List of weapons of the United States Marine Corps
This is a list of weapons used by the United States Marine Corps:
Weapons used
The basic infantry weapon of the United States Marine Corps is the M16A4 assault rifle. Suppressive fire is provided by the M249 SAW, which is being replaced by the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, and the M240B machine gun, at the squad and company levels respectively. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the M203 grenade launcher in fireteams, M224a1 60 mm mortar in companies, and M252 81 mm mortar in battalions. The M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun and MK19 automatic grenade launcher (40 mm) are available for use by dismounted infantry, though they are more commonly vehicle-mounted. Precision fire is provided by the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle, which is being replaced by the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System and M40A3 and A5 sniper rifle bolt-action sniper rifle.[1]
The Marine Corps uses a variety of direct-fire rockets and missiles to provide infantry with an offensive and defensive anti-armor capability. The SMAW and AT4 are unguided rockets that can destroy armor and fixed defenses (e.g. bunkers) at ranges up to 500 meters. The Predator SRAW, FGM-148 Javelin and BGM-71 TOW are anti-tank guided missiles; all three can utilize top-attack profiles to avoid heavy frontal armor. The Predator is a short-range fire-and-forget weapon; the Javelin and TOW are heavier missiles effective past 2,000 meters that give infantry an offensive capability against armor.[2]
Marines are capable of deploying non-lethal weaponry as the situation dictates. Part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit earning the Special Operations Capable designator requires a company-sized unit capable of riot control.
Some older weapons are used for ceremonial purposes, such as the Silent Drill Platoon's M1 Garands, or the use of the M101 howitzer for gun salutes.
Active use
Non-lethal
- CS gas
- OC spray
- Rubber, beanbag, & plastic bullet
- Riot shield
- Baton
- M6/M7 series chemical grenade
- M84 stun grenade
- Sting grenade
Bladed weapons
- OKC-3S bayonet
- Ka-Bar Combat Knife
- Marine NCO sword, 1859-present - ceremonial use only
- Marine Officers' Mameluke Sword, 1826-Present - ceremonial use only[3]
- Original United States Marine Corps Machete
Pistol
- Beretta M9 - Being supplemented with M9A1.[4][5]
- Kimber Custom - Used USMC
- Glock 19 - Adopted in February 2015 for use by MARSOC
- M45A1 CQBP - Modified M1911. for use by MEU(SOC) and MARSOC
- M1911 pistol - Used commonly.
- Beretta 92
Assault Rifles & Carbines
![Marine aiming a loaded M16A4 rifle with EOTech optic](../I/m/INDIA5.jpg)
- M16 rifle - M16A4 and M16A2 variant in use
- M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle - Support weapon based on the HK 416 (itself a piston-driven M4) using a free-floating barrel, being issued as a replacement for the M249.
- MK18 mod 1 - Modified M4 with 10-inch barrel. Used by MARSOC units.*
- M4 Carbine
- M4A1 Carbine
- Mk 17 Mod 0 used by MARSOC units.*
Designated Marksman Rifles
- M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle - Improved marksman version of the M14 rifle.
- Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle
- Mk 12 Mod 1
Sniper Rifles
- Mk 11 Mod 0 - 7.62×51mm sniper rifle based on the M16 direct impingement gas system.
- M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System - Improved version of the Mk 11, replacing the M39 and Mk 11.
- M40 rifle - M40A3 and M40A5 variants in use as sniper rifles.
- Barrett M82 - in use as the M82A3 and M107 variants. The M82A3 being an upgraded M82A1A, and the M107 being a variant made in response to requirements issued for an anti-materiel rifle.
- M21
- Remington Model 700
Submachine gun
- Colt 9mm SMG - variant of the M16 chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum[6]
- Heckler & Koch MP5
Shotguns
- Remington 870 - as the M870 and Modular Combat Shotgun.
- M1014 - semi automatic 12-gauge shotgun.
- Mossberg 590A1 12-gauge pump[7]
Machine Guns
![In the foreground, a HMMWV, with a MTVR in the background. Both vehicles have M2 machine guns mounted and U.S. Marines firing them.](../I/m/Browning_M2HB_USMC.jpg)
- M2HB - heavy machine gun chambered in .50 BMG used primarily as a secondary weapon on the M1 Abrams and other vehicles.
- M240G - 7.62×51mm medium machine gun used in the M1 Abrams, light vehicles, and helicopters.
- M249 - 5.56×45mm light machine gun, being phased out in favor of the M27 IAR.
Hand Grenades
- M67 Hand Grenade (Fragmentation)
- AN-M14 Hand Grenade (Incendiary)
- Mk 141 Mod 0 Hand Grenade "flash-bang"
- AN-M18 Smoke grenade
Grenade Launchers
![](../I/m/-Marines_are_training_with_M32_grenade_launcher.ogv.jpg)
- M203A1/A2 40 mm Rifle-Mounted Grenade Launcher
- M32 MGL 40mm 6 shot Revolver type Grenade Launcher[8]
- MK19 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher
Mortars
Artillery
![Marines gather around a M777 howitzer, while the smoke from a recently fired round lingers](../I/m/M777_howitzer_rear.jpg)
- M198 155 mm Medium Howitzer - currently being phased out
- M777 155mm Lightweight Howitzer
- High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
Missile Launchers
- M72 LAW
- M136 AT4 Anti-Tank Weapon
- MK153 Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon
- FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank missile
- BGM-71 Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System
- FGM-172 Predator Short-Range Assault Weapon (SRAW)
- FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missile
![a TOW missile leaves the tube of a HMMWV-mounted launcher](../I/m/USMC-091213-M-9613D-023.jpg)
Vehicle-Mounted
- M240G 7.62 mm Medium Machine Gun
- M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun
- M48 Turret-type .50 Caliber Machine Gun
- MK19 40 mm Grenade Machine Gun
- BGM-71 Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System
- M242 Bushmaster 25mm Autocannon
- M256A1 120 mm smoothbore gun
Aircraft-Mounted
![an closeup of the armament of an attack helicoper](../I/m/Balad_AH1_Cobra_1.jpg)
![a guided bomb](../I/m/GBU-12_xxl.jpg)
- GAU-12/U 25 mm Gatling gun
- GAU-16/A .50 Caliber Machine gun
- GAU-17/A 7.62 mm automatic gun
- GAU-21/A .50 Caliber Machine gun
- GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm Gatling cannon
- M61A1 20 mm automatic cannon
- M197 20 mm automatic cannon
- CBU-99 Cluster Bomb
- GBU-10 2000 lb laser-guided bomb
- GBU-12 500 lb laser-guided bomb
- GBU-16 1000 lb laser-guided bomb
- MK82 series 500 lb bomb
- MK83 series 1000 lb bomb
- MK84 series 2000 lb bomb
- AGM-65 Maverick
- AGM-84 Harpoon
- AGM-88 HARM
- AGM-114 Hellfire
- AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon
- AIM-7 Sparrow
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
- AIM-120 AMRAAM
- Hydra 70
- M260 70 mm Rocket Launcher
- Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
Other
![](../I/m/Claymore_Recon_placement.jpg)
- M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mine
- M15 anti-tank mine
- M19 anti-tank mine
- M21 anti-tank mine
- M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC)
- Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP)
Accessories
- Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG), recently renamed Rifle Combat Optic (RCO)
- ITL MARS reflex sight
- AN/PSQ-18 day/night grenade launcher sight
- AN/PVS-10 night vision sight
- AN/PVS-14 night vision sight
- AN/PVS-17 night vision sight
- AN/PVS-21 night vision sight
- AN/PAS-13 thermal sight
- AN/PAQ-4 IR laser sight
- AN/PEQ-2 IR laser sight
- various suppressors (MARSOC and Reconnaissance units only)
- various tactical lights
- M2 tripod for light and medium machine guns
- M122 tripod for light and medium machine guns
- M3 tripod for heavy machine guns
Testing/Limited Use
Marines with MARSOC, Force Reconnaissance, and MEU(SOC)s occasionally use specialized weapons that the rest of the fleet does not. In addition, some weapons are tested and evaluated in select units before acceptance and large-scale adoption. In a few cases, older weapons are brought out of retirement for limited use.
- M45A1 Close Quarter Battle Pistol - issued to MEU (SOC) forces
- High Standard HDM (.22 LR) (USMC Force Recon, limited issue of 10 per company)
- Heckler & Koch MP5-N - MARSOC, Force Reconnaissance and SRT only
- Multi-shot Accessory Underbarrel Launcher - in evaluation
- Mk 18 CQBR - subcompact variant of the M4 carbine which replaces burst fire with fully automatic capabilities - Force Recon
- FN SCAR - MARSOC only
- Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle[9] - MARSOC only
- Glock 19 - MARSOC
Retired
- Bladed weapons
![bayonet and sheath](../I/m/M6_Bayonet.jpg)
- M7 bayonet
- M6 bayonet
- M5 bayonet
- Raider Stiletto
- M1 bayonet
- M1942 bayonet
- M1917 bayonet
- M1905 bayonet
- Pistols
![M1911A1 pistol](../I/m/M1911A1.png)
- M1911 pistol
- S&W Model 10
- S&W Model 66
- M1905 Marine
- 1873 Colt Single Action
- Colt M1861 Navy
- Colt 1851 Navy Revolver
- Harper's Ferry Model 1805
- Rifles, Carbines, & Muskets
![black&white photograph of an early M16 rifle](../I/m/M16duckbill.gif)
![M1 Garand](../I/m/Garand.jpg)
- United States Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R)
- Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)
- M16A1/M16A2
- M14 rifle
- M1 carbine
- M1 Garand
- M1917 Enfield
- M1903 Springfield
- Springfield Model 1892-99
- M1895 Lee Navy
- Springfield Model 1882 Short Rifle
- M1872 Springfield
- Spencer repeating rifle
- Springfield Model 1863
- Springfield Model 1861
- 1853 Enfield musket
- Springfield Model 1855
- M1819 Hall rifle
- Model 1816 Musket
- Springfield Model 1812 Musket
- Model 1795 Musket
- M1/M2/M3 carbine
- M60 Reising
- Colt Model 733
- Submachine guns
![M1A1 Thompson](../I/m/ThompsonM1A1VWM.jpg)
- Model of 1921 Thompson
- Model of 1928 and M1928A1 Thompson
- M50 and M55 Reising
- M1 and M1A1 Thompson
- M3 and M3A1
- Machine guns
![M60 machine gun](../I/m/M60.jpg)
- M1895 Colt–Browning machine gun
- Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié machine gun
- M1917 Browning machine gun
- M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
- M1919 Browning machine gun
- M60 machine gun
- Explosives & Launchers
![M79 grenade launcher](../I/m/Grenade_launcher_M79_1.jpg)
- M61 hand grenade
- Mk2 hand grenade
- M79 grenade launcher
- XM148 grenade launcher
- M75 grenade launcher
- M29 mortar
- M19 mortar
- M1 mortar
- M2 mortar
![U.S. Marines fire blank rounds from a M101 howitzer at a ceremony](../I/m/M101-105mm-howitzer-camp-pendleton-20050326.jpg)
- M101 howitzer
- M102 howitzer
- M114 155 mm howitzer
- M59 Field Gun
- M116 howitzer
- M67 recoilless rifle
- M20 recoilless rifle
- M47 Dragon anti-tank missile system
- Bazooka series rocket launcher
- FIM-43 Redeye anti-aircraft missile
- MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft missile
- M2 flamethrower
- M4
- Aircraft/vehicle-mounted
- Other
- Linear Infighting Neural Override Engagement (LINE) combat system
- AN/PVS-4 night vision sight
- AN/TVS-5 night vision sight
See also
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weapons of the United States Marine Corps. |
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- List of crew-served weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Lists of weapons
- List of firearms
- U.S. Helicopter Armament Subsystems
- Rubber duck (military)
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ↑ "M40A1 Sniper Rifle". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- ↑ "Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- ↑ USMC Officer's Guidebook Seventh Edition
- ↑ "U.S. Marines Add to M9A1 Inventory". Law & Order Magazine. Encyclopedia.com. November 1, 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ↑ Tendas, Pierangelo. "Beretta M9-A1". Armi & Tiro. securityarms.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ↑ http://marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/NAVMC%20DIR%203500.90.pdf
- ↑ "Jane's international defense review: IDR". 36 (12). Jane's Information Group. 2003.
- ↑ http://www.marines.com/operating-forces/equipment/weapons/m-32-grenade-launcher
- ↑ http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2008/08-August/03-Aug-2008/FBO-01629550.htm