M60

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M60
Weapon: M60
Type: General Purpose Machine Gun
Country of Origin: United States
Year Adopted: 1957
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
Action: Gas Operated Fully Automatic
Overall Length (mm): 1105.0
Weight (kg): 10.50
Effective Range (m): 1100

The M60 is an American belt-fed general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) developed in the late 1950s. Chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, it became the standard medium machine gun of the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. The M60 was designed to combine elements of German World War II-era machine guns, such as the MG42, with American innovations in weaponry.

Adopted by the U.S. military in 1957, the M60 saw extensive use during the Vietnam War and subsequent conflicts. It was praised for its firepower and versatility, capable of being used in various roles such as squad support, vehicle-mounted, and as a defensive weapon. However, the M60 also suffered from issues with overheating and a cumbersome weight, which led to criticism from soldiers in the field.

Despite its shortcomings, the M60 became an iconic weapon due to its use in Vietnam and popular culture. Its distinctive appearance and heavy firepower made it a symbol of American military might during the Cold War era, although it has since been replaced by the more modern M240.


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US Army M60 machine gun