Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle
Mk 14 EBR | |
---|---|
Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) Russo-Ukrainian War[4] | |
Production history | |
Designer | Mike Rock and Jim Ribordy (Original) Smith Enterprise, Inc. (Current) |
Designed | 2001 |
Manufacturer | Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division Smith Enterprise Inc. Sage International |
Specifications | |
Mass | 11.24 lb (5.1 kg)[5] |
Length | 35 in (889 mm)[5] |
Barrel length | 18 in (457 mm) (Mod 0)[5]
22 in (558.8 mm) (Mod 1) (EBR-RI) |
iron sights , normally used with a magnifying scope |
The Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) is an American military
History
Development began in 2000 with a request by the United States Navy SEALs for a more compact M14 battle rifle.[8] In 2001, Mike Rock Rifle Barrels was the only rifle barrel maker asked by United States Special Operations Command to participate in a SOPMOD conference to create what would be the Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR, with details that include a collapsible stock that was requested for the new rifle and with an aluminum body with telescopic rails. Mike Rock collaborated with engineer Jim Ribordy to make the new rifle. Tests showed that their rifle was effective, but had excessive noise problems.
In 2003, Ron Smith and Smith Enterprise, Inc. created its own version of the M14 EBR (MK14 SEI),[9] which used a medium heavy weight 457 mm (18.0") barrel and was more widely favored than the rifle made by Rock and Ribordy. The Smith Enterprise-based MK14 was then used as a basis to eventually create the Mk 14 Mod 0 with Springfield Armory, Inc. being tasked to supply the necessary machinery needed to create the weapon in cooperation with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division.
United States Navy SEALs were the first to be armed with the EBR in 2004,
In early 2017, the Army began writing a new requirement for an SDM rifle for combat platoons and squads. Although the Army has been using the M14 EBR since 2009, they had to be turned in when returning from theater, and it had weight issues being almost 15 lb (6.8 kg) unloaded (citation needed). A new marksman rifle will equip each combat arms squad weighing about 11 lb (5.0 kg) firing standard M80A1 7.62 mm rounds fitted with a rifle optic rather than a telescopic sight.
Design
This weapon upgrades the standard M14 action and replaces the standard 22.0-inch (560 mm) barrel with an 18.0-inch (460 mm) barrel bolted onto a telescoping chassis stock system[7] with a pistol grip, a different front sight, Harris bipod, four Picatinny accessory rails (which surround the barrel),[7] and a more effective flash hider in place of the standard lugged USGI flash suppressor.[12] A paddle-type bolt stop similar to that of the M4 carbine is used on the rifle. The EBR chassis system stock is made up entirely of lightweight aircraft alloy.
A
Sage International had some involvement in the decision of whether to invest approximately $120,000 in an injection mold incorporating rail attachments into the design or machine the replacement stock from a solid billet of aluminum. The latter option was selected, which was then shown at the SHOT Show in Orlando in 2003.
The Mk 14 has been criticised for being too heavy, at 14 pounds (6.4 kg) when loaded with a 20-round magazine, with most of this weight being at the front of the weapon, making it difficult to aim.[14]
Configurations
Several configurations are available on the Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR, including the attachment of an AN/PVS-4 night vision scope. Others had included the capability of adding two different scopes or sights on the Picatinny rails, for more precision or zoom level.[citation needed]
Variants
Mk 14 Mod 0
First fielded in 2013, the Mod 0 replaces the M14's stock and handguard, and the operating rod has been redesigned, connecting the barrel to the stock.[15] Designed for use by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, its parts are coated with manganese phosphate to help resist corrosion.[16]
M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle
The
Contractors
Military
While the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division creates the military Mk 14 Mod 0 and Mod 1 rifles, Sage International was contracted to provide the weapon's chassis-type stock.
Civilian
The civilian version created by Smith Enterprise Inc. is also known as the MK14 SEI. The Sage EBR chassis stock is available in a carbine variant known as the M14ALCS/CV. The carbine variant is also known as the MK14 SEI Mod 1.[8]
Others include Fulton Armory, firing in semi-automatic mode instead of fully automatic.
Troy Industries has created a replica of the EBR's modular system made by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division called the Troy Modular Chassis System, which can be used by mounting any functioning M1A or M14 rifle on the MCS. Philippine arms company FERFRANS has created their version of the Mk 14 Mod 0 called the FERFRANS SOPMOD M14/M1A Enhanced Battle Rifle, which uses a Sage International M14/M1A EBR Tactical Stock System aluminum chassis, an M4 buttstock, and a GRSC M4-62 General Purpose Combat Recticle.[18]
Users
- Australia: Used by the Special Air Service Regiment in anti-Taliban operations.[19][20]
- Iraq: Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service[21]
- United States: Used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan[22]
Non-state actors
See also
References
- ^ "M14 7.62mm Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR)". peosoldier.mil. p. 219. Archived from the original on 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
- ^ فرقة المعتصم (17 June 2017). "لواء المعتصم- معسكر_المهام_الخاصة3 مميز ولأول مرة في الجيش السوري الحر تدريب برمائي". Archived from the original on 2021-12-13 – via YouTube.
- ^ "US Mk 14 EBR allegedly seized by Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria - Armament Research Services". 23 September 2015.
- ^ Moss, Matthew (2022-07-06). "M14s in Ukraine -". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ a b c "MK 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle". AmericanSpecialOps. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ ISBN 9781472815354.
- ^ a b c "M14 rifle (USA)". 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022.
- ^ a b "The History and Development of the M14 EBR". Athenswater. 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
- ^ "CRAZY HORSEŽ US NAVY MK14 SEI MOD 0". Athenswater. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.CRAZY HORSE US NAVY MK14 SEI MOD 0. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
- ^ Cox, Matthew (2017-10-31). "US Army to Search for New 7.62mm Rifle". Military.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ Cox, Matthew (2018-03-06). "Army Plans to Field H&K G28 as New Squad Marksman Rifle". Military.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 2022-09-27..
- ^ "M14SE "CRAZY HORSE®" SEMIAUTOMATIC SNIPER SYSTEM (SASS)". Smith Enterprise, Inc. 2 March 2005. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
- ^ "M14SE "CRAZY HORSE"® SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN (M14SE SDM) AND MK14 SEI RIFLE". Smith Enterprise, Inc. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2019-11-06). "Dead at 1968 Feet: Meet the Newest Sniper Rifle for the Army". The National Interest. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ISBN 978-1-4402-4294-6.
- ^ OCLC 869771277.
- ^ "Gun Review: The M1A Warhorse Reborn". Tactical Life. 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "FERFRANS SOAR Select-Fire SBRs and Carbines, and GRSC Combat Rifle Scope (CRS) at the Range". 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Hetherington, Andrew (3 February 2011). "Extreme Peril". Army News (Australia). Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- armamentresearch.com.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (9 March 2018). "U.S. Army Squads Getting New Marksman Rifles". Popular Mechanics.
- ^ Smallwood, Michael (2015-08-11). "United States Mk 14 EBR in Syria". Armament Research Services. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (September 7, 2017). "An old American rifle gains prominence in Islamic State propaganda footage". The Washington Post.