M203 grenade launcher

Infobox Weapon
name=Launcher, Grenade, 40mm, M203


caption= (dismounted)
origin=Flag|United States
type= Grenade launcher
is_ranged= yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by= See "Users"
wars= Vietnam War and later
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=US$601 [ [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m203.htm M203 40mm Grenade Launcher ] ]
production_date=
number=
variants= See text
weight= 3 lb (1.36 kg) (unloaded)
length= 15 in (380mm)
part_length= 12 in (305mm)
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge= 40x46 mm grenade
caliber= 40mm
action= Single shot
rate= 5 to 7 round/min
velocity= 250 ft/s (76 m/s)
range= 160 yd (150 m)
max_range= 1,312 ft (400 m)
feed=
sights= Quadrant sight or ladder sight on rifle
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=
traverse=
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
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diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
speed=

M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine used by the military of the United States. M203 can also be mounted onto a C7, a Canadian version of the M16 that uses an optical scope instead of an iron sight. 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, High Explosive Dual Purpose, CS gas, and training grenades.

History

The M203 was the only part of the army's flechette rifle project to go into production. The M203 has been in service since 1969 [ [http://www.hk-usa.com/le_xm320_general.html H&K USA.com website] ] and was introduced to U.S. military forces during the early 1970s. Replacing 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 the Vietnam War, the M203 was more difficult and awkward 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 is lighter than the M203, and has other benefits such as an unobstructed side-loading breech.cite web|url=http://www.ausa.org/webpub/DeptArmyMagazine.nsf/byid/KHYL-6L7MAD|title=XM320 Grenade Launcher Module And XM26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System - Army Magazine]

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.

Variants

M16A1 rifle. The grenade's blue tip and white body shell indicate it is a practice round.

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. [http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-army-m203-grenade.htm Diemaco M203A1.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] The weapon's 9" barrel slides forward further than the standard American models to allow longer rounds to be loaded. [http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-army-m203-grenade.htm Diemaco M203A1.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] This model is identifiable by the increased distance between the grenade launcher's barrel axis and the rifle's. [http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-army-m203-grenade.htm Diemaco M203A1.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] 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.

The M203 and M203A1 are currently manufactured by [http://www.airtronic.net Airtronic USA] , Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Illinois for the U.S. Department of Defense under contract numbers W52H09-06-D-0200 and W52H09-06-D-0225. Each contract is for up to 12,000 units. Each unit is shipped with hand guard, leaf sight and quadrant range sight. The contracts unit prices vary from $840 to $1,050 each. The production rate is 1,500 units per month. The M203 PI is manufactured for both U.S. Department of Defense and for commercial sales (to Law Enforcement agencies both in the USA and abroad, and for foreign military sales) by [http://www.rm-equipment.com RM-Equipment Inc.] of Miami, Florida.

Users

The M203 has proved vastly popular worldwide and inevitably has been fitted to a number of weapon systems.

=Non M16 rifle/M4 carbine=

[
M203 grenade launcher.]
*flagicon|Australia F88 Austeyr rifle in Australian service.
*flagicon|Austria Steyr AUG in Austrian service
*flagicon|Chile SIG SG 550 and Galil SAR in Chilean service and special forces (Fuerzas Especiales).
*flagicon|Colombia IMI Galil in Colombian service.
*flagicon|Egypt Maadi which is an Egyptian variant of the Kalashnikov.
*flagicon|France FAMAS in French service.
*flagicon|Greece Used on M-16/M-4 type rifles.
*flagicon|Ireland Steyr AUG in Irish service.
*flagicon|Israel Galil SAR, and Tavor TAR-21 in Israeli service.
*flagicon|Italy Bernardelli VB/VB-SR in Italian service (limited to Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza); Beretta AR-70/90 rifles for standard Armed Forces use.
*flagicon|Mexico Used on M-16/M-4 type rifles being replaced by the Heckler & Koch AG-C/EGLM
*flagicon|New Zealand F88 Austeyr rifle in New Zealander service.
*flagicon|Portugal Heckler & Koch G3 in Portuguese service.
*flagicon|Singapore SAR-21 in Singaporean service.
*flagicon|Sweden Ak 4/Ak 5 in Swedish service.
*flagicon|Turkey Turkish Armed Forces uses a model modified for use with the G3.

Civilian ownership in the United States

In the United States, M203 grenade launcher attachments are classified as "Destructive Devices" under the National Firearms Act part 26 U.S.C. 5845, 27 CFR 479.11, [ [http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/nfa/nfa_handbook/chapter2.pdf ATF NFA Handbook, Chapter 2] ] because they are a "non-sporting" firearm with a bore greater than one-half inch in diameter. M203s are relatively common on the civilian NFA market. New M203s sell for approximately $1,750 to $2,000 USD plus $200 transfer tax, and new manufacture 40mm training ammunition is available for $8 to $10 USD per cartridge, as of March 2008. High explosive 40mm grenades, however, are exceedingly rare on the civilian market, as each grenade must be individually registered with the Federal government with a $200 tax.

Several companies have also produced 37mm flare guns resembling the M203, which may be purchased without paperwork in most U.S. states. Legally, such devices are neither Destructive Devices nor even a firearms, but are signaling devices which may legally be used with 37mm flare and smoke munitions. If a 37mm flare gun were to be used with anti-personnel munitions, it would be illegal unless registered as a Destructive Device.Fact|date=August 2008

Data

*Launcher: 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms)
*Rifle (M16A2): 8.79 pounds (3.99 kg)
*Total weight (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: $601 (USD) (2005)

Note: some data differs for versions that attach to the M4 Carbine.

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.

See also

* Grenade
* List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
* Rifle grenade
* KAC Masterkey
* AG36 of the German Army
* XM26 LSS
* M16 rifle
* M4 carbine
* M320
* MEI HELLHOUND round
* BG-15

References

External links

* [http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/0/d50a120f00de543d8525627b006b1fec?OpenDocument U.S. Marine Fact File]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-22-31/index.html U.S. Army Field Manual 3-22.31]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m433.htm M433 40mm Cartridge High-explosive dual purpose (HEDP) round specs]
* [http://www.martin-electronics.com/ Martin Electronics, Inc. Home Page] - 40 mm Ammunition
* [http://www.gun-world.net/usa/m16/m203/m203.htm Gun World] - M203