South China Sea. (April 17, 2023): In this photo by Corporal Austin Gillam, a Marine with Raid Platoon, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires the M240B machine gun while speeding along in a rigid-hull inflatable boat during gun range practice. One of the most elite elements in the Marine Corps, a Maritime Raid Force’s mission is to visit, board, search, and seize suspect vessels on the high seas, an extremely dangerous proposition indeed.

Once a potentially hostile vessel has been identified, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) dispatches the raiders to investigate and, if necessary, subdue those aboard and seize control of the ship. During these high intensity encounters, the raiding party must also ensure the health and safety of any detained crewmembers until the vessel is turned over to the appropriate legal authorities. These raids are used to counter piracy, confiscate contraband, enforce international agreements, and deal with many other complex security-threatening situations.

The heavy fire power in these interceptions is the M240B machine gun, a staple for the Marines since the late 1970s. This highly regarded weapon is a belt-fed, gas-operated, air cooled, crew served machine gun that can fire effectively from a bi-pod mounted on a 21-foot inflatable “rib” watercraft.

It was first adopted by the U.S. Army in 1977 as a coaxial tank gun and was slowly adopted for more applications in the 1980s and 1990s. Today’s version can fire up to 850 rounds per minute to quickly eliminate threats from enemy vessels.

The 13th MEU is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of a command element, a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite aviation squadron, and a combat logistics battalion. The 13th MEU is currently based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.