ORGANIC SUPPORT WEAPONS: M203 AND MACHINE GUNS

This chapter is a continuation of the discussion about weapons. Here you will learn about support weapons available to the Seabees. Information on the 40-mm grenade launcher, M203, the M60 machine gun, the .50-caliber Browning machine gun, and the MK 19, MOD 3, 40-mm, machine gun is provided.

THE 40-MM GRENADE LAUNCHER, M203

When equipped with a grenade launcher, the Ml6A1 rifle becomes the 40-mm grenade launcher, M203, and loses its identity as the M16A1 rifle. The launcher attachment is assembled by a qualified armorer only. As a member of a weapons platoon, you only have the responsibility for the employment, trajectory, method of firing, firing effects, malfunctions, and care and cleaning of the launcher attachment. The 40-mm grenade launcher, M203, mounted on the M16A1 is shown in figure 13-1. It is a lightweight, compact, breech-loading, pump-action (sliding-barrel), single-shot, manually operated weapon.

The launcher is approximately 16 inches in overall length; it weighs approximately 3.6 pounds loaded and 3 pounds unloaded. Its maximum range is 415 meters, its area target range is 350 meters, and its point target range is 150 meters. The grenade launcher controls and their identifications, as shown in figure 13-2, are discussed in the sections that follow.

Figure 13-2.-The 40-mm grenade launcher M203, controls, and their identifications.