The M60 is used to support the rifle fire teams in a
unit. The M60 is capable of delivering a heavy volume
of controlled and accurate fire, both in offensive and
defensive situations. Its capability is more than that of
other individual small arms. The M60 machine gun can
effectively engage predetermined targets under all
conditions of visibility. Naval Construction Battalion
fire plans are made around the final protective fires of
the M60 machine gun.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE M60 MACHINE GUN
The M60 machine gun is an air-cooled, belt-fed,
Figure 13-5.--Cartridges used with grenade launcher, M203.
gas-operated automatic weapon. The weapon features
fixed headspace that permits rapid changing of the
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
barrel. Two barrels are issued with each weapon, and
an experienced gun crew can change the barrel in a few
The safety precautions that should be observed to
seconds.) The M60 fires from the open-bolt position.
prevent injury to personnel using the launcher and/or
Ammunition is fed into the gun by a disintegrating
damage to the ammunition are given below.
metallic split-link belt. The gas from the previously fired
1. The cartridges should be free of sand, mud,
round provides energy to cock, load, and fire the next
moisture, frost, snow, ice, grease, or other foreign matter
round. The bolt must be to the rear before the round can
before insertion into the weapon.
be picked up and fed into the chamber. It fires the
standard 7.62-(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
2. Do not fire ammunition that is corroded.
cartridge at a sustained rate of 100 rounds per minute
3. Take care at all times to protect the primer and
with six to eight rounds per burst, for 10 minutes; then
the aluminum give (diagonal rib on the round). They are
you must change the barrel. On rapid fire, it can deliver
easily dented and should be protected from hard knocks
up to 200 rounds per minute for 2 minutes before the
or blows. The plastic inserts used in the packing of these
barrel must be changed. The cyclic rate of fire is 550 to
rounds serve this purpose.
600 rounds per minute, with a barrel change required
every minute. Muzzle velocity is 2,700 feet per second,
4. Do not use cartridges that have been damaged or
with a maximum range of 3725 meters. The maximum
those having an indication of separation.
effective range is 1100 meters.
5. Do not fire ammunition unless it has been
identified by its lot number and grade.
GENERAL DATA
6. Misfires and hangfires must be handled as
previously stated in the above sections.
-
7. Do not fire at targets within an 80-meter radius
of friendly troops or yourself, unless there is adequate
protection from fragment hazards.
8. Do not fire canopy smoke cartridges in such a
way that the falling ignited projectile could descend
upon friendly troops, causing injury to friendly
personnel or damage to their material or both.
M60 MACHINE GUN
The M60 machine gun is one of two fully automatic
weapons in the Seabee battalion. The other being the
50-caliber M2 machine gun, which is discussed later in
this chapter.
13-5
