David
Fri December 20, 2002 4:26pm
|
USS Bunker Hill leads two
USS Bunker Hill leads two other surface ships firing a standard SM-2 surface-to-air missile during a live-fire exercise near San Diego. Bunker Hill is conducting workups prior to her scheduled deployment with the USS Constellation battlegroup. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer?s Mate Airman Jason D. Landon.
|
|
David
Fri December 20, 2002 4:41pm
|
The guided missile frigat
The guided missile frigate USS Sides (FFG 14) fires its Mark 75 ~ 76mm rapid-fire gun at ex-USS Towers (DDG 9), a decommissioned Adams-class destroyer, during a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) conducted off the California coast. Using decommissioned ships for live-fire operations gives ships' crews experience in firing operational weapons and hones their war-fighting skills. Working with the state and environmentalists, the Navy sinks decommissioned ships ? first made environmentally safe ? in coastal waters to provide an artificial reef, thus promoting the growth of marine life and enhancing recreational fishing and sport diving opportunities. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Andrew Betting.
|
|
David
Fri December 20, 2002 5:17pm
|
Navy Seabees from Naval C
Navy Seabees from Naval Construction Battalion 17 brush up on their firing techniques during Exercise Mountain Bee '97. The exercise gave the reserve Seabees in-field training on the use of weapons, medical evacuations, communications and logistics and other combat related training. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer?s Mate 2nd Class Don Peterson.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:11am
|
Captured Viet Cong carryi
Captured Viet Cong carrying an M3A1. The M3 is an extremely simple blowback weapon. There is no safety, fitted and the weapon only fires fully automatic. However, since the cyclic rate of fire is relatively low at 450-rounds per minute, this allowed the firer to control the movement of the gun when firing bursts and even to squeeze off single shots.. It fires the standard .45 ACP pistol cartridge (as used in the M1911A1) from a straight 30-round, single-column box magazine. There was provision in the original design for conversion to 9-mm Parabellum. This involved changing the barrel, breech block and magazine, all of which could be done without tools. A small number of weapons so converted appeared in Europe, but the vast majority of the 700,000 US-made M3s were in 45 calibre.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:11am
|
US Marine during the Batt
US Marine during the Battle for Hue, 1968. The M3 is an extremely simple blowback weapon. There is no safety, fitted and the weapon only fires fully automatic. However, since the cyclic rate of fire is relatively low at 450-rounds per minute, this allowed the firer to control the movement of the gun when firing bursts and even to squeeze off single shots.. It fires the standard .45 ACP pistol cartridge (as used in the M1911A1) from a straight 30-round, single-column box magazine. There was provision in the original design for conversion to 9-mm Parabellum. This involved changing the barrel, breech block and magazine, all of which could be done without tools. A small number of weapons so converted appeared in Europe, but the vast majority of the 700,000 US-made M3s were in 45 calibre.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:11am
|
The M3 'Grease Gun' with
The M3 'Grease Gun' with wire stock extended and T30-round column-box magazine removed. The M3 is an extremely simple blowback weapon. There is no safety, fitted and the weapon only fires fully automatic. However, since the cyclic rate of fire is relatively low at 450-rounds per minute, this allowed the firer to control the movement of the gun when firing bursts and even to squeeze off single shots.. It fires the standard .45 ACP pistol cartridge (as used in the M1911A1) from a straight 30-round, single-column box magazine. There was provision in the original design for conversion to 9-mm Parabellum. This involved changing the barrel, breech block and magazine, all of which could be done without tools. A small number of weapons so converted appeared in Europe, but the vast majority of the 700,000 US-made M3s were in 45 calibre.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:16am
|
M-14A1
The M14A1 came close to being a light machine-gun, leading one authority to call it a 'machine rifle'. It had a pistol grip, a folding fore-hand grip about half-way down the forestock, a folding bipod, a shoulder strap, and a sleeve was fitted over the muzzle to act as a compensator when firing fully automatic which helped to keep the barrel down and prevent 'climb'.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:18am
|
M-16 Assault Rifle
The M16 family were gas-operated, selective-fire (full automatic or semiautomatic), self-loading rifles feeding from detachable 20- or 30-round box magazines. A bipod can be fitted, as can a bayonet. A typical rifle weighed just over 3kg (6.61b) and measured 990 mm (36.6 in) in length. The flip aperture rear sight of the rifles was contained between flanges (for protection) on the fixed carrying device located on the receiver above the pistol-grip trigger mechanism. This carrying handle gave the M16 some of its characteristic outline. The design of the weapon incorporated the 'in-line recoil' feature that had been known about for some years before. This meant that the recoil from firing drove the weapon in a straight line along the line of sight, so that the tendency for the rifle to move off the point of aim was considerably reduced. It also tended to limit the climbing effect when firing on automatic or bursts. The flash suppressor, which is fixed, can be used to fire standard rifle grenades. The compact nature of the M16 made it an easy weapon to carry into combat.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:18am
|
M-16 Assault Rifle
The M16 family were gas-operated, selective-fire (full automatic or semiautomatic), self-loading rifles feeding from detachable 20- or 30-round box magazines. A bipod can be fitted, as can a bayonet. A typical rifle weighed just over 3kg (6.61b) and measured 990 mm (36.6 in) in length. The flip aperture rear sight of the rifles was contained between flanges (for protection) on the fixed carrying device located on the receiver above the pistol-grip trigger mechanism. This carrying handle gave the M16 some of its characteristic outline. The design of the weapon incorporated the 'in-line recoil' feature that had been known about for some years before. This meant that the recoil from firing drove the weapon in a straight line along the line of sight, so that the tendency for the rifle to move off the point of aim was considerably reduced. It also tended to limit the climbing effect when firing on automatic or bursts. The flash suppressor, which is fixed, can be used to fire standard rifle grenades. The compact nature of the M16 made it an easy weapon to carry into combat.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:21am
|
M-79 Grenade Launcher
The M79 was a simple single-shot, single-barrel, shoulder-fired weapon which broke open for loading the 40mm grenade into the breech just like a shotgun. Once loaded and closed, the firer put it to his shoulder, took aim through a simple open sight, and pulled the trigger. It fired a spherical grenade which, although just 40mm in diameter, nevertheless had a kill radius of five metres. Firing a large grenade from such a lightweight weapon presented some problems, but the ammunition design was such that the whole thing became very controllable and consistent. A rubber pad was fitted to the shoulder piece of the butt stock to absorb some of the shock.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:21am
Rating: 10
|
M-79 Grenade Launcher
The M79 was a simple single-shot, single-barrel, shoulder-fired weapon which broke open for loading the 40mm grenade into the breech just like a shotgun. Once loaded and closed, the firer put it to his shoulder, took aim through a simple open sight, and pulled the trigger. It fired a spherical grenade which, although just 40mm in diameter, nevertheless had a kill radius of five metres. Firing a large grenade from such a lightweight weapon presented some problems, but the ammunition design was such that the whole thing became very controllable and consistent. A rubber pad was fitted to the shoulder piece of the butt stock to absorb some of the shock.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:21am
|
M-79 Grenade Launcher
The M79 was a simple single-shot, single-barrel, shoulder-fired weapon which broke open for loading the 40mm grenade into the breech just like a shotgun. Once loaded and closed, the firer put it to his shoulder, took aim through a simple open sight, and pulled the trigger. It fired a spherical grenade which, although just 40mm in diameter, nevertheless had a kill radius of five metres. Firing a large grenade from such a lightweight weapon presented some problems, but the ammunition design was such that the whole thing became very controllable and consistent. A rubber pad was fitted to the shoulder piece of the butt stock to absorb some of the shock.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:21am
Rating: 8
|
M-79 Grenade Launcher
The M79 was a simple single-shot, single-barrel, shoulder-fired weapon which broke open for loading the 40mm grenade into the breech just like a shotgun. Once loaded and closed, the firer put it to his shoulder, took aim through a simple open sight, and pulled the trigger. It fired a spherical grenade which, although just 40mm in diameter, nevertheless had a kill radius of five metres. Firing a large grenade from such a lightweight weapon presented some problems, but the ammunition design was such that the whole thing became very controllable and consistent. A rubber pad was fitted to the shoulder piece of the butt stock to absorb some of the shock.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:28am
|
M-60 GPMG
The prime producer of the M60 has been the Maremount Manufacturing Co of Saco in Maine, and large numbers have been produced to equip all arms of the US forces. Despite the protracted development of the M60 it still has some debatable features - the barrel heats quickly and is not easy to change rapidly, and the carrying handle is fragile and awkward. Also the M60 is rather on the heavy side for use as a squad weapon. Mounted on the M122 tripod, the M60 has limitations on sustained fire. Vehicle mounting is the M4 pedestal mount. Basically, the M60 is gas operated and can fire automatic only from a disintegrating metallic-link belt.. As the first round travels down the barrel, it pushes gas into the gas cylinder through a hole in the bore. The pressure generated in the cylinder then forces a piston down the chamber, moving the bolt back and bringing the next round into place. Once the firing pin hits the bullet and sends it speeding out of the barrel, the cycle is repeated for as long as the trigger is depressed.
|
|
David
Wed January 8, 2003 7:28am
|
USMC M-60 Gunner firing f
The prime producer of the M60 has been the Maremount Manufacturing Co of Saco in Maine, and large numbers have been produced to equip all arms of the US forces. Despite the protracted development of the M60 it still has some debatable features - the barrel heats quickly and is not easy to change rapidly, and the carrying handle is fragile and awkward. Also the M60 is rather on the heavy side for use as a squad weapon. Mounted on the M122 tripod, the M60 has limitations on sustained fire. Vehicle mounting is the M4 pedestal mount. Basically, the M60 is gas operated and can fire automatic only from a disintegrating metallic-link belt.. As the first round travels down the barrel, it pushes gas into the gas cylinder through a hole in the bore. The pressure generated in the cylinder then forces a piston down the chamber, moving the bolt back and bringing the next round into place. Once the firing pin hits the bullet and sends it speeding out of the barrel, the cycle is repeated for as long as the trigger is depressed.
|
|
|
The Patriot Files Forums
