Saturday, September 25, 2010

M-60E4's are still in the inventory?

I got the above pic from the Navy website. Its of a Sailor providing security on an amphib some type of naval vessel. What got my attention though is his weapon.

If I'm seeing it right, it looks like an M-60E4.

The Navy Seals and US Marines both ditched that weapon years ago and now we see it again. Does anyone have an visibility on how or why its in the regular Navy's inventory and how many there are?
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5 comments:

  1. MarcaseSunday, September 26, 2010 3:43:00 AM

    The USN also still uses M-14s aboard ships (to shoot RAS-lines etc.), and navies in general still use 'old' weapons for shipboard duty, primarily security.

    They are still in the inventory (ie cheap), they are only used sporadically yet still pack a punch if necessary. Surface ships are usually better equipped since they also do boardings and visit foreign (commercial) ports, but subs generally do not and the foreign ports they visit are usually allied naval bases which have their own security.

    Untill the early 1990's there were even UK subs which - I kid you not - still carried Stenguns!

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  2. meSunday, September 26, 2010 7:52:00 AM

    I can't be sure but it looks like he's standing on top of a submarine's sail. The two objects framing him are probably the snorkle and/or the periscopes. The deck behind him is really narrow and has a curce to it.

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  3. GrimSunday, September 26, 2010 11:11:00 AM

    @me: I agree, looks like he's on a sub. But I don't think he's on top of the sail, he's very close to the waterline (unless the photo is playing on optical trick on me) and he is roped up which suggests falling would be bad = next to the water with no rail.

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  4. thinkdefenceSunday, September 26, 2010 11:21:00 AM

    Marcase, is that the case, must say I have never heard of that. The Sterling was introduced in 1953 and the STEN was utter crap!

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  5. AnonymousSunday, September 26, 2010 12:15:00 PM

    He's standing atop the sail of a submarine, the angle just makes it a weird picture. You can see the pointed conning tower and the two dark objects left and right are from the periscopes/radar masts.

    Thinkdefence, you're right; they were 1950s Sterlings!

    Marcase

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