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M203 grenade launcher
The M203 grenade launcher is an underbarrel accessory grenade launcher originally developed as part of the SALVO / SPIW projects, a series of trials to produce an advanced rifle for the US Army. A sub-project, NIBLICK, produced a lightweight, low-recoil 40mm grenade round using the high-low pressure venting system devised by the Germans in WW2, and initially developed the M79 grenade launcher to fire it.
While the SPIW rifles were supposed to use a multi-shot semi-automatic launcher as part of a requirement that was too complicated for its own good, one of AAI's submissions featured a "simplified" single-shot launcher with a sliding breech which acted as both a loading port and a shotgun-like forend for cocking the weapon. While SPIW fell apart, this weapon was salvaged from the project and, with some refinement, was adopted as the M203 in 1968, initially as an accessory for the M16 rifle series with a 12-inch barrel. Since this time, numerous additional variants have been produced, including the 9-inch version for the M4 series, and parts kits have been produced allowing the device to mount to other rifles or be used as a standalone launcher.
NOTE: In some movies and TV shows, the Cobray 37mm Launcher is used to impersonate the M203. For a list of ways to tell the two launchers apart, visit the Cobray 37mm Launcher page.
Specifications
(1968 - Present)
- Type: Grenade launcher
- Caliber: 40x46mm SR
- Weight: 3 lbs (1.4 kg)
- Length: 15 in (38 cm) with 12 in (30.5 cm) barrel
- Barrel Length: 12.5 in (31.7 cm), 18 in (45.7 cm), or 22 in (55.9 cm)
- Feed System: Sliding breech, also functions as cocking mechanism
- Fire Modes: Single shot, single action trigger
The M203 grenade launcher (often mounted on a variant of the M16 rifle) has been used by the following actors in the following films, television series, and video games:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Velocity | Paul Winfield | Watson | 1976 | |
| The Odd Angry Shot | Various | Australian SAS troopers | Mounted on M16A1 | 1979 |
| Scarface | Al Pacino | Tony Montana | Mounted on AR-15 | 1983 |
| Missing In Action | Chuck Norris | COL James Braddock | Mounted on M16A1 | 1984 |
| Code Name: Wild Geese | Thomas Danneberg | Arbib | Mounted on M16A1 | 1984 |
| My Science Project | John Stockwell | Mike | Mounted on M16A1 | 1985 |
| American Ninja | Steve James | Cpl. Jackson | Mounted on M16A1 | 1985 |
| Commando Leopard | Lewis Collins | Enrique Carrasco | Mounted on M16A1 | 1985 |
| Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | U.S. Marine | Mounted on M16A1 | 1986 | |
| Legacy of Rage | Henchman | Mounted on XM16E1 | 1986 | |
| Heartbreak Ridge | Vincent Irizarry | Cpl. Collins | Mounted AR-15/SP1 | 1986 |
| Ramon Franco | LCpl. Aponte | |||
| Extreme Prejudice | William Forsythe | Sgt. Buck Atwater | Mounted on M16 (SP1) | 1987 |
| Death Wish 4 | Charles Bronson | Paul Kersey | Mounted on M16 (SP1) | 1987 |
| Predator | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Dutch | Mounted on AR-15/SP1 | 1987 |
| Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | David Graf | Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry | Mounted on M16A1 | 1989 |
| Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection | Various | Ramon Cota's men | 1990 | |
| Predator 2 | Danny Glover | Lt. Mike Harrigan | Mounted on CAR-15 | 1990 |
| Double Impact | Triad hitman | Mounted on CAR-15 | 1991 | |
| Hard Boiled | Philip Kwok | Mad Dog | Mounted on M16A1 | 1992 |
| RoboCop 3 | John Castle | Paul McDaggett | Mounted on XM177E2 | 1993 |
| Various | 'SplatterPunks' members | |||
| Clear and Present Danger | Jaime Gomez | Sgt. Julio Vega | Mounted on M16A1 | 1994 |
| In the Army Now | Pauly Shore | PFC Bones Conway | Mounted on M16A1, but not seen used | 1994 |
| The Dallas Connection | Bruce Penhall | Chris Cannon | Mounted on CAR-15 | 1994 |
| Top Dog | Neo Nazi terrorists and SWAT officers | Mounted on CAR-15 | 1995 | |
| The Rock | Tony Todd | CPT Darrow | Mounted on M16 (SP1) | 1996 |
| Rogue Marine | Standalone M203 | |||
| Day of the Warrior | Kevin Light | Doc Austin | Mounted on M16A1 | 1996 |
| Ron Browning | Ron | |||
| Warrior's henchman | ||||
| Tomorrow Never Dies | Götz Otto | Robert Stamper | Mounted on Colt Model 727 | 1997 |
| Various | Elliott Carver's henchmen | Mounted on M16A2 | ||
| Deep Impact | US Army Soldiers | Mounted on Colt Model 727's | 1998 | |
| The Siege | Various | U.S. Army soldiers | Mounted on XM177-types | 1998 |
| Point Blank | Michael Wright | Sonny | Mounted on M16A1 | 1998 |
| Bravo Two Zero | Sean Bean | Sgt. Andy McNab | Mounted on M16A2s, featuring desert camouflage scheme while Sean Bean's weapon has a compass attached | 1999 |
| Kevin Collins | Chris Ryan | |||
| The Boondock Saints | Mounted on M16A1 and M4A1 | 1999 | ||
| The General's Daughter | Mounted on M16A2s | 1999 | ||
| Universal Soldier: The Return | Jean Claude Van Damme | Luc Deveraux | Mounted on M4A1s, fitted with C-More red dot sights and SureFire Universal WeaponLights | 1999 |
| Various | U.S. Army Rangers | |||
| End of Days | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Jericho Cane | Mounted on H&K MP5A3 | 1999 |
| Battlefield Earth | Various | Mounted on M16A1s and Colt 9mm SMGs | 2000 | |
| Proof of Life | David Caruso | Dino | 2000 | |
| Uptown 2 | ||||
| Black Hawk Down | Ewan McGregor | SPC John Grimes | Mounted on M16A2s | 2001 |
| U.S. Army Ranger | ||||
| Blade II | Danny John-Jules | Asad | Mounted on Colt 727 Carbine | 2002 |
| 2009: Lost Memories | Various | JBI SWAT officers | Mounted on M4A1s, fitted with WeaponLights | 2002 |
| The Sum of All Fears | Various | U.S. Marines | Mounted on M16A2 and M4A1 | 2002 |
| The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course | Various | U.S. Army Rangers | Mounted on M16A1s | 2002 |
| XXX | Martin Hub | Ivan Podrov | 2002 | |
| Tears of the Sun | Eamonn Walker | Ellis "Zee" Pettigrew | Mounted on M4A1s, fitted with Aimpoint M68 CCOs and KAC railed handguards with KAC rail covers | 2003 |
| Paul Francis | Daniel "Doc" Kelley | |||
| Sniper 2 | Various | Mounted on M16A1s | 2003 | |
| Detention | Dolph Lundgren | Sam Decker | Mounted on Colt Model 727 | 2003 |
| The Punisher (2004) | Thomas Jane | Frank Castle | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with Aimpoint M68 CCO and KAC railed handguard with KAC rail covers. Also Mounted on M16A2, but not seen used in the film. | 2004 |
| Blade: Trinity | Vampire | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with a scope and KAC railed handguard | 2004 | |
| The Pacifier | Dennis Akayama | Mr. Chung | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with Aimpoint CompM2 red dot sight, KAC railed handguard, AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, SureFire Universal WeaponLight, laser module, and a KAC QDSS-NT4 suppressor. | 2005 |
| XXX: State of the Union | Ice Cube | 2005 | ||
| Various | General George Dekert's men | |||
| War of the Worlds | Various | U.S. Army soldiers | Mounted on M4A1s, fitted with C-More red dot sights, KAC railed handguards, and SureFire Universal WeaponLights | 2005 |
| Jarhead | Peter Sarsgaard | Cpl. Alan Troy | Mounted on M16A2s | 2005 |
| Brian Geraghty | Pfc. Fergus O'Donnell | |||
| Home of the Brave | Chad Michael Murray | PV2 Jordan Owens | Mounted on M4A1 and (rubber) Colt Model 733 | 2006 |
| Children of Men | Chiwetel Ejiofor | Luke | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with KAC railed handgaurd, SureFire Universal WeaponLight, and an AN/PEQ-2 IR designator | 2006 |
| Planet Terror | Rose McGowan | Cherry Darling | Mounted on Bushmaster Carbine | 2007 |
| 28 Weeks Later | U.S. Army soldier | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with carry handle | 2007 | |
| Transformers | Tyrese Gibson | TSgt. Bobby Epps | Mounted on desert camouflaged M4A1, fitted with carry handle, Trijicon TA01 4x32 ACOG scope, and KAC railed handguard with KAC rail covers | 2007 |
| Pat Mulderrig | Ranger Team #2 | Mounted on desert camouflaged M4A1, fitted with carry handle, KAC railed handguard with KAC rail covers, and an AN/PEQ-2 IR designator | ||
| U.S. Army Ranger | Standalone M203 | |||
| Various | Sector 7 soldiers | |||
| Redacted | Daniel Stewart Sherman | SPC B.B. Rush | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with Trijicon TA338 ACOG scope and KAC railed handguard with KAC rail covers. | 2007 |
| Mike Figueroa | SGT Jim Vasques | Mounted on M4A1 | ||
| Various | U.S. Army soldiers | |||
| Hitman (2007) | Henry Ian Cusick | Udre Belicoff | Mounted on M4A1 | 2007 |
| Various | Russian Alpha commando | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with SreFire Universal WeaponLight | ||
| The Mist | U.S. Army soldier | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with Trijicon 4x32 ACOG scope and AN/PEQ-2 IR designator | 2007 | |
| Rambo (2008) | Jake La Botz | Reese | 2008 | |
| The Eleventh Hour | Matthew Reese | Micheal Adams | M203A1, Mounted on M4A1 | 2008 |
| Resident Evil Degeneration | Leon | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with rear BUIS and an optical grenade sight | 2008 | |
| U.S. Marine | ||||
| The Objective | Jon Huertas | SGT Vincent Degetau | M203PI mounted on M4A1, fitted with Aimpoint M68 CCO, KAC M4 RAS handguard, AN/PEQ-2 TPIAL designator, and SureFire Universal WeaponLight | 2009 |
| Sam Hunter | SGT Tim Cole | |||
| Michael C. Williams | SGT Trinoski | |||
| Terminator Salvation | Various | Human resistance fighters | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with C-More red dot sights. | 2009 |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Various | N.E.S.T. soldiers | Mounted on M4A1s, fitted with Aimpoint M68 CCOs | 2009 |
| Dolan's Cadillac | 2009 | |||
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | Marlon Wayans | Wallace "Ripcord" Weems | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with carry handle, KAC railed handguard, and a WeaponLight | 2009 |
| U.S. Army soldier | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with C-More red dot sight and SureFire Universal WeaponLight | |||
| District 9 | Various | MNU mercenaries | Mounted on M4A1s, fitted with AN/PEQ-2 IR designators | 2009 |
| Brothers (2009) | . | U.S. Marine | Mounted on M4A1 | 2009 |
| Legion | Paul Bettany | Michael | Mounted on M16A2 and M16A4 | 2010 |
| The Losers | Jeffrey Dean Morgan | Clay | RM Equipment M203PI in standalone "Tactical Mounting System" stock with M203 grip and C-More red-dot sight | 2010 |
| MacGruber | Will Forte | MacGruber | Mounted on M4A1 | 2010 |
| A-Team, The (2010) | Quinton Jackson | SGT Bosco "BA" Baracas | Mounted on KAC stand-alone platform | 2010 |
| Red | Hitman | Mounted on M4A1 | 2010 | |
| Bruce Willis | Frank Moses | RM Equipment M203PI in standalone "Tactical Mounting System" stock | ||
| John Malkovich | Marvin Boggs | |||
| Battle: Los Angeles | . | . | . | 2011 |
| Hanna | CIA SOG operator | Mounted on M4A1, fitted with a carry handle | 2011 | |
| Memorial Day | 34th Infantry Division soldiers | Mounted on M4A1 Carbine | 2011 | |
| Battleground | US Soldier | Mounted on M16A1 | 2012 | |
| A Dark Truth | Equadorian soldier | Mounted on Colt Model 723 Carbine | 2012 | |
| Cockneys vs. Zombies | Mounted on M16A1 | 2012 | ||
| Olympus Has Fallen | North Korean terrorist | RM Equipment M203PI | 2013 | |
| Robocop | Iranian insurgents | Mounted on KAC stand-alone platforms | 2014 | |
| Patrick Garrow | Antoine Vallon | |||
| American Sniper | US Marine | Mounted on M16A4, with AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, EOTech red dot sight, and stock-mounted magazine pouch | 2014 |
Television
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mail Call | U.S Marines | Mounted on M16A2s | 2002 - 2009 | |
| Red Cap | British SAS Troopers | Mounted on M16A2s | 2003 - 2004 | |
| Over There | Luke MacFarlane | Pvt. Frank 'Dim' Dumphy | Mounted on M4A1 | 2005 |
| Ultimate Force | John Schwab | Pincher | Mounted on M4A1s | 2006 |
| Justin Allder | Barbella | |||
| The Unit | Dennis Haysbert | Command Sgt. Major Jonas Blane | Mounted on an M4A1 | 2006 - 2009 |
| Max Martini | Master Sgt. Mack Gerhardt | M203A1 mounted on an M4A1 | ||
| U.S. Army soldiers | Mounted on M16A2s, M203A1s mounted on M4A1s | |||
| Generation Kill | U.S. Marines | Mounted on M4A1s and M16A2s | 2008 | |
| Ultimate Weapons | Mounted on XM177E2 | 2010 | ||
| Defiance | Graham Greene | Rafe McCawley | Mounted on M4A1s | 2013 |
| Defiance residents |
Anime
| Character | Title | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandou | Elfen Lied | Mounted on Heckler & Koch MP5A4 | 2004 |
| Commandos | Black Magic M-66 | Mounted on M16A1 rifles | 1987 |
| Sousuke | Full Metal Panic?: Fumoffu | Mounted on M16 rifle | 2003 |
| Manami | Asobi ni Ikuyo: Bombshells from the Sky | Mounted on M16A1 rifle | 2010 |
| Ishikawa | Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig | Mounted on Howa Type 89 | 2004 - 2005 |
| Hideo Kuze | Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig | Mounted on Howa Type 89 | 2004 - 2005 |
| A.E. soldiers | Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig | Mounted on Colt Model 933 carbines | 2004 - 2005 |
| British Army soldiers | Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig | Mounted on L85A2 rifles | 2004 - 2005 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Life | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on H&K MP5A3 and Colt Model 727 | 1998 | |
| Parasite Eve II | M203 | Mounted on M4A1 | 1999 | |
| Delta Force: Land Warrior | M203PI | Mounted on Steyr AUG | 2000 | |
| Project IGI: I'm Going In | Mounted on Colt XM177E2 | 2000 | ||
| 007: The World Is Not Enough | "Mustang MAR-4 GL" | Mounted on Colt Commando | 2000 | |
| Operation Flashpoint | M203 | Can fire HE, smoke, or flare rounds | Mounted on M16A2 | 2001 |
| Ghost Recon | M203A2 | Mounted on M16A4 | 2001 | |
| Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | M203 | Mounted on M4A1 Carbine | 2001 | |
| Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix | M203 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on Colt Model 727 | 2002 |
| Delta Force: Task Force Dagger | M203 | Mounted on Colt Model 727 | 2002 | |
| The Sum Of All Fears | Mounted on M16A4 | 2002 | ||
| Conflict: Desert Storm | M203 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A2 | 2002 |
| America's Army | M203 / M203A1 | Can fire HDEP or smoke rounds | Mounted on M16A2 and M4A1 Carbine | 2002 |
| IGI 2: Covert Strike | Mounted on M16A2 | 2003 | ||
| Chaser | integrated into the handguard of a FAMAS G1 | 2003 | ||
| Delta Force: Black Hawk Down | M203 | Mounted on M16A2 and Colt Model 727 | 2003 | |
| Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes | Firing ring airfoil projectiles | Mounted on FAMAS | 2004 | |
| Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow | Standalone M203 | Can fire HE, smoke, CS, or WP rounds | Stand-alone variant with sliding stock | 2004 |
| Close Combat: First to Fight | M203A2 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A4 | 2005 |
| Battlefield 2 | M203 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A2 | 2005 |
| Project Reality | M203 / M203A1 / M203A2 | Firing HE, smoke, and illumination rounds | Mounted on M16A1, M16A2, C7A2, Colt Model 653, and M4A1 Carbine | 2005 |
| Far Cry Instincts: Predator | Mounted on a hybrid rifle | 2006 | ||
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl | Mounted on SIG SG 550, L85A1, H&K G36, and Z-M LR 300 | 2007 | ||
| ArmA: Armed Assault | M203 / M203A1 / M203A2 | Can fire HE, smoke, or flare rounds | Mounted on M16A2, M16A4, and M4A1 | 2007 |
| World in Conflict | M203 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A2 | 2007 |
| Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | "Grenade Launcher" | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on AR-15A3, M16A4, G36C, HK91A3, and M14 | 2007 |
| Soldier of Fortune: Payback | Mounted on M16A2 | 2007 | ||
| Counter-Strike Online | Part of the "SVDEX" | 2008 | ||
| Battlefield: Bad Company | Mounted on H&K HK416, Steyr AUG A3, and M16A4 | 2008 | ||
| Terminator Salvation | used by Terminators | 2009 | ||
| ArmA II | M203 / M203A1 / M203A2 | Can fire HE, smoke, or flare rounds | Mounted on M16A2, M16A4, and M4A1 Carbine, the latter having a camo paint scheme | 2009 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | "Grenade Launcher" | Firing HE rounds | Can be mounted on every assault rifle, except for the AK-47 | 2009 |
| Army of Two: The 40th Day | "M203 40MM GL" | Can be fitted to almost all primary weapons | 2010 | |
| Marines: Modern Urban Combat | M203A2 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A4 | 2010 |
| Battlefield: Bad Company 2 | Mounted on H&K HK416, Steyr AUG A3, and M16A4, with and without camo paint scheme | 2010 | ||
| Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker | M203 | Can fire HE or smoke rounds | Mounted on M16A1 and Colt Model 653 | 2010 |
| Delta Force: Xtreme 2 | M203 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A2 | 2010 |
| Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising | M203 / M203A2 | Mounted on M16A4 and M4A1 Carbine | 2010 | |
| Medal of Honor (2010) | M203A2 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A4 | 2010 |
| Bloody Good Time | Mounted on Z-M LR 300, but unusable | 2010 | ||
| Call of Duty: Black Ops | "Grenade Launcher" | Firing HE rounds | Can be mounted on every assault rifle, except for the AK-47 and AKS-74U | 2010 |
| Homefront (VG) | "Grenade launcher" | Laser rangefinder for fictional airburst rounds | Mounted on various rifles, able to use airburst and EMP rounds, zero arming distance | 2011 |
| Operation Flashpoint: Red River | M203A1 / M203A2 | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A4 and M4A1 Carbine | 2011 |
| Battlefield Play4Free | M203 | Aesthetic decoration only, but not usable | Mounted on M16A4 | 2011 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | "M203 Grenade Launcher" | Firing HE rounds | Mounted on M16A4 and M4A1 | 2011 |
| Breach | Mounted on M4A1 and HK416 | 2011 | ||
| NCIS: The Video Game | M203A1 | Seen on a poster | 2011 | |
| Ghost Recon: Future Soldier | GL | M203A2 with AN/PSQ-18A day/night sight | not usable | 2012 |
| Black Mesa | GL | Mounted on H&K MP5A3 | 2012 | |
| Batman: Arkham Knight | Mounted on M4A1s | 2014 | ||
| Yakuza: Dead Souls | Grenade Launcher | Standalone variant with telescopic stock | 2011 | |
| Squad | M203A1 | Mounted on the M4A1, fires HE or smoke rounds | 2015 |
See Also
- Colt's Manufacturing Company - A list of all firearms manufactured by Colt Manufacturing Company.
- Knight's Armament Company - A list of all firearms manufactured by KAC.