Body Armor
For combat situations, Marines are issued a light-weight, composite helmet capable of stopping most rifle rounds. Squad leaders are typically equipped with a wireless, helmet mounted camera with a range of 2km to relay real-time combat intelligence to the platoon leader and company commander. Chest, back and shoulders are protected by a vest and shoulder plates of composite and ceramic plates that provide unparalleled personal protection at a fraction of the weight of older models of ballistic armor. Today’s USMSC body armor is as rugged and hard as the spirit of the men and women who wear it.  

Basic Weaponry

M39A2
The service rifle of the Marine Corps is the M39A2 assault carbine. Lightweight, the M39A2 is designed for either burst fire or semiautomatic fire (single shot) through the use of a selector switch. It fires a 6mm round embedded in blocks of caseless propellant and may be loaded with jacket hollow-point, armor-piercing, or frangible rounds depending on the needs of the tactical environment. With a range of 650 meters and firing at the rate of 700 rounds per minute, it packs a deadly punch.

M11
The M11 is a semi-automatic, double-action pistol is the standard Marine Corps sidearm. Its magazine holds standard 10mm pistol rounds. The M11 provides increased firepower in urban conditions. Fully loaded, it weighs 1.2 kg.

M301 SAW
The Squad Automatic Weapon is a lightweight combat machine gun that forms the basis of firepower for the fire team. The SAW engages point targets out to 800 meters and fires an improved 6mm armor-piercing cartridge from a mounted box magazine.