List of weapons of the United States Marine Corps: Difference between revisions

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

Weapons utilized

The basic infantry weapon of the U.S. Marine Corps is the M16 assault rifle family, with a majority of Marines being equipped with the M16A2 or M16A4 service rifles, or more recently the M4 carbine—a compact variant. Suppressive fire is provided by the M249 SAW and M240G machine guns, at the squad and company levels respectively. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the M203 grenade launcher in fireteams, M224 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 USMC Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), which is being replaced by the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle, and M40A3 sniper rifle.^[1]

The Marine Corps utilizes 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 also 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

M7 bayonet - currently being phased out
OKC-3S bayonet
Ka-Bar - generally issued to Marines who carry pistols, machine guns, or other non-bayonet compatible firearms
Marine Noncommissioned Officers' Sword, 1859-Present - ceremonial use only
Marine Officers' Mameluke Sword, 1875-Present - ceremonial use only

Pistols

M9 Beretta 9 mm Pistol - standard sidearm
MEU(SOC) .45 pistol - issued to MEU (SOC) forces

Marine with M16A4 5.56x45mm rifle with optics

Rifles & Carbines

Shotguns

Machine Guns

Hand Grenades & Grenade Launchers

Mortars

Artillery

M198 155 mm Medium Howitzer - currently being phased out
M777 155mm Lightweight Howitzer
HIMARS

Missile Launchers

Vehicle-Mounted

Aircraft-Mounted

GBU-12 500lb. bomb

Guns

Bombs

Missiles

Rockets

Other

Accessories

Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG), recently renamed Rifle Combat Optic (RCO)
ITL MARS reflex sight
AN/PSQ-18 day/night grenade launcher sight
AN/PVS-10 night vision sight
AN/PVS-14 night vision sight
AN/PVS-17 night vision sight
AN/PAS-13 thermal sight
AN/PAQ-4 IR laser sight
AN/PEQ-2 IR laser sight
various suppressors (MARSOC and Recon only}
various tactical lights
M2 tripod for light and medium machineguns
M3 tripod for heavy machineguns

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.

Active Denial System - in evaluation
Strider SMF - MCSOCOM Detachment One only
Kimber ICQB - MCSOCOM Detachment One only
Heckler & Koch MP5 - MARSOC and Force Reconnaissance only
FN SCAR - in evaluation for MARSOC
Masterkey - in evaluation
M60E3 7.62 mm Machine Gun - Special operations
M79 grenade launcher
M32 Multiple Grenade Launcher - in evaluation
Ruger Mini-14 - limited issue to some U.S. Marine Security Guard Detachments in U.S. diplomatic facilities

Retired

Bladed weapons

Pistols

File:M1911 Pistol US.jpg

M1911 Pistol

Rifles, Carbines, & Muskets

M1 Garand rifle

Submachineguns

Machineguns

Explosives & Launchers

File:Sam79.jpg

M79 grenade launcher

Marine still use the M101 for ceremonial purposes today

M2 flamethrower

Aircraft/vehicle-mounted

Other

Linear Infighting Neural Override Engagement (LINE) combat system
AN/PVS-4 night vision sight
AN/TVS-5 night vision sight

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

^ "M40A1 Sniper Rifle". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ "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. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[1] "M40A1 Sniper Rifle". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[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. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 90: / Line 90: @@
 * [[Smoke Grenade]]
 * [[M203 grenade launcher|M203 40 mm Rifle-Mounted Grenade Launcher]]
-* [[M32 MGL|M32 Multiple Grenade Launcher]]
 * [[MK19 grenade launcher|MK19 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher]]
 [[Image:M777 howitzer rear.jpg|thumb|right|300px|M777 155mm howitzer]]