Fabrique Nationale FN MAG

Fabrique Nationale FN MAG History

The FN MAG ("Mitrailleuse d'Appui General") was developed by the Belgian national firm Fabrique as a "universal machine gun" for various battlefield roles - namely automatic fire support. Due to its multi-purpose intent, the weapon can be carried by a patrolman via shoulder straps, set up in a fire support role via a foldable bipod, and protect valuable positions by using a heavy duty tripod, or mounted in a traditional manner on On vehicles, it is used to suppress enemy troops. Designed in the 1950s under Ernest Vervier's direction, the weapon was influenced by Germany's WWII-era MG42 machine gun and earlier factory-produced M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs).

The gun went into production in 1958 and is still in service in about 80 countries around the world, making it one of the most successful post-World War II machine guns.

The

MAG follows the unique quality and reliability of previous FN products, proving that this weapon is a versatile and durable addition to any military stockpile. Not surprisingly, the system is loaded with the widely accepted 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, also widely used by many NATO players.

The action is pneumatic (mainly based on the M1918 BAR), in which the trailing propellant of the shot collects in the exhaust port on the barrel, driving the piston for subsequent firing for automatic fire. Unlike the BAR, however, the FN MAG uses a downward locking bolt. The weapon is fired via an open bolt arrangement and uses non-disintegrating and disintegrating ammunition belts fed from the left side of the receiver, deflated belts, or spent cartridges ejected from the right side. On the lower right side of the receiver is a large pull handle, the receiver is roughly rectangular in shape - the knob is pulled back towards the operator to initially pull the weapon.

Aiming is through the rear (flaps with holes/notches) and front (blade) iron assembly. A foldable bipod is standard on the infantry version. The shoulder rest employs a recoil-dependent arrangement internally, with the operator managing the traditional pistol-grip approach behind the ring trigger.

The trigger ring has been enlarged for use with gloved hands. The muzzle has a slotted compensator. Carrying handles are provided for easy transport and also for handling overheated kegs for replacement.

The FN MAG has a barrel length of 50 inches and a barrel length of 21.5 inches. The gun weighs 26 pounds when unloaded. The cyclic rate of fire is 650 to 1,000 rounds per minute, depending on the setting. The muzzle velocity is 2,800 feet per second.

The weapon has an effective range of up to 800 meters, while the system can reach 1,500 meters with reduced accuracy.

There are four main variants of

FN production. The MAG 60-20 is a basic infantry support weapon with a fixed stock, pistol grip and folding bipod. These versions can be mounted on trunnion mounts and used as door gunner weapons for helicopters.

Intended for aircraft use, the MAG 60-30 is a fixed forward mount controlled by a solenoid assembly. The MAG 60-40 is a coaxial armoured vehicle variant for wheeled vehicles and tracked armour. The MAG 10-10 is a tropicalized variant with reduced inventory and a shortened barrel and gas assembly for compactness.

Ammunition supply on some models is variable, allowing the belt to be inserted on either side of the receiver, which is useful in symmetrical configurations on aircraft.

FN MAG is chosen by many countries as their GPMG. Thus, one of the most famous operators became the British Army, which adopted the FN MAG, codenamed "L7".

These were then procured in a number of proprietary variants, from the base L7A1 to the L7A2, the vehicle L8 series, the heavy barrel L9, the long-range L20 series, the vehicle L37, the L43 rangefinder gun and the Royal Navy's L44. The British versions are all locally licensed, first at the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield Lock and then (currently) by Manroy Engineering.

Another well-known military operator is the US Army, which uses the FN MAG for the M240. It became the standard coaxial machine gun for the new series of M60 Patton MBTs and later the M1 Abrams MBTs. The M240B became an updated form of the original and entered the infantry support role in late 1995 as a medium machine gun. The M240C uses right-hand feed, while the M240D uses pivot mounts on helicopters. The LAV uses the M240E1 series, while the M240G replaces the USMC's M60E3 GPMG.

The M240H is an evolution of the M240D model series. The M240L is a lightweight version of the M240B.

The FN MAG is identified as "Kulspruta 58" in Swedish Army inventory and produced under license under the Carl Gustaf brand label. Argentina produces the FN MAG locally under license under the name "7.62mm Ametralladora Tipo 60-20 MAG". These were used in anger against Britain during the Falklands War in the 1980s. FN MAGs produced in China are exported as CQ 7. 62x51. Egypt produces FN MAG under license from Maadi Company for Engineering Industries.

France has only recently (2011) started to introduce the MAG series. India produces machine guns through the Ordnance Factory Board. Its neighbor Pakistan is also using the same weapon.

Many of these versions differ in subtleties - barrel finishes, grips, shoulder plates - and are done according to each operator's preference, needs and installation. Regardless, the weapon remains faithful to the original Belgian design - despite its origins in the 1950s, it's an excellent product on the modern battlefield.

Over 150,000 units have been produced worldwide and are expected to serve in many conflicts including Congo Crisis (1960-1965), Rhodesian Bush War (1964-1979), South African Border War (1966-1990), Namibia Revolutionary War (1966-1990), Six-Day War (1967), Yom Kippur War (1973), Falklands War (1982), Gulf War (1991), US-led invasion of Afghanistan (2001), US-led During the Iraqi invasion (2003-2011) and the Cambodia-Thailand border issue in 2008. See the list of carriers for a complete view of country users.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes