The US Navy’s Newest Gun Can Shoot More Than Half a Mile

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• Members of the U.S. Navy are trained to carry and operate a range of weapons, including longer sniper rifles and smaller handguns.
• Sailors rely on smaller firearms for various reasons, such as personal protection and special missions.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever

While the U.S. Navy depends on massive warships like aircraft carriers and battleships, successful naval combat also requires smaller firearms like pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Sailors must be well trained in handling these weapons for various tasks, such as personnel protection, security of DoD assets, combat support, and special missions.

Weapons like the Colt M4 carbine — the primary service rifle across the Navy — are particularly effective in close-quarters and boarding operations. Another of the Navy’s standard sidearms is the Beretta M9. This semi-automatic pistol’s range and large ammunition capacity make it an ideal choice for Navy personnel. (These 26 guns are made for today’s US Army.) The Accuracy International Mk 13 — a bolt-action sniper rifle that can shoot more than half a mile — is critical for special operations teams like the US Navy SEALS.

24/7 Wall St. referenced a catalog of U.S. small arms from Military Factory to identify the firearms used by the U.S. Navy. We ordered these guns by the time they entered the service. We also included supplemental information regarding the type of firearm, range, caliber, and manufacturer from Military Factory.

Why This Matters

The defense industry in the United States has a huge impact on the nation’s economy. In order to arm military personnel with the tools that they need, the Department of Defense spends a sizable portion of its budget on arms as well as research and development. Companies like General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin have made millions from military contracts.

These are the 30 firearms used by the U.S. Navy.

30. Browning M2

• Type: Heavy machine gun
• Year entered service: 1921
• Maximum effective range: 6,550 ft.
• Caliber: 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG)
• Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries

29. Heckler & Koch HK MP5

• Type: Submachine gun
• Year entered service: 1966
• Maximum effective range: 660 ft.
• Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch

28. Saco Mk 19

• Type: Automatic grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 1967
• Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.
• Caliber: 40x53mm
• Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries

27. Fabrique Nationale M240

• Type: General purpose machine gun
• Year entered service: 1977
• Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing

26. FIM-92 Stinger

• Type: Air defense missile system
• Year entered service: 1981
• Maximum effective range: 15,750 ft.
• Caliber: 70mm
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics and Raytheon

25. Barrett M82

• Type: Anti-materiel rifle
• Year entered service: 1982
• Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft
• Caliber: 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG)
• Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms

24. SIG-Sauer P226

• Type: Semi-automatic handgun
• Year entered service: 1984
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
• Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
• Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer

23. Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW / LMG

• Type: Light machine gun
• Year entered service: 1984
• Maximum effective range: 2,600 ft.
• Caliber: 15.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
• Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing

22. M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)

• Type: Anti-armor rocket launcher
• Year entered service: 1987
• Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
• Caliber: 84mm
• Manufacturer: Alliant TechSystems

21. Glock 19

• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Year entered service: 1988
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
• Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
• Manufacturer: Glock

20. Beretta M9

• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Year entered service: 1990
• Maximum effective range:
• Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
• Manufacturer: Beretta

19. Colt M16A4

• Type: Automatic rifle
• Year entered service: 1990
• Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing

18. Stoner SR-25

• Type: Sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 1990
• Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Knights Armament

17. M4 Carbine

• Type: Assault carbine
• Year entered service: 1994
• Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Remington Arms

16. Mk 23 Mod 0

• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Year entered service: 1996
• Maximum effective range: 82 ft.
• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch

15. FGM-148 Javelin

• Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
• Year entered service: 1996
• Maximum effective range: 8,202 ft.
• Caliber: 127mm
• Manufacturer: Raytheon and Lockheed Martin

14. Benelli M4 Super 90 (M1014 JSCS)

• Type: Semi-automatic combat shotgun
• Year entered service: 1999
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
• Caliber: 12-gauge
• Manufacturer: Benelli Armi

13. McMillan TAC-50

• Type: Sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 2000
• Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft.
• Caliber: 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG)
• Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products

12. Heckler & Koch HK MP7

• Type: Submachine gun
• Year entered service: 2001
• Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
• Caliber: HK 4.6x30mm
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch

11. Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle

• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 2002
• Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Knights Armament Company

10. Fabrique Nationale Mk 48 LWMG

• Type: Lightweight machine gun
• Year entered service: 2003
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale

9. Mk 14

• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 2004
• Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Smith Enterprises

8. Heckler & Koch HK 416

• Type: Assault rifle
• Year entered service: 2005
• Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch

7. McMillan TAC-338

• Type: Sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 2005
• Maximum effective range: 5,250 ft.
• Caliber: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum
• Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products

6. Heckler & Koch HK 417

• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 2006
• Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch

5. General Dynamics Mk 47 Striker AGL

• Type: Automatic grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 2006
• Maximum effective range: 5,600 ft.
• Caliber: 40x53mm grenades
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics

4. Fabrique Nationale FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17)

• Type: Automatic assault rifle
• Year entered service: 2009
• Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale

3. M320 GLM

• Type: Grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 2010
• Maximum effective range: 492 ft.
• Caliber: 40x46mm SR
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch

The M320 GLM is a grenade launcher that uses 40x46mm SR caliber ammunition and has a range of 492 ft. It entered service in 2010 and is manufactured by Heckler & Koch.

2. HK 45

• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Year entered service: 2013
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch

1. Accuracy International Mk 13

• Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 2017
• Maximum effective range: 3,940 ft.
• Caliber: .300 Winchester Magnum
• Manufacturer: Accuracy International

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