Navy SEAL long guns

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Caseless

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There was a documentary on PBS public TV a few days ago on Navy SEAL ops and training. The operators demonstrated some of their tools of the trade. These include:
M60 GPMG
M4 carbine/M203 grenade launcher combo
M 14 full auto rifle
M2 50 caliber MG
Mk19 self loading grenade launcher
MP 5 subguns
Mcmillan M88 50 caliber anti-material rifle
One operator showed how to properly shoot the M60 while standing, and explained that in a land-based mission 4 out of 8 squaddies will use a M60 and carry between 500-1,000 rounds.
In addition, there are quite a lot of M14s in use/training in this documentary. Contrary to what I expected, they seemed to control the full auto M14s quite well. I guess extensive training allows you to use any full auto weapon proficiently.
Aside from CQB and ship seizure missions, there seem to be at least 2 M14s for each 8-man squad. In fact, when they are riding the high speed boats, I think all eight operators were using M14s.
Finally, another operator/trainer? commented that a fully outfitted 8-man SEAL squad will have the firepower of an entire army company. I figured maybe he was referring to some third world army company. Since 4 M60s + 2 full auto M14s + 2 M4/M203 combo guns don't equal the firepower of a U.S. army company last time I checked.
Overall, this is an awesome documentary with a lot of live fire action using all the above weapons. I think PBS will show this again next week here in northern CA.
 
Their training and method of fighting are a force multiplier. Obviously the numbers don't add up, but those lucky enough to survive encounters with SEALs have stated they believed they were fighting a much larger force.
 
If it was an older documentary, it would make sense they left out the newer FN guns.

IIRC, the M60E3 in the NavSpecWar armory is set to be replaced by a shortened FN MAG59 and will be named the Mk45 (iirc, the M60 is the Mk43). The USN is quite fond of the "Mk1Mod0" style naming conventions.
 
the M60E3 is being replaced by the MK48Mod0. It is basically an M249 in 7.62x51. I don't know all the details, but my understanding is that it outperforms the M60 in all respects.


owen
 
A M249 in 7.62x51 would be a MAG58/M240.

I'm unable to find any useful (lots of Mk45 5" guns and Mk48 transporters & torpedos) information on those Mk numbers. The Mk45 is what I remember from a Navy Times article I read a few months back.
 
"A M249 in 7.62x51 would be a MAG58/M240. "

No it isn't, they are totally different guns. The 249 family has a stamped and welded receiver, where the m240 family has a milled and riveted receiver. The 249 family uses a rotating bolt lockup, and the 240 series uses a toggling mechanism. In addition, the switch barrel arangment is handled totally differently.

Owen Cramer
Product Design Engineer
FN Manufacturing
Columbia, SC
 
Okay, what information do you have about the Mk48? All I can find is the Mk46Mod0, which is a shorty M249 in 5.56, like the SPW version.
 
Thanks, Andrew. According to the article, the MK48 is a scaled-up M249 (as Owen said) hybrid that can use some M240 parts and some M249 parts.
 
This particular documentary was produced in 1996. Compared to some others I've seen, this is the best one yet.
 
Last month or two months ago Small Arms Review had a brief article on the Mk 48. The FN instructors I had a couple weeks ago liked the gun, too.
 
Here is a recent SEAL picture:

139c8625.jpg
 
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