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Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kaelri (talk | contribs) at 14:34, 5 June 2010 (→Cultural References: Consolidated video game references into a list; removed statement that the weapon is incorrectly described as a sniper rifle (it is).). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mk 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle
Mk 14 Mod 0 rifle
TypeBattle rifle
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service2004[1]–Present
Used by United States
WarsIraq War, War in Afghanistan
Production history
DesignerMike Rock and Jim Ribordy (Original)[1]
Smith Enterprises Inc. (Current)[1]
Designed2001
ManufacturerNaval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division[2]
Smith Enterprises (Supplying parts)[1]
Sage International (For the stock)[3]
Specifications
Mass11.24 lb (5.1 kg)[4]
Length35 in (889 mm)[4]
Barrel length18 in (457 mm)[4]
Cartridge7.62x51mm NATO
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire700–750 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity975.4 m/s (3,200 ft/s)
Effective firing range460 m (500 yd)
800+ m (875 yd) (with optics)
Feed system20-round detachable box magazine
SightsModified M14 iron sights, normally used with a magnifying scope.

The United States Navy Mark 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) is an American selective fire military rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. It is a variant of the M14 battle rifle and was originally built for use with units of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command, such as the United States Navy SEALs.[5][6]

The EBRs are made with the intention of carrying out both designated marksman and CQB roles in combat.[7]

Origin

The creation of the Mark 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle(EBR) began in 2000 after a request by United States Navy SEALs for the creation of a more compact M14 battle rifle.[8] In 2001, Mike Rock Rifle Barrels, Inc. was the only rifle barrel maker asked by United States Special Operations Command to participate in a SOPMOD conference to create what would be the Mark 14 Mod 0 rifle, with details that include a collapsible stock that was requested for the new rifle and with aluminum body with telescopic rails.[1] Mike Rock collaborated with engineer Jim Ribordy to make the new rifle. Tests showed that their rifle was effective, but has excessive noise problems.[1]

In 2003, Ron Smith and Smith Enterprises Inc. created its own version of the M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (MK14 SEI Mod 0),[9] which was more widely favored than the rifle made by Rock and Ribordy. The Smith Enterprises-based MK14 was then used as a basis to eventually create the Mark 14 Mod 0 with Springfield Armory, Inc. being tasked to supply the necessary machinery needed to create the weapon[1] in cooperation with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division.[10]

United States Navy SEALs were the first forces to be armed with the EBR in 2004, followed by the US Coast Guard[1]. The United States Army is also being armed with the EBR, being created and updated by the Weapons Product Support Integration Directorate of the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command at the Keith L. Ware Test Facility in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois.[11][12] United States Marine Corps units were also considering the EBR,[13] but wound up instead developing the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle.

Design

The weapon takes the standard M14 action and barrel assembly and adds a telescoping stock,[5] a pistol grip,[11] a different front sight, Harris bipod,[11] four Picatinny accessory rails (which surround the barrel),[5][10][13] and a more effective muzzle brake in place of the standard flash suppressor.[14] A paddle-type bolt stop similar to that of the M4 carbine was used on the rifle.[10] The EBR stock is made up entirely of lightweight aircraft alloy.[15]

A plastic handshield and M68 CCO are also added as standard external accessories, though they are almost always replaced with a vertical foregrip and magnifying scope for better handling and for use in a designated marksman role. A suppressor can be mounted on the muzzle brake,[16] though the U.S. military did not adopt one to active service.[1]

Sage International had some involvement in the decision of whether to invest approximately $120,000 in an injection mold incorporating into the design the rail attachments or machine the replacement stock from a solid billet of aluminum with the former being selected, which was then shown at the SHOT Show in Orlando in 2003.[17]

Configurations

Several configurations are allowed on the Mark 14 Mod 0 rifle, among them include the attachment of the AN/PVS-4 night vision scope.[18] Others had included the capability of adding two different scopes/sights on the Picatinny rails.[18]

Manufacturer

Military

While the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division creates the military Mark 14 Mod 0 rifles, Sage International was contracted to only do the weapon's chassis-type stock.[3]

Civilian

Civilian versions are created by Fulton Armory,[19] firing in semi-automatic mode instead of fully automatic.[20]

Others include Smith Enterprise Inc. and Sage International, the former known as the MK14 SEI and the latter as the Sage Enhanced Battle Rifle.[21] The Sage EBR has a carbine variant known as the Close Quarter Battle rifle.[22] The carbine variant is said to be called as the Chop-Mod EBR, with the barrel being made short from the original EBR rifle[17] like the MK14 SEI Mod 1.[23]

Troy Industries has created a replica of the EBR's modular system made by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division called the Troy Modular Chassis System, which can be used by mounting any functioning M1A or M14 rifle on the MCS.[24] Ferfrans has created their version of the Mark 14 Mod 0 called the Ferfrans Enhanced Battle Rifle.[25]

Reception

Users have praised the weapon to be user friendly due to it being ergonomical, having low recoil and an effective low-cost platform to change all "surplus M14s into modern battle rifles", as well as having the option of various optics and accessories left to the user's preference.[13]

Cultural References

The weapon is featured in a number of video games, including:

  • Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and its online version, Metal Gear Online. Accessories for the gun include, mounted laser sight, flashlight, and silencer.
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, where it is referred to both as the "M14 EBR" and the "M21 EBR" depending on where it's used. Accessories featured in the game include magnifying scopes (equipped by default; the weapon's iron sights are only usable in single player modes), Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights, thermal optics, suppressors, and extended magazines.
  • Battlefield: Bad Company 2, unlockable as a primary weapon in multiplayer. Unfortunately, the rifle is unencumbered of any weapon attachments and only has a 10-round magazine.
  • MAG, as the initial sniper rife that players enlisted in the Valor PMC can select. The variants (Mod 0 and Mod 1) differ slightly with regards to accuracy and damage, though the overall performance of the rifles remain similar in terms of overall gameplay. The rifle starts with a medium range 4x scope and a 20 round magazine, and can be augmented with the following attachments: a shorter range 4x optical scope, hand-grip, suppressor, and bi-pod.
  • Killing Floor as one of the buy-able weapons. It comes with optional laser sights and has a reduced fee for players with the 'Sharpshooter' perk.
  • SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i M14 Rifle History. Retrieved on September 24, 2008. Cite error: The named reference "Users" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ My Personal Top Ten. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  3. ^ a b New-era M14 alleviates reliability issues. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c MK 14 Mod 0 Retrieved on May 29, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Modern Firearm's M14 Page. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  6. ^ Navy SEALs to get new rifles. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  7. ^ M14/M1A. Retrieved on September 26, 2008.
  8. ^ [http://www.athenswater.com/M1A_Scout_Squad_EBR.htm The History and Development of the SAGE Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) chassis stock system.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  9. ^ CRAZY HORSE US NAVY MK14 SEI MOD 0. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
  10. ^ a b c New-era M14 Alleviates Reliability Issues. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
  11. ^ a b c AMC Deputy Chief of Staff on Target with M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
  12. ^ Army's Chief of Staff visits Arsenal Island. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c M14 REBORN. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.
  14. ^ M14SE “CRAZY HORSE” SEMIAUTOMATIC SNIPER SYSTEM (SASS). Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  15. ^ The Modern M14. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
  16. ^ M14SE “CRAZY HORSE” SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN (M14SE SDM) AND MK14 SEI RIFLE. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  17. ^ a b Sage International Enhanced Battle Rifle Chassis Review. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.
  18. ^ a b M14 to MK14. Evolution of a Battle Rifle. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  19. ^ Fulton Armory M14/M1A Parts, Accessories, Tools and Books. Retrieved on September 22, 2008.
  20. ^ 1,000 Rounds Through the Fulton Armory M-14. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  21. ^ Sage Enhanced Battle Rifle brochure. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  22. ^ Close Quarter Battle Variant Rifle brochure. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
  23. ^ MK14 SEI MOD 1 Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
  24. ^ LAW483 M14 MCS from TROY. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
  25. ^ Official FERFRANS EBR Page. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
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