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Weapons System

M203 Grenade Launcher

Grenades And Explosives

The M203 is a single-shot, pump-action 40mm grenade launcher designed by AAI Corporation to attach beneath the barrel of a rifle, originally the M16 rifle and later the M4 carbine. It fires the same 40x46mm SR ammunition as the earlier stand-alone M79 launcher, using a high-low propulsion system to reduce recoil, with the host rifle's own magazine well acting as a forward grip; because the rifle's iron sights do not align with the launcher's trajectory, a separate sight is fitted. Adopted by the United States in 1969, it has remained in service since, manufactured over the years by Colt Defense, Diemaco and several other makers. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Caliber
40mm 1
Caliber
40x46mm 2
Service Status
In Service 2
Weapon Class
Under-barrel grenade launcher 3
Introduced Year
1969 1
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category)
Rifle 3
FAQs

Can the M203 be fitted to rifles other than the M16 and M4?

Yes, the M203 PI version was developed to fit rifles other than the M16 and M4 families.

Yes. The standard M203 was built for the M16 series of rifles and the M4 and M4A1 carbines, and it carries a 12-inch barrel. The M203A1 was offered as a complement to the M4 and M4A1 with a shorter 9-inch barrel, and the M203A2 was developed for the M16A4 modular weapon system. A separate version, the M203 PI, was developed to fit the launcher to non-M16 and non-M4 systems.
Connections

Operated By

Australian Defence Force, Armed Forces and Units
Source MilitaryFactory.com: Colt / AAI M203
Brazilian Army, Armed Forces and Units
Source MilitaryFactory.com: Colt / AAI M203
Canadian Armed Forces, Armed Forces and Units
Source MilitaryFactory.com: Colt / AAI M203
Egyptian Armed Forces, Armed Forces and Units
Source MilitaryFactory.com: Colt / AAI M203
French Armed Forces, Armed Forces and Units
Source MilitaryFactory.com: Colt / AAI M203

Used In

Cambodian Civil War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Falklands War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Gulf War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Iraq War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Laotian Civil War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Soviet-Afghan War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Syrian Civil War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Vietnam War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Wars
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Colt's Manufacturing Company

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Source Wikidata: M203 Grenade Launcher
Sources
1. Wikidata: M203 Grenade Launcher
Wikidata Q907351, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
2. Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
  • Article text
    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.
  • Infobox: cartridge
    40×46mm SR
  • Infobox: service
    1969-present
  • Lead section
    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.
  • Used In: Vietnam War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Laotian Civil War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Cambodian Civil War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Soviet-Afghan War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Falklands War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Gulf War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Iraq War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Syrian Civil War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • In Group: Grenade Launchers, Infobox: type
    Grenade launcher
View the Source
3. Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
  • Introduction
    is a single-shot, pump action, 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle.
  • History
    The M203 has been in service since 1969
  • Weapon class classified from the entity's own sourced description text.
View the Source
MilitaryFactory.com: Colt / AAI M203
MilitaryFactory.com
  • Operated By: Australian Defence Force, Operators
    [ Australia; Austria; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Canada; Chile; Columbia; Denmark; Egypt; France; Greece; Indonesia; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Lebanon; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Portugal; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam ]
  • Operated By: Brazilian Army, Operators
    [ Australia; Austria; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Canada; Chile; Columbia; Denmark; Egypt; France; Greece; Indonesia; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Lebanon; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Portugal; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam ]
  • Operated By: Canadian Armed Forces, Operators
    [ Australia; Austria; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Canada; Chile; Columbia; Denmark; Egypt; France; Greece; Indonesia; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Lebanon; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Portugal; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam ]
  • Operated By: Egyptian Armed Forces, Operators
    [ Australia; Austria; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Canada; Chile; Columbia; Denmark; Egypt; France; Greece; Indonesia; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Lebanon; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Portugal; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam ]
  • Operated By: French Armed Forces, Operators
    [ Australia; Austria; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Canada; Chile; Columbia; Denmark; Egypt; France; Greece; Indonesia; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Lebanon; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Portugal; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam ]
View the Source
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