In May 2011, SEAL Team Six infiltrated a compound in Pakistan, engaged multiple enemy combatants, and took out the most wanted man in the world — Osama bin Laden. This elite Special Forces unit is the tip of the spear for the U.S. military and the stories around it are the stuff of legend. (SEAL Team 6 is one of 17 of America’s most elite special forces.)
The U.S. Navy SEALs Special Forces are renowned for their high stakes missions and aptitude for conducting classified operations. To carry out these operations, the SEALs employ a variety of firearms that are versatile and adaptable to many tactical scenarios.
To determine the guns used by U.S. Navy SEALs Special Forces, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed online database Military Factory‘s catalog of Navy SEALs Weapons. We removed guns that are similar to each other and guns that are believed to no longer be in use by the SEALs. We ranked the guns according to when they entered service. Supplemental data on the type of weapon, maximum effective range, and the caliber of ammunition each gun uses also came from Military Factory.
Handguns play a crucial role in the SEALs’ armory. The Sig Sauer P228 is the long-time standard sidearm of the SEALs. Along with several others on this list, it corresponds with the theme of small compact weapons that still pack a hefty punch. Similarly, the Beretta M9 is known for its reliability under harsh conditions, which comes in handy with the unpredictable warfare situations that the SEALs often face.
One of the larger weapons in the Navy SEALs arsenal is the FGM-148 Javelin. It is a man-portable, “fire-and-forget” anti-tank missile developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The Javelin allows Navy SEALs to engage armored vehicles, fortifications, and other hardened targets from a safe distance, with a maximum range of over 8,000 feet — far beyond the capacity of many similar shoulder-fired weapons.
The weapons the Navy SEALs choose to use generally reflect their operational needs. These firearms are a significant part of what makes the Navy SEALs such an exceptionally effective force, but ultimately their effectiveness is decided by those behind the gun. (U.S. Special Forces such as the SEALs often fight in clandestine operations — the U.S. government is involved in secret wars in 15 countries.)
Here is a look at the guns used by the Navy SEALs.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
32. M72 LAW
> Year entered service: 1963
> Type: Anti-tank rocket launcher
> Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 66mm
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
31. General Electric GAU-17/A Minigun
> Year entered service: 1965
> Type: Six-barrel gatling gun
> Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
30. Mossberg Model 590
> Year entered service: 1975
> Type: Pump-action shotgun
> Maximum effective range: 130 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 12-gauge
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
29. Hawk MM-1 MGL
> Year entered service: 1980
> Type: Automatic grenade launcher
> Maximum effective range: 740 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 40x46mm
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. FIM-92 Stinger
> Year entered service: 1981
> Type: Air defense missile system
> Maximum effective range: 15,750 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 70mm
27. Smith & Wesson Model 686
> Year entered service: 1981
> Type: Six-shot revolver
> Maximum effective range: 300 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: .357 Magnum
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26. Barrett M82
> Year entered service: 1982
> Type: Anti-materiel rifle
> Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
25. ST Kinetics Ultimax 100
> Year entered service: 1982
> Type: Light machine gun
> Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO
Source: blinow61 / iStock via Getty Images
24. Kalashnikov AKSU-74
> Year entered service: 1983
> Type: Submachine gun
> Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 5.45x39mm Soviet
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23. Colt M45 MEU
> Year entered service: 1986
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: .45 ACP
22. Saco M60E3
> Year entered service: 1986
> Type: Light machine gun
> Maximum effective range: 3,600 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO
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Source: usairforce / Flickr
21. M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)
> Year entered service: 1987
> Type: Anti-armor rocket launcher
> Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 84mm
24/7 Wall St.
20. Remington M24 SWS
> Year entered service: 1987
> Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
> Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. SIG-Sauer P228
> Year entered service: 1988
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 9x19mm parabellum
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Source: Tivoly / iStock via Getty Images
18. Beretta M9
> Year entered service: 1990
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 9x19mm parabellum
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
17. Colt M16A4
> Year entered service: 1990
> Type: Assault rifle
> Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO
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16. Heckler & Koch HK MP5K
> Year entered service: 1991
> Type: Submachine gun
> Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 9x19mm parabellum
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Source: Bulgac / iStock via Getty Images
15. Colt M4
> Year entered service: 1994
> Type: Assault carbine
> Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. FGM-148 Javelin
> Year entered service: 1996
> Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
> Maximum effective range: 8,202 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 127mm
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13. Heckler & Koch HK GMG
> Year entered service: 1996
> Type: Automatic grenade launcher
> Maximum effective range: 5,000 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 40x53mm
12. Heckler & Koch Mk23 Mod 0
> Year entered service: 1996
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Maximum effective range: 82 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: .45 ACP
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11. Accuracy International AW50
> Year entered service: 1999
> Type: Anti-materiel rifle
> Maximum effective range: 4,921 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 12.7x99mm NATO
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. Benelli M4 Super 90
> Year entered service: 1999
> Type: Semi-automatic shotgun
> Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 12-gauge
9. McMillan TAC-50
> Year entered service: 2000
> Type: Anti-materiel rifle
> Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 12.7x99mm
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle
> Year entered service: 2002
> Type: Designated marksman rifle
> Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. Fabrique National Mk 48 LWMG
> Year entered service: 2003
> Type: Light weight machine gun
> Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO
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Source: usairforce / Flickr
6. Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR
> Year entered service: 2004
> Type: Designated marksman rifle
> Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
5. M32 MGL
> Year entered service: 2006
> Type: Six-shot grenade launcher
> Maximum effective range: 1,315 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 40x46mm grenade
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
4. Barrett M107
> Year entered service: 2008
> Type: Anti-personnel sniper rifle
> Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
3. M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle
> Year entered service: 2008
> Type: Designated marksman rifle
> Maximum effective range: 2,550 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO
2. AirTronic PSRL-1
> Year entered service: 2009
> Type: Anti-personnel shoulder-fired rocket launcher
> Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: 40mm Rocket
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. Accuracy International Mk13
> Year entered service: 2017
> Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
> Maximum effective range: 3,940 ft.
> Caliber/ammunition: .300 Winchester magnum
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