World War II

Sea Marlin served most of the war in the Pacific which included ports-of-call in Australia, Panama, New Guinea, New Zealand, Guam, Saipan, Eniwetok, Leyte Gulf, Tinian plus the Admiralty, Babelthaup, Caroline, Palau, Philippine, New Hebrides, and Mariana Islands. U.S. Pacific ports included Camp Stoneman, Honolulu, San Francisco, San Pedro, Seattle, Portland, and Port Hueneme.
While outbound from the states her passengers were destined for the Pacific war zones on return voyages Sea Marlin served as a hospital ship returning the wounded stateside.

At the Battle of Okinawa the Sea Marlin’s Naval Armed Guard crew received a Battle Star for the service during the invasion. This action included the Japanese Kamikaze attack on the invasion fleet.

Ship Complement

Typical of Army Transports Sea Marlin was crewed by merchant marines, administered by personnel of the US Army Transportation Corps (Water Division) and protected by a contingent of the US Naval Armed Guards.

In September 1944 the ship’s roster included:

Army: Lt Col Garrel D. Snyder (Executive Officer); Capt Richard C. Borella (Adjutant); Capt K. H. Gruberg (Transport Surgeon); 1st Lt Howard C. Day (Transport Chaplain); 1st Lt D. E. Wood (Commissary Sales Off.); T/Sgt Alex Kaplan (Sgt Major); Pfc Jackson Hospers (Asst. Sgt Major); S/Sgt H. H. Stoyke (Mess Sgt); T/Sgt Arthur J. Crandall (Actg. 1st Sgt.)

Merchant Marine: George Ekstrom (Ship’s Captain); Winifred L. Price (Chief Mate); James W. Price Jr. (Purser); Robert F. Spears (Chief Engineer); Jack O. Hayes (Chief Electrician)

Navy: Lt. Comdr Dale V. Walfron, USNR; Lt (jg) H. B. Kakterbeuser, USNR; Lt (jg) Herbert J. Edwards, USNR; GM1c Walter G. Jones USNR. Other Armed Guards known to have served aboard Sea Marlin: Richard rancs Maxon; Warren G. Riddings; Amorris D. Abel; Jack Martin.

Captain George Ekstrom went to sea at age 13 in 1898 as a cook. He later became an ordinary seaman, an able seaman, and he worked in various capacities going up the ladder in the hard school until he became master of his own ship. Until World War I Captain Ekstrom put to sea only in sailing ships. Captain Ekstrom was an amateur painter with an interest in nautical themes.

Ship Passengers

Units transported include:

17th Naval Construction Battalion & 31st Special Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees)

96th Infantry Division Headquarters personnel

Fuerza Area Expedicionaria Mexicana (Mexican Air Force) Escuadrn 201

193rd Tank Battalion

US Army Air Force Sixth Bombardment Group

Post War Service

On May 2, 1946 Sea Marlin was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission and laid up as part of the Reserve Fleet at Lee Hall, VA in the James River. In 1947 Isthmian Steamship Company purchased Sea Marlin and changed its name to SS Steel Director. The contract to convert Sea Marlin from a troopship to freighter was awarded to the J.K Welding Company, Yonkers, NY for a cost of 0,000. Isthmian Steamship Company was sold to States Marine Lines on March 6,1956. Steel Director remained in service until it was sold for scrap to Taiwan Shipbreakers, Kaohsiung, Republic of China in 1971.

The following is a history of damage, salvage, repair, and refitting to Steel Director During the period of October to December 1950 heavy weather damaged the rudder, boats and fitting. These repairs were made in Houston TX. 7/11/50: On voyage Galveston, TX to Haifa, Israel hit pier at Gulfport, MS with damage to propeller blades and shaft. 10-12/50: Heavy weather damage to rudder, boats and fittings; repaired at Houston, TX. 4/20 – 4/21/51: Heavy weather destroyed accommodation ladder on voyage Calcutta, India to Boston, MA. 8/2 – 8/3/51: Heavy weather damaged lifeboats. Repair #2 lifeboat davit arm, 7 hatch tarps and 4 lifeboat covers; repairs at Baltimore MD. 8/20/52: On voyage Houston, TX to Calcutta, India hit Congress Street Wharf, New Orleans, LA, damaging 6 pilings. 2/1/55: Hit submerged object damaging propeller. 7/12/55: Dry-docked in New York, NY for initial repairs with further work completed in Galveston, TX in October 1955. 8/9/57: While on voyage from Baltimore and Saigon, South Vietnam to Bangkok, Thailand struck a submerged obstruction. Again on 12/1/57 during voyage from Baltimore MD and Philippines to Surabaya, Indonesia and Singapore, propeller struck submerged object. All repairs done in Galveston, TX in March 1958. 5/18/58: Struck submerged object on passage from Mobile, AL to New Orleans, LA. Repairs completed in Baltimore, MD in April 1959. 12/24/59: At Chittagong, India collided with steamer Pyidawnyunt, with little or no damage and arrived in Calcutta, India on 12/27/59. 10/27/60: Grounded in the Houston Ship Channel while en route to Galveston, TX. Repairs deferred until August 1961. 1/25/61: Suffered rudder damage from grounding in Suez Canal on voyage from Calcutta, India to Houston, TX. Towed to Port Said, Egypt by tug where temporary repairs were done. Towed by salvage ship Svitzer to Palermo, Italy where permanent repairs were made. 7/14/61: Struck the lock wall of Cote Ste. Catherine Lock while transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway en route from Montreal, QB to Kenosha, WS in ballast. Struck lock wall of Lower and Upper Beauharnois Locks while transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway. Arrived Baltimore, MD 9/6/61 from New York, NY for deferred repairs to bottom plates damage sustained 10/27/60 plus damage sustained in St Lawrence Seaway. 9/10/63: generator turbine damaged in consequence of alleged engineer’s negligence while the vessel was on passage from Madras, India to Calcutta, India. Partial repairs made in New York in December 1963. 6/7/68: Struck submerged object in Mississippi River while en route from Baton Rouge, LA to Houston, TX and Calcutta, India. Repairs completed in New York, NY July 2, 1968. 3/5 – 8/69: Damaged in heavy weather while en route from Porto Grande, Cape Verde Islands. to New York, NY and New Orleans, LA. Partial repair completed August 5, 1069 in New York, NY. 1/7/70: Grounded with no reported damage. 6/23/70: Collided with barge in Yokohama, Japan on voyage from Saigon, South Vietnam for Seattle, WA. Damage to propeller repaired at Todd Shipyards in Seattle, WA in August.. 9/9/70: Arrived Sattahip, Thailand from Tacoma, WA with refrigeration failure following repairs proceeded to Qui Nhon, South Vietnam. 5/17/71 Final voyage of SS Sea Marlin/Steel Director from Saigon, South Vietnam arrived at Kaohsiung, Republic of China prior to 6/10/71 where she was scrapped.

Why Should One Join the Military?

Many young people these days are not sure what to do with their lives. Most don’t have money for an expensive education that will enable them to learn skills to make it in the real world. As always, the military can be the answer young people have been seeking.

The Branches of the Military

You don’t have to sign up for active duty. You can sign on with the military in the Guard and Reserve units. You can choose from the Air Force, the Navy, the Army or the Marine Corps. These branches are under the Department of Defenses’ jurisdiction. If the sea is your passion, join the Coast Guard. In peacetime you will answer to the Department of Homeland Security and during wartime you will report to the Department of Defense via the Navy.

Benefits of Joining the Military

When you join the military you will have access to the highest quality of training and opportunities for a lifetime career in a field you enjoy. You will have base pay, a variety of discounts, support for tuition in your chosen field and full medical insurance coverage.

You will get to travel the globe at no cost to you. The military offers travel for both business and pleasure. You will also receive not just job training but preparation for your chosen career in the civilian world. Much of the training you receive in the military will prepare you for a variety of civilian job equivalents.

The pride you take in the service to your country cannot be stressed enough. Knowing that you have put in your time to ensure the safety of your nation will bring you the confidence in yourself you may have lacked before enlisting.

You will meet all kinds of people from every walk of life, learn about different cultures and take pride in yourself and your accomplishments. A career in the military is also a possibility for those that attend OTS or Officer Training Schools.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for both a career in the military or in the private sector abound. The military may not always provide you with training you had first desired, but you will be fitted to a career that will enable you to use your abilities for maximum performance. Everyone is different and the skills you are best at and where you are most needed are where you can flourish. You may march with the infantry or use the most advanced technology that is available.

A career in the military can help you to learn self discipline and how to work within a group and teach you important leadership skills that will last a lifetime. A stint in the military looks good on anyone’s resume and can take you further than if you had skipped enlistment.

No matter what branch of the military you choose, you will learn life changing skills that can only enhance your civilian life when you are discharged. If you choose a lifetime in the military you will always be able to count on the support and training that a career in the military can provide.

War is between brothers, cousins, friends, and neighbors and some of them are women. If you check back into military records, women served as nurses, spies and also as vivandieres. What is a vivandiere you ask? It is a French Army term used for women who provided food, liquor and provisions to the soldiers.

Since the time of the vivandiere, many practices of war have changed. From our increase of technology, to the way we live our lives. But women, will continue to make history in the Army.

One of the first major shifts for women in the military was in the mid 1970’s. The rules changed from a “military draft” to an “all-volunteer force.” This change created opportunities for women to join the Military. Obviously, the rule was changed because there just weren’t enough people joining the army. Also at this time, women could not fly combat aircrafts or serve of combat ships.

In the early 1990’s congress lifted the ban. Women could now fly combat aircrafts and serve on combat ships. Pentagon rules now dictate that women cannot be assigned to ground combat units. There are many women in today’s troops that are gunners, medics, military police, truck drivers, helicopter pilots, but not in ground combat.

Many women will continue to make history with our current conflict in Iraq even with the explosive devices, suicide bombs and rocket propelled grenades. The rules and the technology have changed from the Civil war to present, but the courage and passion for patriotism in the women who serve, has not. History is still being made everyday by women.

Here is a short list of women and the first medals they received.

• The first and only, woman to receive The Medal of Honor was Dr. Mary E. Walker, a contract surgeon during the Civil War.
• The first woman to receive The Purple Heart was Annie G. Fox while serving at Hickam Field during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec 7 1941.
• The first woman to receive The Bronze Star was 1Lt Cordelia Cook, Army Nurse Corps, during WWII in Italy. Lt Cook was also awarded The Purple Heart, becoming the first woman to receive two awards.
• Lt Edith Greenwood was awarded The Soldiers Medal in 1943 for heroism acts during a fire at a military hospital in Yuma Arizona. She was the first woman to receive this prestigious award.
• The first woman to receive The Air Medal was Lt Elsie S. Ott. The award was for her abilities as a 1943 air evacuation nurse.
• Barbara Barnwell was the first woman awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Medal for heroism in 1953. Barbara Barnwell, a SSGT was a member of the Marine Reserve, saved a soldier from drowning in 1952.
• Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, the first Director of the WAC. Oveta was the first woman to receive The U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal in 1945.

Powerful Foreclosure Protections Afforded Active Duty Military Personnel

If you are in the Military and are currently on ACTIVE DUTY, or were on active duty within the last 90 days, then there is a law that provides you some very specific and powerful protection against foreclosure.

The Service Members Civil Relief Act of 2003 (SCRA) provides specific help and protection from foreclosure for individuals who are members of our armed forces. The Act applies to all active duty personnel, as long as you were not on active duty when you bought your house and signed the mortgage papers. The Act also applies if you co-signed on a loan with a service member.

If you bought your house while you were already on active duty then the law does not apply to you. Service Members covered by SCRA include all members on Federal active duty, including:

Regular members of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) Reserve, National Guard and Air National Guard personnel who have been activated and are on Federal active duty (whether as volunteers or as a result of involuntary activation) Inductees serving with the armed forces Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Officers detailed for duty with the armed forces Persons who are training or studying under the supervision of the United States preliminary to induction National Guard and Air National Guard personnel on duty for training or other duty authorized by 32 U.S.C. §502(f) at the request of the President, for or in support of an operation during a war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress.

The law provides four basic types of relief for service members that are facing foreclosure:

1.       Interest Rate Cap

2.       Stay of Proceedings

3.       Suspension of payments

4.       Void the foreclosure sale

Getting the interest rate cap is automatic. All you have to do is ask. We have provided several sample letters in our download section. For free access to the letters as well as many other downloads just join our site. It’s free!

The remedies in 2, 3, and 4 are a little more complicated and you will have to get a Court involved. In order to qualify for these remedies you will have to show the Court that your ability to pay the loan has been “materially affected” by your active duty. It usually isn’t hard to show that your ability to pay was materially affected. For example, if you were making more money when you were a civilian than you do in the military then that, right there, could be enough and would be considered “material”.

Additionally, you can use these provisions on all of your loans, not just your home loan.  You should speak with your commanding officer about obtaining free legal assistance if you are having problems implementing the law on your own. In most case the Judge Advocate General   Corps (JAG) can help you obtain a lawyer at no cost.

Let’s explore each of these remedies individually to see exactly how each one works:

Interest Rate cap of 6%.

If you are having trouble making your mortgage payments while you are on active duty, you can request your lender to lower your interest rate down to 6%. In fact, the 6% interest rate cap applies to any debt that you incurred before you went on active duty. So, in other words, it applies to car loans and credit cards and any other consumer debt. This can provide huge relief to your family while you are deployed. It basically means that you can get all of your payments lowered across the board. This benefit alone could help you to avoid foreclosure. The interest rate cap starts on the date that you entered active duty.

Additionally, you can make your lender apply the 6% rate cap retroactively if you were released from active duty any time in the past six months. For example, let’s say that you are just now finding out about this 6% rate cap. You were on active duty during the past year but never informed your lender. That’s OK, as long as it hasn’t been more than 6 months since you were released, you can still request the rate reduction and it will be applied dating back to the day that you first went on active duty. You could be entitled to a credit!

It’s simple to get this rate reduction. All you have to do is notify your lender by writing a letter and attaching a copy of your orders to the letter. Your lender has to comply. They don’t have a choice.

A sample letter is shown at the end of this section. You can find your lender’s address on a recent mortgage statement or payment coupon. Your letter should be sent certified mail if possible.

Stop Foreclosure Proceedings

Mortgage (Judicial State): If you signed a mortgage and your lender has already started formal foreclosure proceedings such as filing a foreclosure lawsuit, you can have those proceedings stopped immediately. A lender is strictly prohibited from proceeding with a foreclosure while you are on active duty and for 90 days following your release from active duty. All you have to do is write a letter to the lender informing them of your active duty and stating that your active duty has materially affected your ability to comply with the terms of your mortgage. You can show that you were materially affected if, for instance, you had more income before you were on active duty than you make now while on active duty.

In addition to your lender, you need to notify the court and the lender’s attorney that you are on active duty. This can be done as simply as writing a letter to the Judge who is handling the case and having the Clerk of Court file a copy of the letter in the case file. Also, send a copy of the letter to the bank’s attorney who filed the lawsuit.

Be sure to include the Case Number in your letter. You should also provide a copy of your orders. The case number as well as the Judge’s name can be found on the lawsuit that was served upon you. If you no longer have a copy of the lawsuit, you can obtain a copy by calling your local Clerk of Court. In some cases these documents are available on line.

Deed of Trust (Non-Judicial State):

If you signed a Deed of Trust and the trustee has recorded a Notice of Default, then you can have the Trustee’s sale and all collection activity stopped immediately. A Trustee is strictly prohibited from proceeding with a foreclosure while you are on active duty and for 90 days following your release from active duty. All you have to do is write a letter to the lender informing them of your active duty and stating that your active duty has materially affected your ability to comply with the terms of Deed of Trust. In addition, you should inform the Trustee of your active duty.

If you no longer have a copy of the Notice of Default, you can obtain a copy from your local County Recorder. In many cases, these records are available on line. The Notice of Default will show the name and address of the Trustee. Make sure you send your letter via registered mail.This may be a good time to speak to your commanding officer about obtaining free legal assistance from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG).

Suspend payments on the loan

If you can show that your ability to pay the loan has been materially affected by your active duty, you can get the Court to suspend all of your payments until your active duty is completed. Better yet, you don’t even have to be delinquent. You can get this relief even if you have never missed a payment. Once you are released from active duty, then you can make up all of the missed payments by spreading them over the entire remaining term of the loan plus the time you were on active duty. This is a huge relief. Let’s take a look at how this would work.

EXAMPLE: Let’s say that you started out with a 30 year mortgage or deed of trust. Suppose that when you are released from active duty there are 24 more years remaining on your loan. Suppose you were in the military for 2 years. The maximum period for the stay would be calculated by taking the 24 years remaining on the mortgage at the time you were discharged and adding in the two years that you spent in the service. You will be allowed to spread your back payments out over 26 years. If your monthly payment was ,500 and you paid nothing during the time that you were on active duty, then you would be in arrears for ,500 times 24 months for a total of ,000. To spread that out over 26 years you have to figure that there are 12 payments due in each year. So in 26 years there are 312 monthly payments (12 x 26).

You would only have to make an extra payment of 5.38 each month in addition to your regular monthly payment in order to make up the balance. (,000/312)

Since this can get complicated it might be necessary to have an actual Court hearing. This may be a good time to speak to your commanding officer about obtaining free legal assistance from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG).

Void the Sale

If you are just now becoming aware of your rights under The Service Members Civil Relief Act of 2003 and your property has already been sold at a foreclosure sale, there is still hope for you. If you can demonstrate that your active duty materially affected your ability to comply with the terms of the Mortgage or Deed of Trust you can have the sale voided and get your property back. This is called “vacating” the sale.

Since vacating the sale is a drastic remedy, it will be necessary to have an actual Court hearing. This may be a good time to speak to your commanding officer about obtaining free legal assistance from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG).

NOTE: USE OF SAMPLE LETTERS

Most courts will allow non-attorneys to file pleadings with the court in the form of letters. Your particular jurisdiction, however, may not allow this and may insist on a formal pleading in a specific format that was approved by the court. Nevertheless, we feel that it will be beneficial to send the letters out anyway. This way all parties including the lender and the lender’s attorney will be put on notice of the fact that you are on active duty and that you are asserting your rights under the law.

M60 machine gun

Overview

The M60 is a belt-fed machine gun that fires the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge commonly used in larger rifles. It is generally used as crew-served weapon and operated by a team of two or three men. The team consists of the gunner, the assistant gunner (A-gunner in military slang), and the ammunition bearer. The gun’s weight and the amount of ammunition it consumes when fired make it difficult for a single soldier to carry and operate. The gunner carries the weapon and, depending on his strength and stamina, anywhere from 200 to 1000 rounds of ammunition. The assistant carries a spare barrel and extra ammunition, and reloads and spots targets for the gunner. The ammunition bearer carries additional ammunition and the tripod with associated traversing and elevation mechanism, if issued, and fetches more ammunition as needed during firing.

Firing an M60 machine gun from the standing position during the DEFENDER CHALLENGE ‘88 competition

The basic ammunition load carried by the crew is 600 to 900 rounds and theoretically allows approximately two minutes of continuous firing at the maximum rate of fire. All crews carry more than the basic load, sometimes three or more times the basic amount.[citation needed]

The M60 can be accurately fired at short ranges from the shoulder due to its design. This was an initial requirement for the design and a hold-over in concept from the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. It may also be fired from the integral bipod, M122 tripod, and some other mounts.

M60 Machine Gun

M60 ammunition comes in a cloth bandolier containing a cardboard box of 100 pre-linked rounds. The M60 changed from M1 link to the different M13 link, a change from the older link system with which it was not compatible. The cloth bandoleer is reinforced to allow it to be hung from the current version of the feed tray. Historically, units in Vietnam used B3A cans from C-rations packs locked into the ammunition box attachment system to roll the ammunition belts over for a straighter and smoother feed to the loading port to enhance reliability of feed. The later models changed the ammunition box attachment point and made this adaptation unnecessary.

History of M60 Machine Gun

The M60 machine gun began development in the late 1940s as a program for a new, lighter 7.62 mm machine gun. The design included features that had been successful on earlier designs (most notably the German MG 42 and FG 42), as well as improvements of its own. It was intended to replace the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle and M1919A6 Browning machine gun in the squad automatic weapon role. It was also to replace the M1919 family in the medium machine gun role. One of the weapons tested against it during its procurement process was the FN MAG.

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

The U.S. Army officially adopted the M60 in 1957. It later served in the Vietnam War as a squad automatic weapon with many U.S. units. Every soldier in the rifle squad would carry an additional 200 linked rounds of ammunition for the M60, a spare barrel, or both. The up-gunned M113 armored personnel carrier ACAV added two M60 gunners beside the main .50 gun, and the Patrol Boat, River had one in addition to two 50 cal mounts.

This section requires expansion with:

Fill in M60 history, including Vietnam War info.

M60 in Vietnam 1966.

In the 1980s, it was partially replaced by the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon within the Infantry squad. The M60 was retained in the vehicle mounted role and the general-purpose role due to its greater power and range compared to the 5.56 mm M249. In USMC service, concerns about the M60’s reliability, the system’s weight, and high round counts of many M60s in service prompted the adoption of the M60E3 to replace most original M60s in Infantry units.

A 19th Special Forces Group soldier mans an M60 machine gun on a HMMWV in Afghanistan, in March 2004. An AT4 anti-tank launcher can be seen in the foreground.

Starting with Ranger Battalions, the US Army began adopting and modifying M240 variants for replacing their remaining M60s in the early 1990s. By comparison, the M240 is several pounds heavier than the M60, and has a longer barrel and overall length, but is more reliable in use and testing.[citation needed] However, the M60 uses a much simpler gas system that is, when care is taken during reassembly, easier to clean. This advantage is obviated by the fact that, in practice, the gas tube is wired shut with lockwire to prevent the gun from disassembling itself due to vibration in hard use.

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

The M60 continues to be used by U.S. Navy SEALs and as a door gun on U.S. Army helicopters into the 21st century, and as the main 7.62 mm machine gun by some U.S. special operations forces into the late 1990s. As of 2005, it is used by the Coast Guard, Navy, and a number of reserve forces, though it is being phased out in favor of the M240 7.62 mm medium machine gun. The use as an Army helicopter door gun will soon be tapering off, as an improved M240 version has been adopted for this role.

Design

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The M60 is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed, automatic machine gun that fires from the open-bolt position and is chambered for the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge. Ammunition is usually fed into the weapon from a 100-round bandolier containing a disintegrating, metallic split-link belt.

An Airwoman of the UK’s Royal Air Force handles an M60 during a demonstration for Combined Joint Task Force Exercise (CJTFEX) in 2004

The design drew on many common concepts in firearms manufacture of the period, such as stamped sheet metal construction, belt feed (a modified mechanism for belt feed from the MG42 with a single pawl), quick barrel replacement, a pistol grip and stock, and a semi-bull pup design similar to the FG42 (much of the action occupies the weapon’s stock). The M60’s operating system of an operating rod turning a rotating bolt was inspired by the FG42, which was based on the much earlier Lewis Gun. The M60’s gas operation is unique, and drew on technical advances of the period, particularly the White “gas expansion and cutoff” principle also exploited by the M14 rifle. The M60’s gas system was simpler than other gas systems and easier to clean.

The straight-line layout allowed the operating rod and buffer to run directly back into the buttstock and reduce the overall length of the weapon.

As with all such weapons, it can be fired from the shoulder, hip, or underarm position. However, to achieve the maximum effective range, it is recommended that a bipod-steadied position or a tripod-mounted position be used and fired in bursts of 35 rounds. The weapon is heavy and difficult to aim when firing without support, though the weight helps reduce the felt recoil. The large grip also allowed the weapon to be conveniently carried at the hip. The gun can be stripped using a live round of ammunition as a tool. However, this is highly discouraged, as doing so can damage that round and increase the chance of a misfire.

The M60 is often used with its own integrated bipod or with the M122 tripod. The M60 is considered effective up to 1,100 meters when firing at an area target and mounted on a tripod; up to 800 meters when firing at an area target using the integral bipod; up to 600 meters when firing at a point target; and up to 200 meters when firing at a moving point target. United States Marine Corps doctrine holds that the M60 and other weapons in its class are capable of suppressive fire on area targets out to 1,500 meters if the gunner is sufficiently skilled.

Originally an experimental M91 tripod was developed for the M60, but an updated M2 tripod design was selected over it which became the M122. The M122 would be itself replaced in the 2000s by a new mount, in time for the M60 to also be used with it.

Ammunition for M60

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

810th Military Police Company, mans a 7.62 mm M60 machine gun atop an M998 High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) during Operation Desert Shield.

The M60 family of weapons are capable of firing standard NATO rounds of the appropriate caliber. Most common in U.S. use are M61 Armor piercing, M62 Tracer, and M80 Ball. For training purposes, M63 Dummy and M82 Blanks are used. The new tungsten cored M993 Armor-piercing rounds may also be fired in the M60 as well, though they did not enter the inventory until after the M60 was withdrawn from service in active-duty units.

When firing blanks, the M13 or M13A1 blank-firing adaptor (BFA) is necessary in order to produce enough gas pressure to cycle the weapon with blanks. All ammunition must be fixed in a NATO standard M13 disintegrating metallic split-link belt to feed into the weapon.

The standard combat ammunition mix for the M60 consists of four ball (M80) cartridges and one tracer (M62) in belts of 100 rounds. The four to one ratio theoretically allows the gunner to accurately “walk” the fire into the enemy. Tracer bullets do not fly quite the same trajectory as ball and weapon’s sights must be used for accurate firearticularly at ranges in excess of 800 meters, where 7.62×51mm NATO tracer bullets usually burn out and are no longer visible. This is a problem for all weapons in this caliber using this tracer round.

Design flaws

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An M60 machine gun aboard a Navy patrol craft. The USS Constellation (CV-64) is visible in the background.

When tested in the field, the M60 was fairly effective, but in the jungles of Southeast Asia in which it was soon used, the initial versions displayed several potential problems when used on the ground. A common complaint was the weapon’s weight, though M60 was among the lightest 7.62 mm machine guns of the era.

For units in Vietnam, the single most common complaint was that the M60 was comparatively unreliable and prone to jamming and other malfunctions, especially when it was dirty. Fine sand and dust in the mechanism could bring the M60 to a halt. This was a major factor in the Israeli Defense Force declining to adopt the M60. The weapon was more difficult to clean and maintain than the M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) it replaced in the squad. In normal conditions it would often fire thousands of rounds without a serious jam while field conditions tended to reduce reliability without proper maintenance.

The safety was awkward to operate and worked the “wrong way” for soldiers who were trained with the M16 rifle and M1911A1 pistolhat is, it required an upward movement of the thumb on the safety catch to make the gun ready to fire, rather than a downward movement as with the other weapons. Additionally, it is possible to install some of the fire control mechanism incorrectly, causing a “runaway gun”eaning that it would keep firing until empty even if the operator took his finger off the trigger. The gas system of the original model could be assembled incorrectly causing failure to function and could unscrew and come apart if not safety wired in place.

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

The M60 sometimes (depending on the version) tore rims off of fired cartridge cases during the extraction cycle, resulting in failure to remove the empty case, causing a jam that could take time to clear. The barrel latch mechanism (a swinging lever) could catch on the gunner’s equipment and accidentally unlatch, causing the barrel to fall out of the gun. The lever was replaced with a pushbutton mechanism that was less likely to be accidentally released, but many of the swinging-lever latches are still on guns in inventory, forty years after this problem was discovered.

The grip/trigger housing assembly is held in place with a rather fragile leaf spring clip instead of the captive pins used in other designs. The spring clip has been known to be prone to breakage since the first trials at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Duct tape and cable ties have been seen on M60s in the field, placed there by their crews in case the spring clip breaks. The sear in the trigger mechanism gained a reputation for wearing down and a malfunction could cause the gun to “run away”. A second sear notch was eventually added to the operating rod to reduce the chance of this happening.

Several critical parts of early production M60s, such as the receiver cover and feed tray, were made from very thin sheet metal stampings and prone to bending or breaking; sturdier parts were eventually available in the early 1970s. Early M60s also had driving spring guides and operating rods that were too thin and gas pistons that were too narrow behind the piston head (part of an attempt to save weight), leading to problems with breakage. Metallurgical problems also played a part, (blamed by some on low-bid contractors), but after 1970 a slightly heavier part was designed and slowly put into the supply chain. High round count weapons were also susceptible to stretching of the receiver and other parts.

An M60 machine gun team changes barrels before engaging their last target during the DEFENDER CHALLENGE ‘88 competition.

Another criticism with some versions of the M60 is that the barrel was heavy. The bipod was a permanent fixture to the barrel as well as the gas chamber of the gas system; the latter was a result of using a piston design with a fixed regulator design. The advantage of the fixed regulator was no adjustment was required, though it risked the ability to compensate for fouling of the gas system, leading to insufficient power to operate the action, including lifting the ammunition belt. The non-adjustable front sight is fixed to the barrel and adjustments for “zeroing” the sights could only be made at the rear sight requiring readjustment when the barrel is changedot ideal for combat situations.

There was no handle to hold the barrel by for changes. A large asbestos glove was part of the standard issue to allow the crew to handle hot barrels during barrel change. Loss of the glove was always a problem.

U.S. Marines especially disliked the M60, and many Marine units held onto their BARs until 196768 officially, and longer unofficially. The M60E3 variant designed in the mid-1980s for the U.S. Marine Corps, reduced the design’s weight to 18.9 lb (8.61 kg) unloaded and slightly improved reliability. Users complained about the quickly-overheating barrel, a common problem with the original M60. This problem was aggravated in the M60E3, which uses a lighter barrel, which required changing every 100 rounds instead of every 200. The M60E3’s barrel used a wire and plastic handle near the breech end and could be changed safely without the use of heat-resistant mittens.

The U.S. Navy special operations forces continued to use and upgrade the M60E3 for years because of its portability and low weight for its caliber requiring many modifications, including a change in feed system and barrel configuration. Additional required changes were the addition of rails for optical sights and other modern accessories.

The reliability problem with the M60 machine gun was even more evident when the gun was compared to the successful and reliable PK machine gun used by Warsaw Pact forces and Soviet client states.

Variants

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

The nomenclature M60 describes either the first adopted version or, generically, the family of weapons derived from it.

Major variations include the M60E1 (an improved version that did not enter production), the M60E2 (a version designed to be used from fixed mounts as a co-axial for armored vehicles or in helicopter armament systems), the M60E3 (a lightweight version) and the M60E4 (another improved version, designated Mk 43 Mod 0 by the U.S. Navy).

The M60C was adopted for use on fixed mounts on aircraft. It was characterized by the use of an electric solenoid to operate the trigger and a hydraulic system to charge the weapon. The M60D differed from the base model by employing spade grips, a different sighting system, and lacking a forearm. It was typically employed as a door gun on helicopters or as a pintle mounted weapon as on the Type 88 K1 tank.

There are many smaller variants among each type, between makers of the firearm, and over time.

Variant summary

T161: The M60’s developmental designation before it was type-classified in the 1950s.

M60: The basic model, type-classified in 1957.

M60E1: An improved version that did not enter production. The primary difference was the handle fixed to the barrel and the removal of the gas cylinder and bipod from the barrel assembly.

M60E2: Used in vehicles as a coaxial machine gun; electrically fired.

M60B: Used in helicopters in the 1960s and 1970s; unmounted.

M60C: Used in fixed mounts in aircraft in the 1960s and 1970s; electrically fired and hydraulically charged.

M60D: Replaced the M60B; a pintle-mounted version used especially in armament subsystem for helicopters, but also some other roles.

M60E3: An updated, lightweight version adopted in the 1980s.

M60E4 (Mk 43 Mod 0/1): An improved model of the 1990s that looks similar to the E3, but has many improvements. It has subvariants of its own, and is also used by the U.S. Navy (as the Mk 43 Mod 0/1). The Mk 43 Mod 1 is a specialized version with additions such as extra rails for mounting accessories.

M60

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

The initial version was officially adopted by the U.S. Army in the late 1950s, though at this time it was only intended for the infantry. It was known as the T161 before it was adopted (specifically the T161E3), and was chosen over the competing T52 during testing in the 1950s. They both used a similar feed and were both gas-operated, but the T161 was easier to produce and its different internals performed better. The model that won the competition was the T161E3.

The model was type-classified in 1957, and entered production. It saw its first heavy use in the 1960s. The basic design has undergone some smaller changes, and has been produced by different manufacturers.

M60E1

The M60E1 was the first major variant of the original M60. It did not go into full-scale production, though many of its features were included into the later E3 and E4 variants. Some of its features were also incorporated into the existing M60 production. This mainly changed how the gas cylinder, the barrel, and the bipod were connected; in the first iteration. The M60 and the M60E1 are two different versions. Opinions are varied on whether the M60E1 was officially adopted or not.

A camouflaged infantryman armed with an M60 machine gun.

One of the more noticeable changes on the M60E1 is that the bipod attachment point was moved to the gas tube rather than the barrel (like on the later M60E3). It did not, however, have a forward pistol grip, as was added on the E3.

M60E2

M60E2, intended for co-axial use. Note gas tube extension and no grip.

The M60E2 is used on armored fighting vehicles, such as the M48A5, later M60 Patton versions and the K1 Type 88. It lacks many of the external components of the standard M60, including stock and grips. The M60E2 was electrically fired, but had a manual trigger as a backup, as well as a metal loop at the back for charging. The gas tube below the barrel was extended to the full length of the weapon to vent the gas outside the vehicle. This version achieved a mean time between failures of 1,669 during testing in the 1970s, more frequent than the FN MAG, which was adopted in 1977 as a co-axial vehicle gun and designated the M240.

The M60E2 is used on the South Korea’s K1 Type 88 tank as a co-axial weapon, along with an M60D on a pintle mount.

M60B

The M60B was a short-lived version designed to be fired from helicopters, with limited deployment made in the 1960s and 1970s. It was not mounted, just held, and was soon replaced by the pintle-mounted M60D. The ‘B’ model differed most noticeably in that it had no bipod and featured a different rear stock than the regular model. It still had a pistol grip (as opposed to spade grips). The M60B’s advantage over pintle-mounted variants was that it had a wider and much less restricted field of fire.

M60C

The M60C machine gun.

The M60C is a variant of the standard M60 for aircraft-mounting, such as in helicopter armament subsystems. It lacks things like the bipod, pistol grip, and iron sights. The main difference between the standard M60 and the “C” variant is the electronic control system and the hydraulic swivel system used. It could be fired from the cockpit by the pilot or co-pilot. It is an electronically-controlled, hydraulic-powered, air-cooled, gas-operated, belt-fed weapon system. It used the M2, M6, and M16 armament subsystems and was mounted on the OH-13 Sioux, the OH-23 Raven, the UH-1B Huey, and comprised the standard fixed armament of the OV-10 Bronco. M60C production was on the order of several hundred. It was also used in the XM19 gun pod.

See also: US Helicopter Armament Subsystems

M60D

The M60D on the M23 Armament Subsystem.

The M60D is a mounted version of the standard M60. It can be mounted on boats, vehicles and as a pintle-mounted door gun in helicopters. When used in aircraft, it differs from the M60C in that it is not controlled by the pilotather, it is mounted in a door and operated by a member of the crew. Like the rest of the M60 family, it is an air-cooled, gas-operated, belt-fed weapon. Unlike other models, however, the M60D normally has spade grips and an aircraft ring-type sight or similar, as well as an improved ammunition feed system. A canvas bag is also affixed to the gun to capture ejected casings and links, preventing them from being sucked into the rotor blades or into an engine intake. The M60D was equipped on the UH-1B Huey (using the M23, XM29, M59, and the Sagami mounts), the CH-47 Chinook (using the M24 and M41 mounts) in both door and ramp locations, the ACH-47A “Guns-A-Go-Go” variant of the Chinook (using the XM32 and XM33 mounts), and on the UH-60 Black Hawk (using the M144 mount). The M60D is also used by the British on Royal Air Force Chinooks. In US service, the M60D are being replaced, primarily by the M240H.

See also: US Helicopter Armament Subsystems

M60E3

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

The M60E3 was fielded circa 1986 in an attempt to remedy problems with earlier versions of the M60 for infantry use. It is a lightweight, “improved” version intended to reduce the load carried by the gunner. Unlike its predecessors, the M60E3 has several updated modern features. It has a bipod (attached to the receiver) for improved stability, ambidextrous safety, universal sling attachments, a carrying handle on the barrel, and a simplified gas system. However, these features also caused almost as many problems for the weapon as they fixed. There were different types of barrels used, but the lightweight barrel was not as safe for sustained fire at 200 rounds per minute as heavier types. However, some personnel claim to have witnessed successful prolonged firing of the weapon. The stellite superalloy barrel liner makes it possible, but the excessive heat generated by this process can quickly make the gun unusable. There were two main barrels, a lightweight barrel and another heavier typehe former for when lighter weight was desired, and the latter for situations where more sustained fire was required.

M60E3.

The reduced-weight components also reduced the durability of the weapon, making it more prone to rapid wear and parts breakage than the original. Most infantry units in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps have now switched over to the M240 as their general-purpose machine gun, which is more reliable (particularly when dirty) and seems to be well-liked by the troops for its ruggedness, despite the fact that it weighs 27.6lb (12.5kg) compared to the standard M60 at 23.15lb (10.5kg).

The U.S. Air Force Security Forces received the M60E3 from 1988 to 1989. All USAF M60E3s were withdrawn from general issue by 1990, because it did not meet the vehicle mount requirements of the Cadillac Gage Ranger and due to overheating problems. The M60E3 did remain in the Air Force as an emergency issue weapon only. Still in service on Ohio Class ballistic missile submarines as a more reliable weapon has not even been considered for reissue.

M60E4 and Mk 43 Mod 0/1

This firearm is the latest generation of the M60 family and incorporates a number of improvements over other versions. Externally, it looks somewhat like the M60E3, but it has other internal changes and improvements. It features a different forward grip and is also a more reliable weapon than the other M60s. The M60E4/Mk 43 has higher pull for the belt, and is available in a variety of configurations. It is also possible to convert some older models to this standard. The M60E4 and Mk 43 were primarily developed in the 1990s. First the E4, and soon after the Mk 43hese early Mk 43s had some distinct differences from the E4 (such as a duckbill flash suppressor), though by the 2000s these distinctions seemed to have ended.

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.

This version also has another designation under the Navy, Mk 43 Mod 0. The Mk 43 Mod 0 was developed for the U.S. Navy SEALs to replace their existing stock of M60E3 machine guns fitted with shorter “assault barrels”. These weapons are identical to standard M60E4s, with the exception of the barrel length, and can be used either as suppressive fire or direct fire weapons, at least in terms of theory and training. The Mk 43 Mod 1 adds significantly more rail attachment points to the weapon’s receiver cover and handguard.

The M60E4 and Mk 43 versions are roughly similar, although they are only part of the same family. While it might be fair to say that the Mk 43s are a type of M60E4, there are technical differences between any given M60E4 model. Early Mk 43s have certain differences over M60E4 from the same period, the most obvious being the duck-bill flash hider and different handguard. Current Mk 43s do not have these differences however, and the U.S. Ordnance website states in their FAQ, as of 2005, that the “M60E4 and the Mk43 are the same weapon system”.

The M60E4 was pitted against the (then called) M240E4 in Army trials during the 1990s for new medium machine gun for the infantry, in a competition to replace the decades-old M60s. The M240E4 won, and was then classified as the M240B. This led to 1,000 existing M240s being sent to Fabrique Nationale for an overhaul and a special kit that modified them for use on ground (such as a stock, a rail, etc.). Afterwards, procurement contracts were let in the late 1990s for all-new M240B models. However, a new feature was added: a hydraulic buffer system to reduce the felt recoilimilar to that of the M60as incorporated. While the M240B had been more reliable in the tests, it was a few pounds heavier than the M60E4.

The M60E4 is not just another version, but a whole update to the series, that is also available in many of the previous configurations, such as a co-axial weapon. Kits are also offered to convert older models to the E4 standard.

M60E4 (Light machine gun):

Short barrel: weight: 22.5 lb (10.2 kg); length: 37.7 in (95.8 cm)

Long barrel: weight: 23.1 lb (10.5 kg); length: 42.4 in (108 cm)

Assault barrel: weight: 21.3 lb (9.66 kg); length: 37.0 in (94.0 cm)

Width: 4.8 in (12.2 cm)

M60E4 (mounted):

Length: 43.5 in (110 cm)

Width: 5.9 in (15.0 cm)

Weight: 22.7 lb (10.3 kg)

M60E4 (co-axial):

Length: 42.3 in (107 cm)

Width: 4.8 in (12.2 cm)

Weight: 21.2 lb (9.62 kg)

Civilian versions

A number of semi-automatic versions for the civilian market have been produced in the United States. The internals must be extensively modified to make it essentially impossible to convert them to fully-automatic weapons. If the design is approved by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), they are treated as belt-fed semi-automatic rifles; however, individual state and local regulations still apply.

The U.S. Ordnance company is the current maker authorized by Saco to produce mil-spec M60s and M60 parts. However, U.S. Ordnance put its civilian semi-auto sales on hold until 2006 because its production capacity is required for government orders. The company had charged 00 for a new semi-automatic M60.

The Desert Ordnance company is a current maker of M60s and M60 parts. The company charges between 000-000 for a new semi-automatic M60, depending on the model.

Various makes of older fully-automatic versions are on the market as well, but there are many legal requirements to be met before purchasing them, and they cost upwards of U.S. ,00030,000. This is largely due to the restriction on the production of fully-automatic firearms in the U.S. for the general civilian market since 1986. The combination of banning production and importation has led many to think it is illegal to own a machine gun, when, in fact, it is legal to own and use a fully-automatic M60 machine gun in the United States (unless prohibited by other state or local laws).

Users

Republic of Korea soldiers with an M60 conduct combined amphibious landing during Foal Eagle 07.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front militant laying prone with an M60.

Portuguese Army V-150 Commando armed with an M60.

Australia

Colombia

Czech Republic: The M60E4 is used in small numbers by specialized units of the Czech Army.

Egypt

Greece

Jordan

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Portugal: Portuguese Army uses M60E and D mounted on V-150 Commando.[citation needed]

Republic of Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Tunisia

United States: Used by the US Army and the US Navy SEALs.

See also

Military of the United States portal

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

PK machine gun, M60’s Warsaw Pact counterpart.

List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces

List of crew-served weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces

References

^ a b The M60. Federation of American Scientists.

^ Weapons: An International Encyclopedia From 5000 B.C. To 2000 A.D. Diagram Visual, p. 217. ISBN 0-312-03950-6.

^ “Gun Control : Machine Guns”. Guncite.com. 2005-02-19. http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcfullau.html. Retrieved 2009-07-06.

^ a b c d e f g h i j k {{cite web |url=http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/smallarms.htm |title=Profiling the Small Arms Industry

^ http://www.army.cz/assets/files/9334/zbrane_definit.pdf

^ http://www.timawa.net/pmc.htm

^ Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.

^ M60E3 & Mk43 Mod 0

Global Security: the M60E3

Modern Firearms & Ammunition: the M60

Department of the Army Field Manual No. 3-22.68

U.S. Army TACOM Rock Island

MCWP 3-15.1 United States Marine Corps: “Machine Guns and Machine Gun Gunnery”

Navy SEALs

M60E4

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

M60 (machine gun) (category)

US Ordnance Website (Current maker of M60s)

Military Factory Small Arms

Belt-Fed FG42: Predecessor to the M60

US Army manual: Operator’s Manual For M60, M122, M60D

Video links

Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide (FILM) M60 Presentation (.MPEG)

v  d  e

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)

AA-52  AEK-999  FN MAG  M60  Heckler & Koch HK21  Kucher Model K1  MG 34  MG 42  MG 3  Type 67  Type 80  SIG MG 50  MG 51  SIG MG 710-3  PK  Pecheneg  Sumitomo NTK-62  Uk vz. 59  UKM-2000  Vektor SS-77  Zastava M84

v  d  e

Current U.S. infantry weapons and cartridges

Handguns

M9  M11  MEU(SOC)  Mk 23  Mk 24

Rifles

Assault and Battle

M16  Mk 14  Mk 16

Carbine

HK416  M4  Mk 18

Designated Marksman

DMR  M14  M39  Mk 12  SAM-R  SDM-R  SEAL Recon Rifle

Sniper

M24  M40  M107  M110  Mk 11  Mk 15

Shotguns

M26  M590  M870  M1014

Submachine guns

MP5N  P90

Machine guns

M2HB  M240B  M249 and Mk 46  Mk 43

Grenade launchers

M203  M32  M320  M79  Mk 19  Mk 47

Mortars

M120  M224  M252

Rockets

M3  M72 series  M136  M141  M202A1  Mk 153

Missiles

FGM-172  FGM-148  FIM-92

Cartridges

12-gauge  5.7×28mm  9×19mm NATO  .45 ACP  5.56×45mm NATO  7.62×51mm NATO  12.7×99mm NATO

v  d  e

Current equipment of the United States Air Force

Aircraft

Attack

A/OA-10A/C Thunderbolt II  AC-130H/U Spectre/Spooky II

Bomber

B-1B Lancer  B-2A Spirit  B-52H Stratofortress

Electronic Warfare

E-3B/C Sentry  E-4B  E-8C Joint STARS  E-9A  EC-130J Commando Solo

Fighter

F-15C/D Eagle  F-15E Strike Eagle  F-16C/D Fighting Falcon  F-22A Raptor

Reconnaissance

OC-135B Open Skies  RC-26B  RC-135S/U/V/W  RQ-4A Global Hawk  RQ-11B Raven  RQ-170 Sentinel  U-2R/S Dragon Lady  WC-130J Super Hercules  WC-135C/W Constant Phoenix  Scan Eagle  Wasp III

Search and Rescue

HH-60G/MH-60G Pave Hawk   HC-130P/N

Tanker

KC-10A Extender  KC-135E/R/T Stratotanker

Trainer

T-1A Jayhawk  T-6A Texan II  (A)T-38A/B/C Talon  T-43A  TG-10B/C/D  TG-15A/B

Transport

C-5A/B/C/M Galaxy  VC-9C  C-12C/D/F Huron  C-17A Globemaster III  C-20A/B/C Gulfstream III  C-20G/H Gulfstream IV  C-21A Learjet  CV-22 Osprey  VC-25A  C-32A/B  C-37A Gulfstream V  C-37B Gulfstream V  C-38 Courier  C-40B Clipper  C-41A Aviocar  C-130E/H/J Hercules

Utility/Multi-Mission

LC-130H  MC-130 Combat Talon I,II/Combat Spear/Combat Shadow  MQ-1B Predator  MQ-9 Reaper  U-28A  UH-1H/N/V Huey  UV-18A/B Twin Otter  YAL-1

Space Systems

Launch Vehicle

Atlas V  Delta II  Delta IV

Satellite

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)  Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS)  Defense Support Program (DSP)  Global Positioning System (GPS)  Milstar Satellite Communications System  Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)  Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)  Wideband Global SATCOM

C2

AN/USQ-163 Falconer

Munitions

Bomb

CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition  CBU-89 Gator  CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon  GBU-10 Paveway II  GBU-12 Paveway II  GBU-15  GBU-24 Paveway III  GBU-27 Paveway III  GBU-28  GBU-31 JDAM  GBU-32 JDAM  GBU-38 JDAM  GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb  GBU-54 Laser JDAM  Mk-82  Mk-84  M129

Missile

AGM-65A/B/D/E/G/G2/H/K Maverick  AGM-86B/C/D Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM)  AGM-88A/B/C High-speed Anti-radiation Missile (HARM)  AGM-130 Powered Standoff Weapon  AGM-154A Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)  AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM)  AIM-7M Sparrow  AIM-9M/X Sidewinder  AIM-120B/C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM)  LGM-30G Minuteman III

Target

BQM-34 Firebee  BQM-167 Subscale Aerial Target  MQM-107 Streaker  QF-4 Aerial Target

Small Arms

M4 Carbine  M9 Semiautomatic Pistol  M11 Semiautomatic Pistol  M1911A1 Semiautomatic Pistol  M14 Stand-off Munitions Disruptor (SMUD)  M16A2 Rifle  M18A1 Claymore Mine  M24 Sniper Weapon System  M67 Fragmentation Grenade  M79 Grenade Launcher  M107/M82A1 Long Range Sniper Rifle  M2 .50-Caliber Machine Gun  M240B Medium Machine Gun  M249 light machine gun  M60 Medium Machine Gun  MCS 870 Modular Combat Shotgun  MK-19 40 mm Machine Gun  MP5K Submachine Gun  UZI Submachine Gun  M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon (LAW)  GAU-5A/GUU-5P Carbine  M136 AT4 Light Anti-tank Weapon  Mk 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle

Related Marine Corps Reserve Articles

Joining The Military As An Officer, College ROTC

Before you join the military, ask yourself if you are willing to give your life for your  Marines and your country. If you can say yes to that question, then you are ready to join. Many do not consider that question, and then are surprised at the risks they are required to take in time of war. Although, the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq will change and eventually end, enemies of individual freedom continue to exist all over the world. These fanatics will continue to attack the United States and her democratic allies, until we change the dynamic of world-wide poverty and provide opportunity for all.

Becoming a USMC Officer

Now, if you decide you still want to join the military, and you want to be an officer, I recommend you join a reserve officer training program. You can join anytime during your college education. During one of your summers, you will be required to take a college version of basic training for either Army or Navy ROTC. This will give you the initial training and understanding of the responsibilities of wearing the uniform, as well as some of its rewards.

If you choose to be a Marine, you will need to take Navy ROTC, and apply for entry into the Marine Corps. After you graduate and are commissioned as a Marine second lieutenant, you will take Marine basic infantry training. All Marines must take basic infantry training before they are qualified to take any other Marine specialty training. You will not be given your desired specialty until you prove yourself in your initial training.

You can also join the Marines out of college, but the path will be more difficult. You will have to go through enlisted basic infantry training. If you prove yourself worthy there you can earn the chance to go to Marine Officer Candidate School. Here you earn the right to become a Marine second lieutenant. You would already be at this point when you graduate, if you complete a 2 or more year ROTC program.

Unfortunately, you cannot not join the military for a few months. If you are commissioned, your commitment is usually at least 3 years duty. If you accept a scholarship, or a monetary entry bonus of some type, your commitment is usually 8 years, mixed between active duty time and reserve time. The nice thing about trying ROTC is that if you really dislike it, you can turn in your uniforms and stop attending. You would have no binding commitment, unless you accept a scholarship of some kind.

Please talk to the ROTC program at your college or at the university closest to you to get more questions answered. There should be an OTC program close to you, even if your college does not have one. You should be able to join as a member for a satellite campus.

It seems that veterans of war should get all the assistance they need once discharged, from the government. After all, they have worked actively for it and get their salary and pension, too. But not all is channeled through the government. There are private companies that take care of some matters, like loans for purchasing a home, sponsored and insured by the Government.

The VA Home Loan Program does not grant loans, as some people believe. It is common for veterans of war or unremarried spouses of servicemen who died while on duty not to know this until they actually start inquiring for a loan. The VA creates and insures the program for private companies to implement.

Eligibility

To know whether you are eligible for a VA loan, you must first request a certificate of eligibility. For this you will be asked to fill in a form issued by the private lender or a VA Form 26-1880, for you to enter your data and return it. It can even be filled in on-line, through secure servers. This form is then processed by the VA, who issues a certificate of eligibility. There are a number of eligibility criteria which are made known by the VA, so that the borrowers know exactly what to expect.

Basically

You are eligible if you have been discharged from the armed forces for a reason other than dishonorable and you have served in the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force or Coast Guard. The VA loans are also available to active duty personnel with a minimum time of service of 90 days and for members of the Selected Reserve.

Advantages Against An Ordinary Mortgage

In most cases there is no down payment to be made, but there is a limitation on the amount of the mortgage, which can not exceed the sum of 0,000. There is no mortgage insurance to pay, since the VA insures the mortgage for the veteran. The closing costs are limited, which increases the benefits and borrowers have the right to prepay the mortgage without penalty.

What May You Buy

The VA Mortgages can be used to purchase a home, including townhouses and condominium units in any VA approved project. You may also build a home or purchase a run-down house to improve it, purchase a manufactured home or improve an existing home by installing energy saving features.

Interest Rates

The interest rates follow the general rule, so there is no difference with other mortgage loans. There is a downside, though. All VA loans have a one time funding fee, as of 1982, which can be, on average, around 2%. They will oscillate, depending on whether the borrower chooses to make a down payment or not.

It is convenient to shop around and evaluate conventional and FHA loans, but if there is no difference in the interest rate, then it should be very advisable to go for a VA loan, since there is no down payment.

However, with more than 20 percent of the enlisted force being corporals, the Corps is slated to make a nonresident corporals course that a will allow Marines who don’t have the opportunity to attend a command-sponsored course to still be eligible under the new requirements.

“Noncommissioned officers have long been known as the backbone of the Marine Corps,” said Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway in All Marine Message 26/10. “It is our duty to ensure we provide these Marines every education opportunity, yet there is a gap in the professional military education continuum for our corporals.”

The gap stems from the requirements already in place for those being promoted to corporal and from sergeant to staff sergeant.

Per Marine Administrative Message 391/07, lance corporals have to complete the Leading Marines course and sergeants need to complete a resident sergeants course or the nonresidential sergeants course MCI.

While there is still no requirement for corporal to sergeant, command-sponsored corporals courses have undergone an overhaul after the release of MarAdmin 375/09, which announced the standardization of the course throughout the Corps.

The standardization included making the course three weeks long and geared it toward small-unit combat leadership instead of drill and tradition.

In addition, according to AlMar 26/10, more corporals course locations have been set up at staff NCO academies in order to assist commands in course execution. However, because these locations can only support a limited number, only corporals courses conducted at the regiment or group level for active duty units and battalion or squadron level for reserve units will be able to attend the course at these additional locations.

“The more you know, the less expendable you become,” said Sgt. Maj. William Wiseman, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major. “If you don’t empower these young Marines with information and knowledge, they won’t be able to execute it. You give them the tools to get in front of their Marines to teach, then you’re fostering the leadership.”

7/29/2010 By Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz , Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —

Recognizing that the sudden change from military to civilian life can be a bit of a shock for Marines and employers alike, the Corps is giving reservists the choice to stay in longer or get out quicker ? along with benefit extensions to help smooth their transitions.

Reservists can now remain on active duty for an extended period of time even through their activation period.

More than 20,000 activated Marine reservists will demobilize over the next few months, according to Marine Administrative Message 257/03 dated Jan. 17.

“Our intent is to deactivate as many people as possible and recognize the numbers of people who may not have many options outside the military, such as the availability of school or work,” said Lt. Col. Linda L. McGowan, mobilization policy officer with Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “Our mission is to take care of our Marines.”

After demobilizing in the wake of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, many Marines may have left the Corps out of frustration over the process, Marine Corps officials surmise.

The new policies are designed to reduce that frustration.

Reservists opting to stay in can either fill a billet at the same command or fill a gap at another base determined by manpower planners.

“We don’t want to push them out of the Marine Corps,” said McGowan.

Meanwhile, those eager to return to civilian life now have fewer obstacles.

To hasten the deactivation process, Manpower has reduced paperwork. As long as their physical exams are up-to-date, reservists are no longer required to undergo a full physical before leaving. Moreover, they’re not required to attend Transition Assistance Program briefs, which are mandatory for separating active-duty Marines.

Additionally, a limited continuation of health-care benefits, a streamlined deactivation procedure and flexibility in using accrued leave make for a smoother departure than in previous demobilizations.

Manpower authorized the extension of Tricare benefits for deactivated reservists. Reservists with less than six years of cumulative active-duty service will receive 60 days of health care; those with more than six years will be eligible for 120 days of coverage when they leave active duty. The Tricare extension also covers the Marine’s family members.

Manpower is attempting to deactivate reservists as quickly as possible as many employers look forward to their employees’ return and reservists eagerly await resuming civilian life.

The Mobilization Support Battalion processed nearly 130 reservists last month. The MSB’s processing center administers medical status, pay and travel claims ? and reservists are usually out of the Marine Corps within a week, said Maj. Michael J. Bontell, battalion adjutant for MSB.

“It was a big responsibility being back in the Marine Corps, and definitely a big honor to have represented the Corps while at war,” said Sgt. Chris Merkle, a platoon guide for G Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment.

He spent four months serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and had “some interesting experiences while in Iraq.”

Merkle plans to rejoin Fed-Ex, where he worked as a driver before being called back on active duty. “My job has been very supportive of me while I was gone. I even got promoted … twice!”

By Sgt. James S. Goff ,
Unit: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Camp Foster, Okinawa Japan

Coordinators and volunteers with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program on Okinawa will be working overtime during the holiday season to extend the reach of the 60-year-old charity in the region.

Reserve Marines, activated specifically for Toys for Tots support, began their 2007 toy collection drive during ceremonies at post exchanges on Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base Nov. 3.

This year, program officials added Thailand and Guam to their area of responsibility, according to Staff Sgt. Suzette Smith, a coordinator with Okinawa’s Toys for Tots. The volunteers and reserve Marines collected toys for needy children in Okinawa Prefecture and the Philippines in previous years.

Smith hopes Marines will be able to personally deliver donations to Thailand and Guam as done in Operation Goodwill, which delivers toys and clothes to children of the Philippines during the holiday season.

“The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders,” according to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Web site.

Last year the organization collected approximately 10,500 toys, according to Sgt. Shamala Henson, a coordinator for Okinawa’s Toys for Tots. She hopes the collection drive can collect at least 11,000, especially since they want to provide for children in two more countries this year.

“I want to break last year’s goals and make sure every child gets four toys like last year,” said Henson.

Program coordinators also want to raise awareness of the Ho Ho Express, a campaign-closing event intended to collect as many donations as possible during the final moments of the toy drive. The Ho Ho Express is scheduled for Dec. 15, the last day of the drive. A bus will visit each collection box on island and program personnel will collect all remaining toys. The event doubled the amount of collected toys in 2005 with help from American Forces Network radio broadcasters, who constantly aired updates on the bus’ location and upcoming stops.

The program needs toys for all ages of children. Toys for pre-teens and young teenagers are typically in short supply.

“People should remember that there are kids that are 13 and that’s usually the age group we lack the most,” Smith said.

Coordinators running Okinawa’s program have a lot of events for this year’s drive and need plenty of volunteers to help them. Volunteers can help with tasks such as sorting toys or promoting donations by making an appearance in public with their dress blues.

Maj. Bill Hendricks and a group of fellow reserve Marines in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children during the first Toys for Tots program 60 years ago. Officials plan to continue the mission as long as there are needy children around the world.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a big “HOORAH”.