Reference
Machine Guns
Quick data:
M240B
Maximum range: 3725M, 4074Y
Max effective (area): 1800M
Max point: 800M
Weight with barrel = 27 lbs, tripod = 8.82 lbs, spare barrel = 7.4 lbs
Fires 7.62x51mm NATO rounds
Four types of ammo: ball, blank, dummy, tracer
Rates of fire:
Sustained, 6-8 round bursts, 4-5 second pause, 100RPM
Rapid, 6-8 round bursts, 2-3 second pause, 200RPM
Condition one: weapon on safe, rounds on feed tray, block locked to rear, chamber empty, top tray cover closed
Condition two: N/A
Condition three: weapon on fire, rounds on feed tray, bolt forward, chamber empty, top tray cover closed
Condition four: weapon on fire, no rounds on feed tray, no round in chamber, bolt forward, top tray cover closed
Misfire procedures:
“MISFIRE” x3, count down from 5 to prevent hang fire (slow burning propellant)
Pull charging handle to rear to prevent cook off (heat of barrel ignites propellant)
“PAD” procedures:
Place the weapon on safe
Assume live round in chamber
Determine hot or cold barrel
15 minutes since last hot
Higher echelon tells you
200 rounds in 2 minutes
Long continuous bursts
If cold, clear gun out, inspect gun
Types of malfunctions:
Gun firing but sluggish — bad source of ammo, headspace issues, or dirty gun
Runaway gun — caused by poorly assembled trigger housing group, sear is not stopping the bullet. IA: break links or ride the lightning
Cycle of operations: feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting, cocking
Classifications of fire
With respect to the gun:
Fixed
Traverse
Search
Search and traverse
Swinging
Free gun
With respect to the target
Frontal, enfilade, oblique, flanking
Definition of enfilade: the long axis of the beaten zone coincides, or nearly coincides, with the long axis of the target
Grazing fire if less than 600M
Plunging fire if greater than 600M
Machine gun employment: “PICMDEEP”
Roles of MG in the offense:
Fires
ISO Man
ISO Aslt
ISO Isolation
Two types of DRAW for Isolation
DRAW-D — tells MGs how they will be isolating during the mission
DRAW, stands for distribution of fires (frontage and depth), rates of fire, accuracy of fires, weapon to target match
ISO Consolidation
Note: difference between maneuver and assault — assault is when maneuver can be affected by direct fire weapons systems, maneuver is when they can’t
Roles of MG in the defense:
FPF
FPL
PDF
Long range fires
Close protective fires
Mission will determine the lay of the gun (on tripod or bipods)
Doctrine teaches us that 1 gun can only be assigned 1 mission in the defense, but common sense (Sgt McKenna) tells us that 1 gun can have 1 mission on tripods (FPL), and another mission on bipods (PDF).
Tasking: when enemy reaches TL White, switch bipod to tripod and fire FPL.
Example tasking statements:
In the defense (1): MG section, you are in GS of the PLT. NLT 1800, est fighting pos to support your sector of fire. Est FPL/PDF. O/S dest tgts of opportunity within your sector IOT canalize the EN into EA. O/S, fire FPL/PDF. Tgt precedence: sqd formations or +, light-skinned vehicles, CSW, RPG teams. Eng criteria: engage units IAW target precedence IVO TRP 1 or as enemies cross TL Blue (tied to terrain feature). Fire PDF when en crosses TL White. Save 600 rounds for FPF fires. FPF will commence on Red Star Cluster.
In the defense (2):
“MG Squad, you are SE4, you are in DS of 2nd Squad. NLT1500, BLOCK north IOT prevent the enemy from crossing Hangman Tree Road. BPT fire the FPF upon occupation.
Tactical task in defense: engage targets IA tgt precedence/engagement criteria, BLOCK, INTERDICT, or FIX, or as dictated by METT-TC.
In the assault: MG section, GS PLT. O/S suppress EN on Co Obj 1 IOT allow ME to clr Co Obj 1. O/S shift fires to Co Obj 2. BPT displace to SBF Pos 2. Target precedence, CSW, C2, RPG Teams, EN FT+. Target priorities, Enemy C2, reinforcements, mortars.
In support of consolidation: MG section, GS PLT. O/S, displace to SBF position 2. O/O attack by fire En on Co Obj 2 IOT allow ME to consolidate on Co Obj 1. BPT allocate 100 rounds per gun for consolidation. Tgt precedence: CSW/C2/RPG Teams/FT+ size. O/S displace on foot by echelon via the most covered and concealed route to Co Obj 1 IOT link up with ME. BPT provide long range defensive fires.
Tactical task in assault/consolidation: attack by fire, suppress, support by fire
MG Tasking Statement for SBF: MG Squad, your are SE3, you are in GS of the platoon. Upon effective suppression from IDF, suppress PLT OBJ1 IOT allow Maneuver to destroy the en on PLTOBJ1.
In the offense, MGs given task of suppress or isolate, or as dictated by METT-TC.
Fire Control Measures for MGs
TRPs, used to initiate, distribute, and control fires. TRPs facilitate target acquisition and range determination. TRPs are not targets.
MSLs, defines the closest distance a maneuver element can come within an active GTL (15 degrees fixed, 45 degrees non-fixed). MSLs can be planned using imagery, and confirmed upon LR or during occupation.
Target precedence: give MGs a priority of targets, should multiple be present. An example during coordinating instructions: “MG target precedence is: light-skinned vehicles, crew-served weapons, and troop concentrations greater than a fireteam.”
Engagement criteria: defines when MGs should unmask. Example: “MG engagement criteria: upon effective suppression from IDF on Company Objective 2…”
Rates of fire: when additional suppression is needed, for how long, and how many rounds saved for consolidation. Crossing MSLs, covering open terrain. Example: “MG Rate of Fire: MGs will increase rates to the rapid as maneuver unmasks from the tree line and as they cross MSL1, 2, and 3. Allocate 300 rounds per gun for consolidation in case of counterattack.”
Displacement criteria: MORT / TMOR
Method
By unit: MGs move as one, sacrificing security for speed
By echelon: MG move as multiple elements, favoring security over speed
Objective: where are MGs going? Are they consolidating on the objective with the rest of the platoon or moving to SBF2 for next assault?
Route: Most covered and concealed or most direct?
Time/trigger: what conditions are set that allow MGs to displace? How long do they have to get to their next position or to consolidate?
Example using TMOR: "Upon platoon crossing the final MSL., MGs will displace by echelon to SBF2 using the most covered and concealed route. BPT isolate the objective oriented North.”