The M203 is a single shot 40 mm under-slung 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. Though 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.
History The M203 was the only part of the army's Special
Purpose Individual Weapon 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, 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, an under-barrel system has the advantage of allowing its user to
also carry a rifle, and to easily switch between the two.
A new grenade launcher, the M320, will eventually replace the M203 in the United States Army.
The United States Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy will continue to use
the older M203. The M320 features an advanced day/night sight, a double action firing mechanism
as well as other benefits, such as an unobstructed side-loading breech.
Uses The M203 grenade launcher is intended to be
used as close fire support against point and area targets. The round is designed to be
effective at breaking through windows and exploding inside, blowing up doors, producing
multiple casualties, destroying bunkers or emplacements, and damaging or disabling soft-skinned
vehicles. In the Vietnam war U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel on boats would lob M203
grenades into the water, this to preemptively attack Viet Cong swimmers attempting to plant
explosives on anchored or moored U.S. water craft.
Its primary purpose is to engage enemies in dead space that cannot be reached by direct
fire. A well-trained M203 gunner can use his weapon to suppress the enemy, based on movement
and sight. In addition, the M203 can be used as a crowd control weapon when equipped with
the M651 Tactical CS grenade. Classified an anti-personnel weapon the M203 is not intended
to be used against armored or heavy vehicles. Rounds
The M203 is able to fire a variety of different rounds for many purposes. According to the
U.S. ARMY FIELD MANUAL FM 3-22.31 40-MM GRENADE LAUNCHER, M203, there are 8 different rounds
for the M203: (M433) High-Explosive. Dual Purpose Round.
The HEDP round has an olive drab aluminum skirt with a steel cup attached, white markings,
and a gold ogive. It penetrates at least 5 cm when fired straight at steel armor at 150
meters or less, or, at a point target, it arms between 14 and 27 meters, causes casualties
within a 130-meter radius, and has a kill radius of 5 meters.
(M406) High-Explosive Round. The HE round has an olive drab aluminum skirt with a steel
projectile attached, gold markings, and a yellow ogive. It arms between 14 and 27 meters,
produces a ground burst that causes casualties within a 130-meter radius, and has a kill
radius of 5 meters. (M583A1) Star Parachute Round. This round
is white impact or bar alloy aluminum, with black markings. It is used for illumination
and signals and is lighter and more accurate than comparable handheld signal rounds. The
parachute attached to the round deploys upon ejection to lower the candle at 7 feet per
second. The candle burns for about 40 seconds. A raised letter on the top of the round denotes
the color of the parachute. (M585) White Star Cluster Round. This round
is white impact or bar aluminum alloy, with black markings. The attached plastic ogive
has five raised dots for night identification. The round is used for illumination or signals.
It is lighter and more accurate than comparable handheld signal rounds. The individual stars
burn for about 7 seconds during free fall. (M713) Ground Marker Round. This round is
light green impact aluminum with black markings. It is used for aerial identification and for
marking the location of soldiers on the ground. It arms between 15 and 45 meters. If a fuse
fails to function on impact, the output mixture provided in the front end of the delay casing
backs up the impact feature. The color of the ogive indicates the color of the smoke.
(M781) Practice Round. Used for practice, this round is blue zinc or aluminum, with
white markings. It produces a yellow or orange signature on impact, arms between 14 and 27
meters, and has a danger radius of 20 meters. (M651) CS Round. This round is gray aluminum
with a green casing and black markings. Though it is a multipurpose round, it is most effective
for riot control and in Urban Operations. It arms between 10 and 30 meters and produces
a white cloud of CS gas on impact. (M576) Buckshot Round. This round is olive
drab with black markings. Though it is a multipurpose round, it is most effective in thick vegetated
areas or for room clearing. Inside, it has 20 metal pellets, each weighing 24 grains,
with a muzzle velocity of 269 meters per second. The round has no mechanical-type fuse.
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. M203s can also come with quadrant sights, mounting to a MIL-STD
1913 Rail, or to the carrying handle of an M16 rifle.
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 capability. The standard M203 is intended for permanent
attachment to the M16A1, M16A2 and M16A3 rifles, and utilizes a 12 inch rifled barrel. The
M203 unmodified to an A1/A2 series will not fit on the M4 Carbine series.
The U.S. M203A1, which has a barrel of 12 inch The SOPMOD M203A1 used a 9 inch barrel.
M203A1 is intended for use with the M4 and M4A1 Carbine. M203A1 launchers used a special
bracket mount consisting of three screws and lacing wire. Only M203A2's consist of a Quick
Release Bracket. The Canadian M203A1 by Diemaco is a similar
design with a different mounting system that does not require mounting points of the same
profile as the M16A1 rifle's. The weapon's 9 inch barrel slides further forward than
the standard American models, which allows 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, but is still in use.
The M203A2 is intended for use with the M4 Series/M16A4 and now also authorized on the
M16A2 Rifle as the MWS. Using standard 12 inch barrels, the grenade launcher is intended
for use in concert with the Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS. The M5 MWS Rail System became
authorized in December 2008 for the M16A2 Rifle. An advantage of this system is the
use of range-finding optics to make precise targeting easier.
The M203PI system is used for attachment of the M203 to other rifles, including, but not
limited to, the Steyr AUG, Heckler & Koch G3 and other rifles, and even the MP5 sub-machine
gun. Most of these other companies have since devised 40mm grenade launchers custom integrated
with the weapon. The M203 DAX has a double-action trigger and
longer breech opening to accommodate less-lethal rounds.
The M203 and M203A1 are currently manufactured by TUFTS 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 M203PI is manufactured for both the 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 RM-Equipment Inc. of Miami, Florida.
The Turkish MKEK made T-40 grenade launcher is based on M203.
Users
Argentina Afghanistan
Australia: M203PI variant for F88 Austeyr, and M203A1 for M4A1 carbines.
Austria: M203PI variant. Brazil
Brunei Cameroon
Canada: Canadian Forces. Czech Republic: Bushmaster M203 used with
the Bushmaster M4A3 carbine issued to Czech special forces.
Denmark East Timor
Ecuador Egypt
El Salvador France
Gabon Greece
Guatemala Honduras
India Indonesia: Locally produced by PT Pindad
as SPG-1. Ireland; Irish Army specialist units, including
the Army Ranger Wing. Israel
Italy Jordan
Kuwait Lebanon
Liberia Malaysia: Used on M16 and M4A1.
Myanmar Mexico
Netherlands New Zealand: M203PI variant.
Oman Pakistan: Used by the Pakistan Army.
Panama Philippines Also created by the Floro International
Corporation as the FIC M203 in 2008. Qatar
Saudi Arabia Singapore
South Korea: A locally-manufactured clone, designated K201, is deployed on the K2 assault
rifle. Sri Lanka
Sweden Thailand
Turkey United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom: Special Air Service United States
Civilian ownership in the United States In the United States, M203 grenade launcher
attachments fitted with the standard rifled 40mm barrel are classified as "Destructive
Devices" under the National Firearms Act part 26 U.S.C. 5845, 27 CFR 479.11, because they
are a "non-sporting" firearm with a bore greater than one-half inch in diameter. M203s are
on the civilian NFA market but are limited as most manufacturers have quit selling to
the civilian markets. New M203 Launchers sell for approximately $2,000 plus a $200 transfer
tax, and new manufacture 40mm training ammunition is available for $5 to $10 per cartridge,
as of March 2011. High explosive 40mm grenades are available for $400 to $500 per cartridge;
however, they are exceedingly rare on the civilian market, as each grenade constitutes
a Destructive Device on its own, and must be registered with the Federal government,
requiring payment of a $200 tax and compliance with storage regulations for high explosives.
There are also sub-caliber adapters available for the 40mm M203 grenade launchers, which
will allow the use of standard 12 gauge shotgun shells and .22 Rimfire ammo.
Data
The following technical data for the M203/M203A1 grenade launcher comes directly from the U.S.
ARMY FIELD MANUAL FM 3-22.31 40-MM GRENADE LAUNCHER, M203.
a. Weapon. Length:
Rifle and grenade launcher........................99.0 cm Barrel only................................................................30.5 cm
Rifling............................................................................25.4 cm Weight:
Launcher, unloaded.................................................1.4 kg Launcher, loaded.....................................................1.6 kg
Rifle and grenade launcher, both fully loaded......5.0 kg
Number of lands............................................................6 right hand twist
b. Ammunition. Caliber............................................................................40 mm
Weight.............................................................................About 227 grams
c. Operational Characteristics. Action.............................................................................Single
shot Sights:
Front..........................................................................Leaf sight assembly
Rear...........................................................................Quadrant sight
Chamber pressure.........................................................206,325 kilopascals
Muzzle velocity..............................................................76 mps
Maximum range.............................................................About 400 meters
Maximum effective range: Fire-team sized area target................................350
meters Vehicle or weapon point target.........................150
meters
Minimum safe firing range: Training.....................................................................130
meters Combat......................................................................31
meters
Minimum arming range.................................................About 14 to 38 meters
Rate of fire......................................................................5 to 7 rounds per minute
Minimum combat load...................................................36 HE rounds
Note: some data differs for versions that attach to the M4 Carbine.
The 40 mm grenades used in the M203 are not the same as those used by the Mk 19 grenade
launcher, which are fired at a higher velocity) Gallery
See also Grenadier
Rifle grenade List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed
Forces United States 40 mm grenades
Other under-barrel grenade launchers AG36 - widely used grenade launcher from Heckler
& Koch M320 - US Army M203 successor and AG36 derived
FN40GL - FN Herstal Mk 13 Mod 0 developed for FN SCAR and US SOCOM
MEI HELLHOUND - 40mm ammunition development GP-25 - 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher
for Kalashnikov series rifles Related
KAC Masterkey - under-barrel shotgun M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System - under-barrel
shotgun References
External links Media related to M203 at Wikimedia Commons
U.S. Army Field Manual 3-22.31 M433 40mm Cartridge High-explosive dual purpose
round specs Martin Electronics, Inc. Home Page - 40 mm
Ammunition Gun World - M203
The Infantry's Explosive Punch BatesandDittus.com - Manufacturer of civilian
version