M249 Squad Automatic Weapon

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{{Infobox firearm |name=M249 |image=Image:FN M249 SAW.gif |caliber=5.56 x 45 mm NATO (STANAG 4172) |action=Gas-operated, open bolt |mass= 6.9 kg (15 lb) empty
10 kg (22 lb) with 200 rounds
|length=1,038 mm (41 in) |barrel_length=465 mm (18 in) |rate_of_fire= 725 round/min with linked belt
1,000 round/min with M16 magazine
|magazine= 200-round M27 disintegrating belts
100 or 200-round reusable soft packs
100-round Beta C-Mag
30-round STANAG (M16) magazines |effective_range= 1,000 m (FN Herstal)
U.S. Army:
600 m (point target, from shoulder)
800 m (area target, from shoulder)
1,000 m (suppression, from shoulder)
800 m (point target, prone)
Australian Army:
400 m (point target, prone)
600 m (area target, prone)
}}

The M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) is the United States military designation for a sub-family of the Minimi (Mini-mitrailleuse, "mini-machine gun"). Both are 5.56 mm light machine guns manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) and its subsidiaries.

The Minimi is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium, while the M249 is made by FNH USA, the American subsidiary of FN. The M249 was the winner of a competition carried out by the U.S. military in the late 1970s–early 1980s for a new squad automatic weapon. The Minimi has been adopted by many other countries since that time, especially among NATO members.

The M249 was one of many firearms fielded in the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that was part of the NATO adoption of a new smaller round. The Belgium round (SS109), developed for use with the Minimi, was the winner of the competition for the new, standardized 5.56 mm round. In the United States, the M16A2 was adopted following the M249 as part of the move to this compatible, although different, round — firearms intended to fire the SS109 cartridge use a different rifling twist rate (1:7 inches) from the earlier U.S., non-NATO 5.56 mm round.

The Minimi and the M249 are not exactly the same weapon — they weigh different amounts and have slightly different configurations; M249 variants can differ significantly. Although officially adopted in the early 1980s, some early production problems delayed full deployment until the turn of the decade. One thousand Minimis were purchased directly from FN for the Gulf War in 1991, as there were not enough M249 yet in service at the time. The M249 has undergone a number of variant and improvement programs, though it is scheduled to be replaced by a new lightweight machine gun — possibly, the AAI LMGA (2004 contract). In early 2005, a contract for a new light machine gun was issued.

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Overview

The M249 is an air-cooled, gas-operated, fully-automatic-only firearm that fires from an open bolt position. It can accept belts of linked 5.56 x 45 mm NATO ammunition through the top-mounted feed tray or M16-type magazines through the side-mounted port. Linked ammunition can be fed from either a loose belt or from a plastic box (or cloth pouch) for 200 rounds, clipped under the receiver. The M249 SAW features a built-in bipod and a tripod-mounting lug for supported fire, as well as a quick change barrel that helps prevent overheating during sustained fire.

Image:200111418531M249withM15A2BFA.jpg

The gun has good firepower for its size. The latest reports on failures of M249 SAW weapons in Iraq are sometimes attributed to the age of the weapons used, and sometimes to the dusty environment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of the current-issue M249s in U.S. Army are more than 10 years old, which is not excessively old for a service firearm, but can reduce reliability. There have been issues with its performance at other times, particularly earlier in its development.

For training exercises, the M249 is used with the M15A2 BFA (Blank Firing Attachment), which is the same one used on the M16A2. For the M249 to function when firing blank rounds, the BFA must be used. The basic reason is that the pressure will not be high enough to cycle the gas system. U.S. M249s are sometimes fitted with the M145 MGO, a low-power optic that fits on via a top M1913 rail, when the rail is fitted. The regular M249 does not have a rail, however. The M249 mod kit increases the weight to 16.41 pounds.

United States military doctrine describes 3,600 m as the maximum range. Effective ranges include 600 m for a point target, 800 m for an area target, and 1,000 m for suppression. Tracer ammunition burnout is at 900 m, however. The advised rates of fire are 85 rounds per minute with no barrel changes. With a barrel change every two minutes, this increases to 200 rounds per minute. For a barrel change every minute, the rate of fire can go up to 850 rounds per minute, which is actually higher than the normal rate of fire with linked belts, at about 750 round/min.

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M249 variants

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  • M249 Para— the M249 Para is a commercial product (LE and Military sales only) of FNH USA — not a type classification. It features a metallic, retractable stock and a shorter barrel. It was designed as a paratrooper weapon, although its compact dimensions make it desirable in any combat scenario. The U.S. military did test a short-barreled variant based on a standard M249, but it would appear short-barreled M249s (not M249E4 SPWs or Mk 46 Mod 0s) have been modified to this standard in the field and are not original from factory. The difference between the FN M249 Para and the FN Minimi Para is the use of the so-called PIP (Product Improvement Program) kit developed for the M249, which is also found on all commercial M249 variants.

These are U.S. military type classifications (see FN Minimi variants designations for a complete list):

  • M249E4— the M249-based variant of the FN Minimi Special Purpose Weapon (SPW) has Picatinny rails mounted on the feed cover and handguard, a short barrel and a Para-style retractable stock. Some features from the SAW and Para models were removed to save weight — these include the STANAG magazine port, the tripod-mounting lug and the built-in bipod.
  • Mk 46 Mod 0— adopted by the USSOCOM, the Mk 46 Mod 0 features an improved rail handguard and uses the standard fixed buttstock, which is significantly lighter than the E4's M5 retractable unit from FN. The Mk 46 variant differs notably from the M249 and Minimi in that it is only belt-fed, while the latter work with belts or M16-type magazines. The Mk 46 is lighter due to this change. While extremely similar, the Mk 46 Mod 0 and the M249E4 are not the same weapon.
(Note: See Mk 48 Mod 0 for the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO light machine gun based on the M249 design.)

Many M249 SAWs have been modified to carry SPW-style Picatinny rails on the feed cover. This allows them to mount commercial day and night optical sights like the M68 Aimpoint or low-magnification scopes. Additionally, early SAWs have fixed steel tubular stocks; the polymer stock pictured above was introduced with the PIP kit. Many M249s have been refitted with shorter "Para"-length barrels in the field, but there is nothing official to suggest these were received from the factory in this configuration.

All SAWs can mount the laser equipment needed to participate in a MILES combat simulation. This picture shows an M249 fitted with MILES gear.

The weapon can also mount third-party suppressors. In particular, Gemtech manufactures suppressors designed to be mounted on NATO standard flash hiders, such as the one used by most variants of the M249. In reality, however, this practice should be limited to responsible burst firing (as dictated in the M249 technical manual) since 5.56 mm ammunition is prone to soften, shed jackets, and destabilize when the host firearm is subjected to abusive firing schedules.

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Minimi and M249 usage

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NATO

  • Belgium (Minimi)— the Belgian Army and Belgian Air Force regular troops use the standard Minimi (M1). Paracommando troops use the para Minimi (M3).
  • Canada (C9)— the original Canadian Armed Forces C9 is a standard factory Minimi with a steel tubular stock. The C9A1 comes fitted with a Picatinny rail on the feed cover and a 3.4x Elcan C79 Optical Sight. The C9A2 mid-life upgrade introduces a shorter barrel, camo green components, cloth ammo boxes (replacing plastic magazines), an M4 Carbine-style collapsible stock, a folding pistol foregrip, and a standard-issue laser aiming module/device (LAM/LAD). Two C9s are carried by each infantry section.

Image:93RAM Minimi 01053339598268513.jpg

  • France (Minimi)— the Minimi is widely used by the French Armée de Terre. It replaced the AAT-F1 GPMG.
  • Netherlands (Minimi)— the Royal Netherlands Army has brought in the Minimi to replace the FN MAG in infantry use. The MAG is still being used as a vehicle-mounted weapon.
  • United Kingdom [L108A1 (SAW)/L110A1 (Para)]— the British Army equips each four-man fire team (2 per section) with the current variant of the Minimi Para. It is considered a fire support weapon between light support weapons and general purpose machine guns. They are usually fitted with the Common Weapon Sight (CWS) - an optical day and night sight.
  • United States (M249)— the M249 was officially adopted 1 February 1982. However, it had a delayed introduction with fielding not starting in earnest until the late 1980s. The U.S. Army website lists 1987 as the year it entered Army service. In the U.S. Marine Corps, the SAW is usually carried at the fireteam level; that is, one member of a three to five-man team carries this weapon. The SAW is also standard issue for a four to five-man amphibious reconnaissance team.
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Non-NATO

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  • Australia (F89)— the Australian Army uses a locally built version of the FN light machine gun. It is essentially the same, but fitted with a Picatinny rail and a 1.5x magnification optical sight. It also has a longer flash suppressor (same type as the FN MAG 58) than the standard Minimi. Unlike the M249, there is no heat shield and the carrying handle is fixed, not folding. Each F89 comes with two live barrels and one blank-firing barrel. The gunner will normally carry the spare barrel in the field. Two F89s are carried in each nine-man infantry section. Small numbers of the Minimi Para are used by Australian paratroopers and special forces.
  • Israel (Minimi)— the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Limited numbers of Minimis were purchased in the early 1990s and saw combat in south Lebanon. The Minimi performed well and built itself reputation, but in 1995 it was decided to purchase the IMI Negev, an Israeli manufactured 5.56 mm light machine gun, which fitted more into Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) requirements.
  • Nepal (Minimi)— the Nepalese army uses 5,500 Minimi machine guns. The weapon delivery was endorsed on July 11, 2002 by the Belgian government.
  • Sweden (Ksp 90)— the armed forces of Sweden use the Minimi machine gun.
  • Taiwan (Type 75)— the Taiwanese army field the Minimi under license as the Combined Service Forces (CSF) Type 75, formerly done under Hsing-Hua Arsenal.
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Minimi specifications

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FN Minimi

  • Operating principle: Gas-operated
  • Overall length: 1,040 mm (40.94 in)
  • Barrel length: 465 mm (18.3 in)
  • Overall weight: 7.1 kg (15.6 lb)
  • Barrel weight: 1.8 kg (3.96 lb)
  • Effective range: 1,000 m (1,094 yd)
  • Firing mode: Fully-automatic only
  • Cyclic rate of fire: 700–1,000 round/min
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FN Minimi Para

  • Operating principle: Gas-operated
  • Overall length:
    • 914 mm (35.98 in), stock extended
    • 766 mm (30.16 in), stock retracted
  • Barrel length: 349 mm (14.2 in)
  • Overall weight: 7.1 kg (15.6 lb)
  • Barrel weight: 1.6 kg (2.86 lb)
  • Effective range: 800 m (875 yd)
  • Firing modes: Fully-automatic only
  • Cyclic rate of fire: 700–1,000 round/min
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FN Minimi variants designations

Designation Nationality Description
F89 Australia 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun
C9 Canada 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun, steel stock
C9A1 Canada C9 variant; w/ C79 optic
C9A2 Canada C9 variant; lifetime extension; C8-style retractable stock, accessory mounts, and C79A2 optic
Ksp 90 Sweden 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun
L108A1 United Kingdom 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun
L110A1 United Kingdom 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi Para machine gun
XM249 United States 5.56 x 45 mm FN Minimi machine gun; SAW candidate
XM249E1 United States XM249 variant; w/ 1:7-inch rifling
XM249E2/M249 United States XM249E1 variant; 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun variant w/ Product Improvement Program (PIP) kit improvements, including the heat shield
M249E3 United States 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi Para machine gun variant; longer barrel
M249E4 United States 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi SPW machine gun; also incorporating PIP kit improvements
Mk 46 Mod 0 United States 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi SPW/M249E4 machine gun variant; fixed buttstock and improved rail handguard
Mk 48 Mod 0 United States 7.62 x 51 mm NATO FN Minimi Mk 46 Mod 0 machine gun variant, adapted for 7.62 mm NATO caliber; reimplementation of carrying handle to assist barrel replacement
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U.S. civilian purchases

The M249 was the first major machine gun which essentially no United States civilians are permitted to own in fully-automatic form. The reason is that importation of fully-automatic machine guns was banned in the 1960s, and in 1986 it was made illegal to buy those manufactured in the United States. The M249 plant in South Carolina did not start producing them in earnest until the late 1980s due to early production problems. Transferrable pre-1986 M249s do exist, but they are rare.

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Popular culture

The M249 is present in the computer game Counter-Strike as the only machine gun available. In-game, it carries a 100-round belt and is the single most expensive firearm for players to purchase. The M249 and its variants have made their way into a number of military-themed games, including the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six series, Full Spectrum Warrior, and America's Army. It is also the primary weapon for the "Support" class of the Marines in the computer game Battlefield 2.

The M249 SAW can also be seen in the 2001 movies Swordfish and Black Hawk Down on a number of occasions. It also features prominently in the 1996 movie Courage Under Fire.

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See also

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External links

nl:FN Minimi ja:ミニミ軽機関銃 no:FN Minimi pl:Karabin maszynowy Minimi sl:FN Minimi fi:M249 sv:Ksp 90

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