On January 28, 2024, the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command confiscated a shipment of various arms and military components in the Arabian Sea. The vessel, heading towards Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, contained over 200 packages that included medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle parts, military-grade communication and network equipment, and anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies. Due to the quick response of the Navy, these weapons won’t add to the destruction of war torn Yemen. (Check out the countries that go to war most often.)
For operations such as these, Naval officers must utilize a range of small arms for the safety and security of its personnel. 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. (Check out 26 guns made for today’s US Army.)
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 and included supplemental information regarding the type of firearm, range, caliber, and manufacturer also from Military Factory.
Why This Matters
Source: EllenwoodMax37 / Shutterstock.com
24/7 is covering the firearms used by the United States Navy because of how impactful the defense industry is to our economy. In order to arm our 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 such as General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin have made millions from military contracts.
Scroll below to see the 30 firearms used by the U.S. Navy.
30. Browning M2
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Browning M2 is a 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG) caliber heavy machine gun with a range of 6,550 ft. It entered service in 1921 and is manufactured by Saco Defense Industries.
29. Heckler & Koch HK MP5
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Heckler & Koch HK MP5 is a 9Ă—19 parabellum submachine gun with a range of 660 feet. It entered service in 1966 and is manufactured by Heckler & Koch.
28. Saco Mk 19
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Saco Mk 19 is an automatic grenade launcher with a range of 4,500 ft. It entered service in 1967 and is manufactured by Saco Defense Industries.
27. Fabrique Nationale M240
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Fabrique Nationale M240 is a 7.62x51mm NATO caliber machine gun with a caliber and a range of 5,905 ft. It entered service in 1977 and is manufactured by FN Manufacturing.
26. FIM-92 Stinger
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The FIM-92 Stinger is a 70mm air defense missile system with a range of 15,750 ft. It entered service in 1981 and is manufactured by General Dynamics and Raytheon.
25. Barrett M82
The Barrett M82 is an anti-materiel rifle with a caliber of 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG) and a range of 1,850 ft. It entered service in 1982 and is manufactured by Barrett Firearms.
24. SIG-Sauer P226
The SIG-Sauer P226 is a 9Ă—19 parabellum semi-automatic handgun with a range of 165 ft. It entered service in 1984 and is manufactured by SIG-Sauer.
23. Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW / LMG
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW / LMG is a light machine gun with a caliber of either 15.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition and a range of 2,600 ft. It entered service in 1984 and is manufactured by FN Manufacturing.
22. M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)
Source: Swadim / Wikimedia Commons
The M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4) is an anti-armor rocket launcher that can launch an 84mm caliber rocket 985 ft. It entered service in 1987 and is manufactured by Alliant TechSystems.
21. Glock 19
Source: sand86 / iStock via Getty Images
The Glock 19 is a semi-automatic service pistol that uses a 9×19 parabellum cartridge and has a range of 165 ft. It entered service in 1988.
20. Beretta M9
Source: Tivoly / iStock via Getty Images
The Beretta M9 is a semi-automatic service pistol that uses a 9Ă—19 parabellum cartridge and a range of 164 ft. It entered service in 1990 and is manufactured by Beretta.
19. Colt M16A4
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
The Colt M16A4 is an automatic rifle that uses 5.56x45mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 1,968 ft. It entered service in 1990 and is manufactured by Colt Manufacturing.
18. Stoner SR-25
The Stoner SR-25 is a sniper rifle that uses 7.62x51mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 4,500 ft. It entered service in 1990 and is manufactured by Knights Armament.
17. M4 Carbine
Source: Bulgac / iStock via Getty Images
The M4 Carbine is an assault carbine that uses 5.56x45mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 1,640 ft. It entered service in 1994 and is manufactured by Colt Manufacturing and Remington Arms.
16. Mk 23 Mod 0
The Mk 23 Mod 0 is a semi-automatic service pistol that uses .45 ACP caliber ammunition and has a range of 82 ft. It entered service in 1996 and is manufactured by Heckler & Koch.
15. FGM-148 Javelin
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The FGM-148 Javelin is an anti-tank guided missile launcher that uses 127mm caliber ammunition and has a range of 8,202 ft. It entered service in 1996 and is manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
14. Benelli M4 Super 90 (M1014 JSCS)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Benelli M4 Super 90 (M1014 JSCS) is a 12-gauge, semi-automatic combat shotgun with a range of 164 ft. It entered service in 1999 and is manufactured by Benelli Armi.
13. McMillan TAC-50
The McMillan TAC-50 is a sniper rifle that uses 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG) caliber ammunition and has a range of 6,561 ft. It entered service in 2000 and is manufactured by McMillan Tactical Products.
12. Heckler & Koch HK MP7
The Heckler & Koch HK MP7 is a submachine gun that uses HK 4.6x30mm caliber ammunition and has a range of 656 ft. It entered service in 2001.
11. Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle is a designated marksman rifle that uses 5.56x45mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 1,800 ft. It entered service in 2002 and is manufactured by Colt Manufacturing and Knights Armament Company.
10. Fabrique Nationale Mk 48 LWMG
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Fabrique Nationale Mk 48 LWMG is a light weight machine gun that uses 7.62x51mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 2,624 ft. It entered service in 2003 and is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale.
9. Mk 14
Source: PEO Soldier / Wikimedia Commons
The Mk 14 is a designated marksman rifle that uses 7.62x51mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 1,500 ft. It entered service in 2004 and is manufactured by Smith Enterprises.
8. Heckler & Koch HK 416
The Heckler & Koch HK 416 is an assault rifle that uses 5.56x45mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 985 ft. It entered service in 2005 and is manufactured by Heckler & Koch.
7. McMillan TAC-338
Source: Sniper Scope by Dyroc / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
The McMillan TAC-338 is a sniper rifle that can use either .338 Lapua Magnum or .338 Norma Magnum caliber ammunition and has a range of 5,250 ft. It entered service in 2005 and is manufactured by McMillan Tactical Products.
6. Heckler & Koch HK 417
The Heckler & Koch HK 417 is a designated marksman rifle that uses 7.62x51mm NATO caliber ammunition and has a range of 2,625 ft. It entered service in 2006 and is manufactured by Heckler & Koch.
5. General Dynamics Mk 47 Striker AGL
The General Dynamics Mk 47 Striker AGL is an automatic grenade launcher that can launch 40x53mm grenades as far as 5,600 ft. It entered service in 2006 and is manufactured by General Dynamics.
4. Fabrique Nationale FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17)
The Fabrique Nationale FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17) is an automatic assault rifle that can use either 5.56x45mm NATO or 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition and has a range of 1,640 ft. It entered service in 2009 and is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale.
3. M320 GLM
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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
The HK 45 is a semi-automatic service pistol that uses .45 ACP caliber ammunition and has a range of 165 ft. It entered service in 2013 and is manufactured by Heckler & Koch.
1. Accuracy International Mk 13
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Accuracy International Mk 13 is a bolt-action sniper rifle that uses .300 Winchester Mag ammunition and has a range of 3,940 ft. It entered service in 2017 and is manufactured by Accuracy International.
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