M203 grenade launcher
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| US M203 | |
|---|---|
 (dismounted) |
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| Type | Grenade Launcher |
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Service history | |
| Used by | USA, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Chile, Greece,ireland |
| Wars | Vietnam and later |
| Production history | |
| Variants | See text |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3 lb (1.36 kg) (unloaded) |
| Barrel length | 12 in (305mm) |
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| Cartridge | 40x46 mm grenade |
| Caliber | 40mm |
| Action | Single shot |
| Rate of fire | 5 to 7 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 250 ft/s (76 m/s) |
| Effective range | 160 yd (150 m) |
| Maximum range | 1,312 ft (400 m) |
| Sights | Quadrant sight or ladder sight on rifle |
M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. Stand-alone variants exist as do versions capable of being used on many other rifles. The device attaches under the barrel and forward of the magazine, the trigger being just forward of the rifle magazine. The rifle magazine functions as a hand grip when firing the M203. A separate sighting system is added to rifles fitted with the M203, as the rifle's standard sights are not matched to the launcher. The M203 can fire high-explosive, smoke, illuminating, buckshot direct fire, CS gas, and training grenades.
Contents |
[edit] History
The M203 was introduced to U.S. military forces during the early 1970s, and replaced the older M79 grenade launcher and conceptually similar Colt XM148 design. However, while the M79 was a separate weapon entirely, the M203 was designed as a rifle attachment in order to increase the efficiency at which a soldier could alternate between bullet fire and HE grenade fire.
It is sometimes thought that the M203 was a poor replacement for the M79, as while the M79 was quick to reload and more or less accurate under adverse conditions, such as in Vietnam War, the M203 was more difficult to operate, and could be sent off-target more easily by variables such as a gust of wind.
A new grenade launcher in development, the XM320, will likely replace the 203 in United States service eventually. The XM320 weighs more than the M203, but has some added benefits.
The 40 mm grenades used in the M203 (40 x 46 mm) are not the same as in the Mk 19 grenade launcher (40 x 53 mm), which are fired at a higher velocity.
[edit] Components
The M203 Grenade launcher system comes with a variety of components, usually including the launcher, adaptors for attachment to assault rifles, and leaf sights (which can be used with the rifle's front sight post). M203s can also come with quadrant sights, mounting to a MIL-STD 1913 Rail, or to the carrying handle of an M16 rifle.
[edit] Variants
There are numerous variants of the M203 manufactured in the U.S., and throughout the world, for various applications. These vary chiefly in the length of the barrel, attachment type, and quick detach (QD) capability.
The standard M203 is intended for permanent (armorer level) attachment to the M16A1, M16A2 and M16A3 rifles, and utilizes a 12" rifled barrel. These can also be attached to M4 and M4A1 carbines, using a different front attachment point forward of the front sight block, but the SOPMOD kit uses M203A1 grenade launchers.
The American M203A1 is intended for use with the M4 and M4A1 Carbine. The barrel is shortened to 9", and principally the M203A1 QD is able to quickly detach from the rifle, and be replaced by a Knight's Armament Company M4 RAS lower handguard. An advantage of using a 40 mm grenade launcher on an assault rifle equipped with MIL-STD 1913 Rails is the attachment of various range-finding optics.
The Canadian M203A1 by Diemaco (now Colt Canada) was a similar design with a different mounting system that did not require mounting points of the same profile as the M16A1 rifle's. The weapon's 9" barrel slides forward further than the standard American models to allow longer rounds to be loaded. This model is identifiable by the increased distance between the grenade launcher's barrel axis and the rifle's. This weapon may no longer be in production.
The M203A2 is intended for use with the M16A4 MWS (Modular weapon system). Using standard 12" barrels, the grenade launcher is intended for use in concert with the Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS. Again, an advantage of this system is the attachment of range-finding optics makes precision targeting easier.
The M203 PI system is used for attachment of the M203 to other rifles, including but not limited to the Steyr AUG, H&K G3 and other rifles, and even the MP5 submachine gun. Most of these other companies have since devised 40 mm grenade launchers custom integrated with the weapon.
[edit] Usage
The M203 has proved vastly popular worldwide and invariably has been fitted to a number of weapon systems other than the M16 rifle/M4 carbine for which it was designed. These include:
Tavor TAR-21- In Israeli service.
Steyr AUG- In Australian and New Zealand service.
STK SAR-21- In Singaporean service.
Ak 5- In Swedish service.
SG 550 and Galil SAR- In Chilean service and Special Forces (Forcas Espiciales)
[edit] Civilian ownership
In the United States, M203 grenade launchers are classified as "Destructive Devices" under the National Firearms Act subject to the NFA process. M203s are not that common in the civilian NFA market because each explosive 40 mm grenade is also subject to the NFA process and its subsequent $200 tax. 37 mm flares are legal for civilian use without an NFA stamp, and 37 mm flare launchers have been built along near identical lines to the M203 launchers.
[edit] Data
- Launcher: 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms)
- Rifle (M16A2): 8.79 pounds (3.99 kg)
- Total (including 30 rounds): 11.79 pounds (5.35 kg)
- Bore diameter: 40 mm
- Maximum effective range:
- Area target: 1148 feet (350 meters)
- Point target: 492 feet (150 meters)
- Maximum range: 1312 feet (400 meters)
- Minimum safe range:
- Non-Direct Fire: 115 feet (35 meters)
- Training: 427 feet (130 meters)
- Combat: 102 feet (31 meters)
- Unit Replacement Cost: USD$601 (2005)
Note: some data differs for versions that attaches to M4 Carbine
[edit] See also
- List of modern weapons
- Grenade
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- List of crew served weapons of the US Armed Forces
- Rifle grenade
- KAC Masterkey
- XM26 LSS
- FN M303
- M16 rifle
- M4 Carbine
