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* [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]]
* [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]]
* [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]]
* [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]]
* [[Griffin]]
;[[List of aircraft weapons#Air-launched rockets|Rocket]]s
;[[List of aircraft weapons#Air-launched rockets|Rocket]]s
* [[Hydra 70]]
* [[Hydra 70]]

Revision as of 12:23, 16 May 2011

This is a list of weapons used by the United States Marine Corps:

Weapons utilized

The basic infantry weapon of the United States Marine Corps is the M16 assault rifle family, with a majority of Marines being equipped with the M16A2 or M16A4 service rifles, or more recently the M4 carbine—a compact variant. Suppressive fire is provided by the M249 SAW and M240B machine guns, at the squad and company levels respectively. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the M203 grenade launcher in fireteams, M224 60 mm mortar in companies, and M252 81 mm mortar in battalions. The M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun and MK19 automatic grenade launcher (40 mm) are available for use by dismounted infantry, though they are more commonly vehicle-mounted. Precision fire is provided by the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle, which is being replaced by the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, and M40A3 and A5 sniper rifle.[1]

The Marine Corps utilizes a variety of direct-fire rockets and missiles to provide infantry with an offensive and defensive anti-armor capability. The SMAW and AT4 are unguided rockets that can destroy armor and fixed defenses (e.g. bunkers) at ranges up to 500 meters. The Predator SRAW, FGM-148 Javelin and BGM-71 TOW are anti-tank guided missiles; all three can utilize top-attack profiles to avoid heavy frontal armor. The Predator is a short-range fire-and-forget weapon; the Javelin and TOW are heavier missiles effective past 2,000 meters that give infantry an offensive capability against armor.[2]

Marines are capable of deploying non-lethal weaponry as the situation dictates. Part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit earning the Special Operations Capable designator requires a company-sized unit capable of riot control.

Some older weapons are used for ceremonial purposes, such as the Silent Drill Platoon's M1 Garands, or the use of the M101 howitzer for gun salutes.

Active use

Non-lethal

Bladed weapons

Pistols

Rifles & Carbines

Marine aiming a loaded M16A4 rifle with EOTech optic
Marine with M16A4 rifle & optics

Shotguns

Machine Guns

In the foreground, a HMMWV, with a MTVR in the background. Both vehicles have M2 machineguns mounted and Marines firing them.
Vehicle-mounted M2 .50cal machine guns

Hand Grenades & Grenade Launchers

Mortars

Marines gather around a M777 howitzer, while the smoke from a recently-fired round lingers
M777 155mm howitzer

Artillery

Missile Launchers

a TOW missile leaves the tube of a HMMWV-mounted launcher
HMMWV-mounted BGM-71 TOW

Vehicle-Mounted

Aircraft-Mounted

view from inside a helicopter out a door to a corwded tarmac
UH-1N with GAU-16/A door-mounted machinegun
an closeup of the armament of an attack helicoper
AH-1W with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rockets
a guided bomb
GBU-12 500lb. bomb
Guns
Bombs
Missiles
Rockets

Other

Marine emplaces a claymore mine

Accessories

a night vision goggle with attached head mount
AN/PVS-7A

Testing/Limited Use

a Marine handles a grenade launcher
M32 Multiple shot Grenade Launcher test model

Marines with MARSOC, Force Reconnaissance, and MEU(SOC)s occasionally use specialized weapons that the rest of the fleet does not. In addition, some weapons are tested and evaluated in select units before acceptance and large-scale adoption. In a few cases, older weapons are brought out of retirement for limited use.

Retired

Bladed weapons
bayonet and sheath
M6 bayonet with sheath
Pistols
M1911A1 pistol
M1911A1 pistol
Rifles, Carbines, & Muskets
black&white photograph of an early M16 rifle
early M16 model rifle
M1 Garand
M1 Garand rifle
Submachine guns
M1A1 Thompson
M1A1 Thompson submachinegun
Machine guns
M60 machinegun
M60 7.62mm machinegun
Explosives & Launchers
M79 grenade launcher
M79 grenade launcher
Marines fire blank rounds from a M101 howitzer at a ceremony
Marine still use the M101 for ceremonial purposes today
Aircraft/vehicle-mounted
Other

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weapons of the United States Marine Corps.


References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ^ "M40A1 Sniper Rifle". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  2. ^ "Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  3. ^ "U.S. Marines Add to M9A1 Inventory". Law & Order Magazine. Encyclopedia.com. November 1, 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  4. ^ Tendas, Pierangelo. "Beretta M9-A1". Armi & Tiro. securityarms.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  5. ^ http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/FMB/09PRES/PMC_Book.pdf
  6. ^ http://www.marforres.usmc.mil/MFRNews/2008/2008.03/225Ironman.asp
  7. ^ http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/InfolineMarines.nsf/0/3784ED7DC0DA96D08525737100026F30?OpenDocument
  8. ^ http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/InfolineMarines.nsf/ab1cec06161bb8ad472570050040156e/55c968e25f086de2852574470063ef31?OpenDocument
  9. ^ http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2008/07-July/12-Jul-2008/FBO-01611293.htm
  10. ^ http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2008/08-August/03-Aug-2008/FBO-01629550.htm
  11. ^ Lamothe, Dan (March 17, 2011). "Corps fielding new semi-automatic sniper rifle". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Jane's international defense review: IDR". Jane's Information Group. 2003. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Unknown parameter |Issue= ignored (|issue= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Volume= ignored (|volume= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Piedmont, John P. (2010). DET One: U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Special Operations Command Detachment, 2003-2006 U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism. Government Printing Office. p. 27. ISBN 9780160852190. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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