LMT M203 Grenade Launchers in Ukraine

So far we've seen plenty of interesting grenade launchers in Ukraine, recently another interesting and rarely seen grenade launcher has begun to appear - LMT's standalone 40mm M203.
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[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks for watching. Here's the accompanying article for this video: armourersbench.com/2024/04/21/lmt-standalone-m203s-in-ukraine/

[@mauwalker]

Proof that the M79 isn’t obsolete.

[@Kinetic.44]

We all saw Terminator 2, bro

[@ethme7648]

I think mac v sog had it right!

[@ryanthorne5432]

I’ve always felt that grenade launchers are better as stand alone weapons than as under barrel weapons.

[@ifv2089]

Yeah they are tbh, I had plenty of mates who carried the HK UGL on a bungee from a sling and fired it tucked in with left hand holding it down for the recoil, it was just more effective to smash through a bandolier and a slung ugl than patrolling around with it on an already heavy rifle. There were a few situations where the UGL on the weapon was very welcome for snap shooting in random situations but in general slung is awsome.

[@obliviondust2719]

Yes especially m320 . It’s just too heavy to be mounted on a carbine.

[@Xaivius]

Having worked with the rifle-mounted m203 and a few of the standalones in the US Army, I'm inclined to agree. As 'neat' as the concept of the UB mount was, in practice the extra few pounds to sling the gl and get weight off the carbine was generally worth the sweat.

[@brosefmalkovitch3121]

Based on reports out of Ukraine and previous conflicts, soldiers seem to prefer them as underbarrel attachments. It does add extra weight and bulk to the front of the gun but it's apparently a hell of a lot more convenient to keep the grenade launcher ready to use at all times with the gun as opposed to having to sling your rifle or set it aside to bring out the standalone grenade launcher. If you're on patrol and you suddenly make contact, you don't want to have to be fumbling around with the slings of your rifle and a GL.

[@Gamna778]

@@brosefmalkovitch3121I’ve heard this too.

[@NorroTaku]

why has no one called up Jörg Sprave and asked for a rubber powered slingshot version? using bog standard grenades to keep down the cost ofc

[@Jesses001]

Rifle mounted launchers were a major trend for a while, but it seems most solider these days prefer a stand alone unit. I think I understand why. The launchers make the rifle far less wieldable, and it does not take that much more weight to have have a stand alone strapped to your pack.

[@zcrib3]

Yeah, your normal assault rifle is usually balanced. So easy to carry even if it is 7.62 mm one. Sticking a grenade launcher on it makes it unbalanced, and you need to use muscle to balance it. So do you want an unbalanced rifle 99% time or just do more work 1% time you use the grenade launcher.

[@berryreading4809]

Also you can have your squad trained in the basic operation and anyone in the best position can grab the launcher and a bandolier of grenades and become the most effective "grenadier" for a given location without even being the classic "primary designated grenadier".... As far as I understand it most top tier US SOF units also use the same basic concept... Everyone in the squad/team can effectively use or carry the launcher, and everyone may even carry a few 40mm rounds with no laucher, but depending on position it can easily be transferred amongst teammates if the need arises or teammates can supply their 40mm rounds to the nearest guy using the tube... Atleast from what I've seen on combat footage and from interviews... I don't know if it's official standard operating procedure within those forces or just the most effective use of the hardware available? 🤷‍♂️ But it's certainly a great concept either way in my opinion.👍

[@Mark-BS-YT-name]

Similar to carrying a LAW or equivalent.

[@terrified057t4]

Please tell me LMT put "Would You Like to Know More?" as Starship reference 😅

[@CapnDan57]

Thanks again, Matt.

[@TheArmourersBench]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@jerrymandarren]

LMT said they would release the 203 a while back about 3-4 years later I was able to pick one up from a different dealer, they definitely put a lot of state side sales aside for MIL and export for sure.

[@oteliogarcia1562]

"it has a nice stock" is an understatement, especially compared to the GP25 stock

[@alexjack4538]

You're sleeping on Myanmar now. A lot of interesting weapons have appeared there like the FGC-9

[@TheArmourersBench]

Yeah. I think some groups are now actually largely moving away from craft made stuff at the moment because of their recent successes and significant weapons captures. I do need to put all my research together and do an actual video together though.

[@alexjack4538]

@@TheArmourersBench Still some interesting finds over there like uzi clones and even muskets one time.

[@Chiller11]

LMT is a quality company. One of the highest quality AR15 manufacturers around. Estonia is fortunate to be included in NATO. Perhaps their sense of security allows them to be generous regarding support for Ukraine.

[@TheArmourersBench]

I think their proximity to Russia has led the Baltic states to feel they'd rather suppose UA as much as possible to blunt Russian ambitions as they think they'll be next if they succeed in UA.

[@baneofbanes]

@@TheArmourersBenchsmart assumption. Especially given that states like Latvia have sizeable Russian populations.

[@soup31314]

What is old is new again.. The m203 replaced the stand alone m79.. and now we are back to the standalone m203 or m230

[@thewiezman]

i will keep asking for a video on the sig 516 love your videos man

[@jfu5222]

I carried the M203 on a M16A1 for most of the four years I was in the army, both as an infantry scout and as M113A1 driver. It was an unbalanced thing that was slow to get on target, this seems to be a much better solution. I noticed the plastic buckle on a short lanyard mounted on the stock.

[@strummi1]

Underrated channel

[@tasjan9190]

That LMT standalone rig is nice AF. The M203 40mm GLs are more effective than the Soviet contemporary in that it has longer range, is more accurate, and has a larger lethality radius. The loading mechanic on the GPs though seems it could be faster and lessens points of failure in the manual of arms when deploying them. I'm basis AF though because I simply love the aesthetics of the M203 more lol

[@wyattpeterson6286]

Maybe the m203 will be around longer than we thought.

[@fematrailer]

2:49 Just goes to show how people will like what they're used to. I personally would rather not have to put my hand in front of the muzzel to reload. If I had to, I would and 99.999% likelihood that nothing would ever happen. But given a choice, I still wouldn't pick the GP-25.

[@lowandslow3939]

I was Army Infantry in the early 80’s. The M79 had been phased out. A real shame according to guys I knew with experience in Vietnam. They said it was more accurate than the M203. Ours were all mounted underneath M16’s. I taught classes on the use of the M203 and had to make sure all rounds were expended at the end of each training session. What a shame. 😅 I got quite good at plunking them through window openings at distance.

[@tasjan9190]

Are the M203s more effective than the Soviet GPs? I've heard and seen information that suggest that the M203 has more range, higher accuracy, and a higher lethality radius. Would you say based on your experience with the M203 that that's a fair assessment? Regardless the M203 is far easier on the eyes that's for sure lol.

[@lowandslow3939]

@@tasjan9190 I wish I could answer your question but I have no experience with that Russian weapon. We were trained to use and clean the AK47 and RPG of the day, but that was in the 80’s.

[@tasjan9190]

@@lowandslow3939 Well thank you regardless for taking the time to respond and thank you for your service. Good day to you.

[@elchjol2777]

​@@tasjan9190 The Soviet under barrel GL is a 37mm I think, while NATO GL's are 40mm. Not that much of a size difference but the 40mm should be able to have a larger explosive charge.

[@Spud500]

New Zealand wasnt mentioned? sad I think the NZDF have a video on it or something like that.

[@TheArmourersBench]

I would be very surprised if NZ had sent them but who knows. If anyone from the NZ MoD is reading let me know!

[@Spud500]

@@TheArmourersBench "only protection systems ie body armor" but I ment the NZDF has them in use, and they had a small video on the weapon system but yea, New Zealand hasn't done anything.

[@RustyBear]

nice video

[@fern8580]

the "bazzoka scarface al pacino" with guided bullets! urban combat zone.

[@keepyourbilsteins]

Spy the AR stock and grip module. Nice.

[@Alex-no1rb]

is it possible to use some kind of "beehive"/canister 40mm round in LMT and alike for anti-drone purposes?

[@doce7606]

I thought that. I thought there was a flechette round...?

[@paulm1365]

I wonder if a folding stock and/or folding pistol grip version would go well for troops who aren’t carrying it as a primary weapon.

[@marcusott2973]

Was that Valvgear in one of 203 clips?

[@_DarkEmperor]

Poland has donated RGP-40 grenade launchers to Ukraine, that is quite interesting grenade launcher.

[@MikeMike-er7kn]

Do these take the high velocity grenades also?

[@TheArmourersBench]

No, just low velocity.

[@PeanutsDadForever]

Another Amazing Video! Thank you. 🇦🇺👴🏻

[@dmitrikulkevicius9161]

USA passed military aid to Ukraine, finally.

[@TheArmourersBench]

It did indeed.

[@Armored_Ariete]

lets see if the senate passes it

[@TheArmourersBench]

Given the House was the issue I imagine they probably will.

[@berryreading4809]

I've never been more disappointed in my government or ashamed of my country in my lifetime than watching it's failure to properly aid and arm Ukraine... And I've seen plenty of decisions to be disappointed about, even invading Iraq a second time under false pretenses then staying there over two decades made more sense than our current actions regarding helping Ukraine... It's as if during WW2 we decided to stay "isolationist", then approved lend-lease, but only in mid 1944, and only because Britain had already been invaded, with Germany having a well established beachhead, and for aid we sent a few thousand 1903 Springfields, 500 horses taken from the line at the glue factory, but won't send the uncommon 30-06 ammo for the rifles for another few months, because we didn't want to bother making P14 Enfields in .303 and people who read nazi propaganda were furious about the shipping costs so we only used one ship... All while we were producing the same amount of war material as we actually did during WW2, but just kept moving it between Alaska and Hawaii instead of letting anyone else use it. 🤦‍♂️ I knew social media was powerful, but boy did I underestimate it's potential to be weaponized for shaping ideology way beyond what classical "news" organizations on television or print could achieve... I guess it was harder for Russian or CCP bots to infiltrate print media or cable news to influence and divide Americans using political party division, deceptive imagery persuasion, and mass artificial information circulation... (besides RT and CGTN of course 🙄)

[@Loooppp]

The 3 first shoots i see, you cut just before impact...a choice ?

[@TheArmourersBench]

Just to fit them all in that short sequence. If you follow the cards in the video or the links in the accompanying article you can see those videos of various launchers in full in separate vids. Thanks for watching.

[@Legitpenguins99]

Can somebody explain to me how or why a M203 can cost $2000? It's like the simplest gun ever

[@AKlover]

$3200 dollars for an aluminum tube with A trigger pack pack,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, WOW!!!! Somebody is raking it in.

[@afallencheetah6610]

Those are US domestic commercial sale price. Yes, a US citizen with the correct paperwork can buy a 40mm grenade launcher directly from LMT. Now, military and police can get them for much cheaper because they buy in bulk.

[@Chilly_Billy]

​@afallencheetah6610 Even with a 50 % bulk discount, which is unlikely, that's still a huge profit(eer) margin.

[@AKlover]

@@afallencheetah6610 C3/Title 2 Man. Tax stamp $200 + Pre-cut aluminum tube $20 + Trigger pack and Sight $200 + Sock assembly and buffer tube $40 + Pump action $50-100 ............................... Getting the idea of HOW MUCH mark up is there yet???? Taxpayer is taking it up the tailpipe HARD.

[@joemama.556]

those barrels are rifled and made out of steel, only the 37mm ones are made out of aluminum and have a smooth bore, and those cost 1.5K dollars

[@SlavicCelery]

​@@AKloverIs it over priced, yes. Are there a ton of other factors that you're ignoring, also yes. I doubt LMT has a fully specced out, fulltime manufacturing line specifically for M203 based items. The volume of scale comes into play. If you're banging out AR-15 lowers, there's a massive market to sell those. Grenade launchers are going to be small batch items. Part of the cost is absorbing the tooling time lost to other properties.

[@omarrp14]

I wonder why they have normal/full stocks. Seems like it’d be less bulky to have a shitty collapsible/foldable stock. Albeit less comfortable for that 40mm recoil.

[@TheSergeantWaffle]

You answered your own question my friend. It's for the recoil. Look at pictures of GP-25's modified to be standalone and you'll see alot of padding when they could have just made a cheap wire stock.

[@baneofbanes]

@@TheSergeantWafflenot onto that but the stocks on those are generally spring loaded.

[@maxasaurus3008]

No China Lake pump-actions ?

[@baneofbanes]

Those things never got past prototypes. Super unreliable. The Russians have a pump action grenade launcher but only Spetnaz use it.

[@rogersmith8480]

👍💯👍💯👍💯👍💯👍

[@danielhess39]

Like, comment, share, and subscribe 👍🏼🤙🏽

[@TheArmourersBench]

🫡

[@TheCat48488]

0:00 Fakel GL

[@leonardosalcido821]

What about the US!!!! LMT NEEDS TO RE-UP !!!

[@harrisonbergeron9746]

investing in arms manufacture is extremely profitable, what?

[@chriskortan1530]

It seems kind of dumb to me to downgrade from a rotary multiple shot weapon to a bastardized single shot. Especially one that limits the type of rounds that can be used by the way the action opens. Either way you end up with one poor sod carrying two weapons. A multiple use grenade launcher and a PDW, or a full size rifle with an almost full size grenade launcher. Your grenadier's biggest weight is the 40mm ammo. I'd rather have a guy that can put out six grenades rapidly than another rifle.

[@zoiders]

Making anyone patrol with a personal weapon that's useless in close contact is never a good idea.

[@chriskortan1530]

@@zoiders useless? Apparently you aren't familiar with the rounds available in 40mm. For example a buckshot round is available. You also seemed to miss PDW. Again, firepower of the grenade outweighs one more rifle.

[@baneofbanes]

Going to be far lighter and as such allow you to carry a rifle as well.

[@zoiders]

@@chriskortan1530 Utter clown shoes. Grenades are just as much as a threat in close contact to your own men as the enemy. You have seen here that the Ukrainian guys with direct combat experience have taken to carrying a rifle and launcher separately as the best response in contact is for everyone to put out rounds with a rifle as you will hit anything you aim at out to 300 meters with out having to touch the sights to compensate for bullet drop. Only once you have located the enemy do you think about using a weapon like a grenade launcher that requires the range to target to be known due to its arced trajectory and low velocity. That's based upon combat experience. Its not a video game with hit points. Despite that you are trying to tell them they are wrong. Pack it in.

[@timothyfreed6959]

Nice to see all the cool stuff we us tax payers are paying for.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Considering these probably didn't originate from US fund I doubt it. Your tax money is probably in a HIMARS missile.

[@timothyfreed6959]

Don’t play stupid with me you know how aid and weapons funnel down from the us.

[@TheArmourersBench]

These aren't from the US lol. They're probably drawdown aid for Estonia. And like I said, your tax money is probably in other cool stuff like a Bradley or a Stinger or a Javelin.

[@baneofbanes]

@@timothyfreed6959then why are you saying stupid shit?

[@user-yx2kb7tj4k]

@@timothyfreed6959DonT plAy StOOpid witH me🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓