M85 machine gun
Encyclopedia
The M85 is a heavy machine gun
that was used primarily weapon for turreted applications in armored fighting vehicles. Designed for anti-aircraft and anti-personnel use, the weapon was found to be extremely complicated. It was used on the M60
series of tanks and the LVTP-7
amphibious landing vehicle.
. The weapon was developed with selectable high and low rates of fire for engagement of both ground and air targets, a feature lacking in the older M2.
The M85 was the standard heavy tank machine gun for the M60 series, and was also used on the LVTP-7 amphibious vehicle. It is an air-cooled, recoil operated machine gun, has a short receiver and quick change barrel, and can be configured for left or right hand feeding. The M85 is significantly lighter than the M2, and significantly smaller, a prime consideration for its intended role inside the cramped interiors of armored vehicles. Firing and charging are achieved by pull on one of two color coded pull chains (black for charging and red for firing), or by means of a solenoid
.
The M85 used the M15 push-through link to feed ammunition as opposed to the M2 or M9 pull-out links used on the M2 and M3 Browning machine guns. This created issues with ammunition supply in use, since despite the same .50 BMG cartridges being used in both patterns of machine gun the ammunition was supplied already packed on links and re-linking was not practical in the field.
In service the M85 was found to be unreliable and extremely complex compared to the M2 machine gun. The weapon was not fitted to the M1 Abrams
, and was replaced by the M2 machine gun on the improved AAVP-7
. An attempt was also made to make a version of the M85 that would replace the M2 in the infantry role was designated the M85C, and features standard spade grips and can be fitted to the M3 heavy tripod. Like the M85 the M85C was extremely unreliable and unpopular and this weapon was not adopted.
The M85 was also tested by the United Kingdom under the designations XL17E1 and XL17E2. They were equipped with special purpose barrels and evaluated as ranging machine guns. The weapon was not adopted for use on any British vehicles.
Heavy machine gun
The heavy machine gun or HMG is a larger class of machine gun generally recognized to refer to two separate stages of machine gun development. The term was originally used to refer to the early generation of machine guns which came into widespread use in World War I...
that was used primarily weapon for turreted applications in armored fighting vehicles. Designed for anti-aircraft and anti-personnel use, the weapon was found to be extremely complicated. It was used on the M60
M60 Patton
The 105 mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tank, M60, also known unofficially as the M60 Patton, is a first-generation main battle tank introduced in December 1960. It was widely used by the U.S. and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world today...
series of tanks and the LVTP-7
Amphibious Assault Vehicle
The Assault Amphibious Vehicle —official designation AAV-7A1 is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems .The AAV-7A1 is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps...
amphibious landing vehicle.
Design and development
Intended as a smaller, lighter, more capable replacement for the venerable M2 Browning machine gun, the M85 was produced by General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. The weapon was developed with selectable high and low rates of fire for engagement of both ground and air targets, a feature lacking in the older M2.
The M85 was the standard heavy tank machine gun for the M60 series, and was also used on the LVTP-7 amphibious vehicle. It is an air-cooled, recoil operated machine gun, has a short receiver and quick change barrel, and can be configured for left or right hand feeding. The M85 is significantly lighter than the M2, and significantly smaller, a prime consideration for its intended role inside the cramped interiors of armored vehicles. Firing and charging are achieved by pull on one of two color coded pull chains (black for charging and red for firing), or by means of a solenoid
Solenoid
A solenoid is a coil wound into a tightly packed helix. In physics, the term solenoid refers to a long, thin loop of wire, often wrapped around a metallic core, which produces a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through it. Solenoids are important because they can create...
.
The M85 used the M15 push-through link to feed ammunition as opposed to the M2 or M9 pull-out links used on the M2 and M3 Browning machine guns. This created issues with ammunition supply in use, since despite the same .50 BMG cartridges being used in both patterns of machine gun the ammunition was supplied already packed on links and re-linking was not practical in the field.
In service the M85 was found to be unreliable and extremely complex compared to the M2 machine gun. The weapon was not fitted to the M1 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
, and was replaced by the M2 machine gun on the improved AAVP-7
Amphibious Assault Vehicle
The Assault Amphibious Vehicle —official designation AAV-7A1 is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems .The AAV-7A1 is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps...
. An attempt was also made to make a version of the M85 that would replace the M2 in the infantry role was designated the M85C, and features standard spade grips and can be fitted to the M3 heavy tripod. Like the M85 the M85C was extremely unreliable and unpopular and this weapon was not adopted.
The M85 was also tested by the United Kingdom under the designations XL17E1 and XL17E2. They were equipped with special purpose barrels and evaluated as ranging machine guns. The weapon was not adopted for use on any British vehicles.