The Firepower Behind Operation Desert Storm: Guns Used in the Gulf War

24/7 Wall St. reviewed various historical and military sources to determine what small arms were used by the military during Operation Desert Storm. The arms are listed alphabetically. We included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding the country of origin, manufacturer, year introduced, maximum effective range, firing action, caliber, and feed.

There is a history of iconic weaponry used by U.S. soldiers fighting in conflicts, skirmishes, and wars. (Also see the oldest weapons the US Military still uses.) During Operation Desert Storm, the M16A2 played a key role during the conflict. First introduced in 1983, the M16A2 was an improved model based on the original M16 used in the Vietnam War. Some of the main enhancements included reinforced barrels, updated rifling patterns, and improved ergonomics. Another important weapon used during the Gulf War was the Remington M24, which was a relatively new weapon when the war began and is still used today in the Global War on Terror.

Barrett M82

• Year introduced: 1982
• Type: 1982
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
• Firing action: Semi-automatic; recoil-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 10-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.

Beretta M9

• Year introduced: 1990
• Type: 1990
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Beretta
• Firing action: Semi-automatic; single-action / double-action
• Caliber and feed: 9x19mm Parabellum, 15-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.

BGM-71 TOW

• Year introduced: 1970
• Type: 1970
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Hughes Aircraft / Raytheon
• Firing action: Tube-launched; optically-tracked; wire-guided
• Caliber and feed: 127mm / 152mm, Single shot; reusable
• Maximum effective range: 12,303 ft.

Browning M1919

• Year introduced: 1919
• Type: 1919
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: General Motors / Rock Island Arsenal
• Firing action: Gas-operated; belt-fed; air-cooled
• Caliber and feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser, 30-06 Springfield, 7.62x51mm NATO, .303 British, 250-round fabric belt
• Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.

Carl-Gustav M3

• Year introduced: 1948
• Type: 1948
• Country of origin: Sweden
• Manufacturer: Bofors / Saab
• Firing action: Hinged breech; percussion firing mechanism
• Caliber and feed: 84x246mm, Single-shot; reusable launch tube
• Maximum effective range: 6,600 ft.

Colt CAR-15 Commando

• Year introduced: 1966
• Type: 1966
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Firing action: Semi/full auto; gas-operated; locking bolt
• Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm M193, 20- or 30-round detachable box
• Maximum effective range: 1,320 ft.

Colt M16A2

• Year introduced: 1983
• Type: 1983
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Firing action: Gas-operated; semi-automatic; select fire
• Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable magazine
• Maximum effective range: 1,969 ft.

Colt M1911

• Year introduced: 1911
• Type: 1911
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Firing action: Single-action; short recoil-operated
• Caliber and feed: .45 ACP, 7-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 82 ft.

FN M2HB

• Year introduced: 1933
• Type: 1933
• Country of origin: Germany
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
• Firing action: Recoil-operated; automatic fire only
• Caliber and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, metal-linked belt fed
• Maximum effective range: 5,900 ft.

FN Minimi

• Year introduced: 1982
• Type: 1982
• Country of origin: Germany
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
• Firing action: Gas-operated; selective fire
• Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 200-round metal link belt, 30-round detachable box
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

HK MP5

• Year introduced: 1966
• Type: 1966
• Country of origin: Germany
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
• Firing action: Roller-locked delayed blowback
• Caliber and feed: 9x19mm Parabellum, 15-, 30-, or 40-round detachable box, C-Mag 100-round support
• Maximum effective range: 660 ft.

M1 Carbine

• Year introduced: 1942
• Type: 1942
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Winchester / Inland Division
• Firing action: Gas-operated, short-stroke piston; semi-automatic
• Caliber and feed: 30 M1 Carbine, 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 600 ft.

M1 Garand

• Year introduced: 1936
• Type: 1936
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
• Firing action: Self-loading; gas-action piston
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield, 8-round internal clip
• Maximum effective range: 1,320 ft.

M134 Minigun

• Year introduced: 1963
• Type: 1963
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: General Electric
• Firing action: Electrically-driven; belt-fed
• Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 4,000-round linked belt
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)

• Year introduced: 1987
• Type: 1987
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Alliant TechSystems
• Firing action: Single-shot, self-contained recoilless rifle
• Caliber and feed: 84mm, Single shot
• Maximum effective range: 985 ft.

M14 Rifle

• Year introduced: 1959
• Type: 1959
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt, selective fire
• Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 1,509 ft.

M2 Browning

• Year introduced: 1921
• Type: 1921
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Saco Defense
• Firing action: Automatic short recoil-operated, air-cooled
• Caliber and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 110-round metalic link belt
• Maximum effective range: 6,550 ft.

M21 Sniper Weapon System

• Year introduced: 1969
• Type: 1969
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 5-, 10-, or 20-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 2,263 ft.

M240

• Year introduced: 1977
• Type: 1977
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
• Firing action: Gas-operated; full-automatic; open bolt; belt-fed
• Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, Disintegrating link belt of various counts
• Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.

M249 SAW

• Year introduced: 1984
• Type: 1984
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
• Firing action: Gas-operated; open bolt
• Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, 200-round metal link belt, 30-round detachable box
• Maximum effective range: 2,600 ft.

M3 (Grease Gun)

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: 1943
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Ithaca Gun Company
• Firing action: Open bolt; blowback
• Caliber and feed: .45 ACP, 9x19mm Parabellum, 30-round detachable magazine
• Maximum effective range: 300 ft.

M47 Dragon

• Year introduced: 1975
• Type: 1975
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Raytheon / McDonnell Douglas
• Firing action: Single-shot, line-of-sight, hollow charge
• Caliber and feed: 140mm, Single-shot, single use
• Maximum effective range: 246 ft.

M61 Vulcan

• Year introduced: 1959
• Type: 1959
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics
• Firing action: Hydraulically operated, electrically fired, rotary
• Caliber and feed: 20x102mm Vulcan, belt-fed
• Maximum effective range: 2,000 ft.

M72 LAW

• Year introduced: 1963
• Type: 1963
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Talley Industries
• Firing action: Single-shot; disposable tube
• Caliber and feed: 66mm, Single shot disposable tube
• Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.

MAS FR F1

• Year introduced: 1966
• Type: 1966
• Country of origin: France
• Manufacturer: Manufacture d’Armes St. Etienne / GIAT Industries
• Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
• Caliber and feed: 7.5x54mm French; 7.62x51mm NATO, 10-detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 2,630 ft.

McMillian M87

• Year introduced: 1987
• Type: 1987
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Harris Gunworks / McMillan
• Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt action
• Caliber and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 1-, 5-, or 10-round magazine
• Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.

Remington M24

• Year introduced: 1987
• Type: 1987
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
• Caliber and feed: .338 Lapua Magnum, .308 Winchester Magnum, 7.62x51mm NATO, 5-round internal magazine / 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

Remington M40

• Year introduced: 1966
• Type: 1966
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Firing action: Bolt-action; rotating bolt
• Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 5-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

Remington M870

• Year introduced: 1950
• Type: 1950
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Firing action: Pump-action repeating
• Caliber and feed: 12-, 16-, 20- or 28-gauge, 4- or 7-round tubular magazine
• Maximum effective range: 120 ft.

SA80

• Year introduced: 1985
• Type: 1985
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Manufacturer: Royal Small Arms Factory / BAE Systems / Heckler & Koch
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable magazine
• Maximum effective range: 1,300 ft.

Saco M60

• Year introduced: 1957
• Type: 1957
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Saco Defense / Inland Division
• Firing action: Gas-operated; open bolt
• Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, Disintegrating link belt of various counts
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

Saco Mk 19

• Year introduced: 1967
• Type: 1967
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
• Firing action: Self-powered, air-cooled, belt-fed, blowback-operated
• Caliber and feed: 40x53mm, Belt-fed
• Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.

SIG-Sauer P226

• Year introduced: 1984
• Type: 1984
• Country of origin: Switzerland
• Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
• Firing action: Semi-automatic; short-recoil; double-action
• Caliber and feed: 9x19mm Parabellum, 12-, 13-, 15-, 17-, 18-, or 20-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.

SNT Motiv K1

• Year introduced: 1981
• Type: 1981
• Country of origin: South Korea
• Manufacturer: ST Motiv (Daewoo Precision)
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt with direct impingement system
• Caliber and feed: .223 Remington, 30-round detachable magazine
• Maximum effective range: 820 ft.

SNT Motiv K2

• Year introduced: 1987
• Type: 1987
• Country of origin: South Korea
• Manufacturer: ST Motiv (Daewoo Precision)
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, .223 Remington, 20- or 30-round detachable box
• Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.

SNT Motiv K3

• Year introduced: 1991
• Type: 1991
• Country of origin: South Korea
• Manufacturer: ST Motiv (Daewoo Precision)
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 200-round metal link belt, 30-round detachable box
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

Walther PP

• Year introduced: 1929
• Type: 1929
• Country of origin: Germany
• Manufacturer: Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen
• Firing action: Semi-automatic; straight blowback; double-action
• Caliber and feed: 7.65x15mm Browning SR, 9x19mm Short; 6.35x15mm Browning SR, 9-round detachable box magazine
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.

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