Derived from the German MG42 of World War II, the M60 was the standard platoon machine gun in Vietnam, replacing the M1919A6 Browning .30-caliber machine gun. Ideally served by three crewmen, the machine gun’s bulkiness and weight earned it the moniker “Pig.” The 7.62 mm M60 could be fired from the shoulder or mounted on a vehicle, helicopter or riverboat. The M60’s superior range and stopping power has kept it in service to this day, although it is now complemented by the lighter 5.56 mm M249 squad machine gun.