M85 machine gun
| Machine Gun, Cal .50, Fixed, M85 | |
|---|---|
M85 machine gun | |
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | U.S./NATO-aligned countries |
| Wars | Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | General Electric |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 65 lb (29.5 kg) |
| Length | 54.5 in (1,384.3 mm) |
| Cartridge | 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) |
| Action | Recoil-operated |
| Rate of fire | 400–625 rd/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,887 ft/s (880.0 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 2,187 yd (1,999.8 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 7,330 yd (6,702.6 m) |
| Feed system | Belt Feed, left or right hand |
The M85 is a heavy machine gun firing .50 BMG ammunition that was used primarily for turreted applications in armored fighting vehicles. It was intended to replace the venerable M2 machine gun with a smaller and much lighter weapon, suitable for use inside fighting vehicles, as opposed to only on external mounts. It is used on the M60 series of tanks and the LVTP-7 amphibious landing vehicle.