United States Navy Mark 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle

Infobox Weapon
name= Mk 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle


caption= Mk 14 Mod 0 rifle
origin= flag|United States
type= Battle rifle
is_ranged=yes
service=2004 [http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc M14 Rifle History.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] - Present
used_by= flag|United States
wars=Iraq War, War in Afghanistan
designer=Mike Rock and Jim Ribordy (Original) [http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc M14 Rifle History.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] Smith Enterprises Inc. (Current) [http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc M14 Rifle History.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.]
design_date=2001
manufacturer=Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division [http://www.pof-usa.com/articles/mypersonaltopten.pdf My Personal Top Ten.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] Smith Enterprises (Supplying parts) [http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc M14 Rifle History.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] Sage International (For the stock) [http://www.janes.com/defence/news/idr/idr060510_1_n.shtml New-era M14 alleviates reliability issues.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.]
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=
length=
part_length=
crew=
cartridge=7.62x51mm NATO
action=Gas-operated, rotating bolt
rate=700-750 r/m
velocity=975.4 m/s (3,200 ft/s)
range=460 m (500 yd)
800+ m (875 yd) (with optics)
max_range=
feed=20-round detachable box magazine
sights=Modified M14 iron sights, normally used with a magnifying scope.The United States Navy Mark 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle ("EBR") is an American selective fire military rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, a variant based on the M14 rifle, built originally for use with units of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command, such as the United States Navy SEALs [http://world.guns.ru/assault/as15-e.htm Modern Firearm's M14 Page.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] [ [http://www.janes.com/defence/naval_forces/news/jdw/jdw060317_1_n.shtml Navy SEALs to get new rifles.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] . United States Marine Corps units were also being armed with the EBR rifle aside from their Navy SEAL colleagues [http://armedforcesjournal.com/blackwater/?s=2004_main3 M14 REBORN.] Retrieved on September 25, 2008.] .

The EBRs are made with the intention of carrying out both designated marksman and CQB roles in combat [ [http://ozarkarmory.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=2 M14/M1A.] Retrieved on September 26, 2008.] .

Origin

The creation of the Mark 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle began in 2000 after a request by United States Navy SEALs for the creation of a more compact M14 battle rifle [ [http://www.athenswater.com/M1A_Scout_Squad_EBR.htm Saga of the SAGE.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] . In 2001, Mike Rock Rifle Barrels, Inc. was the only rifle barrel maker asked by United States Special Operations Command to participate in a SOPMOD conference to create what would be the Mark 14 Mod 0 rifle, with details that include a collapsible stock that was requested for the new rifle and with aluminum body with telescopic rails [http://www.imageseekyetju.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc M14 Rifle History.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] . Mike Rock collaborated with engineer Jim Ribordy to make the new rifle. Tests showed that their rifle was effective, but has excessive noise problems.

In 2003, Ron Smith and Smith Enterprises Inc. created its own version of the M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (MK14 SEI Mod 0) [ [http://www.athenswater.com/My_MK14_SEI.htm CRAZY HORSE® US NAVY MK14 SEI MOD 0.] Retrieved on October 5, 2008.] , which was more widely favored than the rifle made by Rock and Ribordy. The Smith Enterprises-based EBR was then used as a basis to eventually create the Mark 14 Mod 0 with Springfield Armory, Inc. being tasked to supply the necessary machinery needed to create the weapon in cooperation with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division [http://gdynets.webng.com/ebr.htm New-era M14 Alleviates Reliability Issues.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] .

United States Navy SEALs were the first forces to be armed with the EBR in 2004, followed by the US Coast Guard. The United States Army is also being armed with the EBR, being created and updated by the Weapons Product Support Integration Directorate of the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command at the Keith L. Ware Test Facility in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois [http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10394-amc-deputy-chief-of-staff-on-target-with-m14-enhanced-battle-rifle/index.html AMC Deputy Chief of Staff on Target with M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] [ [http://www.pica.army.mil/JML/Bullet%20N/(June%2023%202008)%20The%20Bullet%27n.pdf Army's Chief of Staff visits Arsenal Island.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] .

Design

The weapon takes the standard M14 action and barrel assembly and adds a telescoping stock [http://world.guns.ru/assault/as15-e.htm Modern Firearm's M14 Page.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] , a pistol grip [http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10394-amc-deputy-chief-of-staff-on-target-with-m14-enhanced-battle-rifle/index.html AMC Deputy Chief of Staff on Target with M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] , a different front sight, Harris bipod [http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10394-amc-deputy-chief-of-staff-on-target-with-m14-enhanced-battle-rifle/index.html AMC Deputy Chief of Staff on Target with M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] , four Picatinny accessory rails surround the barrel [http://armedforcesjournal.com/blackwater/?s=2004_main3 M14 REBORN.] Retrieved on September 25, 2008.] [http://world.guns.ru/assault/as15-e.htm Modern Firearm's M14 Page.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] [http://gdynets.webng.com/ebr.htm New-era M14 Alleviates Reliability Issues.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] , and a beefier muzzle brake in place of the standard flash suppressor [http://www.crazyhorserifles.com/specificatoin%20sheet.htm M14SE “CRAZY HORSE®” SEMIAUTOMATIC SNIPER SYSTEM (SASS).] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] . A paddle-type bolt similar to the M4 Carbine was used on the rifle [http://gdynets.webng.com/ebr.htm New-era M14 Alleviates Reliability Issues.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] . The EBR is made up entirely of lightweight aircraft alloy [ [http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/pgrfnbr/623/sesent/00 The Modern M14.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] .

A plastic handshield and M68 CCO are also added as standard external accessories, though they are almost always replaced with a vertical foregrip and magnifying scope for better handling and to be used in a designated marksman role. A silencer can be mounted on the muzzle brake [http://www.smithenterprise.com/products02a.html M14SE “CRAZY HORSE”® SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN (M14SE SDM) AND MK14 SEI RIFLE.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] , such as the ones made commercially by RD Systems when the US military refused to adopt it to active service for reasons left unknown [http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc M14 Rifle History.] Retrieved on September 24, 2008.] .

Sage International had some involvement in the decision of whether to invest approximately $120,000 in an injection mold incorporating into the design the rail attachments or machine the replacement stock from a solid billet of aluminum with the former being selected, which was then shown at the Orland SHOT SHOW conference in 2003 [http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/content_sub/sage_ebr_review/sage_ebr_chopmod_review.html Sage International Enhanced Battle Rifle Chassis Review.] Retrieved on September 25, 2008.] .

Configurations

Several configurations are allowed on the Mark 14 Mod 0 rifle, among them include the attachment of the AN/PVS2 night vision scope [http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007smallarms/5_9_07/Armstrong_12pm.pdf M14 to MK14. Evolution of a Battle Rifle.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] . Others had included the capability of adding two different scopes/sights on the Picatinny railings [http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007smallarms/5_9_07/Armstrong_12pm.pdf M14 to MK14. Evolution of a Battle Rifle.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] .

Manufacturer

Military

While the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division creates the military Mark 14 Mod 0 rifles, Sage International was contracted to only do the weapon's chassis-type stock [http://www.janes.com/defence/news/idr/idr060510_1_n.shtml New-era M14 alleviates reliability issues.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] .

Civilian

Civilian versions are created by Fulton Armory [ [http://www.fulton-armory.com/MAParts.htm Fulton Armory M14/M1A® Parts, Accessories, Tools and Books.] Retrieved on September 22, 2008.] , firing in semi-automatic mode instead of full automatic [ [http://www.fulton-armory.com/M14Review.htm 1,000 Rounds Through the Fulton Armory M-14.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] .

Others include Smith Enterprise Inc. and Sage International, the former known as the MK14 SEI and the latter as the Sage Enhanced Battle Rifle [ [http://sageinternationalltd.com/si/documents/EBR_DM.pdf Sage Enhanced Battle Rifle brochure.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] . The Sage EBR has a carbine variant known as the Close Quarter Battle rifle [ [http://sageinternationalltd.com/si/documents/EBR_M4-M16_VARIANT-Aug19-1.pdf Close Quarter Battle Variant Rifle brochure.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] . The carbine variant is said to be called as the Chop-Mod EBR, with the barrel being made short from the original EBR rifle [ [http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/content_sub/sage_ebr_review/sage_ebr_chopmod_review.html Sage International Enhanced Battle Rifle Chassis Review.] Retrieved on September 25, 2008.] like the MK14 SEI Mod 1. [ [http://www.athenswater.com/MK14_SEI_MOD_1.htm MK14 SEI MOD 1] Retrieved on October 5, 2008.]

Troy Industries has created a replica of the EBR's modular system made by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division called the Troy Modular Chassis System, which can be used by mounting any functioning M1A or M14 rifle on the MCS [ [http://www.athenswater.com/TROY_M14_MCS.htm LAW483 M14 MCS from TROY.] Retrieved on Octoberr 5, 2008.] . Ferfrans has created their version of the Mark 14 Mod 0 called the Ferfrans Enhanced Battle Rifle [ [http://www.ferfrans.net/p_ebr.htm Official FERFRANS EBR Page.] Retrieved on September 23, 2008.] .

Reception

Users have praised the weapon to be user friendly due to it being ergonomical, having low recoil and an effective low-cost platform to change all "surplus M14s into modern battle rifles", as well as having the option of various optics and accessories left to the user's preference [http://armedforcesjournal.com/blackwater/?s=2004_main3 M14 REBORN.] Retrieved on September 25, 2008.] .

References

ee also

*M15 rifle
*List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces