Weapons, Vehicles, Aircraft and Gear

EQUIPPED TO WIN


As fighters in our Nation’s expeditionary force in readiness, Marines carry with them the training and the mindset to respond appropriately when and where our Nation demands. But Marines are also equipped with the tools most conducive to responding at a moment's notice. Only carrying what's needed to accomplish each mission, Marines ensure that the majority of their equipment can be loaded and transported aboard Marine Expeditionary Units. Each vehicle, aircraft, weapon, and piece of gear is ready to be moved into battle quickly and efficiently so that Marines can win convincingly.


At the core of America’s ability to defend its interests and advance its ideals are its Marines. Each Marine possesses the judgment, knowledge, and tenacity to support the weight of our Nation’s trust, and they’re equipped to do so. Explore the weapons and gear we carry into battle and the vehicles and aircraft that take us there.

As battlefields evolve, so too does the manner in which Marines are armed and equipped. Missions that involve urban room-clearing techniques require different weapons than those necessitating long-distance marksmanship. Watch how the Marine Corps ensures that every Marine’s warfighting capabilities are enhanced with extensive weapons training.

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Marine tactical and combat vehicles provide Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commanders with the protection, payload, and performance to meet the demand of every battle. From sandy coastlines to mountainous hillsides, there’s no place on Earth inaccessible to Marines. Watch to learn about the vehicles that Marines use to maneuver across the full range of battles.

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The specially trained Marines who operate Marine aircraft have varied roles but share an identical purpose—supporting Marines fighting on the ground. The complementary integration of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, tilt-rotor, and unmanned aircraft equips Marines with multiple capabilities to engage on any terrain. Marines are first to fight because their uniquely designed aircraft get them there first. Watch to learn more about expertly engineered Marine Aviation aircraft.

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Marines are equipped with more than the weapons they fire, the vehicles they drive, and the aircraft they fly. Equally important is the gear that enhances each Marine's mobility, survivability, and situational awareness on the battlefield and in crisis areas of response. This is the gear that is always within reach, equipping our Marines with the tools necessary to win our Nation’s battles and defend its ideals. Interact with the table below to learn about the gear Marines carry.

For Marines on the battlefield, flexibility is a requirement, and the same is true for the equipment they carry. With the ability to be mounted on a helmet, attached to a rifle, or used as a handheld scope, the AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device meets this requirement. Its single-eye design provides Marines with superior depth perception and night-eye adaptation, and its durable construction, extended battery life, and lightweight design ensure it can always be counted on wherever Marines go.

FEATURES:

  • 3rd generation intensifier technology
  • Can be outfitted with a 3X magnification adapter
  • Functions in all climates, from -49 to 123 degrees Fahrenheit

For Marines on the battlefield, flexibility is a requirement, and the same is true for the equipment they carry. With the ability to be mounted on a helmet, attached to a rifle, or used as a handheld scope, the AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device meets this requirement. Its single-eye design provides Marines with superior depth perception and night-eye adaptation, and its durable construction, extended battery life, and lightweight design ensure it can always be counted on wherever Marines go.

FEATURES:

  • 3rd generation intensifier technology
  • Can be outfitted with a 3X magnification adapter
  • Functions in all climates, from -49 to 123 degrees Fahrenheit

All deployed Marines are equipped with Ballistic Hearing Protection (BHP), a two-sided, dual-purpose earplug that protects against steady-state noise and impact noise produced from aircraft, vehicles, machinery, gunfire, and explosions. When the yellow side of the earplug is inserted into the ear, the BHP will block loud impulse noise without suppressing critical ambient sounds such as verbal commands. When turned around, so that the green end is inserted into the ear, it provides steady protection against constant, high-level sound sources. It is protective to 190 decibels (dB), which is greater than the noise of a jet fighter during take-off, with afterburners at a distance of 50 feet (130 dB).

The Marine Corps believes in providing Marines with the most advanced personal body armor. The IMTV delivers not only better protection, but also enhanced maneuverability. The new protective equipment provides increased comfort, a more efficient combat load weight distribution, greater ease of weapons handling, and reduced weight. The standard IMTV offers protection against shrapnel and 9mm pistol rounds. Marines are always issued Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts, commonly called "SAPI Plates," which fit inside the IMTV and provide protection against rifle rounds.

FEATURES:

- Larger neck hole for easier head movement

- Quick release system for rapid discard

- Adjustable protective inserts to reduce arm movement interference

- Shoulder protection designed for greater arm and shoulder mobility

- Easier for Marines to shoulder their rifles

The weapons Marines carry are of no use without the ammunition that makes them effective. An integral component of every Marine’s gear is the lightweight system of equipment pouches that provides for convenient storage and easy access to ammunition or gear.

INCLUDES:

  • M16/M4 Speed Reload Magazine Pouch – Holds the "first choice" magazine
  • M16/M4 Single/Double Magazine Pouch – Holds two magazines
  • 9mm 15 Round Magazine Pouch – Holds one 9mm magazine
  • 40mm Grenade Pouch – Holds one 40mm grenade
  • Pop-up Flare Pouch – Holds one pop-up flare
  • M67 Grenade Pouch – Holds one M67 grenade
  • 12-Gauge Shotgun Shell Pouch – Holds ten, 3-inch 12-gauge shotgun shells
  • Multi-grenade Pouch – Will hold one smoke grenade, thermite grenade, star cluster grenade, or two flash-bang grenades
  • Dump Pouch – Holds empty magazines
  • Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Utility Pouch – A multi-purpose/bulk carrying pouch that can fit the 200-round SAW drum

The weapons Marines carry are of no use without the ammunition that makes them effective. An integral component of every Marine’s gear is the lightweight system of equipment pouches that provides for convenient storage and easy access to ammunition or gear.

INCLUDES:

  • M16/M4 Speed Reload Magazine Pouch – Holds the "first choice" magazine
  • M16/M4 Single/Double Magazine Pouch – Holds two magazines
  • 9mm 15 Round Magazine Pouch – Holds one 9mm magazine
  • 40mm Grenade Pouch – Holds one 40mm grenade
  • Pop-up Flare Pouch – Holds one pop-up flare
  • M67 Grenade Pouch – Holds one M67 grenade
  • 12-Gauge Shotgun Shell Pouch – Holds ten, 3-inch 12-gauge shotgun shells
  • Multi-grenade Pouch – Will hold one smoke grenade, thermite grenade, star cluster grenade, or two flash-bang grenades
  • Dump Pouch – Holds empty magazines
  • Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Utility Pouch – A multi-purpose/bulk carrying pouch that can fit the 200-round SAW drum

Warfighting is more than combat engagement alone. Part of being an elite warrior is taking care of those you fight alongside. The IFAK ensures that in the midst of battle, Marines have the equipment to provide point-of-injury care for their fellow warriors.

Warfighting is more than combat engagement alone. Part of being an elite warrior is taking care of those you fight alongside. The IFAK ensures that in the midst of battle, Marines have the equipment to provide point-of-injury care for their fellow warriors.

Designed to provide small, lightweight tactical communications to infantry squads and fireteams, the PRC-153 Integrated Intra-Squad Radio acts as a wireless intercom system between Marines. The PRC-153 possesses enough power to provide Marines with effective communications in open terrain, heavily forested areas, and urban environments.

Designed to provide small, lightweight tactical communications to infantry squads and fireteams, the PRC-153 Integrated Intra-Squad Radio acts as a wireless intercom system between Marines. The PRC-153 possesses enough power to provide Marines with effective communications in open terrain, heavily forested areas, and urban environments.

Though every Marine is able to provide accurate fire with traditional iron sights, each is provided with the most advanced rifle optics available during combat. These laser targeting and illumination systems can be mounted to Marine M16s, M4s, M240Bs, and M249s. They provide two different capabilities: When used with the naked eye, the visible laser can assist with aiming, and the floodlight on the PEQ-16A can assist in identifying targets in low-light situations.

However, using these visible-light capabilities also mean that the enemy can see the source of the light—the Marine. When a Marine pairs the system with a night-vision device such as the AN/PVS-14 monocular, they can switch to using the infrared targeting laser or the infrared illumination.

With the ability to illuminate targets in low light and identify targets with advanced laser aiming technology, the AN/PEQ-15 and AN/PEQ-16A increase the capabilities of every Marine rifleman.

Though every Marine is able to provide accurate fire with traditional iron sights, each is provided with the most advanced rifle optics available during combat. These laser targeting and illumination systems can be mounted to Marine M16s, M4s, M240Bs, and M249s. They provide two different capabilities: When used with the naked eye, the visible laser can assist with aiming, and the floodlight on the PEQ-16A can assist in identifying targets in low-light situations.

However, using these visible-light capabilities also mean that the enemy can see the source of the light—the Marine. When a Marine pairs the system with a night-vision device such as the AN/PVS-14 monocular, they can switch to using the infrared targeting laser or the infrared illumination.

With the ability to illuminate targets in low light and identify targets with advanced laser aiming technology, the AN/PEQ-15 and AN/PEQ-16A increase the capabilities of every Marine rifleman.

Before they even become Marines, recruits must prove their aim is true with a rifle from 200, 300, and 500 yards downrange. The RCO, originally known as the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG), was adapted for the M16A4 and the M4 and entered Marine Corps nomenclature as the RCO.

With the AN/PVQ-3 RCO attached, Marines prove even more accurate at even longer distances. The RCO is a fixed 4X optimal aiming scope that provides enhanced target identification and hit probability for the M4 Carbine and M16A4 service rifle out to 800 meters.

Battery-free, dual illumination features enable Marines (in daylight, lowlight, or no light) to keep both eyes open while engaging targets and maintaining maximum situational awareness.

Before they even become Marines, recruits must prove their aim is true with a rifle from 200, 300, and 500 yards downrange. The RCO, originally known as the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG), was adapted for the M16A4 and the M4 and entered Marine Corps nomenclature as the RCO.

With the AN/PVQ-3 RCO attached, Marines prove even more accurate at even longer distances. The RCO is a fixed 4X optimal aiming scope that provides enhanced target identification and hit probability for the M4 Carbine and M16A4 service rifle out to 800 meters.

Battery-free, dual illumination features enable Marines (in daylight, lowlight, or no light) to keep both eyes open while engaging targets and maintaining maximum situational awareness.



 
"As good as we are today, we will need to be even better tomorrow to maintain our warfighting overmatch. We will achieve this through the strength of our innovation, ingenuity, and willingness to continually adapt to and initiate changes in the operating environment to affect the behavior of real-world pacing threats."
—General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps
 

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