M203: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons of Vietnam]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;text-align: center;width:90%"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;text-align: center;width:90%"
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! [[Damage]]!! Radius  
! [[Damage]]!! Radius  
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|[[File:Flag_us_new.png|50px]]<br><strong>[[US]]</strong> || [[File:M203.png|512px]]<br><b>[[M203]]</b> || [[File:Weapon m203.svg|512px]] || [[File:Class_Assault.png|50px]] <b>[[Assault]]<br> || 1 / 2 || 125 || 175
|[[File:Flag_us_new.png|50px]]<br><strong>[[US]]</strong> || [[File:M203.png|512px]]<br><b>[[M203]]</b> || [[File:Weapon m203.svg|512px]] || [[File:Class_Assault.png|50px]] <b>[[Assault]]<br> || 1 / 2 || 125 || 200
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! rolspan=2 | [[Projectile weight]]
! rolspan=2 | [[Projectile weight]]
! rolspan=2 | [[Weight]]
! rolspan=2 | [[Weight]]
! rolspan=2 | Reload Speed
|-
|-
|[[M203]]||[[Grenade Launcher]]||Semi||50 RPM||3° & 1° [[ADS]]||Unaffected||60 m/s||230 g (.5 lbs)||7kg (15.43 lbs)
|[[M203]]||[[Grenade Launcher]]||Single Shot||50 RPM||3° & 1° [[ADS]]||Unaffected||60 m/s||230 g (.5 lbs)||7kg (15.43 lbs)||2.266 Seconds
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! rowspan=2 | [[Place of Origin]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Place of Origin]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Date]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Date]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Armory]]   
! rowspan=2 | [[Manufacturer]]   
! rowspan=2 | Barrel Length
! rowspan=2 | Barrel Length
! rowspan=2 | Total Length
! rowspan=2 | Total Length
! rowspan=2 | [[Weapon Script Name]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Weapon Script Name]]
|-
|-
|Launcher, Grenade, 40mm, M203||40mm grenade||[[USA]]||1969||Colt<br>MANY OTHERS||12 in (305 mm)||15 in (380 mm)||weapon_m203
|Launcher, Grenade, 40mm, M203||40mm grenade||[[USA]]||1969||Colt<br>Many others||12 in (305 mm)||15 in (380 mm)||weapon_m203
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<hr>
<hr>
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]] grenade launcher.
The '''M203''' is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same 40×46mm low-velocity rounds as the older stand-alone [[M79]] grenade launcher.
<br>For the Grenade Launcher and the rifle goto [[M16A1 M203]]
<hr>
<hr>
=HISTORY=
 
The M203 was the only part of the United States Army's Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) project to go into production. The M203 has been in service since 1969 and was introduced to US military forces during the early 1970s, replacing the 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, and because a grenade is often not an appropriate weapon for all engagements (such as 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.
==HISTORY==
<br>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher SOURCE]
The M203 emerged from the U.S. Army’s Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) effort, with the launcher component becoming the practical fielded outcome. Adopted into service in 1969, it was introduced more broadly during the early 1970s as a replacement for the stand-alone [[M79]] and the conceptually similar Colt [[XM148]]. Unlike the M79, which was typically carried as a grenadier’s primary weapon, the M203 was designed from the start as an underbarrel system so the grenadier could keep a standard rifle for routine engagements.
 
The underbarrel concept addressed the realities of 40 mm ammunition and tactical use: grenades are bulky and usually carried in limited quantity, and they are not always appropriate at close range or near friendly troops. Mounting the launcher to a rifle allowed faster transitions between rifle fire and explosive projectiles, giving infantry squads flexible indirect-fire capability without dedicating a separate weapon system and user for every situation.
 
===Sources===
* [https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/Weapons/Content/PDF/M203.pdf M203 40mm Grenade Launcher | U.S. Army (Fort Benning / Infantry)]
* [https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/land/m203.htm M203 40mm Grenade Launcher | Federation of American Scientists (Military Analysis Network)]
* [https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m203.htm M203 Grenade Launcher | GlobalSecurity.org]
 
<hr>
<hr>


<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
<div class="mw-collapsible" style="border:1px solid #ccc; padding:5px; width:100%;">
File:Loading M203 40 mm grenade launcher attached to an M16 rifle.jpg
  <div style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold;">Real-Life Photos</div>
</gallery>
  <div class="mw-collapsible-content" style="margin-top:0.5em;">
    <gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Loading M203 40 mm grenade launcher attached to an M16 rifle.jpg|Loading an M203 mounted to an M16-pattern rifle.
File:M203 side.jpg|Side profile of weapon ingame
    </gallery>
  </div>
</div>


<hr>
<hr>


{{#evt:
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  <div style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold;">Videos</div>
|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFz36hpmVIQ
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|alignment=inline
    {{#ev:youtube|DFz36hpmVIQ}}
}}
    {{#ev:youtube|oqyLoU_0Av4}}
 
  </div>
{{#evt:
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service=youtube
|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqyLoU_0Av4
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}}

Latest revision as of 23:18, 24 February 2026

Factions Weapon Icon Classes Ammo Explosion
Damage Radius

US
M203		 Assault
 1 / 2 125 200
Designation Weapon Type Fire Modes Fire Rate Bullet Spread ° Range Modifier Muzzle Velocity Projectile weight Weight Reload Speed
M203 Grenade Launcher Single Shot 50 RPM 3° & 1° ADS Unaffected 60 m/s 230 g (.5 lbs) 7kg (15.43 lbs) 2.266 Seconds
Full name Caliber Place of Origin Date Manufacturer Barrel Length Total Length Weapon Script Name
Launcher, Grenade, 40mm, M203 40mm grenade USA 1969 Colt
Many others		 12 in (305 mm) 15 in (380 mm) weapon_m203


The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same 40×46mm low-velocity rounds as the older stand-alone M79 grenade launcher.
For the Grenade Launcher and the rifle goto M16A1 M203

HISTORY

The M203 emerged from the U.S. Army’s Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) effort, with the launcher component becoming the practical fielded outcome. Adopted into service in 1969, it was introduced more broadly during the early 1970s as a replacement for the stand-alone M79 and the conceptually similar Colt XM148. Unlike the M79, which was typically carried as a grenadier’s primary weapon, the M203 was designed from the start as an underbarrel system so the grenadier could keep a standard rifle for routine engagements.

The underbarrel concept addressed the realities of 40 mm ammunition and tactical use: grenades are bulky and usually carried in limited quantity, and they are not always appropriate at close range or near friendly troops. Mounting the launcher to a rifle allowed faster transitions between rifle fire and explosive projectiles, giving infantry squads flexible indirect-fire capability without dedicating a separate weapon system and user for every situation.

Sources

Real-Life Photos
  • Loading an M203 mounted to an M16-pattern rifle.
    Loading an M203 mounted to an M16-pattern rifle.
  • Side profile of weapon ingame
    Side profile of weapon ingame
Videos
Load video
YouTube
Load video
YouTube
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