There are only a few weapons that have had such a deep impact on modern infantry combat as the M60 machine gun. In both ways, the M60 was described by the soldiers, one as “the Pig” and the other as “the Pig” – in a loving and somewhat reluctant manner. During the war in Vietnam, the M60 was the “American death” and the “American indomitable spirit” rolled into one by its users. Its doom call, awkward mass, and bottomless ammunition wish made it known as a double-edged weapon for all those who had to carry it into the fight.
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 load carried by gunners was enormous. They had the gun, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and occasionally additional barrels—under scorching heat and across dense, harsh terrain. Renza’s description of a desperate battle along the Cambodian border illustrates this intensity: crawling across a stream under fire, reloading new belts, and firing over their people to cover the wounded or recover dead soldiers.
The M60’s legacy extends beyond battle. Its silhouette became iconic in popular lore, immortalized in movies such as “Rambo: First Blood.” For its bearers, though, the Pig was more than a movie prop—it was an instrument of survival, a badge of brotherhood, and occasionally, a portent of loss. Passing it along to a successor brought relief but also lingering fondness, wondering what happened to his “No. 1 Gun” after combat.
The M60 has now been replaced in most units by newer machine guns such as the M240, but upgraded versions are still in use in a few units. Its legacy continues to affect the design of weapons and infantry doctrine, a testament to the long-standing necessity for portable, reliable automatic firepower on the battlefield. Finicky, heavy, and unforgiving, the M60 was, when handled by a competent gunner, the foundation of American firepower in Vietnam.