There are only a handful of firearms that have influenced infantry combat so profoundly in the modern era, and the M60 machine gun is one of them. In both those instances, the M60 was referred to by the troops, one as “the Pig” and the other as “the Pig” – in a loving and a somewhat reluctant way. The M60 was “American death” and “American indomitable spirit” all made into one by the users during the Vietnam War. Its doom sing, clunky bulk, and bottomless hunger for cartridges made it familiar as a twice-edged tool for those who had to take it to battle.
The history of the M60 starts after WWII, when the U.S. Army was looking for a lighter, more universal replacement for the aging Browning M1919. Engineers were inspired by the designs of the German MG42 and the FG42 paratrooper rifle and took the best of both of them to create a new general-purpose machine gun.
Constructed around a stamped steel receiver to save weight and reduce production complexity, the M60 had a gas piston-operated action, was fed ammunition on the left side through disintegrating links, and fired from an open bolt to make it easier to operate and cool.
With an unloaded weight of around 23 pounds, the M60 was hardly light. Top it off with a full 7.62x51mm NATO belt of ammunition, and the weight easily neared 26 pounds—a serious endurance challenge for the troops forced to lug it about. But that weight served a purpose: sustained firepower at 550–650 rounds per minute, capable of silencing enemy positions and shielding comrades.
The design had its quirks. The bipod, mounted at the barrel’s end, added stability but extra weight, while the quick-change barrel system was essential in long firefights. The gas system occasionally needed field fixes, like safety wiring, to keep it functioning under high fire rates. Still, when the Pig ran well, it was formidable. Its .30-caliber rounds could tear through jungle foliage, walls, and enemy positions alike.
For those who bore it with them in Vietnam, the M60 was a lifeline and a faithful companion. Victor Renza, an infantryman in the 4th Infantry Division, remembered learning to use the weapon blindfolded, committed to depending on it as his best friend in battle. “No. 1 Gun became my very best friend,” he explained. Enemy troops dreaded its presence so intensely that gunners were frequently primary targets, with an average life expectancy of just seconds once a firefight had commenced.
The tactical role of the M60 was well understood: deliver suppressive fire, pin down enemies, and provide space for riflemen to move. Infantry companies usually had eight M60s, with each platoon relying on their gunners to man defensive positions and beat back attackers.
The psychological impact was as significant as its lethal firepower; even hearing its bursts could keep enemy heads down. Renza related a firefight outside Tuy Hoa when shooting 200 rounds up a riverbank kept enemy forces back, even though no visual contact with the targets had been established.
The gunners had to carry an extremely heavy load. They were transporting the gun, a couple of hundred rounds of ammunition, and sometimes additional barrels, through the sun, which was burning, and over the thick and rough ground. Renza’s portrayal of a battle that was fought for survival near the Cambodian border is full of these excruciating moments: being shot while crawling across a river, reloading the new belts, and shooting on top of their people to protect the injured or to get back the dead soldiers.
It is often said that the M60 is not only famous for the wars in which it was involved but also for its distinct silhouette. Its outline was even quite well-recognized among the uneducated people, thus making it popular in movies like “Rambo: First Blood” where it was considered as one of the on-screen characters. But to those who carried it, the Pig was nothing else but a life-saving instrument, a symbol of the common bond, and at times, a sign of death. By giving it over to a new one, he got a feeling of relief as well as a little bit of affection, thinking what was going on with his “No. 1 Gun” after the fight.
The M60 has been replaced by the M240 in most departments; however, some upgraded versions are still being used in a few units. The design of modern weapons and infantry tactics is still influenced by its heritage, which serves as a milestone of the continuous demand for portable, durable, and easily-operated firearms on the battlefield. The M60, which was very difficult to handle, heavy, and harsh with its gunners’ mistakes, was, if in the hands of a skilled gunner, the backbone of American firepower in Vietnam.