Mk48

Joint research between the US SOCOM and FN Herstal have gave birth to the latest generation of 7.62 firing general purpose medium machinegun for the army of United States. Finished in 2003 and entered full production, Mk48 is a US Naval military version for FN Maximi, a scaled up version of the 5.56 calibre Mk46 (FN Minimi) designed to chamber the 7.62. Mk48 was designed specially for naval based units under US SOCOM commands such as the Navy Seals, replacing the aging M60E4 and M240 out of service of special operational units. Other than SOCOM commanded units, US troops stationed in Afghanistan have also issued with some Mk48 for emergency use. The Mk48 is a gas operated, air-cooled, fully automatic machinegun, the weapon fires from an open bolt, fed with munition belts from the left side of the receiver. Chambers the 7.62x51mm NATO rounds, Mk48's rate of fire is around 700 rounds per minute, effectively covering up to 800 metres of range and able reach up to a maximum of 3,600 metres of range. The disintegrating belt fed Mk48 feeds from can be chained to any lengths needed, Mk48 have access to large capacity ammo pouch backpack or it can just be fed from a supplied belt. Compared to the M60E4 and the M240 MG Mk48 is replacing, Mk48 is lighter and more compact, features even more modernized designs such as Picatinny rails placements (Up to 5, one on top of the receiver, 4 on the top bottom and both sides of the weapon forearm) for accessories mounting. Picatinny rail compatible accessories such as the SOPMOD kit, red dot sights ECOS-N are all compatible with Mk48. Other features include a mounted bipod for prone position firing, a tripod mounting lug for tripod mounted firing, the carrying handle that was removed from Mk46 is reintegrated back on the Mk48. Mk48 also have a lot of compatible parts with Mk46 and M240 to simplify the process of on the field repairs. The lighter mass of Mk48 meant the gun parts are not as durable when compared to M240 parts, the service lifespan of Mk48 is only half that of a M240, due to this reason Mk48 cannot completely replace M240 from main army unit's service.