Photo Information

Lance Cpl. Austin Steifer, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, fires the M32 grenade launcher during a live-fire range aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 9, 2015. The M32 is a semi-automatic grenade launcher capable of holding up to six 40mm rounds and reaching a distance up to 400 meters. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Dye/Released) 

Photo by Cpl. Michael Dye

‘Warlords’ launch grenades down range

10 Apr 2015 | Cpl. Michael Dye The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment gathered grenades and launched them down range resulting in an explosion of dirt and debris aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 9, 2015.

“We are training our team leaders and grenadiers to become more proficient and accurate with the M203 grenade launcher and the M32 semi-automatic grenade launcher,” said 1st Lt. Steve Collins, a platoon commander with the unit.

The M203 is a rifle-mounted grenade launcher that allows the Marine to load one round at a time and reaches distances up to 350 meters. The M32 is a semi-automatic grenade launcher that reaches up to 400 meters and allows Marines to load up to six rounds.

“We started the day off with practice rounds that allowed the Marines to [sight] their M203s for accuracy,” said Collins, a Wilmington, Delaware native. “We then moved into the modified qualification.”

Marines had three rounds and fired each from a different position: Standing, kneeling, and prone. They had to accurately put two out of the three rounds on a target 200 meters away while being timed.

“The Marines had a lot of fun with this training,” said Staff Sgt. Richard Flavell, a platoon sergeant with the unit. “We were able to turn it into a friendly competition by adding the timing portion; this allowed Marines to challenge themselves to push themselves to be the best.”

“We don’t get to do this type of training often,” Collins said. “Some of the Marines out here have only shot these weapon systems one or two times in the past. Today gave us a chance to observe and critique their abilities and reinforce their confidence with the weapons.”

“I couldn’t be [happier] with the Marines’ performance,” Flavell said. “They came out here and had a lot of fun, but more importantly, gave this training everything they had and showed me that they are more than capable with these weapons.”