M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle
| M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle | |
|---|---|
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| general information | |
| Military designation: | M27 IAR |
| Country of operation: | United States |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Heckler |
| Development year: | 2009 |
| Weapon Category: | Assault rifle |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 937 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 3.6 kg |
| Barrel length : | 420 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 5.56 × 45 mm NATO |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 30 cartridges |
| Ammunition supply : | Curve magazine |
| Fire types: | Single, continuous fire |
| Mounting system: | Picatinny rail |
| Closure : | Turret lock |
| Charging principle: | Gas pressure charger |
| Lists on the subject | |
The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR M27) is the new multi- roll Ordonnanzgewehr of the United States Marine Corps . The M27 is a new infantry rifle concept, as it both in the role of light machine gun , the rifle scope rifle and the assault rifle is used. The M27 IAR is a further development of the HK416 assault rifle from the German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch . Initially the M27 was supposed to complement the M249 SAW in its role as a light MG, later all M249s were replaced by M27. At the end of 2017, the Marine Corps decided to also replace the M4 assault rifles on infantry platoons with the M27 and introduce it as the Designated Marksman Rifle under the designation M38 DMR .
history
The M27 was developed as part of the Infantry Automatic Rifle Program ("IAR") to complement the US Marine Corps' M249 . In addition to Heckler & Koch , Colt , FN Herstal and Magpul also competed in the selection process for the IAR . In 2010, 458 weapons were distributed to various units for field tests. They were especially better suited for urban warfare, as they are easier to handle than the M249, which can only be used there as a support weapon. As a result, it was decided in May 2011 to completely replace the M249 with the M27. Units that decide against the M27 should keep the M249.
The 2010 cost was estimated at $ 23.6 million for 6,500 pieces and $ 3,630 each. The unit price is now significantly lower.
In December 2017, the Marine Corps announced that the M27 would become the new standard weapon for its infantrymen . The number of items to be procured has not yet been published, estimates are from 11,000 to a maximum of 51,000 copies.
tactics
The M27 is significantly more precise than the M249, can fire continuously longer than the M4 and has a greater range than this. But the practical rate of fire is lower than that of the M249.
Due to the operational experience with the M27, the focus of the operational tactics for the machine gunner of the group was shifted from suppressive fire to more precise continuous fire. Due to the external similarity to the M4, the machine gunner is more difficult to distinguish from the other soldiers, which means that he is less likely to be the target of enemy attacks.
The machine gunner's combat set consists of 22 magazines with 30 rounds each, some of which are transported by other soldiers.
Based on its operational experience, the Marine Corps decided to equip the simple shooters with the M27 - now in the role of assault rifle. Only the group leader continues to lead the M4 . There were no changes to the weapon, thanks to the modular concept with the 4 mounting rails, add-on parts can be used as required. Simple shooters have a smaller combat set than the machine gunner. In practice, ammunition is distributed among the group as required. Since the M27 is used without changes in the assault rifle and IMG role, there is no external difference between shooters and machine guns. The bipods used as standard on the IMG can optionally also be used on the assault rifle.
The M27 fulfills another tactical role as the M38 DMR - basically only equipped with different target optics, it serves as a telescopic sight rifle.
technology
The M27 is based on the HK416 D16.5RS with a 16.5 inch barrel. It is a shooting gas pressure loader with a rotary head lock and has an impulse gas piston (gas piston with a short stroke). The trigger group allows single and continuous fire . The operation is designed in such a way that a lot is reminiscent of the operation of the M16. The weapon has Picatinny rails and can also accommodate bayonets . It can STANAG magazines and beta-C - and Armatec magazines with 100 or 150 cartridges are used.
The standard optics are the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) with 3.5x magnification, with an RMR melee sight mounted on it.
variants
The Marine Corps' Designated Marksman Rifle M38 was derived from the M27. Since the M27 already has a comparatively high intrinsic precision, the changes are essentially limited to the optics and - as additional equipment - a silencer . As riflescope a serving Leupold TS-30A2 Mk 4 MR / T with up to eight-fold magnification.
Web links
- TheFirearmBlog.com: M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (Engl.)
- DefenseReview.com: US Marine Corps Selects Heckler & Koch Infantry Automatic Rifle (HK IAR) Candidate as Replacement for FN M249 SAW / LMG (Engl.)
- MarineCorpsTimes.com: Corps chooses H&K to make SAW replacement
- Announcement at fbo.gov: 10 - Non-developmental, 5.56 mm, Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR)
Individual evidence
- ^ Dan Lamothe: Marines swap firepower for accuracy with IAR. (No longer available online.) In: Marine Corps Times. Gannet Company, June 29, 2011; Archived from the original on July 2, 2011 ; accessed on July 27, 2011 (English).
- ↑ Contracts for Friday December 19th 2008. (defense.gov) United States Department of Defense, December 19, 2008, accessed June 25, 2010 .
- ↑ M27s and 'Head-to-Toe' Gear Overhaul on the Way for Marine Grunts. January 5, 2018, accessed January 11, 2018 .
- ↑ Brendan McGarry: Marines to H&K: We'll Take 50K More M27 Rifles, Please. In: military.com. August 17, 2017, accessed January 12, 2018 .
- ↑ Jeff Schogol: The Corps' quest for the best rifle for infantrymen. In: marinecorpstimes.com. April 2, 2017, accessed January 12, 2018 .
- ↑ Steve: M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. In: thefirearmblog.com. Steve, June 7, 2010, accessed June 25, 2010 .
- ↑ a b Joseph Trevithick: The USMC's Beloved M27 Automatic Rifle Gets Another Job As The M38 Marksman Rifle. In: thedrive.com. January 2, 2018, accessed January 12, 2018 .