Real-life grenadelaunchers vs. the ones in OFP?

[LauryThorn 0]

Ok, I was just wondering, since those grenade launchers are kind of cool weapons. Are there people here who have actually used those weapons? The finnish RK-62 is the only assault rifle I have used. Although you can use rifle grenades (which in OFP are called 'mortar') with the newer version of the rifle, I did not get chance to use them. And they seem kind of difficult to use - attach the grenade, reload the special 'detonator' bullet, fire the weapon, then reload normal bullet again.

Anyway, how realistic are the grenade launchers (M203 and then the russian one, was it GP-25) in OFP, when it comes to aiming them? Can you actually hit something with them, and how much practise do you need? Do you just guess the trajectory of the grenade, or do you use the sights? Can you use them for 'direct fire' or do you always make the shot 'indirect'? If shot directly towards the target, how much does the grenade drop in, for example, 100 meters?

Then to the rifle grenades. Are there significant differences between the rifle grenades and the ones shot from the under-barrel launcher? I've only heard that the rifle grenades are more powerful. What about aiming them? Similar to the under-barrel launcher?

Ok, lots of not-so-well presented questions. You can try to answer them, or post any links or your experiences with the grenade launchers.

[Bordoy 0]

I've heard people say before that it is hard to use the M203 sights, so it's more of an 'aim and pray' kind of method.

[SpongeBob 0]

I've heard people say before that it is hard to use the M203 sights, so it's more of an 'aim and pray' kind of method.

With m203 nades, the first one is always a spotter round for me, then I adjust and the 2nd i'm usually always deadly with it. That's why I love the nade vests, you get 24 shots, way better than the 3 or 4 you can carry with the BIS launcher.

[Nemesis6 0]

I've heard people say before that it is hard to use the M203 sights, so it's more of an 'aim and pray' kind of method.

Same tactic here.

[HuNtA 0]

I from experience have worked out aproximate distances. its the same for LAWS too. YOu just know it

[Zub 0]

This is my first post here, though I've lurked for a long time. Been playing OFP for about two years also... I entered Army Basic Training in December of 1984, and graduated in February 1985- cool timing because of OFP is supposed to be 1985. Fired the M16A1 (loved it), M60, set-up and fired a Claymore, threw grenades, fired the M203 and the LAW. I was great with everything EXCEPT the M203! We only fired a few shells, but I couldn't hit squat with it... Maybe I could have if we used it more... Loved the LAW though, fired it twice- we were shooting up some old Army vehicles that were just junk. I targeted a M151 but missed the first shot because it was snowing heavily and right before I pushed the plunger some snowflakes landed on the pop-up sight. Second shot was different though- aimed at the door handle and fired. I could actually see it hit about two inches from my aimpoint, and then it "blew up" the M151. Good stuff! BTW, it was at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Also, for my permanent duty station, I spent about 2 1/2 leisurely years at the NTC- Ft. Irwin, A Company, Operation Group.

[Bordoy 0]

Regarding the LAW:

It uses 3 spotting rounds with tracer. The actualy caes of the round is steel or something like that so it doesn't rust as it's always in the chamber ready to be fired.

Uses 3 rounds so you may be short on first try, then too far on second try then hopefully spot on in the third try.

[Cpt. FrostBite 0]

Regarding the LAW:

It uses 3 spotting rounds with tracer. The actualy caes of the round is steel or something like that so it doesn't rust as it's always in the chamber ready to be fired.

Uses 3 rounds so you may be short on first try, then too far on second try then hopefully spot on in the third try.

This is the case with the british LAW80. It uses three pre-packed tracer/smoke rounds (creates a little smoke on impact).

But I believe people meant the LAW66 (US 'vietnam style' LAW).

[breaker44 0]

Regarding the LAW.

It doesn't matter if the round rusts or not, if the damn weapon gets wet, it ain't gonna fire a-tall. I think water gets into the firing mechanisim and alles kaput.

-BreakerOut

[miles teg 1]

I've fired the M203 in real life several times in the US Army Reserves, Corp of Engineers. On it you have two sighting systems. One is a the quick flip up sight that you see most often on the M203 mounted above the handgaurd. The second is a side mounted sighting system that is alot more accurate. However it is also a lot more delicate and tends to get broken off easily. But overall neither sight is particularly difficult to use in my opinion IF you know the range of your target. That really is the key. I usually got my rounds through the "window" on the M203 ranges most of the time, but strong winds can have a big effect on the rounds.

In a combat situation generally you don't mess around with the sights. The sights are more for training purposes to get you familiarialized with the angles of fire or in combat if you have pre determined killzones with a known range from your firing position. Treelines near your position for example or any likely enemy firing position would be ranged and you would have your M203 sights set for that range in order to quickly drop grenades onto that position. If you hit tree branches its even better as it creates an air burst over the heads of the enemy.

But most of the time, you simply shoot it like a basketball much like you do in OFP. So basically the OFP M203's are indeed very similar in ballistics to the real life M203's. In real life you can use it for direct fire, but only at fairly close ranges (like out to 50 meters at most. But I don't remember offhand what the minimum firing distance is. Obviously you don't want it exploding too close to you so you usually you have to elevate your rifle to fire in a somewhat indirect manner.

I have also fired the Mk-19 40mm automatic grenade launcher which is a very different animal. Some people think they use the same round as the M203 but they don't. They fire a high velocity version of the 40mm grenade that is much more effective in the direct fire role out to around 200 meters if I remember correctly. Past that you have to use elevation, but since its an automatic weapon, corrections to aim can be made very quickly by simply "walking" your grenades onto the target as you would with a machine gun firing tracer rounds. It is, I think, the most powerful weapon available to the infantryman. While very heavy for a gun crew to carry around it is like having your very own mortar battery at your fingertips unleashing a horrific amount of destruction on any enemy caught out in the open and on unarmored or lightly armored vehicles.

But anyhoo... yeah OFP is fairly close to the real deal in terms of the M203. I don't know about the Russian GP-25 but I imagine that it is similar in performance.

Oh... but I must say that the BAS vests are unrealistic. You normally don't reload an M203 that quickly unless you have your grenade bandolier or vest laid out in a manner that you can reload as quickly as possible. But usually it takes a second or two longer then the JAM vests unless you are a real bad ass who trains for speed loading.

Chris G.

aka-Miles Teg<GD>

[FireflyPL 0]

For me using M203s is just a matter of experience. Its not difficult to use it. You just need to fire several times to get familiarise with GL and then you can hit target with 2 granades at most.

[Bordoy 0]

Regarding the LAW.

It doesn't matter if the round rusts or not, if the damn weapon gets wet, it ain't gonna fire a-tall. I think water gets into the firing mechanisim and alles kaput.

-BreakerOut

Yer but the rounds are still a chrome metal.

[orson 0]

try the UKF UGL , after a little practice its childs play to score first round hits as its been calibrated properly .

[blackdog~ 0]

we were shooting up some old Army vehicles that were just junk. I targeted a M151 but missed the first shot because it was snowing heavily and right before I pushed the plunger some snowflakes landed on the pop-up sight. Second shot was different though- aimed at the door handle and fired. I could actually see it hit about two inches from my aimpoint, and then it "blew up" the M151. Good stuff!

Satan!

http://www.tacticalblunder.com/blackdo....nd2.png

As for the LAW's,they are actually sealed watertight with rubber gaskets... if they weren't water-resistant they obviously would have not been able to be used in Vietnam don't you think??

brian

[Zub 0]

Did feel a little strange shooting at American iron, but hey, they were all shot-up already anyway. That M151 I fired on was pretty much intact though, at least it looked like it- think we were firing from about 150 meters out if I remember right. Would have been REALLY cool if they were UAZ's or Skoda's etc! I would have to say that OFP does a good job of recreating the "feel" of the actual weapons though. I can't hit squat with OFP's M203, just like in real life!