MACHINE GUN SPECIFICATIONS
F-2. Machine gun fire has different effects on enemy targets depending on the type system, ammunition used, range to target, and nature of the target. It is important gunners and leaders understand technical aspects of each system and different ammunition available to ensure the machine guns are employed in accordance with their capabilities. Machine guns use several different types of standard military ammunition. Soldiers should use only authorized ammunition manufactured to U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) specifications.
F-3. The following paragraphs discuss weapons specification of the tactical employment of M249, M240-series, M2/M2A1, and MK19 machine guns. Refer to the specific FM of the machine guns listed in table F-1 for complete information regarding their technical specifications.
Table F-1. Machine gun specifications
M249 LIGHT MACHINE GUN
F-4. The M249 light machine gun is organic to the Infantry platoon and squads. It provides rifle squads with a light automatic weapon for employment during assault. (See figure F-1.) The M249 also can be used in the medium machine gun role in defensive missions or support by fire position. The M249 fires from the bipod, the shoulder, the hip, or from the underarm position. The hip and underarm positions normally are used for close-in fire during an assault when the M249 gunner is on the move and does not have time to set the gun in the bipod position. It is best used when a high rate of fire is needed immediately. Accuracy of fire is decreased when firing from either the hip or shoulder.
Figure F-1. M249 light machine gun, bipod mode
F-5. Available M249 ammunition is classified as follows(see table F-2):
- M855 5.56-mm Ball. For use against light materiel and personnel, but not vehicles.
- M856 5.56-mm Tracer. Generally used for adjustments after observation, incendiary effects, and signaling. When tracer rounds are fired, they normally are mixed with ball ammunition in a ratio of four ball rounds to one tracer round.
- M193 5.56-mm Ball. M193 ball ammunition can be fired with the M249, but accuracy is degraded. For this reason, it only should be used in emergency situations when M855 ball is not available.
- M196 5.56-mm Tracer. M196 tracer ammunition can be fired with the M249, but accuracy is degraded. For this reason it only should be used in emergency situations when M856 ammunition is not available.
Table F-2. M249 light machine gun ballistic data
Note. The M249 SAW might be replaced by the MK48 light machine gun (LMG)
M240B MEDIUM MACHINE GUN
F-6. The M240B is organic to the Infantry platoon weapons squad. Two medium machine guns and crews are found in the weapons squad. (See figure F-2.) The M240B can be fired in the assault mode in emergencies, but normally is fired from the bipod or tripod platform. It also can be vehicle mounted. The platoon leader (through his weapons squad leader) employs his M240B medium machine guns with a rifle squad to provide long range, accurate, sustained fires against dismounted Infantry, apertures in fortifications, buildings, and lightly-armored vehicles. The M240B also provides a high volume of short-range fire in self-defense against aircraft. Machine gunners use point, traversing, searching, or searching and traversing fire to kill or suppress targets.
Figure F-2. M240B medium machine gun, bipod and tripod mounted
F-7. Available M240B medium machine gun ammunition is classified as follows(see table F-3):
- M80 7.62-mm Ball. For use against light materiel and personnel.
- M61 7.62-mm Armor Piercing. For use against lightly-armored targets.
- M62 7.62-mm Tracer. For observation of fire, incendiary effects, signaling, and for training. When tracer rounds are fired, they normally are mixed with ball ammunition in a ratio of four ball rounds to one tracer round
Table F-3. M240B medium machine gun ammunition
M240L MEDIUM MACHINE GUN
F-8. The M240L Short Barrel reduces the length of the standard barrel by four inches and the weight by .5 pounds, while maintaining accurate fire at extended ranges. The shorter barrel improves mobility in military operations in urban terrain environments. At 22.3 pounds, the M240L is 5.1 pounds lighter than the M240B and is 5.6 pounds lighter with the short barrel installed. (See figure F-3.)
Note.The M240L incorporates titanium construction and alternative manufacturing methods for fabricating major M240B components to achieve significant weight savings. These improvements reduce the Soldier’s combat load while allowing easier handling and movement of the weapon. The M240L meets all of the reliability and operational characteristics of the M240B.)
Figure F-3. M240L medium machine gun bipod mode
MK19 40-MM MACHINE GUN, MOD 3
F-9. The MK19 is not organic to the weapons company, not the Infantry platoon or squad, but because there are many times when Infantry Soldiers use it, it is described in this appendix. The MK19 supports the Soldier in both the offense and defense. It gives the unit the capability of laying down a heavy volume of close, accurate, and continuous fire. (See figure F-4.) The MK19 also can─
- Protect motor movements, assembly areas, and supply trains in a bivouac.
- Defend against hovering rotary aircraft.
- Destroy lightly-armored vehicles.
- Fire on enemy prepared positions.
- Provide high volumes of fire into an engagement area.
- Cover obstacles.
- Provide indirect fires from defilade positions.
Figure F-4. MK19, 40-mm grenade machine gun, MOD 3
F-10. The MK19 is normally vehicle-mounted on a pedestal, ring, or weapon platform, but also can be fired from the M3 tripod. It fires HE and HEDP rounds. The HE round is effective against unarmored vehicles and personnel.
F-11. Available MK19 machine gun ammunition is classified as follows─ (see Table F-4):
- M430 40-mm HEDP. This is the standard round of the MK19 and comes packed in either 48- or 32- round ammunition containers. It can penetrate two inches of steel armor at zero-degree obliquity and inflict casualties out to 15 meters from impact. It arms within 18 to 30 meters of the gun muzzle.
- M383 40-mm HE. Comes packed in a 48-round container. It has a wound radius of 15 meters, but lacks the armor-piercing capabilities of the HEDP round. It arms 18 to 36 meters from the muzzle.
Table F-4. MK19 40-mm grenade machine gun ballistic data
M2 .50 CALIBER HEAVY MACHINE GUN
F-12. The M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun is not organic to the Infantry platoon or squad, but as there are many times when Infantry Soldiers use it, it is described in this appendix. (See figure F-5.)
Figure F-5. M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun
F-13. The available M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun ammunition is classified as follows (see table F-5):
- M2 .50-Caliber Ball. For use against enemy personnel and light materiel targets.
- M1/M17 .50-Caliber Tracer. Aids in observing fire. Secondary purposes are for incendiary effect and for signaling.
- M1 .50-Caliber Incendiary. For incendiary effect, especially against aircraft.
- M2 .50-Caliber AP. For use against armored aircraft and lightly-armored vehicles, concrete shelters, and other bullet-resisting targets.
- M8 .50-Caliber API. For combined armor-piercing and incendiary effect.
- M20 .50-Caliber API Tracer. For combined armor-piercing and incendiary effect, with the additional tracer feature.
M2A1 .50 CALIBER HEAVY MACHINE GUN
Table F-5. M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun ballistic data
F-14. The M2A1 .50 caliber machine gun with Quick Change Barrel is an enhancement to the M2 .50 caliber machine gun offering Soldiers increased performance as well as new features and design improvements that make it easier and safer to use. The M2A1 provides a fixed headspace and timing configuration, flash hider, and removable carrying handle, which increase the performance of the battle-proven M2. The M2A1 speeds target engagement and improves survivability and safety by reducing the time required to change the barrel and eliminating the timely procedure of setting headspace. The flash hider reduces muzzle flash by 95 percent, making the M2A1 less detectable in limited visibility. (See figure F-6.)
Figure F-6. M2A1 .50 caliber heavy machine gun