''VideoGame/SniperElite4'' feature the Panzerfaust in the hands of German troops, and is the only anti-tank weapon available for use against German and Soviet tanks and armored vehicles.

A major disadvantage was that in the original [=RPzB 43=], the rocket, unlike the bazooka's, was still burning when it exited the tube: this would burn the operator's face or choke them with smoke unless he was wearing a gas mask and poncho. That issue was later solved with the addition of a blast shield at the cost of adding a bit more weight to the already-heavy weapon. Another drawback that couldn't be so easily solved was the massive backblast, firing one would almost invariably give away the firer's position and gave the weapon the nickname "Ofenrohr" (stove pipe) by German troops. Nonetheless, it remained an effective weapon to the end of the war, inflicting serious damage on Allied tanks, although it was noticeably less widespread than the Panzerfaust, which was simpler and easier to carry, use and manufacture.

* Appears ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' ''United Offensive'', ''2'', ''3'', and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'' as the main rocket launcher for the Germans, though it does complement the Panzerfaust in ''United Offensive''. It is the only rocket launcher in ''2'', and is the main rocket launcher in the campaign of ''World at War'', though it is not available in multiplayer in that game, the M9 Bazooka being used instead.

The Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, or PIAT, was designed by the British Army during WWII in 1942 and deployed in 1943 as an anti-tank weapon for the British Army, which at the time was dependent on grenades and anti-tank rifles to combat tanks. Contrary to popular belief, the PIAT was not a rocket launcher, but rather a mortar-like grenade launcher which used an enormous coil spring fired spigot to set off the propelling charge in the projectile. The PIAT had a claimed range of 109 yards against armor (actually more like 40) and a maximum range of 330 yards in low-arc indirect fire (troops in Italy were also known to use it for high-arc fire, aiming it like a mortar: this was not an intentional feature, and the range is thus not known but would be considerably greater). The effective range gradually became less as German armor improved. It had the advantages of being cheap to produce, and a relatively small puff of smoke when the propelling charge detonated, making it harder to find the user when it was fired. Disadvantages included ridiculous weight (32 pounds), a fragile loading tray, muzzle-loading that required the loader to lean out over the weapon or the gunner to pull the weapon back into cover, poor accuracy (due to the heavy spigot moving from one end of the weapon to the other immediately before firing), heavy recoil, requiring excessive force to cock [[note]] to the point that many found it impossible to cock the weapon solo, as well as very few able to do it behind cover, which is of vital importance when fighting a tank [[/note]], the mechanism that was supposed to re-cock the gun on firing almost never working correctly [[note]] Unless it was held ''really'' tight, the propellant would fail to blow the firing pin backwards enough to cock the weapon, and at this point the hapless shooter has to cock it by hand; not fun or safe even when nobody is trying to kill him [[/note]], and unreliable ammunition (mostly duds that failed to either fire or detonate, but there was also an alarming tendency for the propelling charge to tear off the bomb's tail and fire it back at the gun crew), many of which were due to its necessarily rushed production. Nevertheless, the PIAT saw widespread use, not only with British forces but also with the French and Polish resistances, the Free French army and even the Red Army, who received 100 as part of lend-lease aid. Six members of the Commonwealth forces were also awarded the Victoria Cross for knocking out tanks or disabling enemy artillery, though British soldiers ruefully stated that one deserved the Victoria Cross just for firing it. After World War 2, it was used by the Israeli Haganah during the Arab-Israeli War, and also saw use with Australia during the Korean War and the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

* Appears in the third ''Anime/StrikeWitches: Operation Victory Arrow'' OVA, though the design notes refers to it as "Projector, Infantry, Armored-Thing".

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' features two, the Milkor MGL and the Hawk MM-1. The former appears as a killstreak reward, the "War Machine", the latter is given to Jonas Savimbi in the first flashback mission (where, if you pay attention to him when the shooting starts, you'll notice [[FunnyBackgroundEvent he can't get it to fire]]). Completing five challenges in the second flashback mission also unlocks both of them for the player's loadout; while the MGL is an alright weapon, the Hawk is [[GameBreaker an unbeatable terror]], with ''four times'' the ammo capacity, a much faster reload, and rounds that aren't affected by gravity (making it less a grenade launcher and more a [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Bolter]]), with the only downside being that you're slowed down considerably while holding it.

* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': One of Haru Okamura's equippable grenade launchers is a 6 shot "Multilateral MGL", based on the 40-mm Milkor MGL series used by the US army.

Designed in the 1960s by the USSR, the RPG-7 is probably the most distinctive anti-tank rocket launcher aside from the classic Bazooka. Its construction, like most Soviet weaponry, is incredibly simple; it's basically a steel tube with wooden guards. This also makes it incredibly cheap. It is fielded by over 40 countries, is popular with both military forces and guerrilla fighters alike, and has seen use in many conflicts across the globe. Dozens of imitations also exist; typically Chinese copies with one handle are used in movies when authentic two-handle launchers are not available. RPG, by the way, stands for ''Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot'' (hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher), though it is often backronymed as "rocket propelled grenade." A Chinese copy, the Norinco Type 69, looks almost identical to the RPG-7 except for the second handle being on top. Even the United States make their own copy of the RPG-7 (a rarity among Soviet weaponry), the Airtronic RPG-7/Mk.777, which features several improvements over the original RPG-7 like improved material construction, lighter weight, an adjustable shoulder stock, and built-in Picatinny rails. Typically only the basic single-warhead anti-tank rocket will be seen in fiction (the one with the iconic cone shaped front), even if the more advanced dual-warhead anti-tank or the anti-personnel fragmentation and thermobaric rockets would be more appropriate. Likewise, you're unlikely to see the newer [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-29 RPG-29]] and [[http://world.guns.ru/grenade/rus/rpg-32-e.html RPG-32]] at all, even if the modern Russian Army is featured.

[[folder:Type 89 "Knee Mortar"]]
[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unknown_31.jpeg]]
The Type 89 Grenade Discharger, better known as the "Knee Mortar", was a Japanese grenade launcher or light mortar intended to fill the gap in effective range between larger conventional mortars and hand-thrown grenades. The Type 89 was first issued in 1929 and was used throughout the UsefulNotes/SecondSinoJapaneseWar and the Pacific Theater of WWII. Firing 50mm shells (in high-explosive, smoke, or incendiary rounds) or Type 91 hand grenades, it has an effective range of around 120 meters.

Deployed in large quantities, the weapon was, according to some sources, responsible for as much as 40% of Allied casualties in the Pacific, with troops quickly learning to hit the ground whenever they heard its signature "pop" report.

Like many Japanese weapons, production was discontinued after their surrender in 1945, although Indonesia managed to get their hands on some during the Indonesian National Revolution. Nationalist China and the Chinese Communists also captured large amounts of Type 89 mortars and pressed them into service [[note]] Both armies frequently used mortars of all calibers to make up for their lack of support artillery [[/note]], as well as making copies of it as the Type 27 mortar with cost-reducing features.

The correct way of using the mortar was to firmly plant it in some soft ground and support it with one hand. When on the march, Japanese soldiers would have the Type 89 strapped to their legs (giving the weapon the nickname "leg mortar"). Elevation in action is fixed at 45 degrees. Range of indirect fire can be varied by adjusting chamber space between an inserted grenade and the firing pin. Unlike other mortars, where the projectile hits the firing pin upon being dropped into the barrel and subsequently gets launched downrange, the Type 89 is fired by a lanyard, giving the user more control over timing of supporting fire. Even more unusual is that the weapon has a rifled barrel and will fire a variety of different projectiles, including standard hand grenades.

Other notable 40mm underbarrel grenade launchers include the [=XM148=] (a competitor with the M203, which was passed over due to complexity and safety issues), the German [=AG36=] (a side-loading underbarrel launcher with a number of advantages over the M203, such as double-action operation, accommodation for a wider variety of ammunition, and an integral sight mounted on the side), the M320 (a modified version of the German [=AG36=], which has become increasingly common in media and can be used standalone, usually replacing the [=HK69A1=] in that role), the Czech 805 BREN G1 and the Belgian FN EGLM (aka [=GL1=] or Mk 13 Mod 0, depending on whether it's attached to an F2000 or a SCAR). The Soviets/Russians have their own grenade launchers, the [=GP25=] (for the AK-74), [=GP30=] (for the AK-100 series) and the [=GP34=] (mounted on all existing Russian AK models); all variants of the GP-series are muzzle-loaded and use 40x53mm caseless grenades, which are not interchangeable with western 40mm grenades. Some of these launchers can have pistol grips and stocks attached to them, which turns them into dedicated grenade launchers; however, since this defeats the whole purpose of the underbarrel launcher, these are rarely seen in real life or fiction.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 4'', ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2'', and ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps Black Ops]]'' have this weapon as an attachment for most assault rifles (the AK and similar weapons, like the Galil in the latter game, typically get the GP-30 instead; the difference is mostly in a faster time to switch between the rifle and launcher, but a slower reload), where it's a favorite weapon in multiplayer matches. Unfortunately it's got a notorious reputation as one of the most frequently used weapons by new players/screaming micspamming kids, so it's also known as "the noob tube". ''Modern Warfare 3'' and ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII Black Ops II]]'' largely replace it with the M320, though their respective [=AKs=] still use a GP-30, and the latter also still uses the M203 for the flashback missions set in TheEighties. ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyGhosts Ghosts]]'' switches out for an EGLM that's missing any sort of trigger, after which underbarrel grenade launchers disappeared for a while from the series before making their return in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2019''.
* ''Film/Scarface1983'' features one of the most iconic appearances of the weapon in fiction when Tony Montana uses one attached to his AR-15 during the finale to blow away a score of hitmen, uttering the ([[MemeticMutation now iconic]]) quote at the top while doing so.[[note]]Technically speaking, the launcher used in the film ''isn't'' an actual M203; It was a specially-built prop impersonating one, as there were no genuine M203s or alternatives available at the time. This prop M203 went on to be used in other films of TheEighties, such as ''Film/{{Predator}}'' and ''Film/HeartbreakRidge''[[/note]]

** ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'' simplifies things, featuring the M320 as an Assault kit gadget that can be used either standalone or mounted to your assault rifle if it has the Underbarrel Rail attached; if attached to a Russian weapon, it turns into the GP-30. Like in ''Bad Company 2'' they start with regular explosive grenades, and can unlock smoke grenades or flechette shells. It returns in ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' with the same characteristics, though with an actual notable use in the campaign where Recker, while hanging from the side of a car, shoots down a pursuing Hind gunship with a standalone M320, and the "Naval Strike" DLC adds a fictional type of three-shot shell based on the Metal Storm 3GL.

* Another Demolition weapon in ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' is an M4 assault rifle with an M203 attached beneath which gives them an edge to deal with smaller zeds with the rifle itself while scrakes and fleshpounds get the big boom underneath it. ''VideoGame/KillingFloor2'' eventually made an M16 with an M203 the Tier 3 Demolitionist weapon (after downgrading the cost of the M79). Also thanks to the new cross-perk system, commandos can make use of the weapon to give themselves another explosive option, besides their grenades.
** In the the "Halloween Horrors: Monster Masquerade Update" for ''VideoGame/KillingFloor2'' one of the weapons added was the "HMTech 501 Grenade Rifle". The 501 appears to be a heavily-modified SIG-Sauer SG 556 Classic, fitted with an underslung FN EGLM. Interestingly enough, the underslung grenade launcher has been modified to fire a caseless version of the Medic Perk's hand grenades, releasing gas that harms enemies and heals allies. Instead of the usual ally-healing dart launchers most of the medic weapons have.

** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' features three scenes where an M203 mounted under an M4-carbine is used. The first is during the prologue, when a Marine attempts to destroy (or at the very least damage) the hijacked Metal Gear [=RAY=], but to no effect. The second instance occurs when a member of SEAL Team 10 fires a grenade at Fortune, only for her luck to render said-grenade a dud. The third is during Snake's encounter with Solidus, with Snake using the M4 to fire a few rounds before switching to the M203.

* ''VideoGame/Payday2'' fits an M203 underneath the barrel of the [=HK417=]. It's essentially a downgraded version of the M79, carrying only three grenades with less power than the M79, though acting as an alternate mode for its parent rifle rather than having to sacrifice a more generalized primary weapon for it. As of Christmas 2017, a standalone version of the M320 is also usable as essentially a secondary version of the M79 - it can't be concealed as much, but it does get the options of gadgets and sights while dealing the same damage.
* Common in the ''VideoGame/{{ARMA}}'' series; as to be expected, it mainly consists of the M203 for NATO forces and the GP-25 or GP-30 for whoever they're opposing. ''ARMA III'' mixes it up, with NATO's MX series using the Metal Storm 3GL (including its advertised triple-grenade ability), CSAT's Katiba getting the Madritsch [=ML40=] (misidentified as the EGLM), and the F2000s and TAR-21s used by government troops and rebels of Altis and Stratis using the GL-1; later DLC adds the GP-25 for the AK-12 used by the Syndikat in ''Apex'' and later the Russian Spetsnaz in ''Contact'', the former also adding the M320 for CTRG 15's [=HK416=] and the QLG-10A for Viper's QBZ-95, and the latter adding the GPBO-40 for the Livonian army's MSBS.
* The Mk. 13 Mod 0 appears in ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2''. [[GunsDoNotWorkThatWay Strangely]], it's attached to the AR-50 Special (the standard version, the AR-50 XMAC, is an XM8). ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' features a grenade launcher on the K8 Krukov once it's fully upgraded, a very stubby sort of hybrid of the M203 and a GP-series launcher. Both use frag grenades from your inventory as ammo.

** The manga and anime gives [=M4 SOPMOD II=] an [=M203=] launcher mounted to her namesake gun.
** Groza in ''VideoGame/GirlsFrontline2Exilium'' uses a standalone [=M203=] with pistol grip for her grenade-launching skill.

* One is used by Creator/RobertDeNiro in ''{{Film/Ronin}}'' to attack a convoy.

* In ''Film/{{Ronin}}'', one is employed to blow up a carload of mooks during the car ChaseScene.

* In the ''Literature/JurassicPark'' novel, Robert Muldoon has the LAW, as well as a customized tranquilizer rocket launcher as his weapons of choice rather than the [[RareGuns/{{Shotguns}} SPAS-12]] in the film. He used the former to kill a raptor and blow the leg off another.

The M79 is a break-action single-shot 40x46mm grenade launcher, most resembling a break-action shotgun with a giant barrel and upside-down stock (to make it easier to point and fire in an upward arc-- this is ''not'' meant to be a close-quarters weapon). First deployed during the Vietnam War with the aim of providing increased firepower to dismounted infantry without resorting to more cumbersome rifle grenade launchers, it functioned mainly as a middle ground between hand-thrown or rifle grenades and full-on mortars (the 40mm grenade was developed expressly for that purpose during the SPIW program of the 50s). Nicknamed the "Thumper" or "Blooper" due to the distinctive report, the M79 was a popular weapon among troops, but its size and weight limited it to designated grenadiers. It was largely replaced with the M203 underbarrel launcher as the latter came into service, since the M203 allowed the user to also function as a rifleman, though the M79 still sees some use (such as explosive ordnance disposal) as its longer barrel than the M203 gives it a longer effective range as a result. The rather old-fashioned, no-nonsense look of the weapon means it's a popular choice as a personal {{BFG}} in both movies and videogames. A rare pump-action four-shot weapon based on the design also exists, known as the China Lake Launcher. Details about the weapon can be seen [[RareGuns/RocketsMissilesAndGrenadeLaunchers here]].

* The Mk. 13 Mod 0 appears in ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2''. [[GunsDoNotWorkThatWay Strangely]], it's attached to the AR-50 Special (the standard version, the AR-50 XMAC, is an [[RareGuns/AssaultRifles XM8]]). ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' features a grenade launcher on the K8 Krukov once it's fully upgraded, a very stubby sort of hybrid of the M203 and a GP-series launcher. Both use frag grenades from your inventory as ammo.

* Out of all the grenade-launching [=ARs=] in ''VideoGame/GirlsFrontline'', precisely three of them have underbarrel grenade launchers actually present in their artworks: CZ 805 (with the CZ 805 G1), Zastava [=M21=] (PBG-40, a licensed copy of the GP-25), and A-91 (integrated underbarrel launcher). [=K11=] (see [[RareGuns/AssaultRifles XM29 OICW]] entry) has an above barrel launcher instead. [=HK416=]'s MOD 3 upgrade also gives her a standalone [=M320=] grenade launcher. Presumably the rest of them uses rifle grenades instead of dedicated launchers.

There are a large number of launchers that use a revolver-style cylinder magazine, dating back to the ''[[AwesomeMcCoolName Manville Machine Projector]]'', a 1930s tear gas launcher; this formed the basis of the later Hawk MM-1 developed in the 70s. Modern examples include the Russian RG-6 launcher, essentially a frame holding six separate [=GP30=] launcher tubes, and the South African Milkor MGL-140 / M32, which is becoming an increasingly common sight in movies and games due to its tacticool appearance. Such launchers are very popular with police and anti-riot units due to their ability to fire a wide range of incapacitating rounds and sustained fire abilities, and 37mm launchers made by companies such as Enfield and [=DefTech=] are often seen in movies substituting for their more lethal cousins.

* The Mk 19 is used frequently by rebels in ''VideoGame/GhostRecon: Future Soldier''.

* The regular version is obtained in ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve'' by defeating a BonusBoss in a BonusDungeon in Day 5. A customized version (dubbed "AT4-1") is also available in another BonusDungeon during NewGamePlus.

* An unlockable launcher for the engineer class in ''VideoGame/{Battlefield3'', though unlike its real life counterpart, it cannot attack aircraft unless they're painted by a laser, and its flight path is entirely dependent on whether the target is painted or not (non-painted means direct attack, laser means top attack even against aircraft).

* The standard rocket launcher in ''VideoGame/{{Postal}} 2'' is an [=AT4=] with a fuel-charging meter in place of the usual scope. Like many of the other depictions above, charging it fully turns its projectiles into homing rockets. The ''Share the Pain'' multiplayer update introduced a retextured variant that lobbed hand grenades, which was later added to singleplayer with the "A Week in Paradise" GameMod before updates following the game's rerelease on Steam removed it (replaced with the M79).

* ''VideoGame/MetalGear''

* Earl Harbinger uses one in [[{{Literature/MonsterHunterInternational}} Monster Hunter Alpha]] to take out a pack of werewolves.

* An unlockable launcher for the engineer class in ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 3}}'', though unlike its real life counterpart, it cannot attack aircraft unless they're painted by a laser, and its flight path is entirely dependent on whether the target is painted or not (non-painted means direct attack, laser means top attack even against aircraft).
** The Javelin makes a return in ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 4}}'', only this time it is locked in top-down attack mode and requires constant locking onto the target unless they're painted by a laser.

* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', [[TheDragon Anatoli Knyazev]] uses a Javelin against the [[Comicbook/{{Batman}} Batmobile]] during the chase scene at Gotham docks.

* Appears frequently in the ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' series as a fire-and-forget anti-aircraft launcher. One notable moment in the single-player campaign of ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 3}}'' has the player, Sgt. Blackburn scrambling to acquire a fallen Stinger missile-launcher to destroy a Russian Su-39 Frogfoot harassing the surviving platoon.

* Appears in ''Videogame/ParasiteEve2'' as the "[[AKA47 Grenade Pistol]]".

* The most expensive weapon for the Demolition perk in ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' is called the LAW (though the actual model is mostly based on the British [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAW_80 LAW 80]]); killing the [[{{FinalBoss}} Patriarch]] with it nets you the achievement "[[{{Pun}} The LAW That Broke The Camel's Back]]".

* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne 3'' features the LAW during a sequence where Max must destroy an armored truck.

* ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' features one meant to be used by the Demolition perk; a player that has leveled that perk high enough can even start a game or respawn with one for free. Then there's a BlingBlingBang [[{{DownloadableContent}} DLC]] pack that, among others, introduces a gilded M79 with golden shells.

* It appears in ''VideoGame/PaydayTheHeist'' with the Wolf Pack DLC as the "[[{{AKA47}} GL40]]", where it can be fitted with a rangefinder. It reappears under the same name in ''VideoGame/{{PAYDAY 2}}'' with the Gage Assault Pack DLC, where it can be modified with a sawed-off barrel and stock, and with the later BBQ Weapon Pack, loaded with [[KillItWithFire incendiary grenades]].

* Usable in the console-only ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} 2: Modern Combat''. Appears in both ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 4}}'' mounted on the [=AAV-7A1 AMTRAC=]. ''[=BF3=]: Aftermath'' DLC has one mounted on the back of the 'Phoenix' ([[TheAllegedCar a crudely fixed-up Humvee]]) while the ''[[NostalgiaLevel Second Assault]]'' DLC of ''[=BF4=]'' has a Mk. 19 mounted on the Desert Patrol Vehicle.

* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', a [=Mk19=] is one of the weapons used against Comicbook/{{Superman}} by Comicbook/{{Batman}} during their BattleInTheRain. It [[NoSell doesn't]] [[ShootingSuperman hurt him]] and quickly gets destroyed by Clark's [[EyeBeams heat vision]].

** Both the Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck appears in ''Videogame/BloodRayne'' as one of the heavy weapons available to Rayne.

* Plenty show up in the hands of SS troops in ''Film/{{Fury 2014}}''.

* The M32 MGL appears in ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 4}}'' as a [[ThrowAwayGuns battle pickup]] found around some maps.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' features two, the Milkor MGL and the Hawk MM-1. The former appears as a killstreak reward, the "War Machine", the latter is given to Jonas Savimbi in the first flashback mission (where, if you pay attention to him when the shooting starts, you'll notice [[FunnyBackgroundEvent he can't get it to fire]]). Completing five challenges in the second flashback mission also unlocks both of them for the player's loadout; while the MGL is an alright weapon, the Hawk is [[GameBreaker an unbeatable terror]], with ''four times'' the ammo capacity, a much faster reload, and rounds that aren't affected by gravity (making it less a grenade launcher and more a [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer40000}} Bolter]]), with the only downside being that you're slowed down considerably while holding it.

* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'': One of Haru Okamura's equippable grenade launchers is a 6 shot "Multilateral MGL", based on the 40-mm Milkor MGL series used by the US army.

* ''Film/{{Water 1985}}''. Two Cuban terrorists use one to interrupt a news conference by a British government mouthpiece.

** Appears in ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 3}}'' onwards as the '[=RPG-7V2=]'.

* ''VideoGame/{{PAYDAY 2}}'' fits an M203 underneath the barrel of the [=HK417=]. It's essentially a downgraded version of the M79, carrying only three grenades with less power than the M79, though acting as an alternate mode for its parent rifle rather than having to sacrifice a more generalized primary weapon for it. As of Christmas 2017, a standalone version of the M320 is also usable as essentially a secondary version of the M79 - it can't be concealed as much, but it does get the options of gadgets and sights while dealing the same damage.

* The Mk. 13 Mod 0 appears in ''VideoGame/{{Saints Row 2}}''. [[GunsDoNotWorkThatWay Strangely]], it's attached to the AR-50 Special (the standard version, the AR-50 XMAC, is an [[RareGuns/AssaultRifles XM8]]). ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' features a grenade launcher on the K8 Krukov once it's fully upgraded, a very stubby sort of hybrid of the M203 and a GP-series launcher. Both use frag grenades from your inventory as ammo.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 4'' features the Mk 19 during the Shock and Awe mission.

* ''VideoGame/FarCry'' featured a curious depiction of the Mk 19 as a single-shot weapon with an automated rangefinding system. ''VideoGame/FarCry2'' featured a more accurate depiction mounted on trucks and boats, but for balancing purposes the rate of fire was toned down to about one shot every 2 seconds.

* Common in the ''VideoGame/FarCry'' games starting from ''[[VideoGame/FarCry2 2]]'' as the basic RPG launcher - in that game it doesn't get the laser-guided munitions the Carl Gustav gets, but competes by virtue of [[MissingBackblast not starting fires or destroying vehicles behind you]] when you fire it, and with a little luck can still be used at longer ranges like a mortar (real RPG-7 grenades self-destruct at a thousand yards, though [[TruthInTelevision insurgents have been known to disable that and lob them at further targets]]).