The M60 machine gun is one of the few weapons to be present in almost all the past wars in modern military history. The M60 machine gun, “the pig,” in a way, “the pig,” was a symbol of American strength, survivability, and flexibility that went to fight in almost all the crisis areas of the world for years after its first appearance in the late 1950s.
The M60 development began in the post-World War II era because the US military needed a lighter, more effective alternative to the massive Browning M1919. Borrowing a page from German innovation like the MG42 and FG42 paratroop rifle, American engineers borrowed the belt-feeder concept from the MG42 and incorporated the FG42 gas-operated revolving bolt system in an effort to create something entirely new.
Its firepower came in the form of an ubiquitous 23-pound machine gun with a barrel that could be user-exchanged—a significant upgrade from its ancestors. The M60 could be strapped by soldiers, mounted on patrol wagons, or even used in airborne operations, all of which made it immensely versatile for its time.
Chambered to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO round, the M60 possessed considerable firepower, firing out to the range of 1,200 meters when equipped with optics, or around 800 meters supported with iron sights. With its belt-fed, gas-operated system, it was capable of 500-650 sustained rates of fire per minute, offering soldiers highly effective firepower in every exchange. With the possible addition of an optional bipod and the ability to mount tripods or vehicles, the M60 was horrendously versatile. Weighing just about 10.5 kilograms when not loaded, it was lighter than the Browning M1919 but too heavy a burden for troops to have to walk with for long distances.
The Vietnam War validated the worthiness—its weaknesses being an exception—of the M60. It saw service as a standard infantry, helicopter crew, and vehicle gun. Its hot firepower was enough to draw enemy fire first, which tended to have the effect of locating the gunner in comparatively hazardous positions.
Victor Renza, a 4th Infantry Division machine gunner, recalled, “The M60 was a terror weapon—so feared that the enemy soldiers used to target the gunners first. It was tricky to use, took muscle and endurance, and we had to blindfoldedly disassemble it and reassemble it and lug hundreds of rounds into combat.”
Despite its pluses, the M60 did have a couple of negatives. Heavy-duty resulted in rapid wear on the internal parts, and while the quick-change barrel was beneficial, too much complexity resulted in combat performance. Bipod and barrel weight added to the increased load, and there were some gas system parts that tended to loosen up from firing for a prolonged period of time and forcing crews to jury up the repair schedule with whatever parts just happened to be conveniently located. Reliability was similarly at odds with some reporting that barely more than half of their M60s worked flawlessly even under regular maintenance.
The weapon evolved into various models. The standard infantry model had a steel handguard covered in rubber and a folding shoulder stock. The M60C was adapted for fixed mounting on electrically initiated hydraulic loading helicopters, and the M60D for airborne pintle-mounted configuration with ring sights and spade grips. The modifications allowed the M60 to be used as a suppressive fire platform and a squad automatic weapon for use on aircraft and vehicles.
Unlike the other machine guns of its day, the M60 was multi-purpose, if not in reliability and ease of repair. While its high rate of fire was borrowed from the MG42, it stood no chance against the versatility of the M60. One day, the FN MAG, which America employed as the M240, proved to be more reliable and a lifesaver in service and eventually phased out the M60 on a larger scale.
Off the field, the M60 was part of American popular culture. Its wedge profile and revving exhaust note ended up on screen, television, and video games—most notably, of course, in the hands of Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo in First Blood. Screen time ensured its place as one of the American military symbols.
Today, the more advanced models like the M60E6 are still used in certain units, and collectors and hobbyists alike sing the praises of the original as technologically visionary and of historic significance. The “pig” is no longer the standard omnipresent, but it is still a legend of the military—mostly remembered by those who carried it, maintained it, and fought with it.