M60 Country of origin United States of America Designer Saco Defense, US Ordinance Production began 1957 Production ended Still manufactured Weapon type Machine Gun Caliber 7.62x51mm NATO Action Gas operated, Open bolt Overall length 1105 millimeters Barrel length 560 millimeters Weight empty 10.5 kilograms Magazine/Cylinder capacity 100/200 rounds Cyclic rate 550 rounds per minute[1] Maximum effective range 1100 meters (1200 yards)

The M60 is a general purpose machine gun, formerly used by the U.S. military. It is chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round. The design was based on the famous WW2 MG42 general purpose machine gun as well as the FG42 paratrooper rifle.

HistoryEdit

It saw much of its service in the jungles of Vietnam, used as a suppressive machine gun. Even though the M240 is more accurate and has a faster rate of fire, the M60(E3/E4) weighs only 8.5kg, making it favorable for special operations. It also played a background role during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in the mid 90s for the Army Rangers. The M60 was used in Kuwait and Iraq in Operation Desert Storm. It is also used (albeit rarely, as it has been almost completely phased out in favor of the M240) in some parts of Iraq and Afghanistan today.

Design detailsEdit

The M60 is a gas-operated and air-cooled 7.62 NATO general purpose machine gun that fires from an open bolt. It can be fired from the shoulder or mounted on a bipod, tripod, or vehicle. The M60 is fed from a belt, and is (was) issued with two barrels due to its intended usage. It features a safety switch; the weapon can be put on safe or fire (auto).

It features 1:12 rifling twist in its barrel; the bore has four lands.

SightsEdit

The rear aperture sight is adjustable for range, from 300 meters to 1100 meters, as well as for windage. The front sight assembly features a post; the tip of the post should be centered in the rear sight aperture. On the M60D, the rear sight is not adjustable.

VariantsEdit

M60E3Edit

The M60E3 was developed and introduced in the mid-1980s as a lighter weight version with minor changes to the bipod, safety, carrying handle and gas system. It too incorporated Stellite into the bore and chamber to improve wear resistance.

M60E4Edit

The M60E4 (also known as the Mk 43 Mod 0) is a variant of the M60 with a rail info system and a shorter buttstock. It is used by Special Operation forces.

References Edit

1. ↑ U.S. Army M60 Operator's manual, TM 9-1005-224-10