M203 grenade launcher
| Launcher, Grenade, 40mm, M203 | |
|---|---|
(dismounted)
|
|
| Type | Grenade launcher |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1969–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars |
Vietnam War War in Afghanistan Iraq War 2020 (to be replaced by the M320 Grenade Launcher Module as U.S. Army standard grenade launcher) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | AAI |
| Designed | 1967–68 |
| Manufacturer |
Colt Defense Diemaco Airtronic USA RM Equipment U.S. Ordnance Knight's Armament Company Lewis Machine & Tool Company |
| Unit cost | US$1,082 |
| Produced | 1969–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3 lb (1.36 kg) (unloaded) |
| Length | 15 in (380mm) |
| Barrel length | 12 in (305mm) |
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|
|
| Cartridge | 40×46mm SR |
| Action | Single shot |
| Rate of fire | 5 to 7 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 250 ft/s (76 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 160 yds (150 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 437 yds (400 m) |
| Sights | Quadrant sight or ladder sight on rifle |
The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older stand-alone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilizes the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Quite versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was originally designed for the U.S. M16 and its variant, the M4 Carbine. The launcher can also be mounted onto a C7, a Canadian version of the M16 rifle, however, this requires the prior removal of the bottom handguard.
Stand-alone variants of the M203 exist, as do versions designed specifically for many other rifles. The device attaches under the barrel, the launcher trigger being in the rear of the launcher, 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 version fitted to the Canadian C7 has a sight attached to the side of the launcher, either on the left or right depending on the user's needs.
The M203 was the only part of the army's Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) project to go into production. The M203 has been in service since 1969 and was introduced to U.S. military forces during the early 1970s, replacing the older M79 grenade launcher and the conceptually similar Colt XM148 design. However, while the M79 was a stand-alone weapon (and usually the primary weapon of troops who carried it), the M203 was designed as an under-barrel device attached to an existing rifle. Because the size and weight of 40 mm ammunition limits the quantities that can be carried on patrol, and because a grenade is often not an appropriate weapon for a given engagement (i.e. when the target is at close range or near friendly troops), an under-barrel system has the advantage of allowing its user to also carry a rifle, and to easily switch between the two.
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Wikipedia