M73 Machine gun
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| M73/M219 Machine gun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Machine gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1950s-1970s |
| Used by | U.S.,South Vietnam?, NATO? |
| Wars | Vietnam War (U.S.), Present day |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1950s |
| Produced | 1950s-1970s |
| Variants | M73, M219 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 31 lb (14 kg) |
| Length |
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| Barrel length | 24 in (609 mm) |
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| Cartridge |
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| Action | Recoil-operated/short-recoil operation |
| Rate of fire | 400–600 round/min |
| Effective range | 1,500 yd (1,370 m) (maximum) |
| Feed system | 250-round belt |
The M73 and M219 were 7.62 NATO Calibre machine guns designed for tank use. They were basically 'simplified' M1919 Browning machine guns to save space in the crammed interiors of Tanks/APCs etc but using more modern 'Push Through' links. Never much popular, They were soon superseded by the M240(FN MAG) GPMG's.
