M73 machine gun

Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M219
M219 Machine Gun
Type	Machine gun
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	M73: 1959 M73A1: 1970 M219: 1972
Used by	U.S./NATO-aligned countries
Wars	Vietnam War
Production history
Designed	1950s
Produced	1950s — 1970s
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	M73: 31 lb (14.1 kg) M73A1/M219: 29.8 lb (13.5 kg)
Length	48 in (1,219.2 mm)
Barrel length	24 in (609.6 mm)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Recoil-operated/short-recoil operation with gas assist
Rate of fire	500-625 round/min
Muzzle velocity	2,800 ft/s (853.44 m/s)
Effective firing range	984 yd (899.8 m)
Maximum firing range	4,000 yd (3,657.6 m)
Feed system	Belt Feed, left or right hand

The M73 and M219 are 7.62 mm NATO caliber machine guns designed for tank use. It is no longer in use by NATO countries. They were used on the M48 Patton and M60 Patton MBT series (including the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle), as well as the MBT-70 prototype vehicles, and on the M551 Sheridan Armored Reconnaissance / Airborne Assault Vehicle (AR/AAV). They were also used in a twin mount in the turret of the V-100 Commando (M706) light armored car during the Vietnam War.