The invention of the Maxim gun in 1884 marked a crucial change in the realm of warfare. In the following hundred years, machine gun technology underwent huge developments. Certain models were engineered to be lighter, allowing for increased mobility for infantry, while others retained their stationary setups or were adapted for mounting on vehicles to boost their firepower. The M240 serves as a prime example of this development, continuing to play a crucial operational role within the United States and numerous NATO nations.
Design and development of the M240
The M240, produced by Fabrique Nationale (FN) Herstal, a Belgian arms manufacturer, was initially adopted by the US Army in 1977 for use on their tanks. Over time, both the US Army and Marine Corps expanded its roles due to its versatile capabilities.
The M240 is a gas-operated medium machine gun that employs a belt feed mechanism and is designed to fire the standard 7.62 x 51 mm NATO round. Its firing rate can be adjusted across three settings: the first setting allows for a rate of fire ranging from 650 to 750 rounds per minute, the second from 750 to 850 rounds per minute, and the third increases it to 850 to 950 rounds per minute.
The US military’s intention with the M240 was to replace the M73 and its later variant, the M219, after rigorous testing on metrics such as mean rounds before stoppage and mean rounds before failure. The M240 demonstrated superior performance in these tests, which led to its adoption by the Army.
Adopted by branches of the US military
Though both the US Army and the Marine Corps use the M240, their methods are different. The former uses the firearm with an M192 Lightweight Ground Mount tripod (introduced in 2005), famous for its swift adjustments and lightweight design, making it easy to transport in the field.
In contrast, the Marines use a modern version of the famous M2 tripod. This newer version, the M122A1, enables field use with just one hand and can be equipped by various machine guns without requiring an adapter.
Use of the M240 in battle
The M240 has been used by American soldiers in a number of different conflicts. The first was during the Gulf War. The weapon was also carried by infantrymen during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Iraqi forces used the machine gun to fight against ISIL and ISIS.
The M240 has been carried by members of the Free Syrian Army throughout the Syrian Civil War. Units have been fitted onto technicals, which are improvised military vehicles created by fitting standard pick-up trucks or similar automobiles with military weapons, such as machine guns, anti-aircraft guns or a recoilless rifle.
Many other nations have equipped the M240
A number of other nations also use the M240. The Indonesian Army equipped the machine gun on its Leopard 2s, while Poland uses the weapon on its fleet of M1A2 Abrams. The Spanish Army Airmobile Force affixes the M240 to its Chinook helicopters. In 2017, the nation of Georgia began using M240s, rather than Russian-made guns, while in 2021, the Joint United States Military Assistance Group provided models to the Philippines.
The Americans and NATO have also provided M240s to armies looking to protect themselves. The Iraqis were given them to aid in their fight against groups like the Taliban, and Ukraine has been provided with an undisclosed number to fight against the ongoing Russian invasion.
There are a number of variants
Since its debut, there have been many versions of the M240 developed. The M240E1 is used by the Marines to mount on the likes of the LAV-25, and the service also uses the M240B as its standard medium-sized infantry machine gun. The “B” variant is also used by the US Coast Guard.
The M240L can be more easily carried. Rather than being built from steel, it’s produced from titanium, making it 18 percent lighter than the standard model. The only drawback is that it takes longer to produce and has to have extra protections added to defend against the weather.
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There’s also the Barrett 240LW machine gun, made using the M240’s specifications, but aimed toward making it significantly lighter. Arms maker Barrett was able to reduce the weight through the use of different materials and through more efficiently manufacturing the gun. A shortened version, the Barrett 240LWS, was also developed.