Firepower in hand. What to be a modern machine gun
The Bundeswehr adopted the MG5 machine gun, which should replace the honored veteran MG3. Being basically good weapons, MG5 does not have the quality that is primarily expected from a new generation model - it has practically no advantages over its predecessor - MG3. In this article, we will present our vision of a modern infantry machine gun.
Introduction
In World War II, the Americans and the British used heavy machine guns that differed little from those used in World War I, and at the squad level they had BREN and BAR light machine guns, which would be more correctly called automatic rifles. The Germans, back in the days of the Weimar Republic, began the development of a light universal machine gun with belt feed. The result of this work was the appearance of MG34 and MG42. Due to their "rifle" layout and low weight, they could also be used at the level of infantry squads as manual ones: they were only 2-3 kilograms heavier than their "opponents", while being full-fledged machine guns.
This concept paid off after the Second World War, it spread around the world in the form of the FN MAG or M60. The MG42 itself, with minimal changes, continued its service in the Bundeswehr as MG3 or as MG74 in the Austrian army.
Nevertheless, 12 kilograms is not so little. A long barrel is also often more of a hindrance than a benefit. And for infantrymen, mobility is a guarantee of survival. If in the 30s the 12-kilogram machine gun was a revolution in military affairs, then by the end of the war, the 9-kilogram MG45 had already appeared, as well as adapted for ground use aviation MG81 weighing 8,5 kg.
The 1944 terms of reference for a new machine gun that was supposed to replace the MG42 provided for the same rate of fire. The MG45 looks very similar to the MG42, but is technically related to the G3 automatic rifle. Work on it continued in Germany. The mass was reduced to 8,5 kg. Under the designation MG60, it was successfully tested, but for financial reasons it was not accepted into service. In addition, in 1961, the NK3 / G21 machine gun, developed by Heckler and Koch, based on the G8, weighing only 8 kg, appeared.
On the other side of the Iron Curtain, there was also a revolution in the field of reducing the weight of the machine gun: in the 1960s, Kalashnikov developed the PK machine gun (9 kg), which, after modernization (PKM), was able to lighten as much as 7,5 kilograms.
Thus, the “eastern bloc” was armed with a light machine gun already in the 60s. In the west, there were also corresponding developments. Nevertheless, Western armies still use excessively heavy machine guns.
Recently, lightweight models of weapons for a full-fledged rifle and machine gun cartridge have appeared in different countries. First of all, you need to name the IWI Negev NG-7, FN Minimi 7,62 / Mk48, M60E6 and the Pecheneg PKP.
The Mark48 machine gun is a 7,62x51 NATO variant of the FN Minimi. Its mass is 8,2 kg. Used by US Special Operations Forces
The Israeli machine gun IWI Negev NG-7 weighs 7,92 kg.
In the lighter weight category, the LMG Knigt Armament Stoner and Ares Strike in 5,56x45 caliber perform.
To the existing samples, you can add the NSGW-AR and FN EVOLIS intended to replace the M249. The newest "Belgian" is presented in calibers 5,56x45 and 7,62x51. The first of the samples weighs 5,5 kg, and the second - 6,2. Both options use gas automatics. Rate of fire - 750 rds / min.
MG5 vs MG3
Based on the foregoing, the adoption of the new brainchild of Heckler and Koch is surprising. Its competitiveness in the international market is also in question. So, for example, Denmark, after conducting comparative tests of MG2014 and M5E60 in 6, gave preference to the latter. Although we repeat, MG5 is a good weapon in itself.
What distinguishes it from its predecessor MG3, if you do not take into account the technical features? And almost nothing! The new machine gun is a little bit lighter, a little bit shorter, besides, it's more "pot-bellied". The reduced rate of fire saves ammunition and reduces recoil, although this did not significantly improve handling. Does the barrel need to be changed less frequently? So the reason for this was just the reduced rate of fire and the increased mass of the barrel itself. The revolution did not happen here either, especially in comparison with the Russian "Pecheneg".
The obvious advantages include only a really very comfortable two-point belt and the ability to install optics. Although the choice of a 4x optical sight as the main one is a more than controversial decision. But more on that later.
What do we have in the end? Convenient carrying strap and the ability to install optics. Both could be achieved with much less money and time by modifying the MG3, as the Austrians did with their MG74. In addition, there is a MG3KWS upgrade kit from Rheinmetall.
The MG3KWS upgrade kit from Rheinmetall makes the honored veteran worthy of the XNUMXst century, but cannot completely fix its shortcomings, especially not the best ergonomics
The question of mass
Even the Prussian General Helmut von Moltke said that mobility is the key to survival and victory in the war. He believed that it was not enough to have separate "light" battalions - the whole army should be "light" and consist of well-trained, well-equipped and armed fighters. And high mobility is the main quality of such troops. This means that the less ballast a soldier is forced to carry, the better he will be able to perform his main tasks.
All military men agree on this - in theory. So, for example, the mass of equipment of a US Army soldier should not exceed 25 kilograms, but in the mountains of Afghanistan they carry much more. Things are no better in the Bundeswehr. Excessive load not only reduces the combat effectiveness of soldiers, but is also the cause of many diseases of the spine and joints, as the practice of the past two decades has shown. The military would be happy to comply with the charters and rules of health protection, but it is impossible to fit everything a fighter needs into the 25 allotted kilograms (and this is also a lot).
A large part of the mass of equipment is ammunition. In some armies, along with machine guns under a full-fledged rifle and machine gun cartridge, lightweight models are also used: under an intermediate cartridge. Soldiers love the MG4 or FN Minimi for their light weight of 7-8 kg, but bullet penetration is the object of sharp criticism. But both penetration and firing range are also important. Although it is possible to create a light machine gun chambered for the 7,62-category cartridge, this problem can be fundamentally solved only by lightening the cartridges themselves.
New generation
In this regard, it is impossible not to mention the Next Generation Squad Weapon program of the American army. Within its framework, a replacement is being developed for both the M4 / M16 assault rifles and the M249 SAW machine gun. This weapon should also use a new cartridge of 6,8 mm caliber with parameters close to 7,62x51. At the same time, the Marine Corps is experimenting with the 6,5 Creedmoor cartridge. And the Belgian concern FN Herstal presented in 2019 a prototype of the Mk48 machine gun in this caliber.
Thus, it is supposed to maintain the firing range and penetration ability and at the same time reduce the mass of the ammunition. The use of a closed-type muzzle brake-compensator will facilitate control over the weapon. The MG6,8 prototype presented by SIG Sauer has a mass of 6,8 kg and is equipped with a recoil dampening system. The cover with the tape receiver does not fold up, but to the side, which should facilitate the installation of optics and other additional devices.
The cartridges presented for the competition are very different from each other. While SIG Sauer uses 6,8 HYBRID/ .277 FURY with a brass case with a steel base, others prefer plastic cased cartridges. If it is possible to ensure sufficient strength of plastic sleeves, then this option seems very interesting. Plastic is lighter than metal and also has a lower thermal conductivity. Thus, it will be possible to reduce the heating of the weapon during intensive shooting and increase the wearable ammunition.
Infantry machine gun
Now let's ask ourselves: what should be the "ideal" infantry machine gun? The authors are now talking only about this category of weapons.
The first two points (small, up to 7-8 kg weight and powerful, but light cartridge) - we have already considered. If these requirements are met, it is possible to carry a box attached to the weapon with a belt with a capacity of at least 150 rounds instead of the current 50 (MG3) or 80 (MG5). This will provide the shooter with more firepower in case of an unexpected encounter with the enemy. Those who have dealt with the MG4 and its 200-round belt will understand us well.
The 6,8 HYBRID/.277 FURY cartridge retains its ballistic performance even when fired from a short barrel. It also allows the weapon to be made smaller and lighter. The cartridge was reportedly tested with a 404 mm (16 in) barrel. In order to be able to control such a light machine gun, avoid excessive consumption of cartridges and at the same time provide sufficient firepower, the rate of fire should be 700-900 rounds / min. You can not do without muzzle nozzles.
The closed-type DTK presented at NGSW-MG seems like a very good idea. It reduces the visual and acoustic visibility of the shooter, makes the weapon more manageable and less traumatic to the hearing of the shooter and his comrades. Thanks to technological progress, such DTKs have already appeared, suitable for use on machine guns. But the usual muzzle brake with a flash hider, like the GAU-5 / A, familiar from the Vietnam War, will also be useful.
The most important quality of a machine gun is its ability to conduct intense barrage fire for a long time. To achieve this, on the Russian PKP Pecheneg machine gun, which is a modernized version of the tested PKM, an interesting solution was used, known since the First World War - forced ejection air cooling of the barrel, like on a Lewis machine gun. The Pecheneg's barrel has a specially designed outer finning and is enclosed in a metal casing.
When firing, powder gases leaving the muzzle of the barrel at high speed create the effect of an ejection pump in the front of the casing, pulling cold air along the barrel. The air is taken from the atmosphere through the openings in the casing, made under the carrying handle, at the rear of the casing. Thanks to this and more advanced materials, the Pecheneg can fire 600 shots in a continuous burst.
Thanks to this technical solution, the replacement of the barrel becomes almost redundant, which means that the 2nd calculation number does not need to carry a two-kilogram spare barrel, but you can take additional cartridges. But it's still not worth it to refuse this function.
To carry a combat-ready machine gun, for example, in the head patrol, one cannot do without a comfortable, wide, two-point belt adjustable in length. However, in combat, sometimes you have to do without it. For a quick change of position, a carrying handle will be useful. It must be rigidly attached to the body of the machine gun. The way some soldiers carry the MG4 or MG5 by the quick-change grip is hardly advisable.
One of the authors of these lines had to stay in the middle of the forest with one trunk in his hands! A good solution seems to be a carrying handle, which also serves as a bracket for optics, like the MG4 and G36. It is convenient to grab onto this even in a stressful situation. Also, the “assault” handle of the MG3KWS makes a good impression.
Machine gun MG4. The carrying handle, which also serves as a bracket for the optics, is very convenient for quick position changes. A collimator sight is installed on top. Under the handle - low magnification optical sight
If we have already mentioned the MG4, then it is worth dwelling on the sights. The main task of machine guns is to defeat areal targets, conducting barrage fire. The need to hit point targets, such as vehicles or enemy machine-gun nests, can still arise. At typical distances for small arms, a collimator sight is enough for this. The advantage of the collimator, although not increasing and not adjustable depending on the distance of the sight, is that it makes it easier to keep the aiming mark on the target when the machine gun "beats" in the hands when firing bursts.
Also, it pairs well with night vision goggles. The ability to adjust the aiming by visible hits and along the tracks when firing bursts seems to be more preferable than accurate aiming using magnifying optics. In the conditions of modern conflicts, infantry often fights in forests or in settlements, and the firing distances there are appropriate. Under these conditions, a magnifying optical sight as the main one will rather interfere. If the need arises for aimed shooting at a distance of more than 300 meters, the best configuration of MG4 sights seems to be - the main red dot sight above the carrying handle and an additional low magnification optical sight below it.
The Austrian machine gun MG74 is equipped with a collimator sight with a folding magnifying nozzle. This provides the shooter with a good view at close range and at the same time allows them to conduct aimed fire at long distances, as is often the case in the mountains.
It is also worth mentioning the ways of using machine guns. For example, during a sudden fire raid from an ambush, the machine gun is usually silent and remains in reserve until the last. With the ability to conduct a single fire, he could, in cases like the MG34, "disguise himself as a rifle." In addition, bringing to a normal battle is best done with single shots. Of the modern machine guns, the IWI Negew has this capability.
Often there is a need to fire a machine gun, standing from the hip or from the shoulder. This requires a full forearm. It should be comfortable, "grasping". This cannot be said about MG4 or MG5. The fore-end with Picatinny rails on all sides is also inconvenient to hold. Here, rather, a U-shaped aluminum profile suggests itself with the possibility of installing a tactical handle and a laser designator using an M-LOK type mount.
The bipod is best done in the style of the MG3 - simple, strong, stamped parts without height adjustment, which fold into the bosom of the forearm from below. Height-adjustable bipods are unreliable, heavy and uncomfortable, and the need for adjustment is infrequent.
The same can be said about the example. It should be as simple as possible, and for use by motorized infantry, it must be folding or telescopic. The authors can argue from their own experience that there is no need to adjust the length and height, and this only makes the weapon more complicated and more expensive. The telescopic buttstock of the landing version of the FN Minimi seems to be successful.
The reloading handle of the machine gun is on the right - this is not the best solution. On the one hand, modern soldiers, unlike during the Second World War, are used to manipulating the shutter with their left hand - this is how they were taught at the initial training with a machine gun. On the other hand, it is better if the shooting hand remains on the handle while manipulating the bolt. Machine gun recoil springs are usually quite tight. Therefore, on newer designs such as the ARES Shrike or the Sig Sauer NGSW AR MG 6, the bolt handle is on the left.
When developing weapons, great attention must be paid to ease of handling and maintenance. This is often forgotten. Particularly incomplete disassembly and cleaning should be as simple as possible. According to the authors, this aspect of all machine guns in service with the Bundeswehr - both MG3, and MG4, and MG5 - can be assessed at best as "satisfactory". MG4 is perhaps a little better. As is the case with other machine guns available on the world market, the authors cannot say due to lack of experience.
Our “ideal machine gun” should have a gas engine system with a long piston stroke, it is the most convenient for assembly / disassembly. Anyone who has dealt with the G3 and MG3 is unlikely to be a fan of roller shutters. With intensive shooting, a large amount of soot and unburned gunpowder is formed. Therefore, the inside of the body of the weapon must, firstly, have a minimum of bottlenecks and sinuses and, secondly, be easily accessible for cleaning after incomplete disassembly.
Conclusions
A modern infantry machine gun should have the smallest possible mass. If at the beginning of the Second World War the 12-kilogram machine gun was a novelty that provided the crew with unprecedented mobility, then by the time it ended, even lighter models appeared. The infantryman was at all times very loaded, and with the introduction of bulletproof vests, he received, in addition to the previously usual load, another 10-15 kilograms. Technically, the creation of a truly "light" machine gun is quite possible, and should be done.
Translation of the Handliche Fruerkraft article. Gedanken zu Maschienengewehren, published in the German gun magazine Deutsche Waffenjournal No. 12-2021. It echoes the material previously published in this magazine (and in the Military Review) “Machine gun MG5 arrives at the German troops". Authors: Franz Keck and Sigfried Trost. Translation: Slug_BDM
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