M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle hits Hawaii Marines’ hands, fleet Marine force

Photo By Sgt. Tyler Main | This M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, along with 83 others, was delivered last Friday to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment armorers. Since then, M27 IAR gunners and armorers have received training on operating and maintaining the weapon system from Marine Corps Systems Command and gun makers Heckler and Koch.  

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, UNITED STATES

12.13.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Main 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii - Marine Corps Systems Command personnel and gun maker Heckler & Koch staff delivered more than 80 M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles Dec. 3 to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment armorers.

The rifles were being assembled and prepared for this week’s operator and maintainer training exercises to be conducted by 1/3 Squad Automatic Weapon gunners and armorers.

The hope is that the M27 IAR will be able to someday replace the heavier, less maneuverable M249 SAW in most situations.

“It’s definitely a good thing because it's lighter and more compact,” said Cpl. Ryan McDermott, an armorer with 1/3.

According to Capt. Edward Leon, Infantry Automatic Rifle project officer, the training will consist of formal classes and repetitions of known-distance and combat marksmanship training ranges.

“Marines will also conduct a transition course designed to begin to develop a skill set of engaging closer targets in full auto and long range targets in semi-auto,” Leon said.

The 1/3 will be testing the weapons throughout a full pre-deployment training schedule to deliver a pre-assessment of the weapon. Once the battalion deploys, they will conduct another assessment based on the performance of the weapon through the first one hundred days of operations.

After all battalions have completed their evaluations, they will be delivered to the commandant for review.

M27 IAR-wielding Marines can look forward to a number of new features while handling the weapon. The rifle has a six position adjustable butt stock, left and right handed sling mounting options, a guide in the magazine well to assist in speed reloads and a recoil-reducing compensator and butt stock pad. The rifle will also be equipped with the new Squad Day Optic.

The SDO mounts on the rifle to assist gunners in target detection and identification and increases accuracy. The optic also has a 3.5 times magnification range.

Also, the rifle has four mounting rails that can hold a forward grip, scope, visible light, infrared laser pointer and illuminator, bipod and more.

Probably the most notable difference between the M27 IAR and M249 SAW is the weight. The M27 IAR only weighs 9.2 pounds with a loaded magazine compared to the 22-pound M249 SAW.

Also testing the weapon system is Camp Lejuene’s 1st Battalion, 9th Marines Regiment, Camp Pendleton’s 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and New England-based reservists 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.

A full analysis of the weapon system should be completed by the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, Leon said.

The rifle has also undergone numerous preliminary tests before being delivered for use on the battalion level.

According to Leon, both a comparison test between the M27 IAR and the M249 SAW and hot and humid and cold weather conditions tests have been completed.

Saturday was the last training day for Marines and their new rifles under the supervision of MCSC and Heckler & Koch. Next week, it will be 1/9 Marines receiving the M27 IAR.

• Date Taken: 12.13.2010
• Date Posted: 12.13.2010 21:01
• Story ID: 61914
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US