The US Army also adopted this weapon and implemented it from July 1917. Initially, with material supplied by France; in a second stage, producing their own dischargers and grenades and adapting them to their M1917 Enfield and M1903 Springfield rifles.
The V-B rifle continued to be part of the inventory of the French infantryman at the beginning of the Second World War. The US VB grenade was used at the Battle of Guadalcanal.
There are also Brandt-type projectiles for sending a written message. This projectile emits yellow smoke to improve its recovery. Other versions are smoke or illumination projectiles.
Like many interwar early American weapon’s the V-B Rifle Grenade Launcher was not invented in America. The V was the Primary US rifle grenade launcher up until the wide availability of the Mark 1. Provided by the French it was far more effective than the Chauchat LMG.
I would like to add tear gas with the V, a common weapon in WW1 but not so much in WW2 because of the conventions. Why white phosphorus was allowed and tear gas is allowed for domestic use is one of the insanities of laws and politics.
With the nerfing of white phosphorus into the ground and the introduction of Molotov grenade launchers. I think tear gas could fit as a true support weapon taking the place of smoke and white phosphorus. A good support weapon that would only affect those caught in the cloud.
the trouble with white phosphorus is its to easy to be op or ineffective.
Balancing the area of coverage, time to spread and blow away, damage done is almost impossible. smoke suffers the same problems as no fun for those it is used against.
Tear gas could be brief over a large area and make it hard for soldiers to se. maybe they just loose the ability to aim down site. imagine only being able to hip fire for a minute or two after a gas attack. or having to blink or rub youre eyes ever few seconds.
