M249
| M249 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| general information | |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Fabrique Nationale Herstal |
| Manufacturer country: |
Belgium ( Minimi ) United States (M249) |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 1040 mm |
| Total height: | 210 mm |
| Total width: | 93 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 6.83 kg |
| Barrel length : | 550 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 5.56 × 45 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 : | Decay belt: 750 rounds / min Magazine: 1000 rounds / min |
| Fire types: | Continuous fire only |
| Closure : | Turret lock |
| Charging principle: | Gas pressure charger |
| Lists on the subject | |
The M249 LMG ( light machine gun ), formerly the M249 SAW ( Squad Automatic Weapon ), is a light machine gun that has been the standard infantry machine gun of the United States Armed Forces since February 1, 1982 . It is a modified version of the FN Minimi produced in the United States by the Belgian company Fabrique Nationale Herstal .
Development and properties
To complement the M16 rapid fire rifle , a new weapon was developed with a greater performance potential than the M16A2 , which is nevertheless lighter and easier to use than the M60 . It was introduced by the US Army as M249 and adopted by other countries. Furthermore, a version for paratroopers with the designation M249 Para and the Mk46 Mod 0 for special forces were developed. The MG shoots from the open breech position to prevent self-ignition . A special feature is that the machine gun ammunition not only from the usual belts but also from NATO STANAG - rod magazines can fire (for example, M16) without modifications. With the variant M249 PIP (which stands for P roduct I mprovement P rogram, German about Product Improvement Program ) were soft pack magazines introduced to the previous belt boxes to replace metal or plastic.
The M249 has a height-adjustable bipod and a characteristic handle that is also used to change the barrel.
US soldier with M249 Para in Afghanistan
US soldier with M249 SAW in Iraq
An M249 PIP with a softpack magazine
User states
-
United States : United States Armed Forces
- The United States Marine Corps began to replace the M249 with the M27 .
-
Hungary : Hungarian special forces use the M249 SAW
Web links
- M249 Light Machine Gun Full description (English)
- www.fnherstal.com (manufacturer Belgium): MINIMI 5.56 standard (English)
- (Manufacturer United States): M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ MH 34. Bercsényi László Különleges Műveleti Zászlóalj , In: honvedelem.hu, July 31, 2012, accessed on March 5, 2014 (Hungarian)