![]() So well-known was the MG42 that American GIs developed an ear for its distinct sound when it fired, recognizing the weapon almost instantly. The MG42 was noted for its in-the-field reliability, ease of use and its durability under true fire conditions - able to spew out an impressive 1,200 to 1,500 rounds per minute. The excellent belt-fed MG42 was a standard part of the German Army from 1942 to 1959, replacing the expensive yet equally-successful MG34 general purpose machine gun. The M60 actually had its origins in several respected German machine guns of World War 2. Despite its deficiencies, the M60 has led a long operational life that few modern machine guns can match. ![]() Some foreign forces today still rely on the firepower inherent in the M60 - this some 50 years since the introduction of the weapon - and some 25+ nations have taken to field the system as their standard multi-purpose machine gun at one point or another. During the Cold War and thereafter, the M60 became a fixture of combat actions encompassing the Vietnam War, the Cambodian Civil War, the Gulf War of 1991, the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War of 2003 (among others). ![]() It entered service in 1957 and saw extensive use in all United States branches from 1960 on. The M60 appeared following the close of the Korean War. ![]() The M60 served as the primary American general purpose machine gun for a good part of the 20th Century, being fielded in the squad support and vehicle mounted roles during its tenure.
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