This article is about the machine gun. For the torpedo, see Mark 48 torpedo. For the missile launcher, see RIM-162 ESSM.
The Mark 48, or Mk 48, is a belt-fed general-purpose machine gun chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges, fed from a disintegrating belt (M13 link) or the non-disintegrating segmented German DM1 belt of ammunition.
Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt
It is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc., a division of FN Herstal based in the United States. The Mk 48 has been developed in conjunction with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which has adopted the weapon and started its fielding process, beginning with special operations units.
Being heavily based on the Mk 46 Mod 0, the Mk 48 Mod 0 features five MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails (one on top of the receiver, one on each side of the forearm/handguard, one under the handguard, and one on top of the barrel), an integral folding bipod, and a tripod-mounting lug. The weapon is fitted with the same fixed, polymer buttstock as the M249, although the metallic, collapsible buttstock from the "Para" model can be found in some models. The carrying handle, which had been removed from the Mk 46, was reintegrated on the Mk 48 to assist the replacement of hot barrels without use of other equipment, such as heat-resistant gloves; the handle can be folded down when not in use. As with the Mk 46, the Mk 48 Mod 0 does not have an M249-type magazine feed port, in order to save weight. The weapon can be fed from a loose belt, separate belt boxes, or clip-on ammunition pouches for 100 rounds. It has a cyclic rate of fire of around 650–730 rounds per minute.
There is a high degree of parts commonality between the Mk48, M249 and Mk46 machine guns, which simplifies maintenance and repair. The use of M1913 "Picatinny" rails allows the fitting of various accessories from the SOPMOD kit, such as the ECOS-N (Enhanced Combat Optical Sight) red dot sight and other sighting or target-designating devices. The Mk 48 can also be fitted with a vertical foregrip for increased controllability during sustained fire. While heavier than the 5.56×45mm NATO M249 due to its larger chambering and heavier barrel, the Mk 48 Mod 0 is still 17% lighter and 8.4% shorter than the M240.
The disadvantages of Mk 48 Mod 0 are that the life of the receiver is only about half of the M240B, and the effective range with accuracy are slightly lower than the M240B.
Mk 48 Mod 0 in US Army service in Afghanistan, 2010This is a 7.62×51mm NATO version of the Mk 46, used by USSOCOM when a heavier cartridge is required.[3] It is officially classified as an LWMG (light weight machine gun) and was developed as a replacement for the Mk 43 Mod 0/1. The M60-based machine guns are a great deal more portable than the heavier M240-based designs used elsewhere in the U.S. military in the infantry medium machine gun role. The M60-based designs have a long history of insufficient reliability, however. Trials conducted through the mid-1990s led the U.S. Army to replace its M60 with M240B GPMGs. The M240B weighs in at ~27.5 lb and is about 49 inches long with the standard barrel. Due to this extra weight and size NAVSPECWAR was reluctant to give up the increased portability of the M60 (~22.5 lb, 37.7 inches OAL with the shortest "Assault Barrel") designs, despite the M240's increased reliability. A request was put in for a new machine gun in 2001, and FN responded with a scaled-up version of the M249 weighing in at ~18.5 lb with an OAL of ~39.5". This new design achieved much better reliability than the M60-based weapons while bettering its light weight and maintaining the same manual of arms as the already in-use M249. USSOCOM was slated to begin receiving deliveries of the new gun in August 2003.[4]
Mk 48 Mod 1
US Air Force Staff Sergeant with the Mk 48 Mod 1 in Afghanistan, 2011
The Mk 48 Mod 1 is an update of the Mk 48 Mod 0, which is also made in FN-America. Like the Mod 0, it is essentially an M249 scaled up to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO round. The Mod 1 utilizes a 19.75-inch barrel, weighs in at 18.37 lb unloaded. Major changes include the use of an adjustable buttstock, modified rail interface system, removal of the original hinged heat guard in favor of M249-style ones attached to the barrel, and modified bipod mount.[5]
Mk 48 Mod 2
At the National Defense Industry Association's annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC), in May 2019, FN unveiled a prototype of its Mk 48 Mod 2 machine gun chambered for 6.5mm Creedmoor. It was developed in response to a USSOCOM requirement. American special operations forces are interested in acquiring a lightweight belt-fed "assault" machine gun, which would offer better range than existing weapons.[6][7] Current production model is still chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO caliber.
^ abMcNab, Chris (2017). The FN Minimi Light Machine Gun: M249, L108A1, L110A2, and other variants. Osprey Publishing. p. 23.
^Fuller, Peter N.; Douglas A. Tamilio (18 May 2010). (PDF). PEO Soldier. United States Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
^Pushies 2004, p. 88 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFPushies2004 (help)
^Popenker, Maxim, , archived from the original on 23 March 2009, retrieved 29 April 2009
^FNH official Product Page – Mk 48 Mod 1, retrieved 12 October 2010[permanent dead link]
^U.S. Special Operators Will Soon Be Using This 6.5mm "Assault" Machine Gun The gun offers better range and accuracy over smaller belt-fed squad automatic weapons, thedrive.com, by Joseph Trevithick, May 21, 2019
^FN MK 48 Mod 2 Machine Gun Prototype in 6.5CM Unveiled, thetruthaboutguns.com, by Woody, Jun 11, 2019
^Sandeep Unnithan (20 July 2020). "New tools for India's special forces". India Today. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
^"Zbraně používané u 601.skupiny speciálních sil" (in Czech). 601. skss. from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
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This article is about the machine gun For the torpedo see Mark 48 torpedo For the missile launcher see RIM 162 ESSM The Mark 48 or Mk 48 is a belt fed general purpose machine gun chambered for 7 62 51mm NATO cartridges fed from a disintegrating belt M13 link or the non disintegrating segmented German DM1 belt of ammunition Mk 48 Mod 0Mk 48 Mod 0TypeGeneral purpose machine gunPlace of originBelgium United StatesService historyIn service2003 presentUsed bySee UsersWarsWar in Afghanistan Iraq WarProduction historyDesignerFabrique Nationale ManufacturingDesigned2003ManufacturerFabrique Nationale ManufacturingProduced2003 presentVariantsSee VariantsSpecificationsMass8 2 kg 18 0779 lb empty11 2 kg 24 7 lb w 100 roundsLength1 000 mm 39 75 in Barrel length502 mm 19 75 in Cartridge7 62 51mm NATO STANAG 2310 ActionGas operated open boltRate of fire650 730 rounds minEffective firing range800 m 875 yd area targetMaximum firing range3 600 m 3 940 yd Feed systemNon disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt It is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc a division of FN Herstal based in the United States The Mk 48 has been developed in conjunction with the U S Special Operations Command USSOCOM which has adopted the weapon and started its fielding process beginning with special operations units Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 Variants 4 Users 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe Mk 48 was designed in the early 2000s following a request from United States Special Operations Command for a replacement for the M60 1 Design editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message The Mk 48 Mod 0 is a gas operated air cooled fully automatic belt fed machine gun The design is based on an early 7 62 51mm NATO prototype of the FN Minimi modified to be a scaled up version of the 5 56 mm Mk 46 Mod 0 Being heavily based on the Mk 46 Mod 0 the Mk 48 Mod 0 features five MIL STD 1913 Picatinny rails one on top of the receiver one on each side of the forearm handguard one under the handguard and one on top of the barrel an integral folding bipod and a tripod mounting lug The weapon is fitted with the same fixed polymer buttstock as the M249 although the metallic collapsible buttstock from the Para model can be found in some models The carrying handle which had been removed from the Mk 46 was reintegrated on the Mk 48 to assist the replacement of hot barrels without use of other equipment such as heat resistant gloves the handle can be folded down when not in use As with the Mk 46 the Mk 48 Mod 0 does not have an M249 type magazine feed port in order to save weight The weapon can be fed from a loose belt separate belt boxes or clip on ammunition pouches for 100 rounds It has a cyclic rate of fire of around 650 730 rounds per minute There is a high degree of parts commonality between the Mk48 M249 and Mk46 machine guns which simplifies maintenance and repair The use of M1913 Picatinny rails allows the fitting of various accessories from the SOPMOD kit such as the ECOS N Enhanced Combat Optical Sight red dot sight and other sighting or target designating devices The Mk 48 can also be fitted with a vertical foregrip for increased controllability during sustained fire While heavier than the 5 56 45mm NATO M249 due to its larger chambering and heavier barrel the Mk 48 Mod 0 is still 17 lighter and 8 4 shorter than the M240 The disadvantages of Mk 48 Mod 0 are that the life of the receiver is only about half of the M240B and the effective range with accuracy are slightly lower than the M240B The Mk 48 Mod 0 is currently in service with certain USSOCOM units such as the U S Navy SEALs and Army s 75th Ranger Regiment 2 Variants editMk 48 Mod 0 nbsp Mk 48 Mod 0 in US Army service in Afghanistan 2010This is a 7 62 51mm NATO version of the Mk 46 used by USSOCOM when a heavier cartridge is required 3 It is officially classified as an LWMG light weight machine gun and was developed as a replacement for the Mk 43 Mod 0 1 The M60 based machine guns are a great deal more portable than the heavier M240 based designs used elsewhere in the U S military in the infantry medium machine gun role The M60 based designs have a long history of insufficient reliability however Trials conducted through the mid 1990s led the U S Army to replace its M60 with M240B GPMGs The M240B weighs in at 27 5 lb and is about 49 inches long with the standard barrel Due to this extra weight and size NAVSPECWAR was reluctant to give up the increased portability of the M60 22 5 lb 37 7 inches OAL with the shortest Assault Barrel designs despite the M240 s increased reliability A request was put in for a new machine gun in 2001 and FN responded with a scaled up version of the M249 weighing in at 18 5 lb with an OAL of 39 5 This new design achieved much better reliability than the M60 based weapons while bettering its light weight and maintaining the same manual of arms as the already in use M249 USSOCOM was slated to begin receiving deliveries of the new gun in August 2003 4 Mk 48 Mod 1 nbsp US Air Force Staff Sergeant with the Mk 48 Mod 1 in Afghanistan 2011The Mk 48 Mod 1 is an update of the Mk 48 Mod 0 which is also made in FN America Like the Mod 0 it is essentially an M249 scaled up to fire the 7 62 51mm NATO round The Mod 1 utilizes a 19 75 inch barrel weighs in at 18 37 lb unloaded Major changes include the use of an adjustable buttstock modified rail interface system removal of the original hinged heat guard in favor of M249 style ones attached to the barrel and modified bipod mount 5 Mk 48 Mod 2 At the National Defense Industry Association s annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference SOFIC in May 2019 FN unveiled a prototype of its Mk 48 Mod 2 machine gun chambered for 6 5mm Creedmoor It was developed in response to a USSOCOM requirement American special operations forces are interested in acquiring a lightweight belt fed assault machine gun which would offer better range than existing weapons 6 7 Current production model is still chambered in 7 62 51mm NATO caliber Users edit nbsp India Indian special forces 8 nbsp Czechia 601st Special Forces Group 9 nbsp United States Army Rangers and Navy SEALs 1 See also editList of individual weapons of the U S Armed Forces PKP Pecheneg machine gunReferences edit a b McNab Chris 2017 The FN Minimi Light Machine Gun M249 L108A1 L110A2 and other variants Osprey Publishing p 23 Fuller Peter N Douglas A Tamilio 18 May 2010 Project Manager Soldier Weapons Briefing for NDIA PDF PEO Soldier United States Army Archived from the original PDF on 14 November 2011 Retrieved 28 October 2010 Pushies 2004 p 88harvnb error no target CITEREFPushies2004 help Popenker Maxim Modern Firearms Mk 48 model 0 7 62 mm Lightweight Machinegun USA archived from the original on 23 March 2009 retrieved 29 April 2009 FNH official Product Page Mk 48 Mod 1 retrieved 12 October 2010 permanent dead link U S Special Operators Will Soon Be Using This 6 5mm Assault Machine Gun The gun offers better range and accuracy over smaller belt fed squad automatic weapons thedrive com by Joseph Trevithick May 21 2019 FN MK 48 Mod 2 Machine Gun Prototype in 6 5CM Unveiled thetruthaboutguns com by Woody Jun 11 2019 Sandeep Unnithan 20 July 2020 New tools for India s special forces India Today Retrieved 8 August 2020 Zbrane pouzivane u 601 skupiny specialnich sil in Czech 601 skss Archived from the original on 12 October 2017 Retrieved 27 December 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mk 48 FNH USA MK 48 Modern Firearms Mk 48 Mod 0 Military com article on Mk 48 Small Arms Review article on the MK48 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mk 48 machine gun amp oldid 1219211649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
