M27M27FROM BAR TO IAR: HOW THE MARINES FINALLY GOT THEIR INFANTRY AUTOMATIC RIFLE

by ROBERT BRUCE

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s threat forces match the firepower of the current rifle squad, the Ma- rine Corps must maintain the inno- vative edge for which it is famous. AWhile experimentation is still re- quired, the evaluations undertaken by Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, de- finitively indicate that the Marine Corps should place the M249 into a light ma- chine gun role and add a true automatic rifle to the squad’s inventory. (Conclusion to AUTOMATIC RIFLE CONCEPT, an un- signed monograph circa 2001, circulated in the USMC Infantry community) Friends and foes of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in the U.S. Marine Corps’ infantry fire teams have been en- gaged in often fierce verbal firefights dat- ing back years before this innovative light machine gun entered Leatherneck service; soon after the Army adopted FN’s MINI- MI in 1984. While the reasons for this are many and varied, astute observers often cite two main points of contention: won the argument. “After a rigorous testing process, • Advocates of belt fed weapons like both in garrison and deployed environ- the M249 admire their relative por- ments, and in-depth consultation with tability and high volume of fire at weapons experts through the Corps, the critical times in offensive and defen- Commandant approved the fielding of the sive actions. M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. Fielding • Critics say the 5.56mm SAW‘s hefty of the IAR will significantly enhance the 20+ pound combat weight slows ability of infantrymen to gain and main- movement and reliability issues too tain fire superiority, reduce the fighting often degrade the gun’s claimed fire- load and provide them with a more ergo- power advantage. nomic and accurate weapons system that can keep up during the assault.” (USMC This second group has argued long press statement, June 2011) and strenuously for an “Infantry Auto- The winning IAR is a lightly modified matic Rifle” that’s both lighter and simpler HK416, beating out dozens of rivals along than the SAW, with similar combat effec- after the Belgian belt-fed joined the Ma- the way to earn Heckler & Koch an initial tiveness from better accuracy and realistic rines, and a decade after the infantry contract for as much as $23.6 million to capability in full auto and sustained fire. automatic rifle tests by 2nd Battalion supply up to 6,500 M27s. Now, more than a quarter century 7th Marine Regiment, the IAR camp has More than 400 of these are already

PREVIOUS PAGE: September 2011, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A Marine with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment adjusts the SU- 258/PVQ SDO (Trijicon Model TA11SDO-CP) day scope for battle sight zero on his M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle in live fire exercises upon arrival in country. This MOS 0311 Squad Automatic Rifleman is likely to agree with many others who are more than happy to make the switch from the heavier, and often troublesome M249. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Chandler) TOP: January 2005, Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq. Iraqi soldiers aim in their magazine-fed 7.62x39mm RPK light machine guns during the Iraqi Small Arms Weapons Instructor Course taught by the Marines of the 2nd Marine Division Training Center here. Admiration of the combat efficiency of the Soviet-designed RPK was a factor in persistent and growing requests from rank-and-file Marines for a true automatic rifle. (USMC) ABOVE: August 2005, MCB Quantico, Virginia. Marine Corps Major Mike Manning, Individual Weapons Team Leader for MARCOR- SYSCOM, introduces the experimental XM8 weapon system, developed for the U.S. Army by Heckler & Koch, to attendees at the USMC’s 2005 symposium for Infantry Operations Chiefs. The XM8’s short-stroke gas piston operation and other essential elements now found in HK’s M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle directly evolved from that firm’s G36 rifle. Intended as a replacement for trouble-prone M16s and M4s, the story of the murder by bureaucrats and politicians of the versatile and reliable XM8 family of weapons on the eve of adoption by the Army is a little-known travesty. (USMC photo by Corporal Justin Lago) OPPOSITE: Okinawa, 1945. A Marine of the 1st Marine Division draws a bead on a Japanese sniper with his .45 caliber Thompson submachine gun while his companion, armed with a .30-06 caliber Browning Automatic Rifle, ducks for cover. Although heavy and having only a 20 round magazine, the accurate, hard hitting and long-reaching BAR is held in highest regard by many veterans of WWII and Korea. The Corps’ subsequent tries at its replacement started with a bipod-equipped M14. When this proved unsatisfactory and “Fourteens” were replaced during the Vietnam War with M16s, certain riflemen in each fire team were designated as “automatic riflemen.” That didn’t work very well either so the Corps fielded the M249 in 1985. (US Marine Corps photo/National Archives)

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in the fight in Afghanistan and full field- be a worthy successor to the iconic “B.A.R.” Additional input has come from 2001 and continuing through the M27’s measured through a full combat load of can now be set by the squad leader instead ing to all of the Corps’ Infantry Battalions – John Moses Browning’s Automatic Rifle. other knowledgeable individuals who, not adoption, Eby offers us his detailed- per ammunition. This was especially true at of the slow moving light machine gun. and Light Armored Recon units should be In addition to official program docu- surprisingly, have asked not to be identi- spective on the Corps’ recent decision: night due to the complexity of the M249 “The loss of the psychological effect of complete in 2013. mentation, our primary sources of infor- fied due to sensitivities both professional “The primary focus of replacing the function/operation creating a greater fre- a high volume of inaccurate fire provided mation for this feature include three career and personal. M249 with a true automatic rifle stemmed quency of stoppages and malfunctions. by the M249 will NOT be an issue, as any BACK STORY Marines, each with detailed knowledge Gunner Eby, now Advanced Technol- from the understanding that the M249 is “The Marine Corps believes, as do I, combat veteran who has heard gunfire can What follows here contains only brief and relevant perspectives. They are CWO5 ogy Programs Manager for the cutting- a Light Machine Gun that was adopted by that the M27 will prove to be a key com- attest to, as after the first “dive to cover” note of the tactical pros and cons of SAW (Ret) Jeffrey Eby, recently Senior Gunner edge weapon sighting systems innovator the USMC because the Army had a con- ponent to: occasion has been conducted, the sound of vs. IAR because these have long been and for the Corps, Major (Ret) Charles Clark Trijicon, moved up steadily in rank and tract method that we could use. The goal inaccurate fire passing somewhere nearby are likely to remain an ongoing debate. III, USMC Infantry Weapons Capabilities responsibilities from CWO2 with 2nd Bat- of the effort that led to the M27 stemmed • Level the movement, portability and no longer impresses the veteran to the This is, we believe, best left to the Corps’ Integration Officer at Marine Corps Head- talion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine from a desire to reduce system weight maneuverability across all personnel, point of taking cover. combat-hardened professionals who have quarters, and Gunnery Sergeant (Ret) Division, to the pinnacle of this career field from 26.5 lbs to 10.5 lbs, increase lethal- • Reduce the visible indication of the “I do not believe there are any nega- a ‘Devil Dog,’ so to speak, in the fight. Robert Reidsma, HK’s M27 IAR Project in the USMC. ity by increasing the hit ratio of all shots location of automatic weapons to the tives to the M27 replacing the M249 from Instead, it is intended to be a close Manager. Reidsma’s interview served well An outspoken, principled and tireless fired and increase the portability of a sys- enemy, any aspect that has been considered.” look at how the Marine Corps went about as the backbone for the first installment of advocate of the IAR from the time he was tem in the hands of an offensive force that • Utilize a common ammunition source, the process of fielding what is hoped will this two-part series. involved in the first real IAR trials around is trying to “close with the enemy” as op- • Streamline all training tasks, SOME OF THE M27’S MAIN MARINES posed to attempting to use a weapon such • Enhance the automatic rifleman’s Success of the IAR initiative in the ABOVE: 29 March 2010, Djibouti, Africa. Lance Cpl. Tim Eastep, with 1st platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regi- as the M249, better designed for defen- direct fire contribution in Counter form of the M27 is the result of a team ment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides suppression fire using his M249 squad automatic weapon, allowing his team to advance forward, during a sive engagements. Insurgency environments when the effort with many players in addition to mechanized assault as part of a live fire range exercise. The 5.56mm belt-fed M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, adopted by the Marine Corps in 1985, is seen “The Commandant of the Marine volume of fire is not necessarily desir- Eby, Clark and his immediate predeces- here in its latest “Para” configuration. This evolved from an effort initiated in Marine Force Recon to make it lighter and more maneuverable, but now falling Corps, along with many other Marines, able (collateral damage), sor, Patrick Cantwell. These men and short of the new M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. Combat weight of this light machine gun with 200 rounds loaded plus the USMC version ACOG, laser aiming was concerned about the loss in pure vol- • Allow the squad to maintain the abil- others, notably Major (now Lieutenant module and bipod, is about twice that of a comparably equipped M27 and seven loaded mags. (USMC photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl) OPPOSITE ume of fire when moving from a belt fed ity to provide a high-volume of fire Colonel) John “Ethan” Smith, IAW Proj- TOP: 21 November 2011, The Crucible training center, Stafford County, Virginia. The final version of HK’s M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle as officially adopted weapon to a magazine fed weapon. Exper- when required. ect Officer, labored long and hard in the for use throughout the Marine Corps. This is one of the Corps’ hard worked test and evaluation rifles, lacking only the “M27” receiver marking that will replace iments by Marine Corps Operational Test honored tradition of quiet and selfless “HK 416 D” on the magazine well. It‘s topped with a 3.5 power SU-258/PVQ SDO (Trijicon Model TA11SDO-CP) day scope with distinctive “piggyback“ RMR and Evaluation Activity (MCOTEA) proved “The squad will be more lethal from service to the Corps. (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) close combat sight. Note the folded down BUIS (back up iron sight) and Manta‘s black colored soft polymer rail and broomstick that the M27 significantly outperformed accurate fires. The squad will be more While the scope of this report doesn’t covers that will be standard in USMC service. The M27’s ambidextrous selector features HK’s intuitive “pictographic” markings for SAFE in white, SEMI and the M249 in suppression, used significant- mobile from significant weight reduction permit identifying all of them, some of the FULL AUTO in red. To reinforce previous training these positions (and the charging handle, forward assist and magazine release) are the same as on M16 ly less ammunition and had less downtime of both weapon and total ammunition re- key personnel brought to our attention are series rifles. The trigger guard swings down to allow shooting with heavy gloves or mitts. (Robert Bruce) during reloads when total down time was quirements. The tempo of the rifle squad Lieutenant Colonel Mark Brinkman, MAR-

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of those capabilities, but also for all the squads in urban combat. Marine Corps doctrine relating to those “When you go into a MOUT (Military weapons systems. Operations on Urban Terrain) environ- This seasoned Marine brings impres- ment you’ve got to strip the SAW gunner sive credentials to the job, having held every out of the ‘stack’ (of Marines entering and billet in infantry battalions from Platoon clearing buildings),” he said. “And so now Commander through Battalion Operations you’ve effectively taken what was your au- Officer. His combat experience spans 2005 tomatic rifle out of the attack in a MOUT through 08, including rifle company com- environment where it‘s really about main- mander in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq, taining momentum and tempo.” and as a combat advisor with the Afghan This and other gripes fueled the esca- Commando Kandak (battalion), primarily lation from an evolving “Universal Need in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Statement” initiated back in 1999, to of- We asked Clark when and why Ma- ficial program status six years later, the rines in the field began asking for an alter- bureaucratic birthday of a laborious and native to the M249 that the Corps fielded strictly defined procurement process. In beginning in 1985 and he suggested we early 2005, Clark and others under the talk with Gunner Eby, describing him as Deputy Commandant for Combat Develop- both a fellow Marine and personal friend. ment and Integration wrote up a set of ca- As seen earlier in this feature, we certainly pabilities desired for a theoretical Infantry did and it proved highly instructive. Automatic Rifle, sending the specifications “Historically, the Marine Corps kind over to Marine Corps Systems Command. of understood the shortcomings of the On 14 July 2005, MARCORSYSCOM SAW but it was a service level decision to kick-started the process by issuing its Re- adopt it,” Clark said, “a Marine Corps re- quest for Information to the defense in- CORSYSCOM’s Product Group 13 Program quirement that was initially developed by dustry, listing both threshold (minimum) Manager for Infantry Weapons, along with the Army.” and objective (desirable) IAR characteris- Captain Edward Leon, succeeding Smith Dissatisfaction soon arose and grew in tics they might be able to meet with an ex- as IAR/M27 Project Officer. Also, working the dozen or so years that followed, leading isting weapon. With this, the IAR machine patiently and steadily behind the scenes to the often-cited initial IAR trials conduct- started picking up speed. was PMIW Engineering Team Leader Sal- ed by the 1st Marine Division’s 2nd Battal- While the initial solicitation’s 100 vatore Fanelli, well known and respected ion, 7th Marine Regiment circa 2000. round minimum magazine capacity was for decades of important work in the world “Until you operate with a weapon sys- soon dropped in favor of standard GI of military small arms. tem for some period of time, you haven’t 30-rounders for reasons detailed later in Our initial requests through USMC identified all the considerations for em- the feature, the specified caliber begged for public affairs channels to interview any ployment,” Clark explained. “2-7 was not discussion. Since performance shortcom- of these men proved unsuccessful until the only battalion that had this epiphany. ings in the U.S. military’s standard issue persistent efforts eventually paid off with It was a growing thought process in the M855 5.56x45mm cartridges have been permission to conduct only one – a tel- Marine Corps.” well documented, we asked Clark if alter- ephonic interview with Clark, speaking 2-7 did a limited IAR experiment and natives like 6.8mm had been considered. from his office at MCB Quantico, Virginia. then provided their findings up through the “We did not.” he said, but quickly This retired Marine Major is the Infantry Gunner community; the highly respected added, “We’re considering alternate cali- Weapons Capabilities Integration Officer duty experts on weapons employment bers in the future.” for the Deputy Commandant for Combat whose opinions carry considerable weight Clark emphasized that one of the Development and Integration, a three star in the Marine Corps. Their endorsement driving factors for the desired IAR was command at Headquarters, Marine Corps. of the Infantry Automatic Rifle, echoed in commonality among the weapons in the Identifying himself as the “user rep- formal recommendations, continued year Marine rifle squad. “We have an M27 with resentative” inside the acquisition process, after year as Marine infantrymen fought common ammunition – (5.56mm) ball, Clark was well positioned in the latter stag- the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan, not linked – and a common ammunition es of moving the IAR requirement through Iraq and other hot spots. source with the approved service rifle mag- the bureaucratic maze. The IWCIO and Clark cited a list of complaints from azine,” he said. “Now we can switch back his five person team cover all infantry the field including SAW gunners lagging and forth. It’s much easier, and having weapons, individual and crew served behind, particularly in the attack. He been a company commander, I think that weapons, optics, sniper capabilities, and called the M249 an effective but cumber- offers a lot of capability to trade magazines remote weapons stations. They’re not only some light machine gun, not best suited back and forth on reaching the objective.” responsible for the requirements for each for the Corps’ tactical doctrine for rifle It was Clark’s job to take up the cause

3 June 2011, Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, California. A Marine with 2nd platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, provides cover fire while an M249 squad automatic weapon gunner and another fire team member work to clear the belt fed weapon’s malfunction during a platoon attack course, part of the Enhanced Mojave Viper training evolution. This is particularly difficult and time consuming at night. (USMC photo by Corporal James W. Clark)

54 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 55 THE U.S. MARINE CORPS’ M27: PART 2 from his predecessors and steer the IAR past the metaphorical mudholes, mines and ruts that are noted in what follows EXCERPT FROM “AUTOMATIC RIFLE CONCEPT” here. Analysis of responses to the RFI and (an unsigned monograph circa 2001, circulated in the USMC Infantry community) 23 April 2012, MCB Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. Lance Cpl. Zachary A. further input from the Gunner community Whitman of III Marine Expeditionary Force, familiarizes himself with the M27 and other elements of the Corps resulted In May 2001, the First Marine Division commissioned a study tasking Second Battalion, Infantry Automatic Rifle in preparation for the Australian Army Skill at Arms in a modified set of IAR specifications Seventh Marines to execute a quantitative and qualitative assessment of several automatic rifle Meeting 2012. AASAM is a multilateral, multinational event allowing Marines rolled up in a Capabilities Development candidates alongside the M249 SAW. to exchange skills tactics, techniques and procedures with members of the Document. The CDD was signed in June Based on the generally held weapons definitions adopted, three automatic rifles were Australian Army, as well as other international militaries in friendly competi- 2007, marking what’s called a Milestone B acquired off-the-shelf to participate in the assessment with the M249 SAW. These three weap- tion. SADJ was told that the Aussie’s – armed with the M249 – disallowed in ‘acquisition-speak,’ the jargon used in ons were the Colt Automatic Rifle, the Ultimax 100 (manufactured by Singapore Arms), and the the M27 in some events. Sounds like quite a compliment to the HK’s ac- government procurement circles. Heckler & Koch G36. curacy and reliability…. (USMC photo by Sergeant Brandon Saunders) More industry responses followed – samples and related support provided at THE WEAPONS no cost to the government but consider- The Colt is a variant of the current M16A2 with the exact same sights and commonality of able cost to the hopefuls – used in several parts. The Colt AR weighs fifteen pounds, eight more pounds than the M16A2. The additional rounds of tests that eventually narrowed weight is due primarily to a heavy barrel intended to retard heat build up. Other alterations the field to four candidate weapons. Then, include a pistol grip attached to the forend, a hydraulic buffer to retard recoil and rise, and a intensive verification testing was done on design change enabling the automatic variant to fire from the open bolt, reducing the possibility this quartet; two from Colt and one each of cook offs from excessive heat build up. The Colt has a rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute. from FN and HK. The Ultimax 100, made by Singapore Arms, is similar in look to the M249 SAW. Like On 19 December 2008, four “IDIQ” the SAW, it fires from the open bolt, But the MKII does not possess a spare barrel and is fed by (indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity ) magazine only. Because it weighs only nine pounds, shooters can easily employ the Ultimax contracts were formally announced, one in a variety of methods. An adjustable gas regulator with three settings allows for a rate of fire for each of the finalist IARs, identically varying from 450 to 600 rounds per minute. worded except for the company name The Heckler & Koch G36 is a lightweight battle rifle, capable of being fired in a fully and price. The purpose for these mul- automatic role from the closed bolt. The version tested had optical sights with an over/under tiple awards was two-fold; first to have a system. The lower sight system has a 3.5 magnified scope with multiple crosshairs. The upper contract structure in place to support pur- system was an aim point dot variation for limited visibility shooting. Total weight of the weapon chase of test samples, spares and services. system tested was seven pounds. The rate of fire is 650 rounds per minute. Then, when the winning rifle among the Unfortunately, the competitors tested during Phase I of the automatic rifle assessment four contenders was finalized, to expedite do not appear to offer what the Marine Corps needs. full rate production, getting IARs into the As stated previously, the HK failed to stay on target in burst fire while the Ultimax sight hands of Marines as fast as the hidebound system did not present to the eye at all. The commonality of the Colt AR with the M16A2 system would allow. appeared to be advantageous. Yet, the Colt proved to be the only weapon that experienced Heckler and Koch Defense, Inc., negligent discharges during the firing of 120,000 rounds. This fault resulted, in part, from young Ashburn, Va., is being awarded a five year Marines failing to understand the open bolt system, but also in part from weapon design. indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity Open bolts are inherently dangerous. Traditionally we fear to carry an open bolt weapon contract with possible delivery orders up in the condition one mode of ready to fire. The primary shooter can be trained to be safe with to $23,600,000 for the production, deliv- the weapon, but primary shooter casualties will soon place the weapon in an untrained hand, requirements document was “agnostic to ery, and associated support of the Marine quickly leading to friendly fire hazards. operating system.” “We didn’t go into this Corps’ Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). Using the assessment as a “jumping off” point, at the conclusion of Phase I of the Auto- saying ‘Hey, we want a closed bolt, piston The IAR will be a light weight, magazine matic Rifle Test, a Universal Need Statement was drafted and submitted through First Marine driven gun.’ We considered gas impinge- fed, 5.56mm weapon which will enhance Division. The statement requested that the M249 be replaced with a “true” automatic rifle. ment, gas piston, we considered operat- the automatic rifleman’s maneuverability The weapon envisioned would fire 5.56mm ball ammo, be capable of receiving the M16A2’s ing rod.” Clark explained. “We didn’t go and displacement speed while providing 30-round magazine, would posses a selector lever that went from safe to auto to semi-auto (in in with preconceived notions. I wouldn’t the ability to suppress or destroy not only that order), would weigh less than 12 pounds loaded, employ sights equal to the M16A2, use characterize it as tradeoffs. We had the area targets, but point targets as well. clip-on bipods, and have a 450-600 rounds per minute (cyclic?) rate of fire. performance specifications and we just The IAR is planned to replace the M249 simply took the gun that best met our per- Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) cur- formance specifications.” rently employed by automatic riflemen dorf, Germany. Delivery of contract line cost bid by each for the theoretical pur- giant General Dynamics. pected answer. “That’s where we get into Lessons learned along the way (Clark within Infantry and Light Armored Re- items will be as stated on applicable de- chase of 6,500 IARs. Both Colt rifles were Not surprisingly, contending firms ‘source selection sensitive’ information,” says there wasn’t much change from the connaissance (LAR) Battalions. Although livery orders. Contract funds will be ob- the least expensive at $14 million, HK was with weapons that were passed over he stated. “I can’t release what the delib- CDD) were codified in a Capability Pro- four contracts will be made initially, de- ligated in multiple delivery orders. This in the middle at $23.6 million, and FN weren’t happy. We, of course, asked why erations were.” duction Document, signed in November livery orders will be awarded for sam- contract was competitively procured. wanted $27.9 for theirs. they didn’t make the cut. We kept fishing, asking him to com- 2009. The CPD enabled Milestone C ples. First Article, spare/repair parts, The Marine Corps Systems Command, Left behind were rifles from LWRC Clark, tightly constrained by all man- ment on any significant tradeoffs neces- decisions that resulted in “down-select” and various support services; and, even- Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity and Knight’s, as well as the Ultimax light ner of legal restrictions arising from the sary to meet IAR’s specifications. Things of a single weapon system, announced tually one of the four contractors may be (M67854-09-D-1038). machine gun, offered under special ar- military’s too-often bitter experience with like piston vs. gas, open bolt vs. closed, a month later. The Corps’ source selec- awarded delivery orders for up to 6,500 Some insight into the eventual out- rangement with Singapore-based ST countless contract protests, lawsuits and cookoff, barrel swap, etc. Carefully choos- tion panel named HK’s candidate best in IARs. Work will be performed in Obern- come may be had by comparing the total Kinetics and the United States defense even political interference, gave the ex- ing his words, Clark emphasized that the meeting the requirements.

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gun and I’ve got an automatic rifle, I’m are they going to do that? Are they going going to be hard pressed to get fire supe- to throw them over to where they think he riority over him; you know, to keep his is? They’re going to be a little bit occupied head down instead of him keeping mine themselves, I suspect, in a firefight. down, because that 200-round magazine “So there’s just some – and I don’t just keeps on giving. want to get so far down in the weeds that, “Let’s talk about what it does to squad you know, I’m doing lance corporal work tactics and see how the troops feel about here. But it’s a big deal when you start this thing, because you’re not only chang- changing how a Marine infantry squad ing the kit, you’re changing the way, po- fights. And we’re going to treat it asa tentially, that we fight. And with this new big deal. And I’m going to have to be con- automatic rifle, every 30 rounds, you got vinced that we’re making the right move to change magazines. Well, you’re prob- before we start to purchase another sys- ably not going to do that, you know, in an tem and change that whole dynamic. exposed position. You’re going to have to “By the way, we also have to be able drop down, change that magazine and to justify to the Congress, and to you folks, come back up again. You know, fire su- arguably, that we’re moving away from a periority is fleeting. And so I’m concerned tried and true weapon system that the Ar- It was our duty to again ask the logi- about the sustained effects of all of that. my’s going to continue with, and yet we’re cal question: What performance and other “I’m concerned that moving at night, going to go another way. And there’s an- factors led to the decision to adopt HK’s that the other squad members carrying other additional burden of proof here, I modified 416 rifle as the USMC’s Infantry those additional magazines for that au- think, that has to be met simply because of Automatic Rifle? tomatic rifleman might, in a spread for- the expense to the taxpayer. So there’s a Clark’s answer was patient, cautious mation, be hard pressed to get him what number of things out there that we’ve got and brief. “Across the board, it best met he needs in a timely fashion. I mean, how to accomplish.” our requirements. When we hold a source selection… we consider cost, schedule, performance and past performance.” Then, after a moment of reflection, he THE FIRST FORMAL IAR SOLICITATION added with emphasis, “As the user repre- sentative, performance is always the most Classification Code 10--Non-Developmental, 5.56mm, Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) important aspect to me.” Solicitation Number: ARRFI Notice Type: Sources Sought Agency: Department of the Navy THE COMMANDANT GOES PUBLIC Office: United States Marine Corps HK’s IAR candidate had won the Location: Marine Corps Systems Command battle but not yet the war. The SAW vs. Posted Date: July 14, 2005. Response Date: August 8, 2005 IAR debate hadn’t gone away and not only were there were skeptics in the ranks but The United States Marine Corps is currently seeking information for a non-developmen- General James Conway, the soon-to-retire tal, 5.56mm, Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). CAPABILITY DISCUSSION. The IAR will enable Commandant of the Marine Corps, had the fire team to rapidly suppress point and area targets of immediate concern. The IAR will been cautiously weighing pros and cons replace the infantry’s M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAWs) with an automatic rifle easily 3 April 2009, Hawthorne Army Depot, Nevada. One for quite some time. operable by a single infantry Marine that emphasizes lightweight and portability in order to of four finalists – two from Colt and one from FN – in In his response to a reporter‘s ques- maximize dismounted maneuverability. SYSTEM ATTRIBUTES. The attributes that follow the IAR competition, an HK candidate seen here tion at a 15 December ‘09 news briefing at describe some of the specific characteristics that are required to provide the desired capability. gets a live fire workout from a Marine during what the Pentagon, the top Marine referenced Some attributes include threshold and objective criteria. A threshold criterion is defined as a is termed a Limited User Evaluation. The LUE is previously revealed criticism of the relative mandatory requirement and an objective criterion is defined as a desirable (but not manda- designed to provide infantrymen some hands-on inaccuracy of the SAW in burst fire along tory) requirement. System Portability. The IAR (excluding the magazine and accessories) experience followed by the opportunity for direct with concern about losing that belt-fed shall weigh less than 12.5 pounds empty (Threshold), 10.5 pounds (Objective). Ammunition input on likes and dislikes. Note the stubby GripPod light machine gun’s high volume of fire. Commonality. The IAR shall fire 5.56mm ammunition. Interoperability. The IAR shall possess mounted just forward of the magazine. While handy It was clear that this former muddy boots a military standard 1913 rail interface. Sustained Rate of Fire. The IAR shall be capable of a and useful on rifles and carbines, it didn’t make the infantry officer was carefully considering sustained rate of fire of 36 rounds per minute (Threshold), 75 rounds per minute (Objective). cut for medium and long range accuracy in prone implications of its replacement by an IAR: (Sustained rate is defined as the rate at which a weapon can fire indefinitely without experienc- shooting. Beginning in 2008, Marine Corps Systems “I got it that a SAW [Squad Assault ing a major malfunction such as [but not limited to] a cook-off or a significant degradation in Command’s conducted verification testing on the Weapon] with a 200-round magazine accuracy.) Magazine. The IAR shall utilize a magazine with a capacity of 100 rounds (Thresh- four finalist IARs including reliability, rate of fire, en- is not perhaps terribly accurate shot to old). The magazine shall permit rapid visual determination of the number of rounds remaining vironmental chambers, and user assessments. En- shot, but it’s a light machine gun. Let’s (Objective). Magazine Compatibility. The IAR shall accept and function with the current Marine vironmental and drop tests were done at the Army’s step away from accuracy for a moment Corps service rifle (the M16A4) 30-round magazines. Firing modes. The IAR shall be capable Aberdeen Test Center. 20,000 round durability and and talk about suppression. And the psy- of both semiautomatic and full automatic firing. Collapsible/Adjustable Bipod. The IAR shall reliability testing as well as sustained rate of fire chology of a small-unit fight, that says possess a robust, detachable, collapsible, and adjustable bipod. testing at MCB Quantico. (MARCORSYSCOM) that the other guy’s got a light machine

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‘MCOTEA’ with SAWs were compared to others with 21 November 2011, The Crucible training center, In view of concerns up the leadership IARs in realistic combat scenarios. Stafford County, Virginia. In Reidsma’s hands, the chain from Corporals to the Commandant, Cold weather operational reliability M27’s approx. 12 rounds per second full auto cyclic Clark explained that, beginning in Decem- determinations were made in February rate is no impediment to effective target engagement ber 2009, extensive operational testing of 2010 in the snow at Ft. McCoy, Wiscon- from prone to standing. In addition to a favorable the HK IAR was carried out by a unique el- sin, followed in June by hot/humid test- ratio of 12.7 lb. weight vs. the relatively light recoil ement of the Corps, specifically structured ing at the notoriously swampy Camp of its 5.56mm ammunition, the rifle’s in-line stock, to yield objective data. Shelby, Mississippi. broomstick grip, quick adjusting sling, and forward- “That’s done by an independent,” mounted bipod combine with the inherent accuracy of Clark said, “Marine Corps Operational ENGINEERING TWEAK the weapon’s 16.5 inch cold hammer forged barrel for Test and Evaluation Activity – referred We had heard that there may have remarkable long range performance. (Robert Bruce) to as ‘MCOTEA.’ They don’t report to our been an engineering change arising from ‘three star’ (Lieutenant General) and they some of the trials. Clark confirmed this don’t report to the ‘one star’ (Brigadier as something that was observed in the va- General) at Systems Command, they’re a riety of firing tests done from cold to hot separate entity that reports up to the As- temperatures. sistant Commandant.” “The cyclic rate in extreme heat was “They’re a really good backstop for a little bit faster than we desired,” he said, the Marine Corps,” he added, “to make citing concerns for reliability/durabil- sure that, while a system may technically ity over the long haul from stress on the meet the requirements, it also has to be gun‘s moving parts. This was easily fixed operationally effective and operationally with the minor engineering change of a suitable in the hands of the Marines from small enlargement in the vent on the gas the operating forces who are going to be block, optimizing the cyclic rate across all employing this weapon system in combat.” operating environments. It’s said that the What the Commandant said at the M27 now tops out at about 900 rpm in the December news briefing had apparently hot environment. been said at staff level at least a couple of months earlier. The March 2011 issue LIMITED USER EVALUATION of Marine Corps Operational Test and Clark walked us through the process Evaluation Activity’s MCOTEA Journal, that eventually resulted in a go-ahead de- proudly noted their quick response in sup- cision for full rate production. With the porting IAR testing: Milestone C decision previously in hand and very positive operational test results, “…in October 2009 MCOTEA received he said, the Commandant authorized a an urgent request, coordinated through Limited User Evaluation (LUE). Deputy Commandant, Combat Devel- 458 “low rate production” guns were opment & Integration, to compare the ordered under the existing IDIQ contract. performance of Marine rifle squads The first group of these was ceremonious- equipped with combinations of the infan- ly delivered by HK – not coincidentally – try automatic rifle, the squad automatic on the Marine Corps’ 235th Birthday, 10 weapon (SAW), and the para-SAW. On November 2010. December 22, 2009, MCOTEA delivered As HK began to deliver batches of ri- its assessment report of squad perfor- fles, four infantry battalions and one light mance to the Assistant Commandant of armored recon battalion, all prepping for the Marine Corps. In the intervening 85 deployment to Afghanistan, each received days, MCOTEA put together a test team, in turn a full issue of IARs. 1st Battalion, 3rd prepared a test plan, gathered required Marine Regiment, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, resources, traveled to Twentynine Palms, was first to get a visit from Systems Com- executed the test in both day and night mand’s NETT – New Equipment Train- operations, and returned to Quantico….” ing Team – delivering 84 of the M27 rifles in December 2010 for a comprehensive, A dozen HK IARs went through the week-long program. Classroom instruction ‘MCOTEA’ wringer in the hands of infan- was given to both armorers and operators; try Marines running standard tactical sce- then the shooters would go out to the range narios at three separate locations with en- for known-distance and combat marks- vironmental conditions from cold to hot. manship. Both transitioning SAW gunners At the first of these, in the windblown sand and new Automatic Riflemen got plenty of and dust of the Mojave Desert at Twenty- live fire with the new M27, building skills nine Palms, California, squads equipped in full auto takedowns at close targets and

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long range accuracy in semi-auto. Leaders ter by adding, “And that was from some Clark said, there was “overwhelming sup- uations got to keep their IARs and the rest with everything but ammo. The package the M27. Clark explained how this came got their own block of instruction on tacti- old broken-down fighter pilot… even I port for full fielding.” of the Corps started getting theirs in Janu- includes an operator’s manual, cleaning about. “We only tested optics within our cal employment considerations as well as could do it.” On 15 September 2011, HK announced ary 2012. “Initially to our schoolhouses,” kit, SDO, backup iron sights, soft rail cov- inventory… because we wanted commonal- the opportunity for live fire. While the formal decision to begin to the world that the tentative $23.6 mil- Clark said, “the Infantry Officers Course, ers, bipod, two-point sling, and twenty two ity, an optic that the Marines were familiar The decision was made to officially full rate M27 production was still several lion IDIQ contract it had gotten back in De- School of Infantry East and West, and 30-round service rifle magazines (basic with,” he said. “We tested the RCO (Rifle designate the new IAR the M27, honoring months away, Amos went on to say, “We cember 2008 was finally going to be exer- Maintainers Course. Then we start push- load of 660 rounds per IAR). Combat Optic), a 4 power day optic that we the 1st Marine Division’s 2nd Battalion, are fielding that now on a test basis in Af- cised for full rate “production, delivery and ing them out to all the other battalions. It’s This last component comes because field on the M16A4 and the M4. We tested 7th Marine Regiment where then-CWO2 ghanistan with five battalions. My sense associated support of the Marine Corps’ about an eighteen month process to get all feeding the beast was another thing that that and the SDO. The SDO was just a little Eby was for the original IAR testing way is this weapon could take the place of our Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR).” the guns fielded.” changed along the way. The original RFI more durable in automatic fire. We‘ve also back in 2001. squad automatic weapon.” He then tossed While the Corps’ internal decision had an objective of a hundred round maga- fielded backup iron sights; not just on the out a tantalizing tidbit; “And it could also to go ahead with full rate production had GRUNTS GET THEIR SAY zine. But, Clark said, at the time testing M27, but also on the M16A4 and the M4.” THE NEW COMMANDANT take the place, possibly, of our service been publicly announced three months We asked what ‘lessons learned‘ had began the available hundred round maga- Clark also pointed out advantages to General James F. Amos, who took weapon: So yet to be seen.” earlier, it apparently took that long to get come out of the formal tests, field evalua- zines weren’t sufficiently reliable. the SDO’s piggyback reflex sight. “That over from Conway on 22 October 2010 as Reports from 1/3 and other user all the procurement legalities in order. tions and combat experience. Clark noted “I think that potentially we could gives you more flexibility in a closer op- 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, units, as well as the Corps’ highly influen- “Then we go through some acquisi- that the Grip Pod (a vertical handgrip with go to higher capacity magazines than we erating environment where you’re doing CQB or you’ve got popup targets close to you. One thing we’ve really seen is that the automatic rifleman brings a lot to the fight. And now, because he’s got a more portable, more compact weapon, he’s able to remain in the rifle squad, in the ‘stack’ in a MOUT environment. So giving him that reflex sight is a lot of capability too.”

IN WITH THE NEW It makes sense that similarities be- tween current M16A4 rifles and the M27 have made it relatively easy to integrate as far as logistical support and training of operators and armorers. As is cus- tomary in the Corps, Systems Command sends out NETTs (New Equipment Train- ing Teams) with the IARs. These include both active duty and contract personnel, many of whom are former Marines, all dedicated to ensuring seamless transition from old to new. But changes in tactical doctrine are quite a different matter. We offered the long held belief that belt fed machine guns delivering a ‘wall of lead’ with supersonic ballistic cracks and uncomfortably close im- pacts of incoming rounds, are essential to had apparently become a strong supporter tial Infantry Operational Advisory Group, tion hoops to put guns on contract, obligate small bipod inside) had been replaced by have but there’s not a strong demand sig- suppression of the enemy. This, it is said, of the new IAR. In the Q&A following a were apparently positive enough to spur a money and things like that,” Clark said. a simple ‘broomstick’ type grip, along with nal from the operating forces to do that. is a big part of where fire superiority comes presentation on 8 February, 2011, Amos decision on 23 May 2011, authorizing Full “We had money programmed, waiting to a real bipod like those found on the Corps’ We’ve had very positive feedback with the from; allowing attacking infantry to ad- spoke enthusiastically about his personal Fielding. Commandant Amos’ decision, execute based on completion of our testing M40 series sniper rifles. thirty-round magazines both during pre- vance or outnumbered defenders to prevail. experience in firing the M27: Clark said, was reached after collecting and then the Limited User Evaluation. The Also, he said, “We’ve got a new two- deployment training and through the cur- The response we got from this battle- “We went out and fired it before positive feedback from grunts. Each of money was there and so authorization from point sling … that’s also probably going rent limited fielding.” hardened infantry leader was strongly stat- Christmas and it is absolutely dead on: the five battalions in the Limited Field- senior leadership to proceed with full field- to be a common sling across the Marine Reliability of standard GI issue alu- ed. “I totally disagree,” Clark said. “Fire 500 meters – and a bullet out 500 meters ing did an assessment of the M27 at the ing enabled us to obligate those funds.” Corps.” This, we learned, is Blue Force minum wall mags has improved consid- superiority is based on both accuracy and is a long ways,” Amos said, drawing laugh- end of their pre-deployment training and, The first five battalions from the eval- Gear’s Vickers Combat Applications Sling erably, Clark noted, since a joint services volume of fire. The greater your accuracy and rail sling mount. development of a new follower that is char- the less volume of fire you need.” Current ABOVE: 3 December 2010, MCB Hawaii. Under direction of a member of the MARCORSYSCOM’s M27 NETT (New Equipment Training Team), 1st Bat- Soft and flexible Manta rail covers are acterized by its tan color. doctrine, he added, is based on the belief talion, 3rd Marine Regiment armorers perform a function check on the brand new Infantry Automatic Rifles just delivered. This battalion’s Marines have the another user recommendation that found that there’s no effective ‘acoustic suppres- distinction of being the first of five to conduct the M27 limited fielding evaluation in pre-deployment training. Each of the three fire teams in the squad will carry official favor. “Not only does the Manta SQUAD DAY OPTIC sion’ below the sound of a ‘fifty cal.’ With one IAR on operations when they deploy in a few weeks to Afghanistan. (Department of Defense) OPPOSITE: 3 December 2010, MCB Hawaii. One of 84 rail cover give you a good heat shield, but It was the Marine Corps’ decision to the M27 we’re increasing the accuracy and brand new M27 IARs, packed with its regulation set of accessories, as delivered by MARCORSYSCOM’s NETT (New Equipment Training Team) to 1st Bat- you can also integrate things like touch put Trijicon’s tough and versatile TA11S- because of that we can reduce the volume talion, 3rd Marine Regiment prior to scheduled deployment to Afghanistan. Each Infantry Company gets 28 IAR’s, one for each fire team and one in reserve. pads,” Clark said. DO-CP, already serving on the M249 as and maintain the same or better effects.” Six M249s will remain in the company for use as the tactical situation requires. Light Armored Recon Companies get 14 IARs. (Department of Defense) IARs sent to battalions for issue come the SU-258/PVQ Squad Day Optic, on He also pointed out tangible ad-

62 SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM SADEFENSEJOURNAL.COM 63 THE U.S. MARINE CORPS’ M27: PART 2 vantages of aimed fire from IARs in To many of them, their way of think- was clearly well prepared to answer. COIN (Counter-Insurgency) environ- ing is you‘ve got to have .30-06 caliber Quoting more than one source familiar ment where every single projectile going BAR to have a real Infantry Automatic Ri- with the process, we asked, “Why the hell downrange has potentially a strategic ef- fle. And now their beloved Marine Corps did it take the Corps ten years to buy an fect. In major combat operations volume has gone to that pipsqueak 5.56 and the off-the-shelf rifle?” of fire in putting out a wall of lead can world is goin’ to hell. “I would argue that it didn’t take ten be a good thing, he said, but in a COIN Clark’s polite response was a well years,” he firmly stated, “It took three. Be- environment it’s important to avoid non- measured combination of appreciation cause we had an approved Milestone B in combatant casualties. and official findings. “We’ll always respect 2007 and we fielded guns in 2010. There Then, with ease arising, no doubt, the Marines who have gone before us so was a lot of experimentation that went into from more than a bit of repetition in a I would not tell them their opinions are refining the Infantry Automatic Rifle con- variety of settings, Clark summarized the wrong. They’ve earned the right to have cept. But from the time we initiated a pro- M27 IAR’s practical and tactical virtues. those opinions….” He patiently repeated gram to fielding took three years.” “By being far more accurate and more por- the essential points; that it has been shown Again echoing credible observers, we table we are achieving better effects and through testing, evaluation and combat cited the Universal Need Statement from having to expend fewer rounds. Particu- experience with the M27 that accuracy and back in 1999-2001. Clark acknowledged larly in the defense, we use about half the shot placement are more important to tar- that the call for an infantry automatic ammunition with an M27 equipped squad get incapacitation than caliber. “If you‘re rifle was more than a decade old, but to achieve the same effects on target,” he engaging a target and you‘re hitting where noted that the Corps is constantly doing noted. “In the offense, in a squad attack you‘re aiming, you‘re more likely to inca- experimentation in small arms and every in a MOUT environment, you’re keeping pacitate the target.” other aspect of its capabilities. “Not ev- your automatic rifleman in the fight lon- ery concept is fielded,” he said, “we have ger. His immediate and remedial action is to go through a deliberate process to as- faster, his time to reload is faster, he’s got a sess new concepts. (With) these types of more portable and more accurate weapon developmental efforts, it’s not uncommon system. The impacts are pretty significant for them to take ten years. I would argue in the attack and in defense in our testing that the M27 took three years.” as well as combat ‘lessons learned’ have demonstrated that.” CRADLE TO GRAVE That was then and this is now. Hav- FIREPOWER FLEXIBILITY ing successfully shepherded the IAR We repeated something we’d heard through the last critical stages leading along the way in support of the M27 con- to fielding, Clark’s Infantry Weapons AD cept; other weapons in the Marine infantry Capabilities Integration team is respon- company – M240 and M249 in particular sible for “life cycle management” of the – provide the belt-fed, sustained and sup- M27 and most every other weapon in the pressive fire effect that some might find Devil Dogs’ arsenal. “I’m responsible for desirable. They all work together. When where every gun – everything that shoots the Marine rifle company is in the attack We gave it another try, quoting part something – is located in the Marine or in the defense there are six M249s and of a conversation with a salty old Marine Corps. We have tracking systems to do other weapons that are in the game. combat vet who had told us, “When I was that,” he said. “If units are having ‘wash- Clark agreed, adding, “So that com- layin’ on my belly in the mud in Korea, I outs’ – in the last ten years we’ve had pany commander does his mission analy- could hit a ChiCom at 500-600 yards with combat replacements, combat washouts, sis based on the task that he’s assigned by my BAR, single-shot.” Would you tell him combat losses – I have to know where his higher. He has the flexibility to keep a he was carrying something too heavy, too those are to program funding to replace light machine gun in his plan. Weapons long, too cumbersome? And if he wasn’t those. We never really lose visibility of platoon is still going to have M240s and laying on his belly and had to pick it up weapons throughout the life cycle.” And, you’ve got weapons company that the bat- and run with it would he rather be run- we asked, what about the M27? “Maybe talion commander can task organize to ning with an M27 or a BAR? Clark’s a twenty year life cycle, maybe more,” provide additional machine guns down to answer was befitting of an officer anda Clark speculated. the company level and below.” gentleman. “I would say to our Marine Unless, we speculate in turn, some- brothers who carried the BAR; if they had thing ‘new and improved’ comes along BAR VS. IAR an opportunity to carry the M27, I think a in the meantime. Like the increasingly There was an ‘optional question’ in lot of them would take that opportunity to promising developments in JSSAP’s what we had sent in advance of the inter- carry it in combat.” Lightweight Small Arms Technologies view and it seemed like this was the time Program. And don’t forget that tantaliz- to bring it up: What do you want to tell NEARLY A DECADE ing tidbit from General Amos, today’s those proud old warriors from WWII, Ko- Our last question – likely the most Commandant: “…it [IAR] could also take rea, and maybe a few right up to Vietnam controversial – was only implied among the place, possibly, of our service weapon. who were humpin’ the big BARs? those on the list we had sent. But Clark So yet to be seen.”

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