M60 machine gun

M60 machine gun. The M60 is a 7.62×51mm NATO general-purpose machine gun that entered service with the United States Armed Forces in the late 1950s. It was widely used during the Vietnam War and became an iconic weapon of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps for decades. Although it has been largely replaced by newer designs like the M240 machine gun, it remains in limited service with some units and foreign militaries.

Development and history

The development of the M60 began in the aftermath of World War II, as the United States Department of Defense sought to replace the aging M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle and M1919 Browning machine gun. Influenced by captured German designs like the FG 42 and the MG 42, engineers at the Sacramento Army Depot led the design effort. The weapon was officially adopted in 1957, with primary production handled by the Maremont Corporation. Its introduction coincided with the standardization of the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge across the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Initial fielding faced challenges, leading to modifications during the early stages of the Vietnam War.

Design and features

The M60 is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun firing from an open bolt. It uses a long-stroke piston system similar to that found in the M14 rifle. A distinctive feature is its quick-change barrel, which allows a gunner to manage heat during sustained fire. The weapon typically employs a bipod attached to the gas cylinder tube, but can also be mounted on vehicles, helicopters like the UH-1 Iroquois, and tripods. It feeds from disintegrating M13 link belts and uses a fixed headspace design, which simplified training but could lead to reliability issues if parts were worn. The standard sights are adjustable iron sights, though some variants accepted optical scopes.

Variants

Several major variants of the M60 were produced to fulfill different roles. The M60E1 was an improved model that addressed early flaws but was not widely produced. The M60E2 was designed for coaxial mounting in armored vehicles like the M60 Patton tank. The M60B was a brief experiment for helicopter door mounting. The M60C was a remote-fired version used on aircraft pylons. The M60D, with spade grips and a different sight, became the standard for helicopter armament on aircraft like the UH-1 Iroquois and AH-1 Cobra. The M60E3, fielded in the 1980s, was a lightweight model for the U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Marine Corps, featuring a forward pistol grip and improved handling. The final U.S. variant, the M60E4 (or Mk 43 Mod 0/1), was further refined for special operations use with United States Special Operations Command.

Operational use

The M60 saw its first major combat during the Vietnam War, where it served as a squad automatic weapon and a vehicle-mounted gun. It provided crucial firepower for infantry units and was famously used by Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. It also saw action with Australian Army forces during the war. Later, it was used in conflicts like the Falklands War by British special forces, the Invasion of Grenada, and the Gulf War. Its service extended into the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) with some allied nations and irregular forces. While valued for its high rate of fire, it was criticized for its weight, reliability in muddy conditions, and delicate components like the bipod and gas cylinder.

Users

The primary user was the United States, which fielded the M60 across all branches of its armed forces for over four decades. It was widely exported under Military Assistance Program initiatives and remains in use with numerous countries. Significant former and current operators include Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Philippines, Thailand, and El Salvador. It was also used by various non-state actors and insurgent groups in conflicts throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Many users have since transitioned to weapons like the FN MAG or indigenous designs, but stockpiles ensure its presence in secondary roles globally.

Category:Machine guns Category:7.62 mm firearms Category:Cold War infantry weapons of the United States