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List of weapons of the United States Marine Corps

Weaponry used by the U.S. Marine Corps From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of weapons used by the United States Marine Corps:

Weapons used

The basic infantry weapon of the United States Marine Corps is the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. Suppressive fire is provided by the M240B machine gun, at the squad and company levels respectively. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the M320 grenade launcher in fireteams, M224A1 60 mm mortar in companies, and M252 81 mm mortar in battalions. The M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun and MK19 automatic grenade launcher (40 mm) are available for use by dismounted infantry, though they are more commonly vehicle-mounted. Precision fire is provided by the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System and M40A3, A5, A6 bolt-action sniper rifle.[1]

The Marine Corps uses a variety of direct-fire rockets and missiles to provide infantry with an offensive and defensive anti-armor capability. The SMAW and AT4 are unguided rockets that can destroy armor and fixed defenses (e.g. bunkers) at ranges up to 500 meters. The FGM-148 Javelin and BGM-71 TOW are anti-tank guided missiles; both can utilize top-attack profiles to avoid heavy frontal armor and are heavy missiles effective past 2,000 meters that give infantry an offensive capability against armor.[2]

Marines are capable of deploying non-lethal weaponry as the situation dictates. Part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit earning the Special Operations Capable designator requires a company-sized unit capable of riot control.

Some older weapons are used for ceremonial purposes, such as the Silent Drill Platoon's M1 Garands, or the use of the M101 howitzer for gun salutes.

Active use

Non-lethal weapons

Bladed weapons

Handguns

  • Glock M007 – Adopted in February 2015 for use by MARSOC
  • M18 – Standard issue pistol since 2020 (replacing M9, M9A1, M45A1 and M007)[4]

Assault rifles, carbines and battle rifles

Marine aiming a loaded M16A4 rifle with EOTech optic
A U.S. Marine armed with an M16A4 rifle and ITL MARS sight in 2004.
A U.S. Marine armed with an M27 IAR affixed with ACOG Squad Day Optic.
  • M16A4 – Select fire. Safe, semi, burst. Originally the basic infantry weapon,[5] mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions. Primary used by non-infantry personnel.[6]
  • M4/M4A1 – Mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions. Commonly issued for non-infantry marines as of 2010.[5]
  • M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle – Support weapon based on the Heckler & Koch HK416 (itself a piston-driven variation upon the M4 carbine using a free-floating barrel). Initially issued as a replacement for the M249, in 2018 the decision was made to adopt the M27 as the standard USMC assault rifle in infantry battalions.[7]
  • CQBR Block II – Modified M4 with 10.3-inch barrel. Used by MARSOC
  • Mk 17 Mod 0 used by MARSOC
  • M38 Designated Marksman Rifle – Modified M27 IAR fielded as a marksman rifle
  • URGI - Modified M4 with 10.3- and 14.5-inch barrel used by MARSOC

Sniper rifles

  • Mk 13 mod 7 – .300 Winchester Magnum chambered sniper rifle built on Accuracy International Chassis System with Remington 700 long action.
  • M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System – Improved version of the Mk 11, replacing the M39 and Mk 11.
  • Barrett 50 Cal/M82/M107 – in use as the M82A3 and M107 variants. The M82A3 being an upgraded M82A1A, and the M107 being a variant made in response to requirements issued for an anti-materiel rifle.
  • Barrett MK22 - US Marines new standard precision rifle.

Shotguns

Machine guns

In the foreground, a HMMWV, with a MTVR in the background. Both vehicles have M2 machine guns mounted and U.S. Marines firing them.
Vehicle-mounted M2 .50 caliber machine guns in May 2005.
  • M2HB – heavy machine gun chambered in .50 BMG used primarily on vehicles.
  • M240B – 7.62×51mm medium machine gun used by infantry, and light vehicles and helicopters.
  • Mk48 Mod 1 – 7.62×51mm light machine gun, used by US MARSOC.
  • M249E4 – 5.56×45mm light machine gun, infantry support weapon. Not replaced, but being supplanted by the M27 IAR.

Hand grenades

Grenade launchers

A Video of U.S. Marines training with the M32A1

Mortars

Artillery

Marines gather around a M777 howitzer, while the smoke from a recently fired round lingers
M777 155 mm howitzer

Shoulder-fired missile and rocket launchers

a TOW missile leaves the tube of a HMMWV-mounted launcher
HMMWV-mounted BGM-71 TOW

Vehicle-mounted weapons

Aircraft-mounted weapons

view from inside a helicopter out a door to a corwded tarmac
UH-1N with GAU-16/A door-mounted machine gun
an closeup of the armament of an attack helicoper
AH-1W with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rockets
a guided bomb
GBU-12 500lb. bomb
Guns
Bombs
Missiles
Marine emplaces a claymore mine

Other

Accessories

a night vision goggle with attached head mount
AN/PVS-7A
A U.S. Marine Corps Military Police Special Reaction Team using the MP5-N in February 2004.

Testing/limited use

Marines with MARSOC, Force Reconnaissance, and MEU(SOC)s occasionally use specialized weapons that the rest of the fleet does not. In addition, some weapons are tested and evaluated in select units before acceptance and large-scale adoption. In a few cases, older weapons are brought out of retirement for limited use.

Retired

Bladed Weapons
bayonet and sheath
M6 bayonet with sheath
Pistols
M1911A1 pistol
M1911A1 pistol
Rifles, Carbines, & Muskets
black&white photograph of an early M16 rifle
early M16 model rifle
M1 Garand
M1 Garand rifle
Submachine guns
M1A1 Thompson
M1A1 Thompson submachine gun
Machine guns
M60 machine gun
M60 7.62mm machine gun
Explosives & Launchers
M79 grenade launcher
M79 grenade launcher
U.S. Marines fire blank rounds from a M101 howitzer at a ceremony
The U.S. Marine Corps still uses the M101, although for ceremonial purposes only. Here, U.S. Marines are seen firing off a M101 during a ceremony in March 2005.
Aircraft/vehicle-mounted
Other

See also

References

External links

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