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We traded “gathered goods” with the crews from the PBRs and barges the Navy used to convoy supplies up river...

For some reason [maybe their very wet operating conditions] the PBR/Alpha Boat/Monitor crews were always after replacement generators. And, of course, booze. No worries!

Dual .50s were the rig of choice....

The over-and under setup with the .50 M2 over a direct-firing 81mm mortar was also very highly thought of, a great idea the Navy swiped from the Coast Guard. Anything a .50 couldn't shoot through [like an overhanging river bank] one of the 81mm rounds could generally either bring down entirely, or pepper with an airburst. And at night, they could through out LOTS more illumination than a couple of popflares.

The Navy guys were also impressed when a couple of tank crews were sent out with 'em on TDY to try out the gun mounts with tanker's M85 .50 caliber guns instead of their twin M2 HBTT's in the gun tubs. The M85 used a different, M60-type link, which gave it a selective rate of fire, either the *usual* 550-600 rounds per minute of the M2, or a *fastfire* accelerated rate of 1100 RPM, [known as *Chinese Overdrive*] almost 20 rounds per second, times two guns, about 35 shots per second from their 2-gun sidebyside setup. Used with a starlight scope, they were just the ticket for what the other people thought was a night ambush.

The Marines also used the things in the cupola of their LVTs, and there was a tripod and backplate assembly designed for ground use, not needed in the gun tub on the river boats. I always wanted to try an M16 quad .50 mount with four of the M85s on fastfire, but the chance never came along. And you needed to use cut-open 5-gallon gas/water cans for ammo cans- the GI 105-round ammo can went empty in five or six seconds. Later we got the 3000-round ammo boxes for minigun ammo, and they were reworked for .50 ammo.

Reading your post, sure stirred some fond and not so fond memories...

The M2’s were certainly primary force protection pieces on most “permanent” perimeters/positions in Indian country -— but the M60, especially in our AO and era of the M14, was a readily available and beloved workhorse and killing tool.

NOTHING in God's creation — gives a Grunt on a “Walk” greater comfort that having along three or more M60s — and enough locals to carry LOTS of belted and canned 7.62 cal ammo — which was common to our carry pieces.

I don't recall ever hearing a Grunt complain about carrying at least one belt for the M60s while the bigger guys would carry 2, it was like carrying a meal for your monster who would help devour their monsters.....

I've seen 90 pound local gals carry up to four 7.62 cal belts or 2 cans of ammo all day long up hill in the mountains, and never utter a complaint.

One regret - is that NONE of us had a camera to take a picture of the beauty of the M60’s tracers at night in interlocking fields of fire across our front — nor the results in the morning.... Unfortunately, tracers also identify the location of their origin!
Bad Mojo.
M60 crews paid dearly....

However — those damned auto grenade launchers look like they could generate Marine orgasms and enemy $hi+ fits!

Thanks for your excellent memory, post and photos...