Looking at the feature image we have to say we are somewhat impressed with the accuracy.  While they are shooting at about 25ft, they are doing so from a ship at sea and underway.  The shooter has to compensate for the movement of the ship going 14-18 knots and the motion of the deck.  There isn’t much pitch on a 90,000-ton aircraft carrier in calm seas, but it is several inches of vertical travel.

 

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 03, 2022) Logistics Specialist Seaman Georgia-lee BriggsWhitaker, from South Kingstown, R.I., fires an M9 pistol aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2n Class Joel A Mundo)

 

 

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 03, 2022) Aviation Ordnancemen Airman Melo Hernandez, from Sylmar, Calif., fires an M2A1 .50 caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise on the fantail of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2n Class Joel A Mundo)

 

 

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 03, 2022) Sailors fire M240B machine guns on the fantail of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2n Class Joel A Mundo)

 

 

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 03, 2022) Master-at-Arms Seaman Cammeron Westenskow, from Orangeville, Utah, cleans an M240B machine gun in the armory aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Timothy A. Carley Jr.)
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Editor’s Note: Master-at-Arms ratings are the cops/security force on ships at sea and in port.  On an aircraft carrier, about 40 MAs are aboard and perform duties like guarding the armories and nuclear weapons magazines. At sea they are the ship’s police and investigate crimes aboard the ship and man the brig.  They also handle small arms to assure the security of the ship in port, which would include manning guns to prevent small vessels from approaching the ship laden with explosives.  These gun crews can be augmented with other personnel like Boatswains and Gunners Mates.

 

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 03, 2022) Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Christopher Fattarousovargas, right, from Toms River, N.J., and Aviation Ordnancemen Airman Melo Hernandez, from Sylmar, Calif., reload an M2A1 .50 caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise on the fantail of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2n Class Joel A Mundo)