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List of weapons of the United States Marine Corps

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

Weapons used

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The basic infantry weapon of the United States Marine Corps is the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. Suppressive fire is provided by the M240B machine gun, at the squad and company levels respectively. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the M320 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 M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System and M40A3, A5, A6 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 FGM-148 Javelin and BGM-71 TOW are anti-tank guided missiles; both can utilize top-attack profiles to avoid heavy frontal armor and are heavy 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

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Non-lethal weapons

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Bladed weapons

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Handguns

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  • Beretta M9
  • Beretta M9A1[4][5]
  • Glock M007 – Adopted in February 2015 for use by MARSOC
  • M45A1 – Modified M1911A1, for use by MEU(SOC) and MARSOC. Still in use by Recon Battalions, Security, and Emergency Services Battalions.
  • M18 – Standard issue pistol since 2020 (replacing M9, M9A1, M45A1 and M007)[6]

Assault rifles, carbines and battle rifles

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Marine aiming a loaded M16A4 rifle with EOTech optic
A U.S. Marine armed with an M16A4 rifle and ITL MARS sight in 2004.
A U.S. Marine armed with an M27 IAR affixed with ACOG Squad Day Optic.
  • M16A2, M16A3, M16A4 – Select fire. Safe, semi, burst. Originally the basic infantry weapon,[7] mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions.
  • M4/M4A1 – Mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions. Commonly issued for non-infantry marines as of 2010.[7]
  • M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle – Support weapon based on the Heckler & Koch HK416 (itself a piston-driven variation upon the AR-15) using a free-floating barrel. Initially issued as a replacement for the M249, in 2018 the decision was made to adopt the M27 as the standard USMC assault rifle in infantry battalions.[8]
  • CQBR Block II – Modified M4 with 10.3-inch barrel. Used by MARSOC
  • Mk 17 Mod 0 used by MARSOC

Designated marksman rifles

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Sniper rifles

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  • Mk 13 mod 7 – .300 Winchester Magnum chambered sniper rifle built on Accuracy International Chassis System with Remington 700 long action.
  • Mk 11 Mod 0 – 7.62×51mm sniper rifle based on the M16 direct impingement gas system.
  • M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System – Improved version of the Mk 11, replacing the M39 and Mk 11.
  • M40 rifle – M40A3, M40A5 and M40A6 variants in use as sniper rifles.
  • Barrett 50 Cal/M82/M107 – in use as the M82A3 and M107 variants. The M82A3 being an upgraded M82A1A, and the M107 being a variant made in response to requirements issued for an anti-materiel rifle.
  • M21 – modified M14 rifle

Shotguns

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Submachine guns

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Machine guns

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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.
  • M2HB – heavy machine gun chambered in .50 BMG used primarily on vehicles.
  • M240B – 7.62×51mm medium machine gun used by infantry, and light vehicles and helicopters.
  • Mk48 Mod 1 – 7.62×51mm light machine gun, used by US MARSOC.
  • M249E4 – 5.56×45mm light machine gun, infantry support weapon. Not replaced, but being supplanted by the M27 IAR.

Hand grenades

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Grenade launchers

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A Video of U.S. Marines training with the M32A1

Mortars

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Artillery

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Marines gather around a M777 howitzer, while the smoke from a recently fired round lingers
M777 155 mm howitzer

Shoulder-fired missile and rocket launchers

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

Vehicle-mounted weapons

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Aircraft-mounted weapons

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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
Marine emplaces a claymore mine

Other

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Accessories

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a night vision goggle with attached head mount
AN/PVS-7A
A U.S. Marine Corps Military Police Special Reaction Team using the MP5-N in February 2004.

Testing/limited use

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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

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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 submachine gun
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

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References

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Public Domain 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. ^ Matt Gonzales, Marine Corps Systems Command (23 September 2020). "Marine Corps fields first new service pistol In 35 years". United States Marine Corps (Press release). Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Top Marine Glad to Have M16A4 Standard". Kit Up!. Military.com. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  8. ^ Seck, Hope Hodge (5 January 2018). "M27s and 'Head-to-Toe' Gear Overhaul on the Way for Marine Grunts". Military.com/Kitup. Archived from the original on 2018-01-07.
  9. ^ a b "NAVMC DIRECTIVE 3500.90" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-10. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  10. ^ "Jane's international defense review: IDR". 36 (12). Jane's Information Group. 2003. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ "Adapt and Overcome". United States Marine Corps.
  12. ^ Cpl. Mark W. Stroud (18 July 2013). "Reconnaissance Marines train with Close-Quarters Battle Pistol". United States Marine Corps (Press release). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  13. ^ "SRCSGT – 10 – The Marine Corps Systems Command desires to collect information regarding potential rifle scopes to be utilized on Sniper Rifles (M40A3, M107, Mk11, Mk 12, M14 DMR and M39 EMR). – 03-Aug-08 – FBO#2442". www.fbodaily.com.
  14. ^ Ezell, Edward (1988). Small Arms Today. Vol. 2nd. Stackpole Books. p. 399. ISBN 0811722805.
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