Military Arms?

[Daniel Cary]

Those that served & still do are a breed apart. Thank you, foremost.

Familiar with the M-16 & a bit of hx behind it. What was the larger machine gun (depicted in Vietnam) that the soldier usually Bear'd what look like 30-06 ammo around the chest?

And today, any insight to what is used in warfare I'd love to know.
Many thanks.

 

[CZDiesel]

I think you are talking about “The Pig”, The M-60 light machine gun that fires belt fed 308 Winchester
Today the M-249 belt fed 556 and the M-240 belt fed 308 are used but both are being phased out with new platforms that include a medium machine gun that will fire a 338 Mag

 

[flatwater bill]

I think CZ is right. M-60 and Ma Duece only two I ever saw, but I did have one occasion to use a BAR and it fired 30-06. IMO a .338 medium machine gun is long over due........FWB

 

[skydiver386]

Yep, the old M60 7.62. Hated those things like nothing else. They either worked, or they didn't. The FN built MAG58 (also called M240B) was a much better machine gun. I had both as well as the 5.56mm SAW.

With the M240, I was the Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!

 

[speedfire]

M60 was based off the FG42 which is an automatic rifle design rather than a traditional LMG. The americans in 1944 made a belt fed FG42. Essentially went from there with the M60. Incorporating many features from various weapons after seeing how successful the bren gun was as a walking LMG. The M60 became a very mobile and multi purpose Light machine gun.

 

[Red Leg]

You are referring to the M-60, which unfortunately copied only a few of the better characteristics of the MG-42 (Wehrmacht). It was awesome when it functioned. That functioning was based upon a well-trained gunner and no more than a reasonable amount of mud or dust. The M-240 does the same thing far more reliably.

Getting a M2 .50 cal into a firefight is like introducing a tactical nuclear weapon.