The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Squad Automatic Weapons Part I

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

Chinook resupplying Firebase Vegas via sling load, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

In the world of war, weapons and technology are ever changing, each war is characterized by the weapons and tactics used to fight it. As new environments and enemies are encountered, the parties to those wars develop new - more effective tactics, technologies, and weapons to counter and defeat their adversaries. The ingenuity seen in war has existed since (and most certainly before) the first wars of recorded history and continue to this very day.

Keeping with that theory, let’s take a look at the weapons that have characterised the wars and conflicts that the United States has been a party to over the course of it’s history. During the course of this series, I aim to breakdown the weapons used in each conflict by their classification, and to which party they were employed by. Having served in combat operations in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, I would like to start our series with the War in Afghanistan.

For our third installment, let’s take a look at the most commonly encountered Squad Automatic Weapons in Afghanistan. In an infantry fireteam the SAW gunner carries the most casualty-producing weapon in the team. Most squad automatic weapons are select-fire or fully automatic light machine guns, and are usually of the same caliber as the rifles and carbines present in the team. Some of the duties of the SAW gunner is to provide overwatch and suppressive fire for the fireteam.

Soldiers of 2nd Squad - 3rd Platoon, Viper Co. 1-26 INF, making contact with locals in area, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Magpul ACS Stock

Part I: The United States

M249

Of all the weapon systems at the Infantry fireteam level the M249 is by far my favorite. Having held all the roles in a fireteam (rifleman, grenadier, SAW gunner, and team leader), the role of SAW gunner was my favorite, so much so that when I assumed the position of team leader while in country, I continued to carry the SAW (albeit we were also pretty undermanned at the time). Nothing can beat the feeling and awesomeness of the shear firepower afforded by the M249. It may be heavy and hell to carry, but it will only make you stronger, and if you keep it clean (I cleaned mine every day) it will always work when you need it to.

One of the many daily cleanings of my M249, OP Little-Rock, Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

The M249 machine gun is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt- or magazine-fed, automatic weapon that fires from the open-bolt position. Ammunition feeds into the weapon from a ammunition box/pouch containing a disintegrating, metallic, split-link belt. Only in emergencies do M249 gunners use a 20- or 30-round M16 rifle magazine, in part because this increases the chance of stoppages. The gunner can fire the versatile M249 machine gun from the shoulder, hip, or underarm; with a bipod; or with a tripod.

Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
Effective Range: 700 m point target (18.5" Barrel); 800 m point target (20.5" Barrel); Maximum range 3,600 m.
Weight: 17 lbs / 7.5 kg (unloaded)
Rate of Fire: 775 rounds per minute (cyclic)
Capacity: 100-200 round drums.

Magpul PMAG 30rd w/ Window GEN M3 Magazines

Mk46 MOD 0/1

When my fireteam received a Mk 46 MOD 1 machine gun halfway through our deployment in the Korengal I was a little skeptical of how well it would operate in comparison to the M249. Components were removed, more holes were drilled out of the receiver, and it seemed a lighter material was used in the receiver all in the name of shedding weight. The idea of a lighter M249 sounded great, but when I got my hands on the Mk 46 my initial feeling was that it was flimsy, cheap, not as solid, and wouldn't hold up as well as the M249. That all quickly changed after carrying it for a couple weeks. The reduced weight was great while on patrol in the mountains, and firefight after firefight, this thing performed as it should. The only changes I made was to replace the buttstock with the collapsible one from the M249.

View of abandoned structure in Hanuk Banday routinley used by Anti-Coalition forces to attack Firebase Vegas, through an ACOG mounted on a Mk 46 Mod 1 machine gun.

The Mk 46 MOD 1 machine gun is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed, automatic weapon that fires from the open-bolt position. Ammunition feeds into the weapon from a ammunition box/pouch containing a disintegrating, metallic, split-link belt. The gunner can fire the Mk 46 machine gun from the shoulder, hip, underarm, or with a bipod. The Mk 46 machine gun is built upon the M249 machine gun (FN Minimi), with modifications to make it lighter, and more adept to mobility in combat situations and unforgiving terrain. The carrying handle, magazine insertion well, and vehicle mounting lugs were removed to save weight.

Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
Effective Range: 800 m point target; 1,800 m maximum range.
Weight: 15.44 lbs / 7 kg (unloaded)
Rate of Fire: 730 rounds per minute (cyclic)
Capacity: 100-200 round drums

Allen Foam Hearing Protection

M27 IAR

The Infantry Automatic Rifle program was launched by the United States Marine Corps in 2005 to find a replacement for the heavy and cumbersome M249 SAW that was serving as the Squad Automatic weapon in a fireteam at the time. Two of the weapons in the competition were the FN SCAR HAMR and a slightly modified HK416. The weapon chosen to replace the M249 was the HK416, later designated the M27 IAR.

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle is a variant of the HK416. The HK416 is a product improvement of M4/M16-type carbines and rifles. Using the HK-proprietary gas piston system found on the company’s G36 rifle, the HK416 prevents propellant gases and carbon from fouling the weapon’s interior. The HK operating system, as well as other improvements made to various components and parts ensure reliability and performance in all scenarios, with all types of ammunition, with all barrel lengths, and with and without sound suppressors attached. An innovative free-floating four-quadrant rail system/ handguard designed by HK allows all current accessories, sights, lights, and aimers used on M4/M16-type weapons to be fitted to the HK416. This HK rail system handguard can be installed and removed without tools.

Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
Effective Range: 550 m point target; 800 m area target; 3,601 m maximum range
Weight: 7.9 lbs / 3.6 kg
Rate of Fire: 850 rounds per minute (cyclic)
Capacity: 30 round USGI magazines.