SALW

M60

Silhouette (Visual Identification)

M60
Category Light Machine Guns
Operating system Gas operated, belt fed
Cartridge
Length 1105 mm
Feeding Belt

The M60 is a family of American general purpose machine guns firing 7.62x51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links. There are several types of live ammunition approved for use in the M60, including ball, tracer, and armor-piercing rounds. The M60 was referred to as "The Pig" during the Vietnam War. The M60's gas operation is unique, and drew on technical advances of the period, particularly the white "gas expansion and cutoff" principle also exploited by the M14 rifle. The M60's gas system was simpler than other gas systems and easier to clean.

Global distribution map

Weapon prevalence origin Country of origin licensed Licensed production unauthorized Production without a license
X
Scale dependend aggregation of production sites

The M60 is found in 56 countries

This map is a reflection of data on global distribution and production provided primarily by the BwVC. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.

Global distribution list

The data on global distribution and production is provided primarily by the BwVC, but also from national and regional focal points on SALW control; data published by think tanks, international organizations and experts; and/or data provided by individual researchers on SALW. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.

Origin Country of origin
Production Licensed production
Non-Licensed Production Production without a licence
G Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by Governmental agencies.
N Non-Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by non-Governmental armed groups.
U Unspecified: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is found in the country, but do not specify whether it is held by Governmental agencies or non-Governmental armed groups.

It is entirely possible to have a combination of tags beside each country. For example, if country X is tagged with a G and a U, it means that at least one source of data identifies Governmental agencies as holders of weapon type Y, and at least one other source confirms the presence of the weapon in country X without specifying who holds it.

Algeria (DZA)
G
Australia (AUS)
G
Bolivia (BOL)
G
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH)
G
Cambodia (KHM)
G
Chile (CHL)
G
Colombia (COL)
G
Congo (COG)
U
Costa Rica (CRI)
G
Czech Republic (CZE)
G
Democratic Republic of the Congo (COD)
G
N
Denmark (DNK)
G
Dominican Republic (DOM)
G
Egypt (EGY)
G
El Salvador (SLV)
G
Fiji (FJI)
G
Ghana (GHA)
G
Greece (GRC)
G
Haiti (HTI)
G
Honduras (HND)
G
Indonesia (IDN)
G
Ireland (IRL)
N
Italy (ITA)
G
Jordan (JOR)
G
Laos (LAO)
U
Lebanon (LBN)
G
Liberia (LBR)
G
Lithuania (LTU)
G
Luxembourg (LUX)
G
Malaysia (MYS)
G
Mexico (MEX)
G
Morocco (MAR)
G
Netherlands (NLD)
G
Nicaragua (NIC)
G
Panama (PAN)
G
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
N
Peru (PER)
G
Philippines (PHL)
G
Poland (POL)
G
Portugal (PRT)
G
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (VCT)
G
Senegal (SEN)
G
South Korea (KOR)
O
G
South Sudan (SSD)
U
Spain (ESP)
G
Sudan (SDN)
G
Taiwan (TWN)
O
G
Thailand (THA)
G
Trinidad and Tobago (TTO)
G
Tunisia (TUN)
G
Turkey (TUR)
G
Uganda (UGA)
G
United Kingdom (GBR)
G
United States (USA)
O
G
Venezuela (VEN)
G
Vietnam (VNM)
U

Visual Identification (Silhouette)

M60 (3)

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