SAW.

This is coolbert:

In my last blog entry, it was mentioned by Jordan that the current squad automatic weapon being used by U.S. forces in Iraq gets a thumbs down.

This of course is the Squad Automatic Weapon [SAW]. The M249.

My impressions were originally that this weapon was the answer to the century long dilemma of WHAT-WEAPON-IS-TO-BE-THE-SQUAD-LEVEL-AUTOMATIC-WEAPON utilized by the U.S. infantry squad. The weapon that lays down the base of fire for the infantry squad and is supported by the rest of the squad members, each using the M-16 rifle.

Evidently, the SAW, M249 is not the answer?!

[at least, according to the letter from this Marine, Jordan.]

The objections seem to be with regard to the caliber and the tendency of the SAW to jam under the dusty, sandy conditions encountered by U.S. troops in Iraq.

The caliber of the SAW is said to not be large enough, nor have the penetration power or stopping ability desired.

AND JAMS!!

Troops in Iraq are, according to Jordan, are using the M240 Medium Machine Gun [MMG] as the weapon of resort, and liking it. A de-mounted machine gun taken into combat for squad level actions. A MMG used to lay down the base of fire for the remainder of the squad to maneuver by fire, using leaps and bounds.

The 7.62 mm NATO round fired by the M240 seems to achieve the desired effect. And the M240 DOES NOT JAM under the sandy, dusty conditions the troops encounter in Iraq.

Rather than using the SAW, the M240 is being used where ever possible.

Is this the answer then, to the squad automatic weapon problem ??

It is important to keep in mind that the M240 was INTENDED to be used as a vehicle mounted weapon. This was a major consideration in the design of the weapon FROM THE START.

[a variant does exist for a ground mount, dismounted unit.]

The M240 is an improved version of the M60 machine gun. The M60 in turn, was developed from the German World War Two [WW2] machine gun, the MG42.

During the Vietnam War, American infantry DID use the M60 as the squad automatic weapon. To lay down the base of fire essential for fire and maneuver using leaps and bounds.

At the time, the M60 was NOT a beloved weapon by all. It was a crew served weapon, belt fed, firing the 7.62 NATO round, and WAS effective, BUT NOT UNIVERSALLY LIKED!!



"Fighting between the big-round and small-round groups reached a peak in the early 1960s, when test after test showed the "puny" .223 Remington round fired from the AR-15 allowed an 8 soldier unit to vastly outgun an 11 soldier unit armed with M14's, and beat the typical NVA unit armed with AK47's. In 1964, the US Army started replacing their M14's with the M16"

Again, effective, but was also seen as having drawbacks. These included being heavy [20 lbs.], having a very rapid expenditure of ammunition, a barrel that had a tendency to overheat [quick barrel change was incorporated into the design of the weapon from the start, spare barrels being carried!!], and being SUBJECT TO REPEATED JAMMING UNDER DUSTY CONDITIONS!!

[when offered this weapon [the M60], the Israelis TURNED IT DOWN. Their concern was the REPEATED JAMMING UNDER DUSTY CONDITIONS!!]

[in the eyes of some, that the Israelis turned the M60 down is very compelling evidence that the weapons IS NO GOOD!! The opinion of the Israeli DOES carry a lot of weight in the eyes of military experts world-wide] Israelis are said to possess so much combat experience and have studied things militarily so well, that their opinions count in a marked and profound way!!]

And of course, between the M60 and the M16 rifle was an ammunition incompatibility. The two weapons fired a different round. NOT interoperable.

Heaviness was also seen as a significant drawback to the M60. Combined weight of the M60 plus a standard belt of ammunition [200 rounds] was about forty pounds. This in addition to the standard fighting load the combat soldier is already bogged down with. It was usual for the biggest, strongest man in any given infantry squad to be the M60 gunner. It was also standard in Vietnam for each infantryman to carry one belt of 200 7.62 mm belted rounds for the M60 and maybe even a spare barrel in ADDITION to his own standard combat load. This was a lot of extra weight for each infantryman to carry.!!

[it should be recalled that the BAR in Korea had one man designated as ammo bearer. What was originally NOT intended to become a crew served weapon became one!!]

So? Will the U.S. infantry squad return to almost the same situation that existed forty years ago?? Rejecting the SAW and adopting the M240 as the squad automatic weapon?

I cannot say.

This is not an easy call.

A lot of things have to be taken into consideration. Apparent better stopping power and reliability of the M240 have to be balanced with the weight factor [weight of the M240 is twenty five pounds. That plus the weight of a standard belt of 200 7.62mm rounds is 45 pounds!!] and lack of ammunition compatibility between the M240 and the M-16.

This is the type of call that drives the officers of general staffs of armies all over the world crazy!!

coolbert.