M203 Grenade Launcher attachment on certain maps

[Vasily Chuikov]

Now bear with me here.
I propose that only on certain maps, late war maps, that the grenadier have an option for an M16 with an M203 attached. This would be balanced out by having less rounds for the '203 than for the M79 and less magazines for the M16 than a rifleman.

You may be asking, was the M203 even used in Vietnam and the answer is yes. More than you might think even, and no, not only by special forces, by regular infantry.

Unlike the XM148 grenade launcher which the US Army tried to introduce in 1966 as an alternative to the M79 and then quickly recalled (was eventually only used by special forces, US and AUS), the M203 became standard issue and was a success.

The M203 was introduced to regular Australian infantry in 1969 and regular American infantry in 1970/1971.

At 1:55 in this video you can see an Australian soldier using a '203, this footage was taken mid 1969:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK8TJFMs51c&t=43s

At 0:52 in this video you'll see an M203 attached to an M16 with a 30 round mag (now don't get confused, the M203s started shipping with 30 round M16 mags, but standard M16s still had the 20 rounders until the US pulled out), this is late 1971:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvIkTGmCmg4

Here's a Vietnam War era instructional video on the '203:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psg-jiL86mg

And a couple flicks as well:

https://www.327infantry.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/mike_carretero.jpg

https://78.media.tumblr.com/c4a2693c576822045257d2479f61622e/tumblr_orpovxjvEb1s57vgxo1_1280.jpg


Now I'm not holding my breath here, but since people are always looking for new weapons, there are still some accurate ones left to introduce, provided that they are map specific.

[=(e)= Lemonater47]

XM148 on Sterling pls. https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.bimg.126.net%2Fphoto%2FNByTcQ77BTGtiFq3U3W9zQ%3D%3D%2F588564176318768545.jpg&hash=c3597226e8e9bbd4fd8cbf241847ad0c

[Vasily Chuikov]

Originally posted by =(e)= Lemonater47:

XM148 on Sterling pls. https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.bimg.126.net%2Fphoto%2FNByTcQ77BTGtiFq3U3W9zQ%3D%3D%2F588564176318768545.jpg&hash=c3597226e8e9bbd4fd8cbf241847ad0c

Jesus, assuming that was SAS? Those crazy bastards.

[Blackbeard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_z4IuxAqpE

[=(e)= Lemonater47]

Originally posted by Vasily Chuikov:

Originally posted by =(e)= Lemonater47:

XM148 on Sterling pls. https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.bimg.126.net%2Fphoto%2FNByTcQ77BTGtiFq3U3W9zQ%3D%3D%2F588564176318768545.jpg&hash=c3597226e8e9bbd4fd8cbf241847ad0c

Jesus, assuming that was SAS? Those crazy bastards.

Yeah SAS.

Side note though it seems the Australians made heavy use out of the XM148 after the US ditched it. Simply because it apparently fit their grenadier doctrine better than the M79. Having the launcher attached to the rifle. As prior to Australia in Vietnam that's how all their grenadiers were like. Except they were spigot launchers. The Americans on the other hand were looking for something like an M79 since the 50s.

[Vasily Chuikov]

Originally posted by =(e)= Lemonater47:

Originally posted by Vasily Chuikov:

Jesus, assuming that was SAS? Those crazy bastards.

Yeah SAS.

Side note though it seems the Australians made heavy use out of the XM148 after the US ditched it. Simply because it apparently fit their grenadier doctrine better than the M79. Having the launcher attached to the rifle. As prior to Australia in Vietnam that's how all their grenadiers were like. Except they were spigot launchers. The Americans on the other hand were looking for something like an M79 since the 50s.

Yeah they fit the SLRs really well, the SAS loved them.

[Vasily Chuikov]

Bumping this more in depth thread since it's been brought up again.

[ETucc]

Originally posted by Vasily Chuikov:

Bumping this more in depth thread since it's been brought up again.

I'm really surprised more people haven't been clamoring for this. It seems everyone is focused on the Communist factions getting more love, currently.

[Vasily Chuikov]

Originally posted by ETucc:

Originally posted by Vasily Chuikov:

Bumping this more in depth thread since it's been brought up again.

I'm really surprised more people haven't been clamoring for this. It seems everyone is focused on the Communist factions getting more love, currently.

Yeah, I'm surprised as well to be honest!

[Luke]

No one really cares because the M203 is worse than the thumper and people don't like grenades anyways, I haven't seen anyone who likes being blown up from behind cover.

[Zeno]

Originally posted by Luke:

No one really cares because the M203 is worse than the thumper and people don't like grenades anyways, I haven't seen anyone who likes being blown up from behind cover.

No one...But the guy who does the " blowing " ( not intended to sound like it does but.. ) really enjoys it.

[♥♥♥♥ nugget]

Don't see a reason not to add this, considering they've already added a suppressed xm21

At least this would bring something new and unique, unlike a k-50 or an mg34

[Maki Nishikino]

Originally posted by Luke:

No one really cares because the M203 is worse than the thumper and people don't like grenades anyways, I haven't seen anyone who likes being blown up from behind cover.

It's part of combat, deal with it.

[static]

203 was mediocre compared to the M79, significantly worse range and accuracy. I can already hear the whining about how it sucks.

[=(e)= Lemonater47]

Originally posted by static:

203 was mediocre compared to the M79, significantly worse range and accuracy. I can already hear the whining about how it sucks.

The bonus is that you get an M16 attached to it.

[static]

IIRC a number of US units decided against wider employment of the 203 once it became available during the Vietnam War. Turned out grenadiers were spending too much time firing the rifle and not enough time firing the grenade launcher. They ended up heavily preferring the M79 because it gave them a higher rate of 40mm fire for a number of reasons.