U.S. Marine Corps Weapons 1940s and Today - 1359 Words

U.S. Marine Corps Weapons: 1940s and Today Brandon L. Newberry ENG 121 Benjamin Daw 6/11/2012 U.S. Marine Corps Weapons: 1940s and Today A lot of men see the differences in generations within the military, but few can see that early military formed everything in to the way the military is today. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the Marine infantryman’s basic weapons of the 1940s and today, to include the rifle, machine guns and anti-tank weapons. In the 1940s every U.S. Marine was issued and carried with him where ever he went, a 9.5 lb, 43.5 inches, M1 Garand. The body of the weapon was made from a solid piece of wood and the barrel was fabricated from a solid piece of medal witch chambered a 7.62x51†¦show more content†¦The M249 fires a 5.56x45 millimeter round that can fire up to 850 rounds per minute from a 100 round linked drum and can accurately engage a target out to 1,000 yards. Just like its 1940s counterpart it is used on the front lines for its light weight and maneuverability. The M249 will soon be replaced with the M27. The med ium weight machine gun that is in use today is the M240G which weighs in at 25.6 lbs at 49.7 inch’s. The M240G can fire up to 950 rounds per minute from a 100 round linked drum and can accurately engage and eliminate a target out to 1,800 yards. The M240G, just like the M1919, fires a 7.62x51 millimeter and was placed on the front lines and in aircrafts for its high caliber and its high rate of fire. Lastly the heavy machine gun that we use today is the same that was used in the 1940s, the M2. There have been very few changes, such as parts made out of lighter medals. The last class of weapons to cover is the main anti-tank weapons. During the 1940s the main anti-tank weapon is also one of the most famous weapons that were on the battle field, the M9, also known as the Bazooka. The M9 weighed in at 14.3 lbs unloaded at 61 inches. The warhead itself weighed in at 3.5 lbs and was a 57 millimeter caliber and consisted of a 1 lb shape charge that could penetrate up to 4 inches of armor. The warhead was only accurate out to 120 yards, which is getting close to a tank for a shot, but could be fired out to 500 yards. As the M9 was long inShow MoreRelatedWomen s Rights Of Women1270 Words   |  6 PagesIn having two uncles who served in the Marines and a nephew who is now in the Marines, they talk about how women will act under pressure in combat. They still don’t think that women are capable. Assuming that their reasons are the same as everyone else in the military; their reason is that women physical strength is too weak to carry their male counterpart out of danger and their mental capacity to handle how gruesome war really is, as well as the woman hygiene and the hypothesis â€Å"what if the femaleRead MoreMississippi Essay947 Words   |  4 Pagesmilitary operations. 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