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Marine Corps Begins Widespread Fielding Of Suppressors
by U.S. Marine Corps Matt Gonzales, Systems Command
January 1,
2021
Marines risk their lives to protect others.
Many are
trained to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and
maneuver, or repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat.
They engage adversaries in any clime and place, no matter how
arduous the conditions.
Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) is
tasked not only with enhancing the lethality of warfighters. The
command also strives to protect them.
MCSC has taken another
step toward increasing lethality and protection for Marines. In
December 2020, the command began the process of fielding thousands
of suppressors to infantry, reconnaissance and special operation
units for employment on the M27, M4 and M4A1 rifles.
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A U.S. Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment utilizes a suppressor while providing security on a company attack range in Twentynine Palms, California
on October 21, 2016. The Marines of B. Co are the first in the Marines Corps to use the suppressors, demonstrating the capabilities on platoon and company attack ranges during Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) 1-17, in preparation for a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sarah N. Petrock, 2d MARDIV Combat Camera)
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Small arms suppressors are designed to reduce a weapon’s noise,
flash and recoil. They are also time-efficient, as attachment and
detachment only takes a few seconds. The mass fielding of the
suppressors, and their myriad benefits, represents a monumental
moment for the Marine Corps.
“We’ve never fielded suppressors
at this scale,” said Maj. Mike Brisker, weapons product manager in
MCSC’s Program Manager for Infantry Weapons. “This fielding is a big
moment for the Marine Corps.”
MCSC Works With CD&I, PP&O
In recent years, the Marine
Corps had already begun suppressing its M38 and M4A1 rifles.
However, an increased number of commanders felt suppressing
additional weapons would increase the overall lethality of the
infantry.
The impetus for equipping additional weapons with
suppressors came from a series of experimentations at a 2016 “Sea
Dragon” event, which enables the Marine Corps to experiment with
current and emerging technologies and operational concepts.
At the event, a battalion employed the suppressors as part of a
Marine Corps Warfighting Lab experimentation.
“The positive
feedback from that experiment was the primary driving force behind
procuring suppressors,” said Brisker. “We’ve had a few limited user
experiments with various units since that time, and all of those
events generated positive reviews of the capability.”
Before
acquiring the suppressors, MCSC worked with the Marine Corps’ Combat
Development and Integration; Plans, Policies and Operations; and the
Fleet Marine Force to determine the optimal concept of distribution
to support the close combat Marine.
“Our intent was to
leverage commercially available technology to support the near-term
modernization required for our close combat Marines,” said Billy
Epperson, the Infantry Weapon Capabilities Integration Officer at
CD&I.
Epperson added that the Marine Corps conducted Limited
User Evaluations in 2019 with commercial suppressors provided by
vendors showcasing the latest and greatest in technology to
characterize requirements in support of an acquisition effort that
began in fiscal year 2020.
In 2020, PM IW procured about
6,700 small arms suppressors through Defense Logistics Agency’s
Tailored Logistic Program, and acquired more than 7,000 additional
units on the first delivery order upon the contract award. Brisker
said the goal is to field approximately 30,000 suppressors by fiscal
year 2023.
How Suppressors Save
Lives
CWO4 David Tomlinson, MCSC’s infantry weapons
officer, emphasized the importance of suppressors in exchanging
information during battle. He said gun fights create a chaotic
environment with intense noise levels, producing communication
problems that can increase confusion.
“I would say the most important thing the
suppressor does is allow for better inter-squad, inter-platoon
communication,” said Tomlinson. “It allows the operators to
communicate laterally up and down the line during a fire fight.”
Tomlinson said suppressors can save lives, as Marines engaged in
battle can expose themselves from their firing position. The
suppressor reduces their audible and visual signature, making it
more difficult for the enemy to ascertain their location.
In
addition to tactical advantages on the battlefield, the reduced
noise of the suppressors also benefits a Marine’s long-term health,
said Brisker. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
hearing problems are by far the most prevalent service-connected
disability among American veterans.
“In the big picture, the
VA pays out a lot in hearing loss claims,” said Brisker. “We’d like
Marines to be able to continue to hear for many years even after
they leave the service. These suppressors have that benefit as
well.”
Tomlinson mentioned how the news of the fielding of
additional suppressors has created a groundswell of excitement among
the units receiving them. He believes the myriad advantages
suppressors provide will benefit the Marine Corps for years to come.
“As I travel and brief units, this capability has generated the
most interest—from lance corporals to colonels,” said Tomlinson.
“There has been an overwhelming excitement to receiving the
suppressors, which we anticipate will serve as an effective
capability for the warfighter.”
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