Browning Automatic Rifle
| Browning Automatic Rifle | |
|---|---|
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| general information | |
| Civil name: | Browning Automatic Rifle |
| Military designation: | BAR M1918 / M1918A2 |
| Country of operation: | United States |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | John Moses Browning |
| Development year: | 1917/1918 |
| Manufacturer country: | United States |
| Production time: | since 1918 |
| Weapon Category: | light machine gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 1214 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 7.2-8.8 kg |
| Barrel length : | 610 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | .30-06 Springfield |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 20 cartridges |
| Ammunition supply : | Double-row bar magazine |
| Fire types: | Continuous fire , M1918 can be switched to single fire |
| Number of trains : | 4th |
| Twist : | Right twist |
| Visor : | up to 1600 yards (1463 m) |
| Closure : | Firing gun , locking by support flap |
| Charging principle: | Gas pressure charger |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR for short, is a light machine gun developed by John Moses Browning around 1916/17 to support combat units . After a demonstration to government officials and the press on February 27, 1917 in Washington DC, it was introduced as a light machine gun (IMG) in the US Army , but came too late to play a role in World War I : its first use it on September 13, 1918 in France. The BAR has a 20-round magazine and weighs over 9 kg when loaded, which is light for a machine gun , but too heavy for an assault rifle - as it was originally intended as such. The BAR thus weighed almost twice as much as the American standard rifle Springfield M1903 and the later M1 Garand . In the absence of a suitable successor, the BAR was still the standard IMG for US troops during World War II . It was supposed to give the advancing units more firepower when they changed positions. Since the BAR was much too light for a machine gun with such a powerful cartridge, it was difficult to control it in sustained fire without a bipod support. The magazine, which only held 20 cartridges, was designed too small for a serial firearm. Since the barrel is firmly connected to the housing and the weapon does not have the possibility of a quick change of barrel for combat purposes, this fact had a negative effect on the application if the barrel overheated after continued continuous fire. Nevertheless, the BAR was still used by American troops in the Korean War after World War II . Even today the weapon can be found sporadically in some countries.
Technology & description
The light machine gun BAR 1918 is a closing gas pressure loader with a swing bolt lock . Manufacturing problems initially led to charging malfunctions, but the revision of the production plans and standardization of tolerances by Winchester resolved these problems and the A1 version of the BAR worked perfectly even under adverse conditions. The piston of the BAR 1918 and BAR 1918 A1 was made of wood, while that of the BAR 1918 A2 was partly made of plastic. The design of the weapon was later adopted by the Belgian company Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre , which introduced the interchangeable barrel ribbed in the rear part of the FN Type D. The successor to the BAR in the American Army is the M60 .
variants
M1918
Can be switched to single and continuous fire, no bipod , tubular flash hider, rear sight adjustable up to 1600 yards.
M1918A1
Like M1918, but with a bipod that can be folded forward and a front sight guard attached to the gas cylinder.
M1918A2
As M1918A1, but only fully automatic in two modes, fast: switch lever to A 550 spm, slow: switch lever to F 350 spm; In position F, single shots can be fired by quickly releasing the trigger. Bipod attached to the flash hider and foldable backwards. Reinforced barrel in the area of the cartridge chamber, foldable shoulder pad, piston with attachment for piston support. The butt has a recess on the left side that allows the shooter to get closer with the eye to better grasp the line of sight. Rear sight adjustable in side and height. Fore-end cut down for better cooling, later a new fore-end with recessed grip. Lateral guide cheeks on the magazine well (initially riveted, later made in one piece with the trigger housing).
M1922 Cavalry Machine Rifle
Like M1918A1, but heavy barrel with cooling fins, sling swivel attached to the side, piston support attached to the piston neck with a clamp.
Colt Automatic Machine Rifle, model 1919
Commercial version of the M1918, but without a flash hider.
Colt Automatic Machine Rifle, Model 1924
Like M1919, but with a pistol grip and a shortened but larger fore-end.
Colt Automatic Machine Rifle, Model 1925
Like M1924, but with bipod, heavy barrel with cooling fins, dust cover for ejector and magazine slot. Colt designation "R75". As version R75 A with quick barrel change.
Colt monitor
Version for police service produced from 1933, with pistol grip, without bipod, with a lighter, shorter barrel (barrel length 45.7 cm (18 inches)) and Cutts compensator. Without magazine slot dust cover. Weight 6 kg.
MAC-24/29
The MAC-24/29 is based on the BAR; For better suitability as an IMG, the system was rotated by 180 ° so that the magazine is fed from above.
Ohio ordnance HCAR
Ohio ordnance produces a heavily modernized version of the BAR called the Heavy Counter-Assault Rifle (HCAR). The breech block has been greatly lightened, the barrel shortened and made lighter and a modern plastic stock used. The original .30-06 caliber is retained.
literature
- WHB Smith: Small Arms of the World. The basic Manual of Military Small Arms. American, British, Russian, German, Italian, Japanese and all other important Nations . 5. revised and enlarged edition. Military Service Publishing Company, Harrisburg PA 1957.
- Melvin M. Johnson, Charles T. Haven: Automatic Weapons of the World . Morrow, New York 1945.
