- Mk 48 machine gun
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For the U.S. Navy torpedo, see Mark 48 torpedo.
Mk 48 
Type Machine gun Place of origin Service history Used by USSOCOM Production history Manufacturer FN Herstal Produced 2003— Specifications Weight 8.2 kg (18.26 lb) empty;
11.2 kg (24.7 lb) w/ 100 roundsLength 1,000 mm (39.75 in) Barrel length 502 mm (19.75 in) Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO (STANAG 2310) Caliber 7.62 mm (.308 in) Action Gas-operated, open bolt Rate of fire 710 (± 50) rounds/min Effective range 800 m (~875 yd), area target Maximum range 3,600 m (~3,940 yd) Feed system Disintegrating belt (M13 link) The Mk 48 is a lightweight belt-fed machine gun, firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of ammunition.
It is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing, Inc., a division of FN Herstal based in the United States. The Mk 48 has been developed in conjunction with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which has adopted the weapon and started its fielding process, beginning with special operations units.
Contents
History
On 21 March 2001, the USSOCOM approved the MNS/ORD (Mission Need Statement/Operational Requirements Document) for a new 7.62×51mm NATO lightweight machine gun (LWMG) to replace the M60E4/Mk 43 Mod 0 in use by United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC), which proved to be "less than reliable"[citation needed].
The LWMG program was patterned after the Mk 46 Mod 0—a variant of the M249 light machine gun currently in use by the USSOCOM.
Fabrique Nationale's division at Columbia, South Carolina (which also produces the M16, M249 and M240 series of weapons for the U.S. military) was charged with production of the Mk 48 Mod 0. The program achieved full-rate production on 21 March 2003.
Design
The Mk 48 Mod 0 is a gas-operated, air-cooled, fully automatic, belt-fed machine gun. The design is based on an early 7.62×51mm NATO prototype of the FN Minimi, modified to be a scaled-up version of the 5.56 mm Mk 46 Mod 0.
Being heavily based on the Mk 46 Mod 0, the Mk 48 Mod 0 features five MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails (one on top of the receiver, one on each side of the forearm/handguard, one under the handguard, and one on top of the barrel), an integral folding bipod, and a tripod-mounting lug. The weapon is fitted with the same fixed, polymer buttstock as the M249, although the metallic, collapsible buttstock from the "Para" model can be found in some models. The carrying handle, which had been removed from the Mk 46, was reintegrated on the Mk 48 to assist the replacement of hot barrels without use of other equipment, such as heat-resistant gloves; the handle can be folded down when not in use. As with the Mk 46, the Mk 48 Mod 0 does not have an M249-type magazine feed port, in order to save weight. The weapon can be fed from a loose belt, separate belt boxes, or clip-on ammunition pouches for 100 rounds.
The 70% commonality with the Mk 46, M240 and M249 provides the Mk 48 with easily interchangeable parts in the need of replacements.[1] Furthermore, the Picatinny rails can be fitted with various accessories from the SOPMOD kit, such as the ECOS-N (Enhanced Combat Optical Sight) red dot sight. The Mk 48 can also be fitted with a vertical foregrip for increased controllability during sustained fire. While heavier than the 5.56×45mm NATO M249 due to its larger chambering and heavier barrel, the Mk 48 Mod 0 is still 17% lighter and 8.4% shorter than the M240.
The Mk 48 Mod 0 is currently in service with certain USSOCOM units, such as the U.S. Navy SEALs and Army Rangers.[2]
Variants
- Mk 48 Mod 0
- This is a 7.62×51mm NATO version of the Mk 46, used by USSOCOM when a heavier cartridge is required.[3] It is officially classified as an LWMG (Light Weight Machine Gun) and was developed as a replacement for the Mk 43 Mod 0/1. The M60-based machine guns are a great deal more portable than the heavier M240-based designs used elsewhere in the U.S. military in the infantry medium machine gun role. The M60-based designs have a long history of insufficient reliability, however. Trials conducted through the mid-1990s led the U.S. Army to replace its M60 with M240B GPMGs. The M240B weighs in at ~27.5 lb and is about 49" long with the standard barrel. Due to this extra weight and size NAVSPECWAR was reluctant to give up the increased portability of the M60 (~22.5 lb, 37.7" OAL with the shortest "Assault Barrel") designs, despite the M240's increased reliability. A request was put in for a new machine gun in 2001, and FN responded with a scaled up version of the M249 weighing in at ~18.5 lb with an OAL of ~39.5". This new design achieved much better reliability than the M60-based weapons while bettering its light weight and maintaining the same manual of arms as the already in-use M249. USSOCOM was slated to begin receiving deliveries of the new gun in August of 2003.[4]
- Mk 48 Mod 1
- The Mk 48 Mod 1 is an update of the Mk 48 Mod 0. Like the Mod 0, it is essentially an M249 scaled up to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO round. The Mod 1 utilizes a 19.75" barrel, weighs in at 18.37 lb unloaded, and has a rate of fire of 500–625 rpm.[5]
See also
- M249, the current issue light machine gun of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines
- M240, the current issue medium machine gun of the U.S. military
- M60E4/Mk 43 Mod 0, a development of the M60 machine gun for special operations use
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
Notes
- ^ John Pike (11). "MK48 7.62mm Medium Machinegun". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/mk48.htm. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- ^ Fuller, BG Peter N.; COL Douglas A. Tamilio (18 MAY 2010). "Project Manager Soldier Weapons Briefing for NDIA". PEO Soldier. United States Army. http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2010armament/TuesdayLandmarkBTamilio.pdf. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ Pushies 2004, p. 88
- ^ Popenker, Maxim, Modern Firearms – Mk 48 model 0 7.62 mm Lightweight Machinegun (USA), http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg38-e.htm, retrieved 2009-04-29
- ^ FNH official Product Page – Mk 48 Mod 1, http://www.fnhusa.com/mil/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF060&gid=FNG008&mid=FNM0042, retrieved 05/01/09
References
- Modern Firearms — Mk 48 Mod 0
- FN product page on Mk 48
- Military.com article on Mk 48
- GlobalSecurity.org production info on Mk 48
- Small Arms Review article on the MK48
Current U.S. infantry weapons and cartridgesHandguns Rifles Shotguns Submachine guns Machine guns Grenade launchers Mortars Rockets Missiles Cartridges 12-gauge · 9×19mm NATO · .45 ACP · 5.56×45mm NATO · 7.62×51mm NATO · .300 Winchester Magnum · .50 BMG · 40×46mm & 40×53mmCategories:- 7.62 mm machine guns
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- Machine guns of the United States
- General purpose machine guns
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