Tag: M203 Stock

LMT Standalone M203s In Ukraine

In this series looking at weapons used in Ukraine we’ve looked at a number of different grenade launchers including GP-25s adapted for standalone use, FN FN40GLs, discharger cups for hand grenades and perhaps the rarest grenade launcher seen in Ukraine so far; the standalone Colt M203. Another interesting and fairly rarely seen grenade launcher that began to appear in Ukraine last winter is LMT’s standalone 40mm M203.

LMT offers a series of M203-derived launchers and two standalone stock attachment methods. The Iowa-based company introduced its 40mm grenade launchers in 2003. The launchers seen in Ukraine appear to be the rail mounted version with a 9 inch long barrel.

An LMT M203 in the field (via Rogue Team)

The first sighting of an LMT M203 in Ukraine came in November 2023, when Georgian volunteer O.d.i.n.s.o.n., part of the GUR/HUR (Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence)’s Omega Team, posted a photo of one side by side with a standalone GP25. The launchers likely arrived in country a little earlier, speaking to TAB at the time he noted that “the aiming module is a little weird. It has like an M4 forward sight and GL [grenade launcher] distance adjustable rear sight but it’s on top of the weapon. So it doesn’t force you to arc the barrel Like a GP25 does.”

The next appearance of one of the launchers came in late February 2024, when Scorpion Protection Group, another SOF group, shared a photo of a combatant training with one. A third GUR unit, Rogue Team, have also posted images featuring an LMT M203. The first image was shared by a team member on 17 March. This was followed by an image shared on the team’s Instagram page on the 5 April.

LMT M203 rail mounted version with 9in barrel – right side (LMT)

On the 14 April, a photo posted by one of the Kraken Regiment’s (also under the GUR) teams also appears to include a standalone LMT M203. Most recently on 16 April, a Spanish member of Omega Team, shared a photo of an LMT M203 with its action open with a round ready to load. On the same day TAB spoke again to Omega Team member O.d.d.i.n.s.o.n. at length about the launchers.

O.d.i.n.s.o.n. explained that the unit switched from rotary 40mm grenade launchers to standalone GP25s and LMT M203 as they are lighter and less bulky than the rotary launchers. He reiterated the difference in the LMT sight from quadrant sights found on other launchers and noted that “instead of a switch or a selector it has a little hook that you pull back and it prevents your finger from going on the trigger.” This is a carry over from the original M203 on which LMT’s launcher is based.

When comparing the GP25 and M203 O.d.i.n.s.o.n. noted that the M203 is light, effective and has a ‘really nice stock’ but he dislikes that the M203’s action has to be opened to reload, unlike the GP25 which when fired “leaves nothing inside the tube and is faster on the reload.” When asked if he’d seen many other units using LMT launchers he explained that “most [International Legion] Special Task Units [affiliated with the GUR] have a couple.”

An LMT M203 with its action open (Courtesy of Delta Knights)

We also spoke with Delta Knights, another GUR Specal Task Unit made up of international volunteers, who confirmed they also use LMT M203s and said that they ‘really love it’ but one thing they do wish they had more of is 40mm smoke grenades, adding that the launcher is most often employed with High Explosive (HE) grenades. Delta Knights were kind enough to provide some photos and videos of the M203 in operation at the range.

While the imagery and information available confirms combat use of the LMT M203s in Ukraine it doesn’t give us a solid picture of just how many are in-theatre and other units who may be using them. As always the imagery shared online represents a fraction of what is going on and can only be considered a limited sample. In terms of the origins of the launchers one potential source for the LMT M203s is Estonia which adopted the LMT MARS-L as the R-20 in 2020. Some of the Estonian R-20s have been seen with LMT M203s and given Estonia’s considerable past support for Ukraine it is possible that they may have provided a number of the launchers.

Special thanks to O.D.I.N.S.O.N and Delta Knights for their time and insights and to the guys at Cloooud for additional assistance.

Update – 1/5/24: A recently shared International Legion recruitment social media post included an LMT M203.

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Bibliography:

9″ Standalone Rail Mounted M203, LMT, (source)

The LMT M203-2003 Grenade Launcher, Small Arms Defense Journal, (source)

Lmt M203 Grenade Launcher Stand Alone Frame, LMT, (source)

The Rarest Grenade Launcher in Ukraine

Remarkably, a rare prototype Colt stand-alone stock chassis for the M203 40mm grenade launcher has been spotted in Ukraine. Our friends and colleagues at StreakingDelilah received some photographs and video of the prototype stock in November. They have kindly allowed me to share them here.

The stock chassis turns the M203 into a stand-alone launcher. It belongs to a Ukrainian Combatant with the GUR’s ‘Kraken’ Unit. M203 launchers were first seen in Ukraine in January 2023, when members of the 47th Mechanised Brigade were seen equipped with M16A4s with M203 under-barrel grenade launchers.

A still from a video showing the Colt M203 chassis at a range in Ukraine (via StreakingDelilah)

The chassis were reportedly made in both fixed stock and collapsing stock configurations. The one seen in Ukraine has a CAR-15 style adjustable collapsing stock. The chassis system takes a standard M203 under-barrel grenade launcher with heat shield and provides a platform which can be shouldered. According to friends at the Colt AR-15 Resource, the chassis was reportedly developed for an undisclosed US organisation, possibly US Special Operations Command or one of the alphabet agencies. It is thought that less than 30 were manufactured.

While there is little solid information available on these chassis it has been suggested that the project dated from before the start of the so-called ‘Global War on Terror’, and perhaps as early as 1992. Some samples were also reportedly made for external customers like El Salvador. The Colt-made stand alone chassis are a concept which has been replicated more widely by other manufacturers since.

The Colt AR-15 Resource shared some video of one of the fixed stock variants from a collector’s show:

The combatant in Ukraine shared several photographs of the M203 stand alone chassis. One appears to have been taken in a frontline trench while another shows it lying next to an FN SCAR-L and a couple of 40mm LV HEDP grenades.

The sight assembly appears to be unique to the chassis and combines a a rear sight which is graduated out to 250-300 metres with a front sight. It does not appear to have a quadrant sight mounted for longer range fire. The weapon operates just as the M203 normally would with the barrel sliding forward to open the action. Unlike the M203 under-barrel configuration the stand alone launcher has a pistol grip.

Some, but not all, examples of the chassis are marked with ‘COLT’s’ on the rear of the chassis above the pistol grip on the left side. Serial number markings are found on the launcher itself, on the trigger mechanism housing.

The rare chassis has also turned up in Afghanistan with StreakingDelilah sharing this photograph of a member of the Taliban with one.

It is unclear how the rare chassis came to see service on Ukraine’s frontline but StreakingDelilah believe it may have been privately acquired through a surplus dealer, though they stress this is unconfirmed. It has been interesting to see the proliferation of stand alone grenade launchers in use with both sides during the war in Ukraine, but I never expected to see this rare Colt-made stand alone chassis.

Special thanks to StreakingDelilah and The Colt AR-15 Resource for their help.

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