M73 machine gun

They were also used in a twin mount in the turret of the V-100 Commando (M706) light armored car during the Vietnam War.

• Is Ranged — yes • Name — Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M219 • Type — Machine gun • Origin — United States • Design Date — 1950s • Production Date — 1950s–1970s • Used By — U.S. and NATO-aligned countries • Wars — Vietnam War • Part Length — 24 in • Cartridge — 7.62×51mm NATO • Feed — Belt feed, left or right hand • Action — Recoil-operated/short-recoil operation with gas assist • Rate — 500–625 round/min • Velocity — 2800 ft/s • Length — 48 in • Variants — See Variants • Range — 984 yd • Max Range — 4000 yd

Designed primarily as a coaxial machine gun by the Rock Island Arsenal and produced by General Electric, the M73 was developed as a replacement for the M1919A4E1, M1919A5, and M1919 Browning machine gun#M37 M37 machine guns that continued to serve in the immediate post-World War II environment. The Machine Gun, 7.62-MM, M73 was officially adopted in 1959. It is an air-cooled, recoil-operated machine gun, but also using cartridge gases to boost recoil. Though designed as a simplified alternative to the M1919 series, it is of almost identical weight. The weapon is fitted with a quick-change barrel, pull-chain charging assembly, and can be made to feed from the left or the right hand side (though the left-hand feed is more common). An attempt to make the M73 useful as a flexible infantry gun saw the weapon fitted with sights and a pistol grip trigger as the Machine Gun, 7.62-MM, M73C. Equally unpopular, very few of these weapons were produced. Sources claim that it saw limited use in Vietnam. The M73 suffered from numerous malfunctions and was prone to jamming. An improved M73E1 was eventually developed in 1970 with a simplified ejection system, being type classified as the Machine Gun, 7.62-MM, M73A1. In 1972, it was decided that this weapon was sufficiently different from its predecessor and was redesignated Machine Gun, 7.62-MM, M219. These weapons were eventually replaced by the M60E2 and M240 machine gun, and vehicles still in service using the M73 series were refitted with these weapons.

• Illustration — Drawing showing the differences between the M73 and M73A1/M219

• Adopted in 1959.

• Flexible infantry variant with sights and pistol grip. Concept development. Never entered service. • Used a special tripod, the XM132. It was a standard M2 mount for the.30 cal. Browning M1919A4 with an adapter to fit the M73C.

• Developed in 1970 as an improved version with simplified ejection mechanism attempting to reduce chronic jamming. • Redesignated to M219 in 1972