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|name=M240 |
|name=M240 |
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|image=[[File:M240B.PNG|300px]] |
|image=[[File:M240B.PNG|300px]] |
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| − | |origin=United States of America |
+ | |origin=Belgium; United States of America |
|manufact=[[Fabrique Nationale]] |
|manufact=[[Fabrique Nationale]] |
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|maker= |
|maker= |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The M240 was adopted by the U.S. military in 1977. |
The M240 was adopted by the U.S. military in 1977. |
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| + | |||
| + | The M60E4 (Mk 43 as designated by the U.S. Navy) was pitted against the (then called) M240E4 in Army trials during the 1990s for a new infantry medium machine gun, in a competition to replace the decades-old [[M60]]s. The M240E4 won, and was then classified as the '''M240B'''. This led to 1000 existing [[M240]] being sent to [[Fabrique Nationale|FN]] for an overhaul and a special kit that modified them for use on ground (such as a stock, a rail, etc.). This led to procurement contracts in the late 1990s for all-new M240B. However, a new feature was added, a hydraulic buffer system to reduce the felt recoil as incorporated in the M60. While the M240B had been more reliable in the tests, it was a few pounds heavier than the M60E4, and there is program underway for a new lightweight medium machine gun in the early 2000s. The Army M240 converted the M240B configuration should not be confused with the large numbers of [[M240D]] converted to the [[M240G]] configuration for the Marine Corps. |
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==Design details== |
==Design details== |
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In the rare event that a live round is on the bolt face, it is knocked loose with a cleaning rod or another rigid object. If there is a live round lodged in the barrel, the operator must immediately decide if the barrel is hot enough that there is a chance of it cooking off. If there is, he will immediately move his face away from the opening of the weapon. He should then wait for the barrel to cool off before attempting to remove it. In many cases, attempting to remove the barrel will cause the round to detonate as soon as the barrel is unlocked from the receiver. The operator can also attempt to extract the round by taking the weapon off of safe, pulling the trigger and pulling back on the charging handle. This has a fair chance of causing the weapon to fire, so care should be made in ensuring that the weapon is pointed in a safe direction first. |
In the rare event that a live round is on the bolt face, it is knocked loose with a cleaning rod or another rigid object. If there is a live round lodged in the barrel, the operator must immediately decide if the barrel is hot enough that there is a chance of it cooking off. If there is, he will immediately move his face away from the opening of the weapon. He should then wait for the barrel to cool off before attempting to remove it. In many cases, attempting to remove the barrel will cause the round to detonate as soon as the barrel is unlocked from the receiver. The operator can also attempt to extract the round by taking the weapon off of safe, pulling the trigger and pulling back on the charging handle. This has a fair chance of causing the weapon to fire, so care should be made in ensuring that the weapon is pointed in a safe direction first. |
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| + | ==Variants== |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[File:M240B.PNG|180px|right]] |
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| + | The '''M240B''' is the standard infantry [[general purpose machine gun]] of the U.S. Army and is the variant in use by the U.S. Air Force. It comes configured for ground combat. It is almost always referred to as an "M240 Bravo" or even a "240 Bravo" verbally, but always written as M240B. |
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| + | {{-}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | The M240C is a variation on the original co-axial M240, but with right-handed feeding. |
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| + | {{-}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[File:M240D.PNG|180px|right]] |
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| + | The '''M240D''', a variant of the [[M240]], has two possible configurations: aircraft and egress (ground). The aircraft configured M240D has a front and rear sight and a trigger group which accommodates the spade grip device. The ground configuration involves the installation of an Egress Package or "infantry modification kit" which is designed to provide downed aircrew personnel with increased fire power. The M240D is an upgrade of the M240E1, primarily in the addition of an optical rail on the receiver cover. The M240E1 had also fitted with spade grips for flexible use. |
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| + | {{-}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[File:M240G.PNG|180px|right]] |
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| + | The '''M240G''' (referred to as the "240 Golf"), is the standard U.S. Marine Corps medium machine gun. The Marine Corps has replaced the [[M60|M60E3]] with the M240G. The M240 allows for commonality throughout the Marine Corps whether the weapon is used in an infantry, vehicular, or airborne role. The M240G is the ground version of the original M240 or [[M240E1]], 7.62mm medium class weapon designed as a coaxial/pintle mounted machine gun for Tanks and LAVs. The M240G can be modified for ground use by the installation of an "infantry modification kit," (a flash suppressor, front sight, carrying handle for the barrel, a buttstock, infantry length pistol grip, bipod, and rear sight assembly). The 240G lacks a front heat guard, and is few pounds lighter at 25.6 pounds, than the [[M240B]]. |
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| + | {{-}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | An improvement of the [[M240D]], the '''M240H''' (sometimes referred to as the "240 Hotel") features a rail equipped feed cover, an improved flash suppressor, and has been configured so that it can be more quickly converted to infantry standard using an Egress Kit. |
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| + | {{-}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[BAR]] |
*[[BAR]] |
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*[[FN MAG]] |
*[[FN MAG]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
*[[M60]] |
*[[M60]] |
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*[[M249 LMG]] |
*[[M249 LMG]] |
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Revision as of 00:55, 6 November 2012
The M240 is a family of general purpose machine guns used by the USA. It was based upon the FN MAG, which is based upon the BAR.
History
The M240 was adopted by the U.S. military in 1977.
The M60E4 (Mk 43 as designated by the U.S. Navy) was pitted against the (then called) M240E4 in Army trials during the 1990s for a new infantry medium machine gun, in a competition to replace the decades-old M60s. The M240E4 won, and was then classified as the M240B. This led to 1000 existing M240 being sent to FN for an overhaul and a special kit that modified them for use on ground (such as a stock, a rail, etc.). This led to procurement contracts in the late 1990s for all-new M240B. However, a new feature was added, a hydraulic buffer system to reduce the felt recoil as incorporated in the M60. While the M240B had been more reliable in the tests, it was a few pounds heavier than the M60E4, and there is program underway for a new lightweight medium machine gun in the early 2000s. The Army M240 converted the M240B configuration should not be confused with the large numbers of M240D converted to the M240G configuration for the Marine Corps.
Design details
The M240 family of weapons are gas-operated, belt-fed, air-cooled automatic weapons. Infantry M240s (M240B, M240G) are fitted with the pistol grip and trigger, and the wooden (early models) or plastic (present manufacture) stock. Coaxial guns (like the M240C) have the trigger replaced by the electric solenoid, and the pintle-mounted versions (like the M240D) have the spade grips instead of the pistol grip and the stock.
Operating system
The M240 uses the long stroke gas piston system with a gas regulator, located below the barrel. The bolt is locked using a swinging shoulder that engages the cut in the floor of the receiver.
It is fed using disintegrating steel belts of various lengths. The rate of fire can be set between low (650 rpm) and high (950 rpm) by adjusting the gas regulator. Being a machine gun, the M240 can only be fired in full auto.
Receiver
The receiver is made from stamped steel, and the charging handle is located on the right side of the receiver. There is a mounting point on the bottom of the receiver to fit into various mountings, including infantry tripods.
Barrel
The air-cooled barrel is quick-detachable, with the carrying handle attached to it to help with handling the hot barrel. The folding bipod is attached to the gas block.
Sights
The M240 typically uses iron sights, and the front sight is adjustable. Some of the latest production variants have Picatinny-style optic mounts on the top of the receiver.
Manual of arms
Loading the weapon is performed by pulling the charging handle which locks the bolt to the rear. The weapon is placed on safe and the charging handle is pushed forward (this is spring loaded on the tank mounted version). The feed tray cover is then lifted and rounds are laid inside the feed tray. The feed tray cover is then closed and the weapon is ready for operation.
Maintenance
Clearing the weapon is performed by ensuring the bolt is locked to the rear and the weapon is on safe. The feed tray cover is then lifted, the remaining belt (if any) is swept out of the feed tray, the feed tray is lifted to visually inspect the rear of the barrel and the face of the bolt. Any links or brass casings are removed. The weapon is now clear.
In the rare event that a live round is on the bolt face, it is knocked loose with a cleaning rod or another rigid object. If there is a live round lodged in the barrel, the operator must immediately decide if the barrel is hot enough that there is a chance of it cooking off. If there is, he will immediately move his face away from the opening of the weapon. He should then wait for the barrel to cool off before attempting to remove it. In many cases, attempting to remove the barrel will cause the round to detonate as soon as the barrel is unlocked from the receiver. The operator can also attempt to extract the round by taking the weapon off of safe, pulling the trigger and pulling back on the charging handle. This has a fair chance of causing the weapon to fire, so care should be made in ensuring that the weapon is pointed in a safe direction first.
Variants
M240B
The M240B is the standard infantry general purpose machine gun of the U.S. Army and is the variant in use by the U.S. Air Force. It comes configured for ground combat. It is almost always referred to as an "M240 Bravo" or even a "240 Bravo" verbally, but always written as M240B.
M240C
The M240C is a variation on the original co-axial M240, but with right-handed feeding.
M240D
The M240D, a variant of the M240, has two possible configurations: aircraft and egress (ground). The aircraft configured M240D has a front and rear sight and a trigger group which accommodates the spade grip device. The ground configuration involves the installation of an Egress Package or "infantry modification kit" which is designed to provide downed aircrew personnel with increased fire power. The M240D is an upgrade of the M240E1, primarily in the addition of an optical rail on the receiver cover. The M240E1 had also fitted with spade grips for flexible use.
M240G
The M240G (referred to as the "240 Golf"), is the standard U.S. Marine Corps medium machine gun. The Marine Corps has replaced the M60E3 with the M240G. The M240 allows for commonality throughout the Marine Corps whether the weapon is used in an infantry, vehicular, or airborne role. The M240G is the ground version of the original M240 or M240E1, 7.62mm medium class weapon designed as a coaxial/pintle mounted machine gun for Tanks and LAVs. The M240G can be modified for ground use by the installation of an "infantry modification kit," (a flash suppressor, front sight, carrying handle for the barrel, a buttstock, infantry length pistol grip, bipod, and rear sight assembly). The 240G lacks a front heat guard, and is few pounds lighter at 25.6 pounds, than the M240B.
M240H
An improvement of the M240D, the M240H (sometimes referred to as the "240 Hotel") features a rail equipped feed cover, an improved flash suppressor, and has been configured so that it can be more quickly converted to infantry standard using an Egress Kit.