An electro-optical sighting device for the M203 grenade launcher sets a whole new definition of “close enough” for grenades.

Resisting the urge to make bad puns about grenades and their attendant proximity capacities, we have before us a problem. Using only an M203, how can we place a fragmentation round in the middle of a band of bad guys on a moonless night, hidden behind rocky outcroppings, uphill at 300 meters? Oh yes – and make it a first-round hit.

Even the most experienced grenadier has trouble shooting a 203 at night. Assuming he can see a crouching, ducking, scampering target, distance is much harder to judge in darkness and ladder sights are not illuminated. A tough problem. And then there’s factoring in an angle of inclination for an uphill shot. A first round hit? At night? Uphill? Fat chance.

Unless, that is, the 203 is equipped with a Rapid Acquisition Aiming Module (RAAM) from Wilcox Industries. The RAAM is a day-night sight specifically addressing the problems of the 203 with its low-velocity, high-trajectory munitions. The RAAM incorporates a sophisticated range finder which feeds data to a processor that automatically calibrates the system for a selected munitions’ trajectory, setting in motion a motorized gimbal mounted with an Aimpoint Micro T1 sight. Put the red dot on the target and fire.

For night-time targets, the grenadier can either use his NODs with an IR setting on the Aimpoint or use the RAAM’s built-in IR laser. The motorized gimbal also positions the IR laser for the correct trajectory. In testing with the Navy SEALs based in Coronado, Calif., first-round hits at night on unknown distance targets were boringly routine.

The RAAM is almost an oxymoron: “high tech” and “grenade” not usually appearing in the same sentence. However, the device is no contradiction of terms; it solves a very real and persistent problem with good old fashioned Yankee engineering.

The Wilcox Connection

Wilcox Industries developed the RAAM in a teaming project with Swiss manufacturer Vectronix, best known for their state-of-the-art range finding technology. The RAAM is currently being fielded by the UK MOD (Ministry of Defense) and testing is proceeding apace with select elements of SOCOM in this country.

Wilcox Industries is not (yet) a household name, but the New Hampshire-based company is very much a player in a variety of high-tech products for military small arms as well as related products. Company founder and CEO Jim Teetzel describes Wilcox as a “skunk works for the Special Forces” with a unique engineering and manufacturing capability to pretty much build anything.

That’s a broad claim, but a brief scan of the company’s website (www.wilcoxind.com) reveals they manufacture several categories of products: night vision mounts (more on that later); small arms systems and support products; chem-bio breathing apparatus; weapon mounts; aerial support products; and that wonderfully mysterious catch-all, “special projects.”

Wilcox developed the RAAM in response to a call from certain military units that prefer not to be named. The goal was simple: first round hits with any suitable munition at night, uphill, downhill, on the level, doesn’t matter. The stated requirement for a “hit” was an impact within five meters of a target at 300 meters, which corresponds to the kill radius of 203 frag and HE munitions.

RAAM Operation

Looking at the RAAM, you’re greeted with an 8-position “mode selection” knob, three rubber-covered buttons and a small LCD display. It sounds more complicated than it is. Once you make a couple of basic decisions, it’s fire and forget.

The most complicated setting on the main control knob is labeled Function. This is similar to a digital camera or smart phone in that once you set the “functions,” you don’t need to revisit them. Here are the settings:

• Disp: for the LCD display: day mode, night mode or automatic (using a photo sensitive cell); sets the brightness of the display.
• Tact: factory test function, not for the operator.
• Star: stands for Single Target Auto Rotate in which the gimbal adjusts automatically as soon as the range finder gets a good reading (instead of separately pressing an Engage button to move the gimbal)
• Range: a built-in safety, factory set at 40 meters, the RAAM won’t function if the range finder shows the target is closer than this number.
• Suer: software version, not for the operator.
• Buer: shows what ballistics are loaded, not for the operator
• Test: verifies the unit is working by cycling through a programmed series of tests of all functions; if Test blinks, it’s self-diagnosed as good to go.
• Cant: turns on and off the cant indicators; cant indicators let the grenadier know if he’s canting his 203
• Lite: manually sets the brightness of the display
• Bat: shows the remaining battery life (operates on two CR-123A lithium batteries)
• Dflt: factory default settings

Having dispensed with the basic function settings (trust me, just leave them on factory defaults), you need to set the RAAM for the munition you’re using. Dial the switch to “ammo” and select from the memory of programmed trajectories, most likely a chalk practice round or, in combat, HE or frag.

Second, decide if you want night or day lasers, infrared or visible. Four of the eight switch settings control the RAAM’s lasers (plural): IR Low, Vis Low, IR High and Vis High. These refer to targeting lasers. The ranging laser (separate) is always IR. Bear in mind that when set on High, the emitted laser is not eye-safe (10 milliwatts, up to 25 on special order). The visible laser is primarily used for bore sighting the RAAM during installation on an M203-equipped rifle, however, in certain lighting conditions, it can be used to sight the target.

The next step in operating a RAAM is to lase the target for distance. Because of the low-velocity, high-trajectory nature of a 203’s munition – you can leisurely watch a round in flight, so lethargic is its lazy arc – the biggest problem for a grenadier is accurately judging distance. A goof of only 25 yards in distance estimation is a clean miss with a first shot. The RAAM removes distance judgment from the equation. You range the target by pressing the bottom-most button on the RAAM unit, the one with a big R, or using a remote switch you’ve Velcroed to your 203.

Functioning with a 1,550 nanometer IR laser (invisible even with night vision), the range finder determines distance and feeds the data to the RAAM’s ballistic computer. The RAAM’s temperature sensor has simultaneously entered the ambient temperature into the computer. If the target is inclined or declined, an accelerometer in the RAAM adds the target’s angle and the ballistic computer gives a firing solution. (There is no provision for altitude because a 203’s munitions are unaffected up to 10,000 feet.) You have two options at this stage: you could have programmed the RAAM to automatically move the gimbal as soon as the range is detected and the computer has derived a solution (instantaneous) or you can manually press the center button on the RAAM marked Engage (or a similar button on a wire-tethered remote switch).

The gimbal now rotates. Again, you have options. You can use the Aimpoint Micro (best for day-time) or the 850 nanometer IR laser for night-time. As an interesting aside, grenadiers score better with the RAAM at night using NODs with the IR laser than in the day with the Aimpoint.

Shooting the RAAM

The RAAM attaches either to a 203’s tube directly or (better) to an M1913 rail forend. Either mounts are available, but the rail-mount is stronger and easier to remove or install. When a RAAM is first mounted, it must be bore sighted to the 203’s tube. A bore sighting kit is sold separately with a rubber O-ring fitted insert for the 203’s tube which emits a laser. Using a special target at 10 meters, you then dial in adjustments to the RAAM using the unit’s visible laser as a reference to the bore sighting laser. Once set, the RAAM is good to go.

There’s a slight difference in the trajectories of 9-inch and a 12-inch 203 tubes. This is programmed into the munition library that you’ve chosen from the Ammo setting on the main control knob. You’re ready to shoot.

I recently accompanied Wilcox engineers Gary Lemire, director of R&D, and Bobby Marcinkowski, senior software programmer, on a 500-round test firing protocol of a RAAM. The purpose was to verify ballistic data in the real-world, shooting up and down real mountains. We gained the cooperation of Marc Halcon of Covert Canyon in Alpine, Calif. and proceeded to paint the place orange with chalk practice rounds.

Using a table and a steady rest, Bobby and Gary were able to drop rounds into a three meter circle at 300 meters. Shooting uphill at an 11 degree angle at a distance of 183 meters, five of the blue-tipped rounds plunked into a one meter circle.

“It’s point-of-aim, point-of-impact. We’ve almost gotten to the point where it’s more like a rifle than a grenade in terms of accuracy,” Gary quipped.

To meet a UK MOD specification, an 8×12 foot “wall” of plywood was constructed with a door and window marked with spray paint. From a distance of 275 meters at a downhill angle of 8 degrees, the two engineers peppered the “door” and “window” with accurate hits.

One of the chalk rounds failed to “explode” when it hit the plywood, cutting an impressive bore-size hole clear through the plywood. Don’t ever mistake “practice” rounds for toys!

I’ve fired a RAAM dozens of times now and I continue to be amazed at how accurate it is, especially compared to ladder sights. This is a game changer.

By Steve Fleischman

Since the beginning of war, throwing objects has been the most popular form of combat. Whether it be rocks or 2000 pound projectiles, hitting your opponent with something has been the goal.

Grenades through history have evolved from light and throw bombs to primitive Civil War potatoes with tail fins, to all forms of Pineapple, egg, and can-shaped objects. All had one thing in common, a good throwing arm was needed.

A variety of rifle-launched objects also evolved with mixed results on accuracy and effect.

After the Korean War there was a need for a new delivery system for antipersonnel munitions, with greater effectiveness and range. The criteria for this new system was lightweight, range out to 400 yards, effective fragmentation, low recoil, and low cost.

Development and manufacture of this weapon system was a multi-faceted effort, of government and private industry. The Vietnam War put additional pressure on the development, which resulted in significant refinement-production techniques, improved quality, and substantial cost reduction.

The shoulder-fired M79 launcher was the first weapon developed to deliver the first production round, the M406 HE. The M203 launcher replaced and paralleled the M79 as an additional weapon system. The M203 was mounted on the M16A1 rifle.

Grenade ammunition up to now was known as HI-LO pressure type with about the same power as a 45 long Colt. A new longer-range offensive type grenade was now being developed that was to be fired from a multitude of weapons being designed. There were a variety of fully automatic belt-fed systems that were developed, such as the M75, XM129, and MK19. All ammunition for these weapons is known as HI pressure type.

Grenade ammunition is basically divided into several categories. First, HI-LO and HI- pressure as defined above. Next we will define as to type, HE, Practice, Pyrotechnic, smoke, riot, shot and “specials”. These specials are just representative samples of a multitude of special purpose cartridges produced experimentally, sometimes field tested and most times just abandoned.

HI-LO Pressure

HE M406, Round notched sphere bomblet, spin and setback armed point detonating fuse.

HEDP M433, cylindrical steel body, shaped charge, light armor defeating. Fuse is a point detonating with a spitback charge to initate the shaped charge.

HEAP. This He anti-personnel was developed by FN of Belgium using a ball matrix fragmentation and a combo point detonating /time fuse.

HE AIRBURST M397. Special fusing and projectile design produced a new round with the old “bouncing betty” concept. An HE round striking the ground loses half or more of its effectiveness when it detonates. This round rebounds its bomblet to two meters above the ground before it detonates.

PROOF XM387E2. Black heavy projectile, for proofing M79/203.

PRACTICE. Multitude of plastic and metal case and projectile combinations with orange dye markers. Basic issue is the M781, white plastic case, blue plastic nose.

PRACTICE M407A1. This round is an HE simulator, two kinds, and one totally inert with dummy fuse, and the other with a smoke spotting charge.

SHOT. Two styles of XM576, E1 and E2. See reference picture for different shot charge and sabot design. There was even a silenced version developed by AAI.

FLECHETTE. A multitude of different loads and sizes were experimented with.

SMOKE. For all kinds of spotting and signaling. There is ground smoke-M713, red, M714 violet, M716 yellow, and M715 green. Parachute smoke- XM659 red, XM669 violet, XM660 yellow, and XM658 green. Streamer smoke- XM696 yellow, XM697 green, XM699 red, XM698 orange, XM701 violet, and XM700 brown. Canopy smoke- XM682 red, XM681 violet, XM680 white, XM676 yellow, and XM679 green. There is an experimental floating smoke marker that uses a balloon inflated by the burning smoke compound. This system allows it to float on water and or mud and burn for 70 seconds.

PYROTECHNIC. All kinds of signaling cartridges were designed. The main two types were the parachute star XM583 white, XM661 green, XM662 red, and XM695 orange. And the Cluster star XM585 white, Xm663 green, and XM664 red.

RIOT. Many CS gas rounds were developed for non-lethal removal of undesirables and also a variety of plastic and rubber baton rounds.

DBCATA. This silenced round was developed to replace the M203 barrel system. The round was its own barrel, which clipped on to a firing device, which looked very much like the receiver of a 203. The case was rifled and the projectile was pre-engraved. A steel foil “balloon” was folded up and sealed around the propelling charge. When fired the propelling gasses expand the balloon and push out the projectile, with enough force to impart sufficient spin and setback to arm the fuse. The balloon captures all the gases and makes the round silent. DBCATA stands for Disposable-Barrel-Cartridge-Area-Target-Ammunition.

ROCKET ASSISTED. Many types were developed and tested for increased range. Primers and igniters were part of the rocket and came through the back of the case.

ANTENNA CARTRIDGE GR103. This round contained a coil of wire and when fired above the jungle canopy deployed the wire as an antenna. Developed for Navy Seals for burst radio transmission.

MULTI PELLET CARTRIDGE as the military called it. This round was loaded with 18 -22 lr cartridges. A large rifle primer propelled a disc with 18 firing pins which fired all rounds at once. There was no rifling so the bullets tumbled soon after leaving the weapon. This was good or bad depending on what was trying to be achieved. The original military version had a safety wire on its reloadable one. There was also a die-cast throwaway one.

GRAPPLING HOOK PROJECTOR XM688. This round was developed for the Rangers to propel climbing devices higher and farther than they could throw.

M42 MINE PROJECTING. Little is known about this round, except that it propels 2 shaped charge mines of the same type as deployed in other types of ordnance.

FLECHETTE BIOLOGICAL TRANSMITTING. This round has 4 very large flechettes and it is alleged to be some kind of delivery method for what ever you can think of.

HI PRESSURE ROUNDS FOR MK19-XM175.

TARGET PRACTICE M385. Solid Aluminum projectile.

TARGET PRACTICE M918. HE projectile filled with Aluminum slug, inexpensive fuse and spotting charge.

PROOF XM385E3. Heavy Aluminum projectile for proofing weapons.

DUMMY XM922. Gold color, for training.

HEDP M430. Hi velocity shaped charge, for light armored targets up to 2 inches thick.

HE M384. First adopted HE round for the hi velocity series

HE AIRBURST. This experimental round using the M384 body incorporates a self-contained proximity fuse that sends out its own signal and detonates itself at a predetermined distance from the target.