The united states marine corps explored many options to replace the currently employed m249 squad automatic weapon, and found an upgrade with the m27 infantry automatic rifle. Marines want 11,000 infantry automatic rifles to replace. The m27 infantry automatic rifle is a mixture of a machine gun and an assault rifle. Why the m27 iar is not the right rifle for the marine corps.
Since its introduction in 2009, the marine corps m27 infantry automatic rifle has proven itself as an effective support weapon that offers more firepower and range than the corps other squad level weapons, the m4 carbine and m16a4 rifle. Marine corps initially planned to purchase 6,500 m27s to replace a portion of the m249 light machine guns employed by automatic riflemen within. Im all for the new piston design in usas m16 family m4 and including sr25 for marksman rifle. The m27 iar is a heckler and koch 416 assault rifle that, although outwardly similar to the m4 carbine, uses a piston operating system instead of the m4 carbines gas impingement system to. Valenzuela, automatic rifleman with 2nd platoon, company a, ground combat element integrated task force, engages knowndistance targets with the m27 infantry automatic rifle from the standing position during a threeday field exercise at the verona loop training area on marine corps base camp lejeune, north carolina, dec. Department of defense dod, russian ministry of defense, chinese ministry of defense or british ministry of defence visual information does not imply. Limitation on availability of funds for m27 infantry automatic rifle pro gram. Im selling reliability thats quality in performance. Marine corps times profiled the decision in its print edition last week, outlining what it means for each fire team, rifle qualifications and the gear marines bring to war. Origins and early history of the usmc m27 infantry.
The m27 iar replaces the heavier, m249 saw squad automatic weapon which has been used by the marines in infantry squads since the mid1980s. M27 infantry automatic rifle the usmc has somewhere around 10,000 squad automatic weapons saws in the inventory, and after completing the iar purchase will have around 4,000 iars. The m249 uses the same ammo as m4 carbines and m16a4 rifles but has a high rate of. The usmc should simply replace their m4s and m16a4s in the infantry. Squad weapons b2e2657 student handout training command. The m27 infantry automatic rifle iar is a lightweight, aircooled, gas piston operated, shoulderfired weapon that is used primarily as an alternative to heavier beltfed squad automatic weapons.
It has a heavier, longer barrel than the m4 and is capable of fully automatic fire from standard 30round magazines. Marines began fielding 4,000 m27 iars in 2010 to replace the m249 squad automatic weapons, but that later shifted to also replace the m4. Why marines absolutely love the m27 infantry automatic rifle. This rfi will assuredly be used by syscom to create a a solesource justification and approval in order to purchase the rifles directly from. Marines train with the new m27 iar infantry automatic rifle. You shouldnt run into issues like this with hk 416 m27 iar. The m27 infantry automatic rifle was adopted by the marine corps in 2011 and replaced the m249 light machinegun as the squad automatic weapon. Marine corps requests 50,000 more m27 infantry automatic. For some time to come, there will be saws and iars coexisting in. In may 2010, the usmc announced the adoption of the hk iar as the m27 infantry automatic rifle and placed them with units in combat areas. It wasnt an amphibious vehicle, more jltvs, a new rifle or friggin lasers. Usmc awards infantry automatic rifle contract to hk. Marines set their sights on designated marksman title. Army round triggers problems in marine m27 auto rifle.
The infantry automatic rifle program began in 2001 as a needs statement within the marine corps. The m4 can be set to semiauto or 3round burst, whereas the m27 can fire in semiauto or fullauto modes, allowing it to serve a role similar to a light machine gun while retaining the accuracy and range of a rifle. M27 infantry automatic rifle breaking defense defense. Marine corps initially planned to purchase 6,500 m27s to replace a portion of the m249. I think the expense may be a significant factor, but then the usmc has fewer infantry than the army. It is based on their hk416 carbine and was fielded to the marines to supplant beltfed the m249 saw in the rifle squad. Army round triggers problems in marine m27 auto rifle a navy corpsman performs immediate action on the m27 infantry automatic rifle at marine corps air ground combat center in twentynine palms. The marines first started using the m27 iar in 2010, buying 4,000 m27s to replace the m249 squad automatic weapon. Marines with 3rd battalion 8th marine regiment fire the m27 infantry automatic rifle during a livefire weapons exercise at range f18 on camp lejeune, n. Weve been pushed on the m27, which the marine corps has adopted.
An australian soldier, center right, prepares to fire an m27 infantry automatic rifle at robertson barracks in northern territory, australia, april 15, 2014 140415mgo800051. M27s and headtotoe gear overhaul on the way for marine. The m27 is an automatic rifle and it sets the conditions for small unit movement in a completely different manner than its predecessor, the m249 squad automatic weapon. Marines want 11,000 infantry automatic rifles to replace m4 in every. This allows the user to engage with precision, and switch to suppressive fire, or vice versa, as needed. The iar can sustain a rate of fire of 36 rounds a minute with a 600round load. The marine corps new rifle is super expensive and no. M27 disambiguation internet movie firearms database. This moves the squad automatic weapon away from a belt feed system to a magazine feed system, not unlik. The m27 infantry automatic rifle iar is a lightweight, magazinefed 5. Marines fire m27 infantry automatic rifles during a squadsized, livefire range at camp lejeune, n.
M27 assault rifles, a variant of the hk416, were manufactured for the. The m27 infantry automatic rifle iar is a lightweight, air cooled, pusher rod gas operated, magazine fed, shoulder fired weapon. Marines with 3rd battalion 8th marine regiment fire the m27 infantry automatic rifle during a livefire weapons exercise at range f18 on camp lejeune. The usmc m27 iar first came on the scene in late 2010 when it was issued to five deploying units that would see if the new automatic rifle was to be as viable as claimed. M27 infantry automatic rifle wikipedia republished wiki 2. It operates in semiautomatic and automatic modes of fire. Although its design is based on the ar15 class of weapons, specifically the colt m4 carbine family issued to the u. Will the marine corps replace the m4 with the hk416. The main difference between the m27 and m249 squad automatic. Squad day optic sdo to an infantry automatic rifle. Designated the m27 infantry automatic rifle, the lightweight, 11.
The marine corps experimental battalion, the californiabased 3rd battalion, 5th marines, has been conducting predeployment exercises with the m27 infantry automatic rifle to evaluate it as the new service rifle for infantry battalions, the commander of 1st marine division, maj. The marine corps is windowshopping for a new rifle with some very specific features. Marine corps initially planned to purchase 6,500 m27s to replace a portion of the m249 light machine guns employed by automatic riflemen within infantry and light armored reconnaissance battalions. The first variant, murray said, will be an automatic rifle to replace the squad automatic weapon, which is chambered in 5. Will the fullauto m27 become the new marine service rifle. Opponents of using the m27 as a primary service rifle worry users will blow through ammo too quickly like they did with earlier. It is used by the united states marine corps and is intended to enhance an automatic riflemans maneuverability. I kinda wish the army took notes from dkx in terms of armor. The formal full rate production announcement by the marines caps a competition that began more than three years ago.
This good reception has led many within the corps to reach an obvious conclusion. The m27 infantry automatic rifle was approved for full fielding recently by commandant gen. The m27 iar has been adopted to replace the m249 saw. How is the m27 iar issued at the us marines squad level. Report on degaussing standards for ddg51 destroyers. Marine with headquarters and service battalion fires the m27 infantry automatic rifle during a livefire weapons familiarization exercise. Marine corps in august 2011 in an innovative program to develop a highly accurate, lightweight, and more reliable alternative to currently fielded light machine guns.
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