The XM205 Lightweight Tripod for Heavy Machine Guns is the planned replacement for the current M3 tripod

M3 tripod

The M3 tripod is a weapon mount used on the M2HB Browning machine gun and the Mk 19 grenade launcher. The M3 tripod has a total weight of 20 kilograms . The XM205 tripod is intended to replace it.-See also:*XM205 tripod*M2 tripod...

 in support of the M2 machine gun

M2 Machine Gun

The M2 Machine Gun, Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, is a heavy machine gun designed towards the end of World War I by John Browning. It is very similar in design to Browning's earlier M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge...

 and Mk 19 grenade launcher

Mk 19 grenade launcher

The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.-Overview:...

 used in the United States armed forces

United States armed forces

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...

. The soldier will experience less weight burden with the XM205 Lightweight Tripod than with the standard M3 Tripod (50.3 lb (22.8 kg), including the pintle and T&E), and will be able to take advantage of the enhanced tripod’s integrated traverse and elevation mechanism for quicker, more accurate target engagement.

Not only is the XM205(22 lb (10 kg) ) lighter than the M3 by over 16 pounds (7.3 kg) (33%), it is stronger and provides a more stable (lower dispersion) firing platform than the M3.