Sharp shooting: multi-lane, multi-purpose machine gun range design for the Marine Corps’ training of the future
At a glance
GHD, as part of the ASMD joint venture architect-engineer designer of record, led the design for a multilane, multi-purpose machine gun training range for the US Marine Corps in Guam. The design successfully overcame the geotechnical challenges to optimize interaction with the surrounding military facilities and civilian activities while minimizing environmental impact.
The challenge
The Security, Training Area and Ranges design team was contracted by the US Marine Corps through the ASMD JV to design an automated multi-purpose machine gun (MPMG) range on the Live-Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field, Guam.
The 105-acre area was the only available spot on the island that complied with the space requirements for the live fire shooting training. The site is surrounded by heavy vegetation on one side, four live ranges on another and a cliff leading to the Pacific Ocean. The site is also adjacent to Andersen Air Force Base, an active airfield.
Considering the variety of civilian and military facilities and activities, innovative civil engineering solutions were required to design and comply with the Surface Danger Zone and achieve Line of Sight (LoS) successfully for the eight-lane machine gun range, designed with multiple walk-in fighting pits (mounted and dismounted) and target emplacements in each lane. Environmental mitigation measures were also required to protect the ecosystem from live range contamination.
Pending congressional approval, the project represents a US $128 million investment in training capability and is expected to be completed in 2026.
Our response
Following the US Army Corps of Engineers Design Guide, the Marine Corps’ range design guide, and thanks to the team’s extensive experience and technical knowledge of live ranges, we participated in a design charrette modifying the landscape to comply with the range requirements for the selected location. The trapezoidal area is 1,000 meters long, with a width of 160 meters at the 0-meter mark and 320 meters at the 1,000-meter mark. At the end of the range is a 28-foot earthen berm that captures spent rounds, containing projectiles within the range footprint and minimizing environmental impact.
Modifying the site’s topography included earthwork to clear the range's main footprint and installing two groundwater monitoring wells. Additional structures include a range control tower, an ammunition distribution point, a bleacher building and an administrative building. Supporting facilities include a gravel maintenance road and mechanical, electrical and telecommunication utilities.
The JV team designed the MPMG range with multiple target emplacements in each of the eight 20-meter-width lanes. The 1000-meter unknown distance range design focused on the US Marine Corps training outcome and user requirements for both current and future training scenarios for the automated MPMG range.
The impact
The resulting design enables safe training and testing for the war fighters on the skills necessary to detect, identify, engage and defeat stationary and moving infantry targets, as well as stationary and moving armor targets. This range also supports night fire operations.
With an extensive Surface Danger Zone and a clear Line of Sight across the eight lanes, this design ensures no disruptions to airfield operations or adjacent firing ranges. Civilian activities on the bay beyond the cliff are also protected from live round ricochets.
The earth berm at the site’s end captures spent rounds and shields stormwater from lead contamination due to live fire, thus minimizing environmental impact.