The type of grenade launcher that killed a Marine instructor here Wednesday is
central to Marine tactics, but use of the weapon has been suspended until an
investigation of the accident is complete, officials said Thursday.
A round of ammunition exploded inside an M203 launcher, an an M-16 rifle attachment that fires grenades up to 350
yards. The blast killed Sgt. Frederick Nunez and injured Pvt. Jeffrey L. Stout,
20, of
“To our knowledge there has never been an incident of this kind with this
particular weapon at the base,” Marine spokeswoman Mitzi Frank said. “At this
time we still don’t know the cause. The round prematurely detonated while it
was in the tube.”
Gunnery Sgt. John Farrell said the weapon was second only to the M-16 in
combat importance and is used propel 40-millimeter
grenades beyond the range of those thrown by hand.
“To the Marine Corps mission it’s very, very important,” he said.
He said that although use of the M203 and the lot of ammunition the grenade
came from has been suspended, the Marine Corps will continue to train with
other grenade launchers.
He said the last fatalities at the base occurred in an October armory
explosion that killed two Marines and injured three others.