FN Minimi

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FN Minimi
M249 FN MINIMI DA-SC-85-11586 c1.jpg
general information
Military designation: FN Minimi
Country of operation: see user
Developer / Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale (FN)
Development year: 1974
Manufacturer country: Belgium
Production time: today
Model variants: see variants
Weapon Category: Machine gun
Furnishing
Overall length: Standard: 1040 mm
Para: 914 mm
Standard 7.62: 1015 mm
insert. Shoulders 7.62: 1000 mm
Total width: 5.56: 110mm
7.62: 128mm
Weight: (unloaded) 7.31 to 8.4 kg
Barrel length : Standard: 465 mm
Para: 349 mm
7.62: 502 mm
Technical specifications
Caliber : 5.56 × 45 mm NATO
7.62 × 51 mm NATO
Possible magazine fillings : Zerfallgurt : 200
Soft Pack: 100 or 200
Beta C-Mag : 100
STANAG - Magazine : 30 rounds
Ammunition supply : Ammunition belt or magazine
Cadence : 5.56 mm: 700-1000 rounds / min.
7.62 mm: 680-800 rounds / min
Fire types: Continuous fire only
Closure : Turret lock
Charging principle: Gas pressure charger
Lists on the subject

The FN Minimi is a light machine gun from the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale Herstal in caliber 5.56 × 45 mm NATO . Minimi is the short form of the French Mini Mi trailleuse ( German small machine gun ). It was developed under the direction of Ernest Vervier and presented for the first time in 1974. In the meantime, it is used by armies in over 30 countries and is one of the most common weapons of its kind. The rifle is currently manufactured in the Belgian Herstal and manufactured under license in Australia, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Greece. Another production facility is located at the American subsidiary FN Manufacturing LLC in South Carolina , which manufactures the M249 version modified for the US Army - known as the "M249 SAW".

Versions

The standard version is 1040 mm long with a barrel length of 465 mm and weighs around 7.3 kg.

Numerous other versions were derived from the standard version of the FN Minimi . So there is a version for paratroopers ( English paratroopers ), which is called Para . This version differs from the standard version with a retractable shoulder support (shaft) and a shortening of the barrel mm to 349th With the stock inserted, the weapon has a total length of 766 mm. Despite the shortening of the barrel and the modification of the shaft, the Para weighs 40 g more than the normal version, according to the manufacturer.

A TR version is available for both the standard version and the para version . TR stands for Tactical Rail . The front handguard was replaced by a version with Picatinny rails and provided with rails according to MIL-STD-1913 on three sides (right, left and below). The TR equipment increases the weight of the respective version by 270 g.

For installation in vehicles (for example as a coaxial machine gun or a remote-controlled weapon station ), the machine gun is equipped with an electrical trigger that enables the weapon to be fired from inside the vehicle.

technology

The Minimi is a machine gun that is designed as a firing weapon with air cooling. The weapon was initially developed for the 5.56 × 45 mm NATO caliber. A variant in caliber 7.62 × 51 mm NATO was added later. The ammunition can be supplied by an ammunition belt or a magazine for the weapon, which fires only continuously .

function

The swivel head lock can be seen under the cover of the belt feeder

FN constructed the rifle as an indirect gas pressure loader with a rotating head lock . By designing it as a firing weapon, the risk of cook-off , i.e. auto-ignition of the cartridge in the hot cartridge chamber , which is strongly heated during continuous fire or numerous long bursts of fire, was avoided, as the cartridges only fed when the trigger was pulled and then ignited by the firing pin become. In addition, the tube and the chamber are forcibly ventilated by the closure movement. The hot gases from the self-loading mechanism are diverted upwards, preventing the formation of dust that could reveal the position of the shooter.

The Minimi has an adjustable gas control valve with two positions. In normal position, which is cadence at 700-850 rounds per minute, while increases in adverse position on 950 to 1,150 rounds per minute. The adverse position is only used in extreme environmental conditions or if the gas system is contaminated due to deposits ( fouling ).

construction

The closure is welded from stamped sheet metal parts. The resilient ejector is integrated in the lock. Empty cartridge cases are ejected out of the housing to the lower right, the cartridge ejection is closed by a spring-mounted cover to protect against contamination.

The locking pin is similar to that of the MG3 and is located above the handle. If the safety bolt is pushed to the right, a red ring appears on the left side of the housing and the weapon is ready to fire; pressing to the left secures the weapon by blocking the trigger mechanism.

Bipod

Both the standard and the Para variant are equipped with a foldable bipod attached to the gas pipe . When not in use, it is stowed under the hand protection. In the TR version, too , the bipod is attached to the gas pipe and not to the Picatinny rail. The bipod can be adjusted in three heights and enables a side adjustment range of 15 ° to both sides. The bipod can also be used as an assault grip by folding the legs together. The Minimi can use the Belgian FN 360 ° tripod or the US M122 (in conjunction with an M60 pin).

Ammunition supply

Scheme of the ammunition feed with belt (r.) And magazine (l.)

The ammunition is fed into the Minimi from the left. It is a M27 - Zerfallgurt , a miniaturized version of the M13 (7.62 × 51 mm) was used. The belt can be used for the ammunition as a loose endless belt or with 100 or 200 round ammunition boxes. Alternatively, STANAG bar magazines with a caliber of 5.56 × 45 mm can be used. The use of magazines is intended as a stopgap solution when there is no more belted ammunition available.

The ammunition belt is inserted through the belt feed; the magazines are in the magazine slot at a 45-degree angle under the belt feed. If a belt is inserted, an L-shaped flap of the belt feeder covers the magazine well. If a magazine is inserted, no belt can be inserted. This system for changing from magazine to belt without modification or additions was developed by Maurice V. Bourlet.

The ratchet feed mechanism is a further development of the mechanism used in the FN MAG , which in turn originated from that of the MG 42 . The belt is conveyed in two stages in the forward and backward movement of the bolt carrier, which ensures a smooth and trouble-free ammunition transport. On the cover over the feeder is a device that indicates whether a cartridge is in the feed position.

variants

An Australian special forces soldier with a Minimi 7.62
A Minimi Para with a telescopic sight, spare tube and ammunition pouches

In 1982, a modified version of the Minimi was adopted by the US military as the M249 as a new weapon. The weapon has been produced by FN Manufacturing LLC in the United States since 1984.

The prototype of the Minimi was originally built in the 7.62 × 51 mm NATO caliber . The further development then took place on the basis of the 5.56 × 45 mm variant. When the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) issued the requirements for the Mk 48 Mod. 0 , the original plans were reactivated and the new 7.62 mm model developed. After the USSOCOM commented positively about the weapon and other armies expressed their interest in a more powerful version, the weapon went into series production as the Minimi 7.62 . In addition to the changed caliber, it differs from the standard Minimi with a non-adjustable, self-regulating gas system and a hydraulic tube return brake in the stock . The Minimi 7,62 is also equipped with other sighting devices, so that the rear sight can be adjusted in 100 m steps from 100–1000 m. Wind correction is also possible. The weapon, also called Maximi , is available in different configurations like the 5.56 mm variant: There are also versions with retractable shoulder rest, for use on vehicles and as a TR version with Picatinny rails in the area of ​​the handguard.

A lightweight variant of the Para with Picatinny rails on the top of the housing is called the Minimi Special Purpose Weapon (SPW) . The SPW did not use magazines for weight reasons. In addition, the normal handguard has been replaced by a version with Picatinny rails in order to be able to mount tactical accessories.

Another variant of the SPW was requested by the United States Special Forces . The variant called Mk 46 Mod. 0 has a light, fluted barrel and no magazine holder. The mounts for fastening to vehicles and the carrying handle have also been saved for further weight optimization. The hand guard is equipped with Picatinny rails for attaching accessories. The Mk 46 Mod. 1 is an improved version with optimized hand protection and a lighter bipod made of titanium , which is used by the United States Navy .

In China, unlicensed copies of the 5.56mm Minimi were produced. They are to be marketed as XY 5.56 × 45 for export.

Users

An F89A1 of the Australian Army with a maneuver cartridge device and the telescopic sight of the Steyr AUG
Canadian soldiers training with the C9A1 . The standard minimi is equipped with a C79 rifle scope.
A Para in action with the French armed forces

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d FN Minimi on the Fabrique Nationale website . fnherstal.com. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ Terry Gander: Modern Machine Guns: An International Overview, p. 98 . Ed .: Motorbuch. January 1, 2000.
  3. ↑ Terry Gander: Modern Machine Guns: An International Overview, p. 99 . Ed .: Motorbuch. January 1, 2000.
  4. ↑ Supply device for a portable firearm Patent number: 4112817, Google patents.
  5. ↑ Popenker, Maxim & Williams, Anthony G., page 41st
  6. ↑ Canadian Small Arms - Automatic Rifles - A Visual Guide . casr.ca. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - Southeast Asia. No. 20. Jane's Information Group, Coulsdon 2007, pp. 146 and 152.
  8. ↑ Terre - MINIMI
  9. ↑ shadowspear.com ( memento from October 18, 2017)
  10. ↑ Arms of the Army Ranger Wing . fianoglach.ie. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  11. ↑ Belgium probes arms sales to Kadhafi regime. February 21, 2011, accessed March 13, 2012 .
  12. ^ Exhibition of Equipment . plala.or.jp.ca. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved on February 23, 2012.
  13. ↑ JGSDF Camp Kanazawa Festival . takaoka.zening.info. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  14. ^ Unofficial Pistols Page, Equipment . usp.lu. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  15. ↑ L'Unite d'Intervention de la Police Luxembourgeoise ( French , PDF; 18.0 MB) RAIDS Magazine. March 2006. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved on September 23, 2009.
  16. ↑ Lasterra, Juan Pablo: UPS Unidad Especial de la Policia Luxembourguesa ( spanisdh , PDF; 31.8 MB) ARMAS Magazine. 2004. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved on September 23, 2009.
  17. ^ Thompson, Leroy: Malaysian Special Forces . Special weapons. December 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  18. ↑ lalibre.be
  19. ↑ defensie.nl ( Memento from February 20, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  20. ↑ army.mil.nz New Zealand Army official site
  21. ^ A b Richard D. Jones: Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5 .
  22. ↑ dintel-gid.com.ar ( Memento from May 25, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  23. ^ Daniel Watters: The 5.56 X 45 mm: 2002-2003 . Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  24. ↑ Remigiusz Wilk (REMOV): Nowe gromy GROM . Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. 
  25. ^ GROM Utility and Equipment . Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved on August 2, 2009.
  26. ↑ blic.rs
  27. ↑ slovenskavojska.si ( Memento from May 29, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  28. ↑ fnherstal.com ( Memento from December 5, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF).
  29. ↑ Lätt kulspruta 90. ( Memento of 15 April 2008 at the Internet Archive ) Retrieved on 6 October of 2008.
  30. ↑ General Purpose Machine Guns of Sweden. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  31. ^ Introduction light machine gun ( memento of October 2, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) accessed on March 9, 2012
  32. ↑ army.mod.uk ( Memento from January 6, 2013 in the Internet Archive )