Posted on 11/05/2009 1:26:38 PM PST by re_tail20
U.S. Army infantry units are fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan with a special operations forces machine gun that’s 30 percent lighter than the standard M240B but still packs the killing power of 7.62mm NATO.
Army weapons officials are fielding several hundred MK 48 MOD 1 machine guns in an effort to lighten the heavy loads ground forces, especially machine-gunners, struggle to carry over the country’s unforgiving terrain. The MK 48, made by FN Manufacturing LLC, was first adopted by Navy SEAL teams in 2000. The elite commando units needed a reliable 7.62mm machine gun that was light enough to carry on fast-moving raids and other special missions. “It’s a great assault gun,” said Army Col. Doug Tamilio, the head of Project Manager Soldier Weapons, the command that overseas Army small arms.
At 18.26 pounds, the MK 48 is about nine pounds lighter than the 27.5-pound M240B. But the 550 MK 48s being fielded are not the beginning of a move to replace the Army’s beloved M240B, also made by FN Manufacturing, Tamilio said. It’s a short-term fix until next year when the Army begins fielding the lighter version of the M240B—the M240L. The MK 48 fielding is intended to quickly “get something in the hands of soldiers to fight with in the mountains of Afghanistan,” Tamilio said.
The weapon’s appearance resembles the M249 squad automatic weapon, also made by FN Manufacturing. It has the same ergonomic fixed polymer stock and pistol grip. But unlike the 5.56mm M249, the MK 48 is chambered for the potent 7.62mm NATO round and is capable of spitting them out at a cyclic rate of fire of 720 rounds per minute.
(Excerpt) Read more at gunwatch.blogspot.com ...
When does it become so light that the recoil becomes unmanageable?
This post is useless without pic’s. ;)
ping
This began life as an up-gunned M249 SAW, with a caliber change from 5.56mm to 7.62mm.
I wonder if it will wear the receiver any faster than the SAW?
Looks like it’s got a canteen mounted on the bottom.
That’s a 100rnd “magazine” that holds the belted ammo, just like the smaller-caliber SAW.
I know, I was being sarcastic.
I was watching a ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ documentary last week.
They were demonstrating Clyde’s favorite weapon, the Browning BAR in 30-06.
I was struck by the lack of muzzle rise in full auto.
Looked like they are fairly accurate in auto.
That’s because they’re insanely heavy.
Somebody’s making a semi-auto BAR and it’s a hunk of machined steel. No stampings on that baby.
Clyde cut down the barrel on his BAR, enabling him to conceal it under a long coat. He was deadly in an ambush.
Happiness is a belt-fed weapon.
Just don’t try to keep up any kind of sustained fire with that thing.
It's called the MG-3. The MG-3 used by several NATO forces in Afghanistan and is essentially an MG-42 (Pakistan and I believe India and Iran use it). The MG-3 does have it's drawbacks. Like the MG-42, it has a ravenous appetite and owing to it's recoil assist, tends to be inaccurate at long distance especially when operated by lightweight gunners.
Click the image for more info:
Hmmm, nine years ago.
It’s a short-term fix until next year when the Army begins fielding the lighter version of the M240B—the M240L. The MK 48 fielding is intended to quickly “get something in the hands of soldiers to fight with in the mountains of Afghanistan,” Tamilio said.
...and we've been in Afghanistan, how long?
Ok, Why not rework the MG 34? That was a work of art.
MG-34 was expensive to manufacture and didn't like operating in dirty environments. The MG-42 addressed MG-34 limitations.
Post war, the Americans copied from the MG-42 and called it the M-60.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.