Replacement of the PKM with the M240 in the Georgian Army
This is a continuation of my machine gun series. In 2008, NATO supported Georgia’s bid to join the alliance and created a commission to oversee the accession process. Georgia must fulfill several requirements, including modernizing its army and standardizing Western weapons and ammunition. In 2017, the Georgian Ministry of Defense started replacing the Soviet-made PKM general-purpose machine guns with the M240B 7.62x51mm medium machine gun.
Georgia’s transition to Western-made weapons and training could significantly enhance the effectiveness and lethality of its machine guns. Integrating Western infantry structures with Western weaponry would further support this modernization effort, aligning the Georgian forces with NATO standards. This shift would move the Georgian Army away from the Soviet/Russian practice of using the PKM solely as a squad automatic weapon. While the PKM is effective in that role, limiting its use reduces its overall combat potential. Currently, the Georgian Army utilizes US M249 and a mix of IWI Negevs for their squad automatic weapon role.
The Gun and Tripod
This integration of the M240B includes the M192 lightweight tripod. Using any tripod alone can enhance the performance of any machine gun. However, during my time as an infantryman and unit armorer, I had mixed experiences with the M192 lightweight tripod. I’ve encountered several issues, particularly failures of the traverse and elevation mechanism and leg breakage due to overzealous gun teams.
The M240B provides a superior range to the PKM, primarily due to its ability to be used with a tripod. It can effectively engage targets at 600 meters for point targets when employed with a bipod, 800 meters for area targets on a tripod, and 1,100 meters for point targets on a tripod. Suppression can be achieved at distances of up to 1,800 meters. Additionally, the M240B has a rapid barrel change feature that significantly enhances the weapon’s capability to maintain suppressive fire. This feature allows gun teams to establish a base of fire to achieve fire superiority before maneuvering under that cover. This approach contrasts with the methods currently employed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Adopting Western machine gun doctrine and techniques will fully capitalize on the weapon system’s potential.
Ministry of Defense of Georgia:
“M240B Machine-Gun Saving and Exploitation Course is ongoing at the Algeti training base.
The course involved theoretical and practical parts covering different exercises. With the help of the U.S. instructors, the military personnel studied weapon characteristics and developed the necessary skills of assembling, dismantling and operating the gun. During the practical part of the exercise, the participants performed qualifying shooting drills.
The exercise is held in Georgia for the first time.”
Source: M240B Machine-Gun Saving and Exploitation Course – News – MOD.GOV.GE
This training is part of the “Georgia Defense Readiness Program (GDRP), a U.S.-Georgia bilateral program that focuses on improving the combat readiness of the Georgian Defense Forces and developing Georgia’s institutional capacity to generate units prepared to accomplish assigned national missions, particularly territorial defense.” This program lasted from 2018 to 2021.
Source: Strengthening Transatlantic Ties with Georgia – U.S. Embassy in Georgia
The Georgian M240B qualification course is a two-week training program aimed at helping Georgian soldiers learn to operate the M240B as it becomes part of the Georgian inventory. This course provides essential introductory training and is intended to lead to more advanced training, which will better prepare gun teams and weapon squads.
Conclusion
If the Georgian army uses the M240B in the same way as the PKM, it will not enhance their capabilities or lead to any improvements. While the specifications of the two weapons may seem comparable on paper, they have been used historically differently. The PKM serves as an automatic squad weapon with the ability to pick up and assault through an objective. In contrast, the M240B is intended to establish a base of fire that suppresses the objective, allowing assault elements to push through the objective. To fully benefit from Western weapons, it is crucial to integrate proper machine gun doctrine; otherwise, the transition may result in a heavy replacement of the PKM without realizing any tactical advantages.
