The M60 Machine Gun, officially named the United States Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M60, formed the mainstay of American military firepower since its induction into service in 1957. Firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links, it has been in continuous service with all branches of the U.S. military and remains in service with many other armed forces. Despite mostly being replaced by newer designs like the M240, the M60 remains in production and still receives upgrades for military and commercial use.
The M60 is a general-purpose machine gun that employs the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, also fired in larger rifles. Generally, a two- or three-man crew operates the M60. The team comprises a gunner, an assistant gunner, and an ammunition bearer. The gunner carries the weapon and a variable amount of ammunition, while his assistant gunner not only carries a spare barrel and more ammunition but also helps in reloading and spotting targets. The ammunition bearer provides further logistical support, carrying extra ammunition and a tripod if issued.
Partially due to its influence from the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle design, the M60 is capable of being fired from the shoulder as well as from other positions. It could also be mounted on an integral bipod and the M122 tripod, plus other mounts. Ammunition is usually fed from a cloth bandolier containing a cardboard box of 100 pre-linked rounds, with the ammunition linked by the M13 link.
Development of the M60 began in the late 1940s, which were inspired by German World War II firearms, particularly the FG 42 and MG 42, with American improvements. Early prototypes, such as the T52 and T161, bore a resemblance to the M1941 Johnson machine gun and the FG 42. The final evaluation version would reach the T161E3 designation, and it was intended to replace the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle and M1919A6 Browning machine gun. The T161E3 was finally adopted by the U.S. Army in 1957 as the M60, strictly using domestic designs and not those of foreign nations, due to Congressional restrictions and a preference for avoiding license fees.
The M60 saw a great deal of service during the Vietnam War, where it picked up the nickname of “The Pig”, due to its bulky size. Despite its lightweight—it is prone to damage and puts rapid wear on critical parts—soldiers liked its handling and mechanical simplicity. Navy SEALs cut down barrels to short lengths and mounted no front sights to further reduce weight; some even used feed chutes from backpacks to maintain a continuous belt of ammunition.
In the 1980s, the M60 started to be replaced by the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in Army infantry squads; however, it continued in service in vehicle-mounted roles and general-purpose machine gun roles due to its superior power and range. The USMC opted for the M60E3, which offered a lighter, ergonomically improved version in hopes of improving the original weight and reliability issues of the M60.
In the early 1990s, the M60E4 was designed to meet the Navy Special Warfare Command requirement for increased reliability and durability. The final choice between the M60 and M240 for the U.S. Army’s Medium Machine Gun Upgrade Kit program went to the latter because of its superior performance during testing.
Today, it is still in service with the U.S. Navy SEALs and mounted on U.S. Army helicopters as a door gun. It also remains with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and with some reserve units, although it is generally being phased out in preference to more modern designs.
In a related field of military skill, Special Forces combat divers receive intense training in seaborne infiltration methods from the Special Forces Underwater Operations School in Key West, Florida. Every Special Forces Company has a combat dive team trained in both open-circuit and closed-circuit SCUBA diving and other methods of amphibious infiltration and exfiltration. CDQC is one of the Army’s most physically and mentally grueling courses, some of whose skills include closed circuit diving, small boat operations, diver propulsion devices, and relocating. Students attend a 48-hour field exercise that will test them to employ an amphibious mission in a simulated combat environment.
This forms a basis for the enduring legacy of M60 matched by the specialized training of combat divers as evidence of the continuous evolution and adaptation of military capabilities for modern warfare.