M-7 pedestal to boost convoy protection

A new M-7 pedestal now allows Soldiers to mount machine guns and grenade launchers in the rear of their HMMWV's open cargo bed to improve convoy protection.

The new, sturdier mount provides gunners with a 360-degree range of fire instead of the 180-degree range provided by the M-6 mount in front of the cargo bed.

The Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center at Rock Island Arsenal has been contracted to produce 4,500 of the new M-7 pedestals. A total of 485 have already been produced, and officials there said they are ramping up to produce 500 a month.

The M-7 pedestal allows Soldier to mount the M-249, M-240B, and M2 machine guns and the MK-19 grenade launcher in the rear cargo bed of M998 HMMWV.

With the cargo HMMWV being one of the most common convoy vehicles, troops in Iraq had been modifying the existing M-6 machine gun pedestal, officials said. Soldiers began moving the pedestal from its designed and tested position in front of the cargo bed to a rear position between the wheel wells.

This allowed them a 360-degree range of fire instead of the 180-degree range in the front, but created safety and structural issues. This prompted the need to change the M-6 design to better meet the requirement, said officials from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.

The improved pedestal has a full bed-width base made of an aluminum armor plate with alternate pedestal mounting locations and standard attaching points. The pedestal also has a more rugged column support configuration which officials said reduces the tripping hazard presented by the M-6 and breaking of the support braces. There is also a depression stop which ensures safe zones of fire when aiming forward, preventing shooting into the cab area.

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