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 M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. Suppressive fire is provided by the M240B machine gun, at the squad and company levels respectively. Marines at the rank of E4 and above rate the M17 semi-automatic pistol. 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 M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System and M40A3, A5, A6 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 FGM-148 Javelin and BGM-71 TOW are anti-tank guided missiles; both can utilize top-attack profiles to avoid heavy frontal armor and are heavy 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 weapons

Bladed weapons

Handguns
  • Beretta M9
  • Beretta M9A1[4][5]
  • Glock 19M - Adopted in February 2015 for use by MARSOC
  • M45A1 CQBP - Modified M1911A1, for use by MEU(SOC) and MARSOC. Still in use by Recon Battalions and Security and Emergency Services Battalions.
  • M17 - Standard issue pistol since 2019
  • M18 - Standard issue pistol since 2019

Automatic Rifles and Carbines
A U.S. Marine armed with an M16A4 rifle and ITL MARS sight in 2004.
A U.S. Marine armed with an M27 IAR affixed with ACOG Squad Day Optic.
  • M16A2 - Mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions.
  • M16A4 - select fire. Safe, semi, burst. Mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions.
  • M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle - Support weapon based on the Heckler & Koch HK416 (itself a piston-driven M4) using a free-floating barrel. Initially issued as a replacement for the M249, in 2018 the decision was made to adopt the M27 as the standard USMC assault rifle in infantry battalions.
  • MK18 Mod 1 - Modified M4 with 10.3-inch barrel. Used by MARSOC
  • M4 Carbine - Mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions.
  • M4A1 Carbine - Mostly being replaced by M27 in infantry battalions.
  • Mk 17 Mod 0 used by MARSOC
  • Mk 16 Mod 0 used by MARSOC

Designated Marksman Rifles

Sniper Rifles
  • Mk 13 mod 7 - .300 Winchester Magnum chambered sniper rifle built on Accuracy International Chassis System with Remington 700 long action.
  • 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, M40A5 and M40A6 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 - modified M14 rifle

Shotguns

Submachine Guns

Machine Guns
Vehicle-mounted M2 .50 caliber machine guns in May 2005.
  • 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 by infantry and in the M1 Abrams, light vehicles, and helicopters.
  • Mk48 Mod 1 - 7.62×51mm light machine gun, uses by US MARSOC.
  • M249E4 - 5.56×45mm light machine gun, infantry support weapon. Not replaced, but being supplanted by the M27 IAR.

Hand Grenades

Grenade Launchers

Mortars

Artillery
M777 155mm howitzer

Shoulder-fired Missile and Rocket Launchers
HMMWV-mounted BGM-71 TOW

Vehicle-mounted Weapons

Aircraft-mounted Weapons
UH-1N with GAU-16/A door-mounted machine gun
AH-1W with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rockets
GBU-12 500lb. bomb
Guns
Bombs
Missiles
Marine emplaces a claymore mine

Other

Accessories
AN/PVS-7A
A U.S. Marine Corps Military Police Special Reaction Team using the MP5-N in February 2004.

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.

Retired
Bladed Weapons
M6 bayonet with sheath
Pistols
M1911A1 pistol
Rifles, Carbines, & Muskets
early M16 model rifle
M1 Garand rifle
Submachine guns
M1A1 Thompson submachine gun
Machine guns
M60 7.62mm machine gun
Explosives & Launchers
M79 grenade launcher
The U.S. Marine Corps still uses the M101, although for ceremonial purposes only. Here, U.S. Marines are seen firing off a M101 during a ceremony in March 2005.
Aircraft/vehicle-mounted
Other

See also

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. "M40A1 Sniper Rifle". USMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  2. "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.
  3. USMC Officer's Guidebook Seventh Edition
  4. "U.S. Marines Add to M9A1 Inventory". Law & Order Magazine. Encyclopedia.com. November 1, 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  5. Tendas, Pierangelo. "Beretta M9-A1". Armi & Tiro. securityarms.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  6. "Jane's international defense review: IDR". 36 (12). Jane's Information Group. 2003. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "NAVMC DIRECTIVE 3500.90" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-10. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  8. "Adapt and Overcome". United States Marine Corps.
  9. "SRCSGT - 10 - The Marine Corps Systems Command desires to collect information regarding potential rifle scopes to be utilized on Sniper Rifles (M40A3, M107, Mk11, Mk 12, M14 DMR and M39 EMR). - 03-Aug-08 - FBO#2442". www.fbodaily.com.
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