Mk 48 machine gun
| Mk 48 Mod 0 | |
|---|---|
Mk 48 Mod 0
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| Type | General-purpose machine gun |
| Place of origin | |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2003–present |
| Used by | United States Special Operations Command |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | FN Herstal |
| Designed | 2003 |
| Manufacturer | FN Herstal |
| Produced | 2003–present |
| Variants | Mk 48 Mod 1 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 8.2 kg (18.26 lb) empty 11.2 kg (24.7 lb) w/ 100 rounds |
| Length | 1,000 mm (39.75 in) |
| Barrel length | 502 mm (19.75 in) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO (STANAG 2310) |
| Action | Gas-operated, open bolt |
| Rate of fire | 710 (± 50) rounds/min |
| Effective firing range | 800 m (~875 yd), area target |
| Maximum firing range | 3,600 m (~3,940 yd) |
| Feed system | Disintegrating belt (M13 link) |
The Mark 48, or Mk 48 is a lightweight belt-fed machine gun, firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of ammunition.
It is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing, Inc., a division of FN Herstal based in the United States. The Mk 48 has been developed in conjunction with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which has adopted the weapon and started its fielding process, beginning with special operations units.
On 21 March 2001, the USSOCOM approved the MNS/ORD (Mission Need Statement/Operational Requirements Document) for a new 7.62×51mm NATO lightweight machine gun (LWMG) to replace the M60E4/Mk 43 Mod 0 in use by United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) units.
The LWMG program was patterned after the Mk 46 Mod 0—a variant of the M249 light machine gun currently in use by the USSOCOM.
Fabrique Nationale's division at Columbia, South Carolina (which also produces the M249 and M240 series of weapons for the U.S. military) was charged with production of the Mk 48 Mod 0. The program achieved full-rate production on 21 March 2003.
The Mk 48 Mod 0 is a gas-operated, air-cooled, fully automatic belt-fed machine gun. The design is based on an early 7.62×51mm NATO prototype of the FN Minimi, modified to be a scaled-up version of the 5.56 mm Mk 46 Mod 0.
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