DESIGN
The MAG has been developed by Fabrique Nationale
of Belgium in the fifties. ‘MAG’ stands for
‘Mitrailleuse d’Appui General’ or ‘general
purpose machine gun’. The MAG is based upon
the very reliable BAR. The mechanism was
altered a bit to accept the 7.62x51mm NATO
round. The MAG is a belt-fed machinegun firing
full automatic only. It has a quick change
barrel. It is the worlds most used machinegun.
The MAG is sometimes called the MAG 58. The
MAG was introduced in 1958. |
| The basic MAG, without a heatshield around
the barrel. Old european versions have a
wooden stock. The US M240G (Ground) has a
plastic stock. |
| The MAG fitted with a heatshield around the
barrel. This allows the user to carry the
weapon like an assault rifle, instead of
using the carrying handle. This version is
called M240B and has the same plastic stock
as the M240G. |
| This is a MAG without a stock and fitted
with an electrical trigger system. It is
designed as a coaxial weapon for combat vehicles.
A coaxial weapon is fitted next to the main
armament and can be used to suppress enemy
fire, while the main armament is reloaded.
This variant is called M240C (Coaxial) in
US service. The US M240 is also a coaxial
weapon, but has the basic left-hand feed. |
| This variant is fitted with a special trigger
system, that allows the weapon to be pintle
mounted. The weapon is hold and fired in
the same manner as the M2HB. This variant
can be used in helicopters, on boats and
on top of vehicles. In US service it is called
M240D. |
PERFORMANCE
The MAG is the world’s most reliable machinegun.
That says enough about its reliability. Like
all cold war machineguns, the MAG is quite
heavy and therefore nowadays usually replaced
by two 5.56mm machineguns. The MAG has a
gas regulator for a low rate of fire (~650
rpm) and a high rate of fire (~950). Soldiers
use the low rate of fire most of the time.
When mounted or as a coaxial weapon the high
rate of fire is used. The MAG is fitted with
a quick change barrel, which is changed between
every 200 and 400 rounds depending on how
intensive the weapon is used. New production
models have the wooden stock replaced by
a plastic one and are fitted with Piccatiny
scope mounts.
USE
- The M240C is used on many combat vehicles
of the United States. The M240G is used by
the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The
M240D is used on the M1 Abrams.
- The United Kingdom uses the MAG as a coaxial
weapon. The MAG is being replaced in some
units by the SA-80 LSW or Minimi.
I- Israel replaced the MAG by the Negev.
The MAG is however still used as a coaxial
weapon and is in use by the reserve.
- The Netherlands use the MAG as a coaxial
weapon and as a pintle mounted weapon. Each
MAG in use by a machine gun team has been
replaced by two - Minimi Para’s.
- Belgium
- Canada
- Australia
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