Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle
Mk 14 EBR | |
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![]() Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle "Rock Island", used by the U.S. Army | |
Type | Battle rifle Designated marksman rifle[1] |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 2002–present |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War[2][3] Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) |
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.(Supplying parts) Sage International (For the stock) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 11.24 lb (5.1 kg)[4] |
Length | 35 in (889 mm)[4] |
Barrel length | 18 in (457 mm) (Mod 0)[4]
22 in (558.8 mm) (Mod 1) (EBR-RI) |
Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | 700–750 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 853 m/s (2,800 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 600m+[5] |
Feed system | 10-, or 20-round detachable box magazine |
Sights | Modified M14 iron sights, normally used with a magnifying scope |
The Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) is an American military selective fire battle rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It is a variant of the M14 battle rifle and was originally built for use with units of United States Special Operations Command, such as the United States Navy SEALs, Delta Force, and task specific Green Berets ODA teams/units.[6]
These weapons are made for both the designated marksman and the close combat roles. Since 2010, the U.S. Army has assigned two M14 EBR-RI rifles per infantry platoon for units deploying to Afghanistan. The M14 EBR-RI has a standard weight 22.0-inch (560 mm) barrel and lugged GI flash hider; it is not to be confused with the Mk 14 Mod 0 or Mod 1.
History[]
Development began in 2000 with a request by the United States Navy SEALs for a more compact M14 battle rifle.[7] 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),[8] 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,[5] followed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Army also uses with the M14 EBR-RI, being created and updated by the Weapons Product Support Integration Directorate of the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command at the Keith L. Ware Test Facility in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois; having fielded approximately 5,000 units by mid-2010. United States Marine Corps units were[when?] also considering the EBR, but wound up instead developing the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle.
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. 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.[9] In March 2018, the Army announced that a version of the HK G28, which had already been selected to replace the M110 SASS, would be issued as the service's standard SDMR. Issuing a 7.62 mm SDMR is meant to increase individual squads' ability to defeat enemy body armor that standard 5.56×45mm rounds cannot penetrate. Fielding was planned to start in late 2018.[10]
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[6] with a pistol grip, a different front sight, Harris bipod, four Picatinny accessory rails (which surround the barrel),[6] and a more effective flash hider in place of the standard lugged USGI flash suppressor.[11] 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 Kydex hand guard and M68 CCO are also added, though they are almost always replaced with a vertical foregrip and magnifying scope for better handling and for use in a designated marksman role.[citation needed] A Wind Talker suppressor can be mounted on the DC Vortex flash hider,[12] though the U.S. military did not adopt one to active service.
Sage International had some involvement in the decision of whether to invest approximately $120,000 in an injection mold incorporating into the design the rail attachments or machine the replacement stock from a solid billet of aluminum with the latter being 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.[13]
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[]
Following the development of the Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR, several variants of the M14 rifle utilizing the Sage Chassis System have been developed and fielded by various branches of the U.S. military. A summary of variants, and the components utilized in each, are as follows:
Mk 14 Mod 0[14] | Mk 14 Mod 0 / Mk 14 SEI [15] |
Mk 14 Mod 1[16] | Mk 14 Mod 2[16] | M39 EMR | M14 EBR-RI[17] | M14 EBR-RI NM[18] | M14 T[19] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Branch of service | U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force | U.S. Air Force | U.S. Navy | U.S. Navy | U.S. Marine Corps | U.S. Army | U.S. Army | U.S. Coast Guard |
Years built | 2004–2005 | 2004–2008 | 2006 | 2011 | 2007 | 2008–2011 | 2010 | 2005 |
Builder | NSWC Crane | Smith Enterprise, Inc. | NSWC Crane | NSWC Crane | PWS Quantico | Rock Island Arsenal – TACOM | Rock Island Arsenal – TACOM | NSWC Crane |
Quantity built | 1000 | 125 (rebuilt Mk 14 Mod 0 rifles) | 500 | ~ 250 | 700 | 6200 | not available | 500 |
Chassis | Sage M14ALCS | Sage M14ALCS (milled rail) | Sage M14ALCS/CV | Sage M14ALCS/PMRI-HB | Sage M14ALCS (milled rail) | Sage M14ALCS | Sage M14ALCS/PMRI | Sage M14ALCS |
Color | NSG | NSG | NSG | NSG | NSG | Black (NSG – rare) | Black | NSG |
Pistol grip | Sage 90905 | Sage 90905 | TangoDown BG-16 FDE | Sage M14ERGO | Sage 90905 | Sage M14ERGO | Sage M14ERGO | Sage 90905 |
Handguard | Black full | Black full | Tan short | Black full | Tan full (black full - rare) | Black full | Black full | Black full |
Vertical fore grip | Sage M14VFG (90906) | Sage M14VFG (90906) | TangoDown BGV-MK46 FDE | - | - | Sage M14VFG (90906) | - | Sage M14VFG (90906) |
Butt stock | Sage M14ALCS-BS | Sage M14ALCS-BS | Sage M14ALCS/CV-BS | Sage M14ALCS/PMRI-BS | Sage M14ALCS-BS | Sage M14ALCS-BS | Sage M14ALCS/PMRI-BS | Sage M14ALCS-BS |
Butt stock extension | - | - | - | Sage M14VABEK/PMRI | Sage M14BEK (90911) | - | - | - |
Selector switch/lock | Switch | Switch | Switch | Lock | Lock | Lock | Lock | Switch |
Barrel | SAI 18" Std. 1-11 ("Bush") | SEI 18" Std./Med. 1-10 | SAI 18" Std. 1-11 ("Bush") | 22" heavy 1-10 | Krieger 22" Med. 1-12 (DMR) | USGI 22" Std. | SEI 22" Med. 1-10 | USGI 22" Std. |
Flash hider | SEI 2000V | SureFire FH762KM14 | SEI 2000V | USGI (NM) | USGI (NM) | USGI (NM) | SEI 2001 | |
Suppressor | M14 direct connect sound suppressor | M14 direct connect sound suppressor | SureFire 762K-DE | Wind Talker sound suppressor | - | - | - | - |
Front sight | XS USN2 (11-2166-580-1) | XS USN2 (11-2166-580-1) | XS USN2 (11-2166-580-1) | - | USGI (NM .062) | USGI (NM - rare) | USGI (NM - rare) | XS USN2 (11-2166-580-1) |
Rear sight | XS large aperture (0.125") | XS large aperture (0.125") | XS large aperture (0.125") | - | USGI (NM - rare) | USGI (NM - rare) | USGI (NM - rare) | XS large aperture (0.125") |
Gas lock | SEI 2013 (GLFS-D-18) | SEI 2013 (GLFS-D-18) | SEI 2013 (GLFS-D-18) | USGI | USGI | USGI | USGI | USGI |
Gas system | USGI | SEI 2071, 2075, 2076 | USGI | SEI 2071, 2075, 2076 | USGI | USGI | SEI 2071, 2075, 2076 | USGI |
Op rod spring guide | USGI | USGI | USGI | USGI (NM) | USGI (NM) | USGI | USGI | USGI |
Bolt stop/release | SEI 2003 | SEI 2003 | SEI 2003 | SEI 2003 | USGI | USGI | USGI | SEI 2003 |
Optic | Leupold Mk 4 1.5-5x (67905) | Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x (67940) | Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x24mm FC-2 w/ZeroStop | Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50mm MIL-DOT w/ZeroStop | S&B 3-12x50mm (M8541) | Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x (51850) | Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x (51850) | S&B 1.1-4x PM ShortDot |
Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x (51850) | AN/PVS-27 night vision (MUNS) | |||||||
Scope rings | Badger 306-29 (30mm) | SEI 7008 (30mm) | Nightforce A118 (30mm) | Nightforce A107 (30mm) | Badger 306-75 (34mm) | Leupold 61049 (30mm) | Leupold 61049 (30mm) | LaRue LT-139 (30mm – Lever) |
Scope mount | Sage M14SCSB | SEI 2006 | Larue LT-608 | NSWC Crane | SEI 2006 | Sage M14DCSB | Sage M14DCSB | LaRue LT-139 (30mm – Lever) |
Bipod | Harris 1A2-BRM | Harris 1A2-BRM | Tangodown ACB-4 FDE | Atlas BT10 or BT10-LW17 | Harris S-BRM | Harris 1A2-L | Harris 1A2-L | Harris S-BR or S-BRM |
Bipod adapter | KAC 98060 | KAC 98060 | - | - | KAC 98060 | KAC 98060 | KAC 98060 | LaRue LT-130 (Lever) |
Sling | Buffer Tech. TAS-M14 | Buffer Tech. TAS-M14 | Eagle Ind. FNH-ESS 1.25-DEB | M60 Sling (1005-00-312-7177) | Buffer Tech. TAS-M14 | |||
Magazine count | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||
Transport case | Eagle DC-M14 | Pelican iM3300-X0000 and Eagle DC-M14-EBR-KH | Pelican 1750-000-110 | |||||
Multi-tool | Bondhus 67255281 | Bondhus 67255281 | Bondhus 853485 (and 736540?) | Bondhus 784285 | Bondhus 13026063 | Bondhus 13026063 | Bondhus 67255281 | |
Other components | Falcon/ERGO 4373CB | Falcon/ERGO 4373CB | Trijicon RMR 4MOA | X-Treme V2 EBR trigger shoe | SPA Defense SIMRAD B0634 | Sage M14SCSB | ||
SEI trigger parts kit (2060) | Wilcox red-dot mount (35101P01) | BFG RMFL-125 sling mount (2) | KMW Pod-Loc (875) | Falcon/ERGO 4373CB | ||||
SEI Op rod spring | Magpul CTR FDE | Sage PMRI-FR | ||||||
Magpul PTS CTR 1.25" riser FDE | Falcon/ERGO 4373BK | |||||||
Tangodown BP-4 FDE (2) | Caldwell blind bag (247261) | |||||||
Tangodown BP-4K 2PANEL FDE |
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.[20]
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.[21]
Gallery[]
U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Edwards, from Reconnaissance Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, looks through the scope of his Mk 14 rifle onto a mortar range near Ghazni, Afghanistan, on April 1, 2007
U.S. Army Spc. Michael Rockwell, a combat infantryman with 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Europe, scans the surrounding mountains for threats during a patrol outside Forward Operating Base Baylough in Zabul province, Afghanistan, on June 12, 2010
U.S. Army Cpl. Michael Tacker, from Tonasket, Washington, an infantryman assigned to the Kapisa-Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team, leans against the guard rails of a bridge while providing security in Mahmood Rahqi, Afghanistan, Sept. 9. 2009
The Mk 14 EBR provides infantry squads with the capability to engage enemy targets beyond the range of M4 Carbines and M16 Rifles
The Mk 14 Mod 0 equipped with a vertical foregrip and a bipod
Users[]
Australia: Used by the Special Air Service Regiment in anti-Taliban operations.[22][23]
Iraq: Iraqi Special Operations Forces[24]
United States: Used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan[25]
Non-state actors[]
See also[]
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- List of battle rifles
- M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle
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" – via YouTube.
- ^ "US Mk 14 EBR allegedly seized by Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria - Armament Research Services".
- ^ Jump up to: a b c MK 14 Mod 0 Retrieved on May 29, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Neville, Leigh (2016). Modern Snipers. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 256.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Modern Firearm's M14 Page. Archived 2010-08-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ The History and Development of the SAGE M14ALCS Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) chassis stock system. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ CRAZY HORSE US NAVY MK14 SEI MOD 0. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
- ^ US Army to Search for New 7.62mm Rifle - Military.com, 27 April 2017
- ^ Army Plans to Field H&K G28 as New Squad Marksman Rifle. Military.com/Kitup. 6 March 2018.
- ^ M14SE “CRAZY HORSE” SEMIAUTOMATIC SNIPER SYSTEM (SASS). Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ M14SE “CRAZY HORSE” SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN (M14SE SDM) AND MK14 SEI RIFLE. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2019-11-06). "Dead at 1968 Feet: Meet the Newest Sniper Rifle for the Army". The National Interest. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ^ Gun Digest: Shoot Like a Sniper. F+W Media. 31 March 2014. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-4402-4294-6.
- ^ Cutshaw, Charles Q (2006). "New-era M14 alleviates reliability issues". Jane's International Defence Review. 39: 87. ISSN 0020-6512.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Brown, Robert K.; Spencer, Vann (13 December 2013). Soldier of Fortune Magazine Guide to Super Snipers. Boulder, CO: Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-62873-541-3.
- ^ Neville, Leigh; Carpenter, Shawn (2011). Enduring Freedom: Afghanistan 2001-2010. Osprey Publishing. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-84908-532-8.
- ^ Rebecca Parker (March 8, 2010). "Ribbon Cutting ceremony opens new Soldier Weapons Readiness Center at Rock Island Arsenal". U.S. Army.
- ^ Thompson, Leroy (2014-10-21). The M14 Battle Rifle. Osprey Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-4728-0255-2.
- ^ MK14 SEI MOD 1. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
- ^ "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.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Hetherington, Andrew (3 February 2011). "Extreme Peril". Army News (Australia). Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Vining, Miles (April 22, 2017). "ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 2 – Precision Rifles". 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.
- 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifles
- Rifles of the United States
- Designated marksman rifles
- Military equipment introduced in the 2000s