How NATO's M240 Machine Gun Fits Their Tactics

It might look heavy on paper but I think NATO's FN MAG is better than Russia's PKM. It's used by many different NATO Countries in a similar way. The strategy and tactics used on the battlefield make this weapon better than many of its counter parts. Sustained high rates of fire achieve a fire superiority over enemy forces.

#M240 #NATO #TACTICS

[Taskandpurpose]

Thanks for watching spare parts army! What do you think of the M240? Is the Russian army's PKM better in your opinion?
*UKRAINE WAR UPDATE VIDEO TOMORROW all about Russia's beautiful retreat**

[gomergomez]

The M60 was a great gun too, as long as the armorer didn’t put the gas piston in backwards. Every single M60 problem I had was due to that issue.

[megsoldaat]

I served in the infantry in a non-NATO and non-USSR country and we used FN MAG in both the integrated squad role as well as the support weapon on the flank role. Your section or platoon commander will decide depending on the circumstances how he wishes to utilise it. If for instance you are attacking trenches defended by infantry battalion, integrating your Mags in the sections put more suppressive fire on the trench while you approach. But if you are attacking a smaller formation like a platoon, you can use your Mags to pin your enemy while you flank. Not being fixed in one doctrine therefore give you multiple options, but it requires a knowledgeable/experienced commander

[jeffsilkwood]

I was a 240 gunner. By far it was my favorite weapons platform. I also used the M249 SAW. I excelled with the 240 setting records for my brigade. The range of the 240 is really only limited by the vision of the gunner and cooperation with his AG. I consistently hit targets at 1, 100 yards with no extra optics. Normal qualifications for the 240 has the far target set at 800 but my First sergeant had the range office put up the sniper targets just to see it I could hit them.
It seemed the 240 was made for me. However, give me an M16 or M4 and I was worthless. Took me multiple times to qualify. So I stayed with the machine gun for my entire enlistment from 2002-2005.
Great video!

[nuraly]

I used to be a motor rifle platoon commander in Kazakhstan. We had 4 PK in platoon: 3 PK one in each section and 1 PKS mounted on tripod. We had no optics apart from single NSPU night sight. Our platoon had no RPKs.
The tactics described are pretty accurate representation of our army: fire then flank and finish off.

[Bonko]

I did my military service in Sweden in 1997. I was a machine gunner and this was the weapon I carried (we refer to it as the "KSP '58"). We were doing drills exactly like the ones you describe --- one burst from me and then a burst from the other gunner, consecutively. I felt it was a rather bulky weapon, poorly suited for firing from the shoulder while standing. But from the bipod I was so accurate that they transferred me to the assault squad.
I remember this weapon could eat through concrete blocks and cut down trees. In an ambush situation, I can imagine they are very effective.

[Motoboo_Marine]

Out of all the weapons in US inventory that I've worked on, the M240 is the one I was most impressed with from a durability standpoint. The thing rarely ever breaks, and any repair that is needed is extremely simple. They almost never came into our shop unless it was time for scheduled maintenance, during which most of the time it passed inspection with flying colors and could usually go back into use without needing anything done. I would actually go as far as to say this thing is the most reliable weapon in inventory, right next to the M16 family of weapons. I just wish it weighed less and gunners changed barrels like they're supposed to because it seems nobody does it.

[zacharyolson]

I love how most countries treat the 240 as essentially a crew weapon and the US just gives it to a big farm boy.

[Fred]

Good intro to MG theory. My father was a Marine Corps Sargent in WWII. I still have his notes on setting up the MG positions for intersecting fire that he brought back from Guadalcanal. Very similar to those diagrams in your video. I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman in Vietnam, so didn't have much chance to learn about the theory behind the guns.

[kruger]

A family member of mine got stuck with one of these during their mandatory military service in the Swedish Armed Forces. He told me that he would always carry as much ammunition as possible with him out on training missions and exercises. He would replace as much "useless" stuff with ammo as he could. This led to him shooting his MAG way more than others just in an effort of becoming lighter. The more ammo he "wasted" the less he had to carry. I would guess this is quite common amongst machine gunners.

[LSRTX]

As USMC infantry officer I always liked the M240B and M240G as support weapons. Ironically, it was the only weapon with which I experienced a malfunction in combat. We were fighting our way out of an ambush in Fallujah, and my vehicle commander's weapon in my LAV was a M240 variant. I was into my second can of ammo when the spring in the retaining clip that holds down the feed tray cover gave out. I would get a few bursts off and the feed tray cover would pop open. When you are also going orders to your driver, hollering at your dismounts, talking to other VCs on the radio, and coordinating a CASEVAC, having your weapon decide to stop cooperating can be disconcerting. In all my time in the infantry, playing around on light armored vehicles, or training Marines at the Scool of Infantry, it was the only time a 240 variant ever malfunctioned on me. I still think it's a great infantry support weapon, my bad day not withstanding.

[MaxSluiman]

I was a Dutch infantry sergeant in 1993. We used the MAG in combination with a light enhancement scope. One could snipe at night upto 800 metres.

[benm]

I, too, request more Ukraine coverage. You do it better than others. Significantly. I think it's because you are looking at it through a conflict centered lens where others look at it through their local politics. I just want to see how the war is going.

[woiace]

We in Singapore use the FN MAG for many years. And it is still in use.

My experience with it when I was in the service is that it is heavy but when mounted on an armoured vehicle, it is a very stable weapons platform.

[brendanmedlin]

This might sound weird but I love the standing speaking video style. Something about you not sitting at a desk with a headset on makes your videos better than most commentators

[Idahoguy]

IIRC the Marines went behind the US Army’s back and requisitioned surplus M240’s in storage. Those 240’s were taken off of scrapped M48 and M60 tanks. The Marines went directly to FN Belgium for parts for converting too an infantry weapon. Trigger groups, butt stocks, bipods, etc… The Marines replaced their worn out M60 MG’s before the Army could stop them. The Army eventually replaced their M60’s with M240’s.

[tobiasfunke]

I carried the original 240B for 3 years, 27.6 pounds. It has done irreversible damage to my neck and back. Unbelievably heavy but very fun to shoot.

[telenNG]

This gun is a perfect example between the difference between hard facts and soft facts
The hard facts of this gun is it's not quite as good on paper it doesn't have the same rate of fire and it's heavier
The soft fact is how it's used, its reliability and how easy it is to get ammunition again another great video

[wrxFTWdey]

It’s truly great to see you cover the two different methodologies in employment of the GPMG. When you started talking about machine gun theory, I got a little chub. The m240 series machine gun has a special place in every machine gunners heart. I’ve never heard of anyone who’s extensively used a 240 and hated it. Whereas a lot of SAW gunners have a lot of complaints and stigmas.

[mattbrown]

I loved the M-60. However, I learned to respect the 240 in my later US Army career. Even though I was a M-249 gunner on paper, I often used the M-240 variants. They are absolute beasts on the battlefeild.