But it goes to eleven!

[K.L. Davis]

http://www.snipersarmory.com/images/desktop111206.JPG


The Fabrique Nationale (FN) M3M .50-Caliber
Weapon System is currently being evaluated as a
possible solution for the common assault-support
defensive weapon system and as a possible replacement
for the aging M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
The M3M represents an improvement in the rate of
fire, safety, accuracy, lethality, maintainability and
reliability over the currently fielded weapons.

Background: The M3M effort was initiated by
the Lab in cooperation with Marine Aviation Weapons
and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) in May
2001 to assess the effectiveness of the system
onboard several different assault-support helicopters.
While the system is primarily being evaluated
onboard the CH-46E, CH-53D/E and UH-1N
helicopters, the Lab is also examining vehicle- and
ground-mounted applications of the M3M. The V-
22 Osprey will initially be equipped with a rampmounted
M3M.

Description: The M3M is a weapon system rather
than just a machine gun. The system has three parts:
the machine gun, the medium-pintle head or “soft
mount” and the cradle to integrate the weapon into
each particular aircraft or vehicle.

The M3M all North Atlantic Treaty Organization standard
.50-caliber ammunition and fires from an
open breech to eliminate cook-off hazards and
increase system safety. The soft-mount technology
absorbs both recoil and counter-recoil forces to
about one-third the rate of the current M2 and XM-
218 .50-caliber machine guns.

MAWTS-1 conducted each of the first three phases
of the assessment during their bi-annual weapons
and tactics instructors (WTI) course. The fourth
phase of the assessment was completed at Naval Air
Systems Command (NAVAIR) on the CH-53E
Ramp-Mounted Weapon System in December 2003.

M3M Weapon System Comparison to XM-218:
- Weight: 79.9 pounds
- Sustained rate of fire: 200 rounds per minute (RPM)
- Improved rate of fire: 1,100 vs. 550 RPM
- Improved barrel life: 10,000 vs. 3,000 rounds (rds)
- Integrated illuminator and laser spot: day/night-capable
- Increased ammunition capacity: 300 vs. 100 rds/box

[Robb Jensen]

I saw two of those down in the armory at Blackwater in May of this year. They run something like a 1100-1200rpm and weight 85lbs IIRC.

They're quite awesome.

[K.L. Davis]

I saw two of those down in the armory at Blackwater in May of this year. They run something like a 1100-1200rpm and weight 85lbs IIRC.

They're quite awesome.

80lbs and 1100 RPM -- ergo the title of the thread :D

[Voodoochild]

What I wouldn't give to mount one of those in the back of my Tacoma.:cool: :cool:

[Chris_C]

Is that a newer smaller version of the B-STING laser mounted to it?

Also, this reminds me of some slow motion video we saw when I was in the Marines..Showed a red hot M2 bbl, slowed down so much that you could see the black cooler rounds going through it....

Hope this system works out, the M2 is awesome.

[Ross]

The M3 has been around since the end of WWII. It was the standard armament of the F-86 Saber, amongst others.

I'm sure it's an improved version of the old one, considering who's making it. It's not like they put out junk.

The M3 is a lighter gun than the M2HB. The M3 has a lighter/shorter barrel because the HB wasn't needed for heat control in an aircraft (air flow is great in a F-86), and they wanted a higher ROF, which a lighter barrel gives in the Browning. I think the gun itself was about 20lbs lighter than the M2HB as it has a lighter and shorter barrel, and no spade grips. etc. Considering they bring the weight back up to the M2HB's and gain all the nifty stuff like the better user interface, and higher ROF, it's a pretty nice set-up.

Nearly all the parts interchange between the M2HB and the AN-M3.

[Al U. 5811]

Is that the same M3 that is used on the Avenger platform?