Sailors from Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 1 conduct category III qualifications on the M2A1 heavy machine gun at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. CRS-1 is qualifying for future mobilization requirements. (U.S. Navy/Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Kenji Shiroma)
The Navy is considering giving Ma Deuce a quiet new update.
In a request for information (RFI) issued on Tuesday, Naval Supply Systems Command announced a search for defense industry sources equipped to manufacture suppressors for the M2A1 variant of the tried-and-true M2 .50 caliber machine guns.
According to the RFI, the ideal suppressor will reduce the 160-decibel roar of a .50 cal to somewhere below the Pentagon's 140-decibel standard for hearing damage.
In addition, the suppressor should reduce muzzle flash by up to 95% compared to a standard barrel — all without compromising the weapon's accuracy, reliability, and rate of fire.
The Navy isn't the first service to slap suppressors on Ma Deuce. In May 2017, the Marine Corps announced that infantry Marines with the Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, became the first to deploy with suppressors on every weapon, including their M2 .50 cals.
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