M-60 machine gun
| Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M60 | |
|---|---|
 M60 machine gun
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| Type | General-purpose machine gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1957–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars |
Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Salvadoran Civil War The Troubles Operation Just Cause Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Cambodian–Thai border stand-off Colombian armed conflict Insurgency in the Philippines Bougainville Civil War 2013 Lahad Datu standoff various others |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1952–1957 |
| Manufacturer |
Saco Defense U.S. Ordnance |
| Unit cost | $6,000 |
| Produced | 1957–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 10.5 kg (23.15 lb) |
| Length | 1,105 mm (43.5 in) |
| Barrel length | 560 mm (22.0 in) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Caliber | 7.62 mm (0.308 in) |
| Action | Gas-operated, short-stroke gas piston,open bolt |
| Rate of fire | 500–650 rounds/min (rpm) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,800 ft/s (853 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1,200 yd (1,100 m) |
| Feed system | Disintegrating belt with M13 Links |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The M60, officially the United States 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.
Introduced in 1957, it has served with every branch of the U.S. military and still serves with other armed forces. 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 in U.S. service.
The M60 is a belt-fed machine gun that fires the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge (.308 Winchester) commonly used in larger rifles. It is generally used as a crew-served weapon and operated by a team of two or three individuals. The team consists of the gunner, the assistant gunner (AG), and the ammunition bearer. The gun's weight and the amount of ammunition it can consume when fired make it difficult for a single soldier to carry and operate. The gunner carries the weapon and, depending on his or her strength and stamina, anywhere from 200 to 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The assistant carries a spare barrel and extra ammunition, and reloads and spots targets for the gunner. The ammunition bearer carries additional ammunition and the tripod with associated traversing and elevation mechanism, if issued, and fetches more ammunition as needed during firing.
The M60 can be accurately fired at short ranges from the shoulder thanks to its design. This was an initial requirement for the design and a hold-over in concept from the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. It may also be fired from the integral bipod, M122 tripod, and some other mounts.
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