M-60 & RPD MGs

[Polish_GI]

While I was tinkering with a current FSB defense at night, I got to thinking about both MGs.  While effective weapons, I think we have made them too powerful.  Only in respect to the ammo belt/magazine/drum size.  Both MGs come with 200rd belts/drums in the current form.  

I could be wrong, but didn't the M-60 MG only load a 100rd belt?  While 200rds is awesome, how practical and realistic is it?  I would assume carrying a couple 200rd belts around could get heavy!

After some research on the RPD, it appears that ammo was fed to the MG via a belt/drum and external detachable magazine.  External magazines were 40rds, and belts within the drum are 100 rds.

Thoughts?

[Hawkins]

Yep, I've been thinking of the same thing. Do you have the site from where you got the information in hand? Would love to read it myself too.
How about the M60? Same thing with the belt fed and drum mags?

This is a good find made! I'm sure we'll look into it.



EDIT:
Oh, and there is a RDP which has a 100rd mag. It's the SOG modified RPD, which is available with one of the SOG units. The classname was VTE_SOGRPD or sth similiar. Can't check it since I'm not home ATM.

[Steel]

M60 standard issue was a 100 round belt. there were never any drums for an m60... it is possible during an engagement that the AG could attach another belt to the end of the first one before it was entirely used up. also remember that after 200 rounds of rapid fire the barrel is supposed to be changed...not sure if that can be modeled.

i do not know as much about the rpd, but i am sure it could be researched.

[Polish_GI]

EDIT:
Oh, and there is a RDP which has a 100rd mag. It's the SOG modified RPD, which is available with one of the SOG units. The classname was VTE_SOGRPD or sth similiar. Can't check it since I'm not home ATM.

M-60 GPMG:

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encycl ... ne_gun.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M60_machine_gun
http://www.173rdairborne.com/weapons.ht ... 2mm%20GPMG
http://www.vietnam-war.info/weapons/m60_machine_gun.php
http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarm ... arms_id=14

M-60s were fed by a 100rd belt.  The MG itself weighted anywhere from 21.5-23.0lbs (9.8-10.5kg).  Now, I have been unsuccessful sourcing this to a website online, but I remember reading somewhere that the 100rd 7.62 x 51mm Nato belt weighed around 16-18lbs (7.3-8.2kg) each.  I think that is a lot of weight to carry around in its current VTE form.  Perhaps something a little more scaled down such as the M-60, 3 x belts to equal 74lbs (33.6kg)?  The gunner has to bring this along on a patrol plus all of his other pieces of equipment/food/water etc.  As steel said prior, changing out barrels was highly encouraged for sustained periods of time while firing.  Thoughts?  Typically, the squad all carried a belt for the 'Pig' in case the gunner needed it.

RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemet Degtyarova - Degtyarov Light MG)

http://www.173rdairborne.com/weapons.htm#RPD7
http://www.vietnam-war.info/weapons/rpd_machine_gun.php
http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg14-e.htm
http://www.gruntonline.com/NVAandVC/nva ... .htm#RPK-7

After much review, it appears that the RPD was only fed by a 100rd belt that was enclosed inside of a drum.  The 40rd magazine that I am thinking about resides with the RPK MG, which replaced the RPD, of which, I am unsure if it saw action in Vietnam.

Hopefully, this helps!

Off the topic but an interesting page to read...
http://www.mooremilitaria.com/nva_vc_authenticity.htm

[Hawkins]

Good stuff mate!

Yep, the 3 100rd mags for the M60 sound fair enough. An assistant MG gunner could also be cool, who would carry more of the ammo. I think in I44 they made something like that. Worth looking into. Thanks again for the info!

[Polish_GI]

Good stuff mate!

Yep, the 3 100rd mags for the M60 sound fair enough. An assistant MG gunner could also be cool, who would carry more of the ammo. I think in I44 they made something like that. Worth looking into. Thanks again for the info!

Anytime!  I love to research things....

[Steel]

the AG did actually carry the spare barrel, tripod, and extra ammo... the belt actually went into a cloth bandolier that attached to the side of the M60 with a loop...

if you look at this pic:

http://www.shermansurvival.com/novedades02/top/m60.jpg

the metal plate that extends vertically down below the ammo cover is where the loop from the cloth ammo bandolier slipped over to attach to the gun.

this might explain it a bit better - it is the hanger assembly:

http://www.ofp.bmj.pl/img/m60check2.jpg

BTW - here is a pretty good reference for just general stuff...

http://gruntonline.com/TheWar/DeltaMike2/mike2_us8.htm

[Polish_GI]

It is great, we (USMC) were able to stop the initial NVA waves (FSB night defense), so I decide to venture off the base to "clean up" so to speak.  Found myself a very nice little RPD.  9 belts of 200 rounds, 1800 rounds total.  I pity the individual that moved near the treeline.  Once the flare light was up in the sky, you can literally hose anything for an extended period of time.

[Polish_GI]

BTW - here is a pretty good reference for just general stuff...

http://gruntonline.com/TheWar/DeltaMike2/mike2_us8.htm

That is a pretty good page to read for some background info!

Cheers!