M-60 machine gun facts for kids

The M60 machine gun.

The M60 is a powerful American-made machine gun. It shoots special 7.62mm bullets that are fed into the gun using a long belt. The United States Army started using the M60 in 1957. It has been used by all parts of the U.S. military. Soldiers used the M60 in wars like the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War. More recently, the U.S. military has begun to replace the M60 with a newer machine gun called the M240 machine gun.

The M60 Machine Gun

The M60 is a type of machine gun known as a "general-purpose machine gun." This means it can be used in many different ways. It can be carried by a soldier, mounted on a tripod for more stable shooting, or even attached to vehicles and helicopters.

How the M60 Works

The M60 fires 7.62mm NATO cartridges. These are powerful bullets. Instead of loading a magazine, the M60 uses a long belt of bullets. This belt feeds new bullets into the gun as it fires, allowing it to shoot many rounds very quickly. This continuous feeding is why machine guns are so effective in battle.

History and Use

The M60 was first used by the United States Army in 1957. It was designed to be a reliable and powerful weapon for soldiers. It quickly became a standard machine gun for all branches of the U.S. military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

The M60 was widely used during the Vietnam War. Soldiers relied on its firepower in many situations. It also saw action in later conflicts, such as the Gulf War, the Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War. Over the years, different versions of the M60 were developed to improve its design and performance.

Replacing the M60

Even though the M60 was a very important weapon for many years, newer designs have come along. The M240 machine gun is one of these newer weapons. The U.S. military has slowly started to replace the M60 with the M240, which offers some improvements in reliability and design. However, the M60 is still used by some military forces around the world today.

Images for kids

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  A U.S. airman firing an M60 machine gun from the standing position during the Defender Challenge competition in 1988.

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  The experimental T-44 machine gun developed from the German FG 42 and MG 42 machine guns.

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  An M60 machine gun being used during the Vietnam War in 1966.

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  Marine fires his M60 machine gun at an enemy position during the Battle of Huế in Vietnam War.

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  A British Royal Air Force officer handles an M60 during a demonstration for Combined Joint Task Force Exercise (CJTFEX) in 2004.

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  A navy sailor fires an M60E3 machine gun during a live-fire exercise at the Mobile Inshore Underwater Warfare Site (MIUW) at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba in 2003.

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  M60 machine gun fired during a small arms familiarization exercise aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19); November 2004.

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  The M60 machine gun crew member responsible for hot barrel changes uses protective asbestos gloves to prevent burns to the hands.

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  A Gunner's Mate 3rd Class in the process of preventative maintenance and cleaning on an M60 machine gun on the USS Constellation (CV-64), December 2002.

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  A member of the 101st Airborne Division, armed with an M60 machine gun, participates in a field exercise in 1972.

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  M60 machine gun on the deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in 2006.

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  An M60E2 machine gun, intended for co-axial use. Note the gas tube extension and the lack of a pistol grip.

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  An M60C machine gun. Note the lack of iron sights, pistol grip and bipod.

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  An M60D machine gun on the M23 Armament Subsystem.

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  Navy SEAL team member fires an M60E3 from the shoulder during a field training exercise in 1987.

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  A recruit pulls back the bolt of an M60E3 machine gun during a weapons familiarization class. The weapon is mounted on a tripod with a traversing and elevation mechanism attached.

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  A mounted Mk 43 Mod 0 (M60E4) (later model) is crewed by a Seabee of NMCB-15 (Naval Mobile Construction Battalion), on a convoy in Iraq in May 2003.

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  An M60E6 machine gun adopted by the Danish Army, designated as the LMG M/60.

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  South Korean soldiers with an M60 conduct combined amphibious landing during Foal Eagle 07.

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  Portuguese Army V-150 Commando armed with an M60D.

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  U.S. airman with an M60, assigned to the 52nd Security Forces Squadron (SFS), at Spangdahlem Air Base (AB), Germany.

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  Senegalese Marine with an M60 in 2016.

See also

In Spanish: Ametralladora M60 para niños