M60 machine gun
The M60, officially the Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M60, is a family of American general-purpose machine guns firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links. There are several types of ammunition approved for use in the M60, including ball, tracer, and armor-piercing rounds.
| Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M60 | |
|---|---|
M60 machine gun with bipod folded | |
| Type | General-purpose machine gun Medium machine gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1957–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars |
|
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1952–1957 |
| Manufacturer | |
| Unit cost | US$6,000 (M60E3) |
| Produced | 1957–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.5 kg (23.15 lb) |
| Length | 1,105 mm (43.5 in) |
| Barrel length | 560 mm (22.0 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Caliber | 7.62 mm (0.308 in) |
| Action | Gas-operated, short-stroke gas piston, opened rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 550–650 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,800 ft/s (853 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1,200 yd (1,100 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 4,073 yd (3,724 m) |
| Feed system | Disintegrating belt with M13 Links |
| Sights | Iron sights |
It was adopted in 1957 and issued to units beginning in 1959. It has served with every branch of the U.S. military and still serves with the armed forces of other states. Its manufacture and continued upgrade for military and commercial purchase continues into the 21st century, although it has been replaced or supplemented in most roles by other designs, most notably the M240 machine gun in U.S. service.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.