Report details SEAL's last stand in Afghanistan

A classifed reports estimates that Petty Officer Neil Roberts held off enemy troops for more than 30 minutes.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Navy SEAL survived a fall from a U.S. helicopter March 4 and fought off enemy fighters for over 30 minutes before being killed at close range when his gun jammed, according to a classified report.

M60 7.62mm Machine Gun

The M60 Machine Gun has been the US Army's general purpose machine gun since 1950. It fires the standard NATO 7.62 mm round and is used as a general support crew-served weapon. It has a removable barrel which can be easily changed to prevent overheating. The weapon has an integral, folding bipod and can also be mounted on a folding tripod.

Length: 42.4 inches (107.70 centimeters)
Weight: 18.75 pounds (8.51 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 7.62mm (.308 inches)
Maximum effective range: 3609.1 feet (1100 meters)
Maximum range: 2.3 miles (3725 meters)
Muzzle velocity: 2800 feet (853 meters) per second
Rates of fire:
Cyclic: 550 rounds per minute
Rapid: 100 rounds per minute*
Sustained: 100 rounds per minute*
(* with barrel changes at each 100 rounds)
Unit Replacement Cost: $6,000

The M60E3 7.62mm machine gun is a lightweight, air-cooled, disintegrating metallic link-belt fed, portable or tripod mounted machine gun designed for ground operations like its predecessor, the M60. It is gas operated with fixed headspace and timing which permits rapid changing of barrels. (Associated components: mount, tripod, machine gun, 7.62mm, M122). Slightly different from its "parent," the M60, the M60E3 has a receiver-attached bipod which easily deploys for stability. It has an ambidextrous safety, universal sling attachments, a carrying handle on the barrel, and a simplified gas system that does not require safety wire to prevent loosening. However, the light weight barrel is not safe for overhead fire and is not capable of sustaining a rapid rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute without catastrophic failure of the barrel.

The M60E3 (light weight version of the parent M60) was fielded with the intention to reduce the load carried by the gunner. However, the reduction in weight resulted in firing limitations and a loss of reliability that severely restricts the use of the weapon in the Fleet Marine Force. Consequently, troop acceptance of the E3 has been very poor. This gun will be replaced by the M240G.

AMMUNITION
The preferred combat ammunition mix for the M60 is a four-ball (M80) and one-tracer (M62) mix. Again, the four-and-one mix allows the gunner to use the TOT method of adjusting fire to achieve target kill.

Type
M61 Armor-piercing
M62 Tracer
M80 Ball
M63 Dummy
M82 Blank
Use
Against lightly armored targets.
For observation of fire, incendiary effects, signaling, and training.
Against light materiel targets and personnel, and for range training.
During mechanical training.
During training when simulated live fire is desired. (A blank firing attachment must be used to fire this ammunition.)

Aircraft Mounts

M60C 7.62mm Flexible Machine Gun was a flexible aircraft version of the NATO Standard M60D machine gun. It was electrically controlled, hydraulic power charged, air-cooled, gas-operated, link-belt fed, with a firing rate of 500-650 spm (shots per minute). It was used on the M2 armament subsystem on the OH-13 Sioux and the OH-23 Raven, and the M6 and M16 on the UH-1B "Huey". The M60C was classified Standard A (over 563 units were built).

M60D 7.62mm Flexible Machine Gun is a flexible, gas-operated, air-cooled machine gun having a firing rate of 550 spm (shots per minute). The M-60D machine gun is utilized by the UH-1, H-2, H-3, and H-60 aircraft. Depending in the specific aircraft application the M-60D gun system consists of the gun, a pintle mount (M-21, M-23, or DAS), and one of two basic ammunition storage systems. The first storage system consists of an ammunition can bracket that mounts to the gun or the mount, the bracket holds a single 200 round ammunition can. The second ammunition storage system is made up of a 500 round ammunition can and a flexible feed chute attached to the base of the mount. This aircraft gun has spade grips, an aircraft ring-type sight and an improved ammunition feed system. A canvas ejection control bag attaches to the machine gun to catch ejected links and cartridge cases, preventing them from being ejected into the path of the rotor blades or turbine engine intake. The M60D was used on the M23, XM29, M59, and the Sagami mount on UH-1 series "Huey", the M24 and M41 on the CH-47 series Chinook, the XM32 and XM33 on the ACH-47A "Guns-A-Go-Go", and the M144 on the UH-60 series Black Hawk. The M60D was classified Standard A.

The M23, M24, M41 and M144 mounts are attached to the helicopter fuselage to provide a stable mount for the M60D machine gun. Each mount incorporates a pintle for attaching the machine gun to allow elevating, depressing, and traversing the muzzle for aiming and firing. Each armament mount assembly also has either an ammunition box or can assembly to store and supply ammunition rapidly to the feed side of the machine gun. An ejection control bag attaches to the machine gun to catch expended cartridges and links.

The M23 armament subsystem consists of a safety shoulder harness and a left and right side mount marked "LEFT" or "RIGHT" respectively. Each is bolted to the outside of the UH-1 series helicopter by the pintle mount. Attached to the pintle mount is the M60D machine gun with a canvas ejection control bag to collect ejected links and cartridge cases. The pintle mount is made up of a pintle post assembly and a 550 round capacity ammunition box with ammunition feed chute and adapter.

The M24 armament subsystem consists of a safety shoulder harness and a left and right side mount marked "LEFT" or "RIGHT" respectively. Each is pinned inside the left side door frame and right side escape hatch of the CH-47 series helicopter by the mount assembly. Attached to the mount assembly is the M60D machine gun with a link and cartridge case ejection control bag and an ammunition can assembly with 200 rounds of ammunition. The mount assembly consists of the pintle and the mount subassembly.

The M41 armament subsystem consists of a safety shoulder harness and mount that is slotted and pinned on the inside of the aft ramp in the CH-47 series helicopter. Attached to the mount assembly is the M60D machine gun with an ejection control bag and a 200 round capacity ammunition can assembly.

The M144 armament subsystem consists of a left and right side mount marked "LEFT" or "RIGHT" respectively. Each is riveted inside the side window frame of a UH-60 series helicopter. Attached to the mount is the M60D machine gun with an ejection control bag and an ammunition can assembly. The mount assembly is made up of the pintle mount assembly, release arm assembly, and support mount.

Source: US ARMY

or Maybe it's THIS one...

Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), M249 Light Machine Gun

The automatic rifle is a squad leaders weapon. Though the automatic rifle has changed, the role of the automatic rifleman has not since its conception circa World War I. The automatic rifleman supports the infantry squad in the offense and defense. The M249 SAWS is a lightweight, gas-operated, magazine or disintegrating metallic link-belt fed, individually portable machine gun capable of delivering a large volume of effective fire. The M249 AR provides accurate fire approaching that of the rifle yet gives the heavy volume of fire common to a machine gun. The M249 replaces the two automatic M16A1 rifles in the rifle squad on a one-for-one basis in all infantry type units and in other units requiring high firepower. Fielded in the mid-1980s, the SAWS filled the void created by the retirement of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) during the 1950s because interim automatic weapons (M14 Series/M16A1 Rifles) had failed as viable "base of fire" weapons.
The Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) is an air-cooled, belt-fed, gas-operated automatic weapon that fires from the open-bolt position. It has a regulator for selecting either normal (750 rounds per minute [rpm)) or maximum (1,000 rpm) rate of fire. The maximum rate of fire is authorized only if the weapon's firing rate slows under adverse conditions. Although the M249 AR is primarily used as an automatic rifle, it is also used as a light machine gun. It can be fired from the shoulder, hip, or underarm position; or from the bipod-steadied position. When employed as a machine gun, it has a tripod with a T&E mechanism and a spare barrel; however, barrels must not be interchanged with those from other M249s unless the headspace has been set for that weapon by direct support personnel.
The M249 is interesting because while its standard ammunition feed is by 200 round disintegrating belts, it is also capable of firing ammunition from standard M16 magazines inserted in a magazine well in the bottom of the SAW. Ammunition is fed into the weapon from a 200-round ammunition box holding a disintegrating metallic split-link belt. The SAW also has an alternating feeding method using 20- and 30-round M16 rifle magazines. The weapon has a quick-change barrel; however, barrels must not be interchanged with those from other SAWs unless their headspace has been set for that weapon by direct support personnel. The M249 SAW is used to engage dismounted infantry, crew-served weapons, antitank guided missile (ATOM) teams, and thin-skinned vehicles. The SAW has become the standard automatic rifle of the infantry squad and has proven useful with the changing of the M16 to a three round burst weapon.
Automatic rifles allow rifle squads to take a light automatic weapon with them in the assault. In the defense, they add the firepower of 10 or 20 riflemen without the addition of manpower. Characteristically, automatic rifles are light, fire rapidly, and have more ammunition than the rifles in the squad that they support. Each squad has three automatic rifles. No additional equipment configuration is needed, because the automatic rifleman fires the M249 either from the bipod mode or from various hand-held positions. In either the offense or defense, automatic riflemen must restrict themselves to firing three-round bursts to maintain their effectiveness against enemy targets. The M249 in the bipod or hand-held mode moves too easily off its point of aim after three rounds and automatic riflemen must readjust their aim. In the offense, the automatic rifleman is limited to what he can carry and fire on the move. Hence, while the automatic rifle affords a high volume of fire, it also rapidly consumes ammunition. Conservation and careful logistic planning become important.
When used as a machine gun, the M249 requires a tripod, a T&E mechanism, and a spare barrel. These items increases the stability, the ability to make minute adjustments in aiming, and the ability to fire greater than three-round bursts. Because machine guns are not as mobile as automatic rifles, they normally remain with and form the key weapon of the base-of-fire element. It is possible to bring a machine gun with the maneuver element for added firepower in the assault. But once it has set up, it becomes another base of fire and is quickly left behind by the rest of the element as it sweeps across the objective. It will spend more time displacing than firing. Machine guns target enemy automatic weapons, key weapons, and command and control elements. Once the enemy deploys, machine guns engage his supporting automatic weapons. As the enemy closes, if the machine guns have destroyed all of the enemy's supporting weapons, they can engage the assaulting troops with enfilading fires across the platoon front.
Primary function: Hand-held combat machine gun
Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing, Inc.
Length: 40.87 inches (103.81 centimeters)
Weight:
With bipod and tools: 15.16 pounds (6.88 kilograms)
200-round box magazine: 6.92 pounds (3.14 kilograms)
30-round magazine: 1.07 pounds (.49 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)
Maximum effective range: 3281 feet (1000 meters) for an area target
Maximum range: 2.23 miles (3.6 kilometers)
Rates of fire:
Cyclic: 725 rounds per minute
Sustained: 85 rounds per minute
Unit Replacement Cost: $4,087

Features: The Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), or 5.56mm M249 is an individually portable, gas operated, magazine or disintegrating metallic link-belt fed, light machine gun with fixed headspace and quick change barrel feature. The M249 engages point targets out to 800 meters, firing the improved NATO standard 5.56mm cartridge.
The SAW forms the basis of firepower for the fire team. The gunner has the option of using 30-round M16 magazines or linked ammunition from pre-loaded 200-round plastic magazines. The gunner's basic load is 600 rounds of linked ammunition.

Background: The SAW was developed through an initially Army-led research and development effort and eventually a Joint NDO program in the late 1970s/early 1980s to restore sustained and accurate automatic weapons fire to the fire team and squad. When actually fielded in the mid-1980s, the SAW was issued as a one-for-one replacement for the designated "automatic rifle" (M16A1) in the Fire Team. In this regard, the SAW filled the void created by the retirement of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) during the 1950s because interim automatic weapons (e.g. M-14E2/M16A1) had failed as viable "base of fire" weapons. Early in the SAW's fielding, the Army identified the need for a Product Improvement Program (PIP) to enhance the weapon. This effort resulted in a "PIP kit" which modifies the barrel, handguard, stock, pistol grip, buffer, and sights.

AMMUNITION
The preferred combat ammunition mix for the M249 is a four-ball (M855) and one-tracer (M856) mix. There are other variations of 5.56-mm ammunition available; however, the four-and-one mix allows the gunner to use the tracer-on-target (TOT) method of adjusting fire to achieve target kill.

Type
M855 Ball
M193 Ball
M856 Tracer
M196 Tracer
M199 Dummy
M200 Blank
Use
Against light materiel targets and personnel.
Range training.
Observation of fire, incendiary effects, and signaling.
Training.
During mechanical training.
During training when simulated live fire is desired. (A blank firing attachment must be used to fire this ammunition.)

SHORT SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON
The Short Squad Automatic Weapon shortens the SAW by more than 10 inches. This developmental effort is intended to produce a weapon that is easier to maneuver for improved MOUT maneuverability and improved Airborne/Air Assault jump ability.

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