2005, Nevada. STS President Dale McClel- NEW LIFE FOR A COMBAT CLASSIC: lan, a former M60 gunner with SEAL Team 8, prepares to test fire a MK43 Mod 1 machine gun fitted with the short (17.5 inch), fluted Assault barrel. It is topped with a Trijicon Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight on the distinctively angular machined feed cover’s US ORDNANCE rock-steady integral rail and a PEQ-2A laser aiming module on the Mod 1’s new Rail In- terface System forearm. He has moved the Tango Down vertical grip to just the right place for his shooting preference. Note on his load MK43 MOD 1 harness the specialized rectangular carrying pouches for belted ammo, available now in MACHINE GUN desert tan from US Ordnance as a sturdy al- ternative to the flimsy GI bandoleers. (Photo courtesy of Vantage Pointe Studios) a special report by ROBERT BRUCE “The M60E4 is a great weapon and definitely fills the gap between vehicle mounted M240B and dismounted M249 SAW. Scout teams have been taking them out to over- watch and support the snipers, occupying OPs near them and carrying the M60E4 because it is small enough to hump a good distance and has great firepower. Some comments directly from soldiers: The M60E4 is small enough to ma- neuver in tight places, it allows for easy access entering and exiting vehicles and aircraft, can be shoulder fired in short bursts accurately, does not require a complete crew to operate effectively.” Email to US Ordnance from an of- ficer of 101st Airborne Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom JOURNALABOVE: The tough and rigid machined feed cover with in- hat’s not to like about a real machine gun that’s significantly lighter than a chunky tegral MIL-STD 1913 rail, as well as additional rails on both M240, about the same size as a puny sides and underneath the improved Rail Interface System SAW, pumps out powerful 7.62mm rounds (RIS) forearm, immediately identify this as the new MK43 SMALL ARMS with reliability and accuracy, and has long Mod 1 machine gun from US Ordnance. That’s an ELCAN been a force multiplier in elite Navy SEAL Teams? GIs M145 Machine Gun Optic clamped on top and the RIS is fitted Wwho’ve tried ‘em love ‘em, they’re comparable in price to with an Insight ANPEQ-2A laser aiming module on the side buy and sustain as the FN guns, they’ve been in the logis- plus a Tango Down vertical foregrip underneath. The short, tics and combat doctrine chains for ever, and they’re 100 fluted Assault barrel (17.5 inches) seen here has the E4 ver- percent American designed and built. Slam dunk? Sorry. sion gas cylinder extension that is self-locking. The barrel’s improved “birdcage” flash suppressor is closed on the bottom The “Screaming Eagles” in Iraq only had a few of the to minimize dust dispersion when firing from prone. (Photo newest Sixties, provided free of charge by US Ordnance courtesy of Vantage Pointe Studios) in response to their urgent request while forward deployed for the Global War on Terror. US Ord sent a crate full of and shorter version of the M240. MK43s (M60E4), spare barrels and spare parts to Fort Campbell and the Army delivered it to Iraq. Meanwhile, production of M240s and 249s at FN’s South Carolina plant continues at breakneck pace but there Subsequent use in the unforgiving arena of intense ur- remains a substantial backlog. This necessitates keeping ban combat resulted in a number of enthusiastic responses large numbers of existing M60s in service with all branches leaking out, but any formalized after action report has ap- of the US Armed Forces. But these guns are mostly old parently been kept on close hold. We are unaware of any and tired veterans of decades of hard service and victims plans by the Army for further evaluation and PM Soldier of poor maintenance with shoddy and cannibalized parts. Weapons is moving out at double time to develop a lighter What’s going on here? 66 | SPRING 2009 DEFENSESPRING 2009 | 67 Passing a Sputtering Torch Helzer: In 2000, Curtis Debord recog- ers through its mechanical upgrades? nized that there was a business oppor- Prior to its last-ditch effort in the tunity for a small arms manufacturer in Helzer: US Ordnance’s MK43s feature “Upgrade Kit” trials, M60 production acquiring the original tooling, technical twenty-two key improvements. I’ll list had long been the exclusive domain data packages, processes, and proce- them roughly from muzzle to buttstock, of Saco Defense, where a skilled force dures necessary to make a MIL-SPEC not necessarily in order of importance: of dedicated craftsmen had been turn- M60. General Dynamics (GD) was ing out hundreds of thousands of these just completing the purchase of SACO 1. Redesigned flash suppressor. It’s guns in various configurations. But for Defense and recognized that they had shorter, more effective and not prone to some reason the level of quality seems an obligation to ensure the availability breaking like the ‘duck bill’ variant used to have dropped. of spare parts for the M60 for the next in early SEAL team guns. five to ten years. But GD wanted out of 2. Adjustable front sight allows for ze- This is particularly puzzling given the 7.62mm General Purpose Machine roing of spare and primary barrel prior Navy Special Warfare’s apparent satis- Gun business so a licensing agreement to mission operation. The old design faction with their measurably improved between US Ordnance and Saco De- required the gunner during combat to M60E4/MK43s of about the same time fense/GD was a logical conclusion. It remember to adjust the rear sight for frame. ensured the availability of spare parts each barrel change. A small relief cut and ensured that the M60 remained in in the new front sight base decreases It must be left to others to explain the sionary named Curtis Debord. production. Spare parts and complete the chance of losing the front sight in reasons for the abysmal performance of weapon systems would be available, the field. the eighteen guns SACO brought to the We contacted Steve Helzer, Gener- and design improvement work could 3. Bipod moved from barrel to receiv- 19 Feb 1968, South Vietnam. An M60 machine gun team from Charley Company, Army’s gunfight in 1994. Our numerous al Manager of US Ordnance, Inc., locat- continue. er. This has reduced the weight of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division takes cover behind a palm phone calls – with detailed messages ed in Reno, Nevada, to get the straight spare barrel and keeps the receiver tree during Operation Hue City. Note the gunner’s secondary armament, a .45 left for a certain individual who had story on how the M60 was saved from SADJ: We have seen plenty of evi- stable, off the ground away from debris caliber M1911 pistol, and both he and his assistant gunner carry a spare belt of been identified to us as a key player on a lingering but certain death. What fol- dence to convince us that US Ord- and pointed down range during barrel 7.62mm ammunition worn bandoleer style over their flak jackets. The gun’s bipod the industry side of the trials – were not lows is based on telephone conversa- nance’s M60E4 – initially fielded by changes. is deployed for accurate shooting from a prone position. (USMC photo/National returned. tions and email exchanges. Navy Special Warfare as the MK43 Mod 4. Bipod is strengthened and simplified, Archives) 0 and now the Mod 1 – represent signifi- one hand operated and has ambidex- cycle. induction hardened to resist mechanical Market forces being what they are, SADJ: Who is primarily responsible for cant ‘design improvements’ over all pre- trous legs to ease maintenance and 9. Gas tube on the barrel is simplified wear from the forward sling mount. SACO was acquired by defense indus- acquiring the M60 rights from SACO vious versions. Will you take our read- spares. with three fewer parts than the old stan- 15. A new captured pin prevents acci- try giant General Dynamics in 2000. and what was his reason for pursuing 5. Improved forward handguard with dard. dental detachment and loss of the trig- No secret that the Sixty was by then a this? increased heat shielding that protects 10. Both the Mod 0 and Mod 1 come ger group. neglected stepchild as Big Army transi- the operator from barrel heat, plus a for- with an aluminum rail top cover to facili- 16. Improved trigger grip housing that tioned to the M240 and it would have ward pistol grip for better control. tate the mounting of optics. is stronger and redesigned to prevent slowly faded away if it weren’t for a vi- 6. Mod 1 variant has a Rail Interface 11. A new spring JOURNALloaded feed cam al- trigger pin from being installed back- Handguard with removable/reposition- lows loading of the weapon with the wards in unsafe position. able pistol grip. This accommodates bolt forward (safe position) or rearward 17. Ambidextrous safety. different sized soldiers and allows (charged) without damaging the feed 18. A trigger guard that hinges down to mounting of the gun to most all existing cam assembly. allow trigger finger access wearing thick SMALL ARMS platforms. Three rails (both sides and 12. A redesigned feed cam, feed pawl winter mitts or NBC protective gloves. underneath) allow mounting of multiple assembly, and cartridge retaining pawl 19. Nyloc safety nut on cocking handle items like lasers and aiming devices.