Accuracy trumps volume of fire any day. Suppression is the result of accurate fire, not volume. Sure, belt fed machinguns (LMGs, MMGs) are a lot better at providing sustained fire, and will have an advantage over a magazine fed rifle when it comes to utilizing traversing fires.
Also, the M27 IAR is not meant to be employed as a SAW. It is not designed or meant to replace it. As far as I understand, the IAR came about due to a capacity gap/deficiency in the Marine infantry squad when conducting MOUT missions; the SAW gunner was slower during movement, as well as having difficulties in performing MOUT tasks (room clearing etc) as a result of the SAW being a bit unwieldy.
Each company is supposed to keep a certain amount of SAWs at the company level (I think), the thought being that you can task organize your unit based on METT-TC, using the gear best suited for the mission at hand. Don't the Marines have MMGs as well? M240s? Weapons squads?
The M27 IAR fills a specific need, it's not a 1:1 replacement for the SAW.
Last edited by Arctic1; 03-07-13 at 02:32.
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