List of weapons of the United States Marine Corps

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 M16A4 assault rifle. Suppressive fire is provided by the M249 SAW, which is being replaced by the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, and the M240B machine gun, at the squad and company levels respectively. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the M203 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 M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle, which is being replaced by the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System and M40A3 and A5 sniper rifle 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 Predator SRAW, FGM-148 Javelin and BGM-71 TOW are anti-tank guided missiles; all three can utilize top-attack profiles to avoid heavy frontal armor. The Predator is a short-range fire-and-forget weapon; the Javelin and TOW are heavier 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

Bladed weapons

Pistol

Assault Rifles & Carbines

Marine aiming a loaded M16A4 rifle with EOTech optic
A U.S. Marine armed with an M16A4 rifle and ITL MARS sight in 2004.

Designated Marksman Rifles

Sniper Rifles

Submachine gun

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.

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 155mm howitzer

Missile Launchers

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

Vehicle-Mounted

Aircraft-Mounted

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

Other

Marine emplaces a claymore mine

Accessories

a night vision goggle with attached head mount
AN/PVS-7A

Testing/Limited Use

A U.S. Marine Corps Military Police Special Reaction Team using the MP5-N in February 2004.

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 submachinegun
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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weapons of the United States Marine Corps.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ↑ "M40A1 Sniper Rifle". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  2. ↑ "Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  3. ↑ USMC Officer's Guidebook Seventh Edition
  4. ↑ "U.S. Marines Add to M9A1 Inventory". Law & Order Magazine. Encyclopedia.com. November 1, 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  5. ↑ Tendas, Pierangelo. "Beretta M9-A1". Armi & Tiro. securityarms.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  6. ↑ http://marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/NAVMC%20DIR%203500.90.pdf
  7. ↑ "Jane's international defense review: IDR". 36 (12). Jane's Information Group. 2003.
  8. ↑ http://www.marines.com/operating-forces/equipment/weapons/m-32-grenade-launcher
  9. ↑ http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2008/08-August/03-Aug-2008/FBO-01629550.htm
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