One of the M60s is the machine gun, which can hardly be compared to any other weapon in the military, and has a history of its very own. The M60 is a sort of “monstruo,” a machine of no less than 28 kilograms, and was for a long time the “pig” of the US army – one of the most powerful, and at the same time, most problematic.
The process of production for the M60 began after WWII, with the Browning M1919 as the basic model. The U.S. military was looking for a smaller and more functional mode, but still based on the same one. Engineers got inspiration from German products based on MG 42 and FG42, introducing MG42’s belt-fed mechanism with that of FG42’s gas-operated revolving bolt system to make a gun that is not only powerful but also distinctly American.
As for a machine gun with a user-swappable barrel, the M60 was no less than 23 pounds and proved to be very adaptable to different situations. Moreover, soldiers equipped with it were free to take it on their patrol, attach it to their vehicular equipment, or even parachute it in from a helicopter or plane. Being chambered with the 7.62×51mm NATO round, it was also possible to hit a target at a distance of 1,200 meters with optics or roughly 800 meters if using iron sights. Its belt-fed, gas-operated system had a rate of fire of 500–650 rounds per minute, and thus, adding a bipod, tripod, or vehicle mount could almost fit any tactical scenario. Despite being lighter than a Browning M1919, the load was still quite difficult for infantry over long distances.
At the time the Vietnam War took place, the M60 had the chance to show its strong points as well as its weak ones. Depending on the situation, this machine gun was also used as a support gun for the helicopters and vehicles. Enemy troops could not have hated this heavy firepower since it was their biggest concern, although, at the same time, this is how gunners found themselves in dangerous positions most of the time.
Victor Renza, a former machine gunner of the 4th Infantry Division, says, “The M60 terrorized the enemy troops. They targeted the weapon first because it was so deadly. It was hard to operate, it took stamina, and we used to disassemble and reassemble it blindfolded while carrying a lot of ammunition into the battle zone.”
Nevertheless, the M60 was not perfect. Intense firing led to internal wear over time, and while the quick-change barrel was a nice touch, the general complexity of the system sometimes reduced its reliability during battles. The additional weight of the bipod and barr, combined with the loosening of parts under the constant firing, made them perform maintenance that was different from the ordinary… They reportedly received maintenance on almost 50% of the regular M60s, which performed flawlessly.
There were significant changes to the M60 that resulted in different models. The standard infantry version was characterized by a rubber-coated steel handguard and a folding shoulder stock. The first adaptation was the M60C, which was made for mounting helicopters with either electric or hydraulic feeds, while the M60D offered pintle-mounted configurations for aircraft with ring sights and spade grips.
Shortly after these modifications, it had two major possibilities as far as the squad was concerned: either this automatic weapon could be the fire cover of vehicles or helicopters, or the platform that guaranteed that vehicles and helicopters would be provided with the fire cover.
The M60 could not match the reliability of newer designs; however, its high fire rate and multi-role capability made it a very tough competitor among its peers. It could later on be replaced in most roles by the FN MAG, which was more reliable and was gradually accepted in the US as the M240.
Moreover, the M60 managed to be a part of American popular culture apart from the battlefield. Its unmistakable silhouette and thunderous roar became iconic through film, television, and video games—most famously in the hands of Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo in First Blood. These depictions were crucial in establishing the relationship between the M60 and US military power.
Nowadays, modern M60E6 units still accompany some groups, and the original is remembered with respect for its technical breakthrough and historical importance by collectors. Despite it not being the mass-produced weapon of the past anymore, the “pig” remains a legendary firearm, the one people who carried, serviced, and fought with it recall.