The United States Navy employs a range of small arms for the safety and security of its personnel and operations. While the guns the Navy uses may not see as much time on the battlefield as guns the Army or Marines use, they are still important in carrying out naval operations. As such, Navy service members are still trained in the use of these small arms.
At the start, the U.S. Navy typically relied a great deal on small arms, and each Navy soldier was outfitted and trained with pistols, rifles, and swords. Since its inception, first, as the Continental Navy in 1775, and in 1794 becoming what we have today, the U.S. Navy has evolved over the years and much has changed. Today, in addition to its cruisers, submarines, and aircraft carriers, Navy sailors and soldiers still use a large arsenal of small arms.
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. (Compare this list to the 26 guns in the U.S. Army arsenal.)
One of the Navy’s standard sidearms for at least a few decades is the Beretta M9. This semi-automatic pistol is chambered for the standardized 9x19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge. The M9’s effective range and large ammunition capacity make it an ideal choice for Navy personnel.
The Colt M4 carbine continues to be the primary service rifle across the Navy, much like some of the other U.S. armed forces. This compact variant of the M16 rifle is particularly effective in close-quarters and boarding operations. The M4’s reliability and modular options make it an ideal choice for various naval combat scenarios. Not just the M4 carbine, but over time, many of these weapons have been updated. (Also see: This military has the most guns.)
Here are the firearms used by the U.S. Navy.
30. Browning M2
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Heavy machine gun
- Year entered service: 1921
- Maximum effective range: 6,550 ft.
- Caliber: 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG)
- Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
29. Heckler & Koch HK MP5
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Submachine gun
- Year entered service: 1966
- Maximum effective range: 660 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
28. Saco Mk 19
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Year entered service: 1967
- Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.
- Caliber: 40x53mm
- Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
27. Fabrique Nationale M240
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: General purpose machine gun
- Year entered service: 1977
- Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
26. FIM-92 Stinger
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Air defense missile system
- Year entered service: 1981
- Maximum effective range: 15,750 ft.
- Caliber: 70mm
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Raytheon
25. Barrett M82
- Type: Anti-materiel rifle
- Year entered service: 1982
- Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.
- Caliber: 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG)
- Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
24. SIG-Sauer P226
- Type: Semi-automatic handgun
- Year entered service: 1984
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
23. Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW / LMG
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Light machine gun
- Year entered service: 1984
- Maximum effective range: 2,600 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
22. M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- Type: Anti-armor rocket launcher
- Year entered service: 1987
- Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
- Caliber: 84mm
- Manufacturer: Alliant TechSystems
21. Glock 19
Source: sand86 / iStock via Getty Images
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year entered service: 1988
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: Glock
20. Beretta M9
Source: Tivoly / iStock via Getty Images
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year entered service: 1990
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: Beretta
19. Colt M16A4
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
- Type: Automatic rifle
- Year entered service: 1990
- Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing
18. Stoner SR-25
- Type: Sniper rifle
- Year entered service: 1990
- Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Knights Armament
17. M4 Carbine
Source: Bulgac / iStock via Getty Images
- Type: Assault carbine
- Year entered service: 1994
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing / Remington Arms
16. Mk 23 Mod 0
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year entered service: 1996
- Maximum effective range: 82 ft.
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
15. FGM-148 Javelin
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
- Year entered service: 1996
- Maximum effective range: 8,202 ft.
- Caliber: 127mm
- Manufacturer: Raytheon / Lockheed Martin
14. Benelli M4 Super 90 (M1014 JSCS)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Semi-automatic combat shotgun
- Year entered service: 1999
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Caliber: 12-gauge
- Manufacturer: Benelli Armi
13. McMillan TAC-50
- Type: Sniper rifle
- Year entered service: 2000
- Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft.
- Caliber: 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG)
- Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products
12. Heckler & Koch HK MP7
- Type: Submachine gun
- Year entered service: 2001
- Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
- Caliber: HK 4.6x30mm
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
11. Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year entered service: 2002
- Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing / Knights Armament Company
10. Fabrique Nationale Mk 48 LWMG
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Light weight machine gun
- Year entered service: 2003
- Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
9. Mk 14
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year entered service: 2004
- Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Smith Enterprises
8. Heckler & Koch HK 416
- Type: Assault rifle
- Year entered service: 2005
- Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
7. McMillan TAC-338
Source: Courtesy of The Overwatch ELR via Facebook
- Type: Sniper rifle
- Year entered service: 2005
- Maximum effective range: 5,250 ft.
- Caliber: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum
- Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products
6. Heckler & Koch HK 417
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year entered service: 2006
- Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
5. General Dynamics Mk 47 Striker AGL
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Year entered service: 2006
- Maximum effective range: 5,600 ft.
- Caliber: 40x53mm
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics
4. Fabrique Nationale FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17)
- Type: Automatic assault rifle
- Year entered service: 2009
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
3. M320 GLM
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Grenade launcher
- Year entered service: 2010
- Maximum effective range: 492 ft.
- Caliber: 40x46mm SR
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
2. HK 45
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year entered service: 2013
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
1. Accuracy International Mk 13
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year entered service: 2017
- Maximum effective range: 3,940 ft.
- Caliber: .300 Winchester Magnum
- Manufacturer: Accuracy International
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