FN MAG

     Notes: Perhaps the most ubiquitous machinegun in the world at the moment, the MAG (perhaps more properly known as the MAG-58) is used in standard or modified form by over 70 countries at present.  This is most likely due to the MAG’s reliability, ease of care, and ruggedness.    The MAG will probably find more customers as time goes on and serve for a long time into the future.

     The British use the MAG, calling is the L7A1 GPMG.  This led to the troops calling it the Jimpy. Several other countries have affectionate nicknames for the MAG.

     The MAG’s action is basically a greatly updated and upgraded form of the Browning Automatic Rifle, turned upside down and converted to belt-feed.  It also takes inspiration from the Nazi MG-42 in its operation, particularly elements that give it a high rate of fire.  The action is gas-operated and, in most cases, fed by a disintegrating-link belt (though it can also be fed by the DM-1 50-round continuous articulated belt).  For the most part, construction is of steel, and the receiver itself is made from riveted steel plates, reinforced at the front and rear, making it very robust.  Feed is from the right side, and empty case ejection is from the bottom of the receiver.  The gas block includes a rate regulator, which allows the shooter to compensate for possible fouling as the MAG is fired; this gas regulator can also be used to adjust the rate of fire itself from 600-1000 rounds per minute.  (Late MAGs ROF can be moved upwards to 1300 RPM, but this requires the user to partially disassemble the weapon to replace the buffer assembly with a different high-rate of fire buffer assembly.) The barrel is 19.7 inches long and tipped with a flash suppressor over 2.5 inches in length; the bore is also hard-chromed.  The feed mechanism is one of the most reliable found in any machinegun in the world.  Early stocks for the MAG were made from wood, but MAGs these days primarily are found with polymer stocks.  The sights consist of a front blade and a rear aperture sight; the rear sight may be flipped up, becoming an adjustable leaf sight.  The folding bipod is mounted at the front of the receiver and, while not adjustable for height, the right leg is adjustable to allow for cant.  The MAG may be mounted on tripod or pintle mount; versions have also been designed with spade grips instead of a stock, primarily for use as helicopter door guns.  An adapter also allows the MAG to be mounted on the old browning M-1917/1919 tripods. Variations of the MAG can also be used as conventional helicopter armament, mounted in AFVs, and are even used to arm some aircraft.

     Amazingly, a semiautomatic-only version of the MAG is made.  This version, the M-240SLR made by Ohio Ordnance Works in the US, conforms for the most part to the MAG/M-240, though there are differences in the shape of the handguard, the length of the MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver, and the trigger group, which is modified to be very difficult to convert to automatic fire.

     A (presumably unlicensed) copy of the MAG is made by Norinco in China, they offer it for export, but their troops do not use it.  It is virtually identical to a Belgian MAG, except for the pepperpot-type muzzle brake.  This is the CQ 7.62x51.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Though you can amend the number of countries using the MAG to about 45-50, it is still the most common machinegun in the world.  The M-240SLR does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline, nor does the CQ 7.62x51.

FN M-2HB/QCB

     Notes: This is an M-2HB machinegun modified to allow quick changing of the barrel without the tedious headspace and timing adjustments normally necessary on the M-2HB.  This also greatly reduces the chances of stoppages.  An incidental effect is that the M-2HB/QCB can fire blanks without a special blank adapter.  The new parts also make the weapon somewhat lighter than a standard M-2HB.  These versions of the M-2HB have become more and more common as the years went by, and a QCB version of the M-2HB is now the standard M-2HB for the U S military (though I don’t know if this is the Belgian kit or not). The M-2HB/QCB can use M-2HB barrels if they are machined to accept the QCB kit.The QCB kit makes the M-2HB a true sustained fire heavy support weapon, as the headspacing and timing is often impossible in combat conditions.  The QCB has the same dimensions as the standard M-2HB and vcan be used on the same tripods or pintle mounts. This weapon cannot be fired without a tripod or vehicle mount.

FN M-3M

     Notes: The M-3M is an M-2HB modified for use as an aircraft door weapon.  A variant is used as an aircraft weapon, particularly in World War 2 fighters and bombers. It is normally employed by the US and British Marines and special operations forces as a door gun for the rear ramp of heavy-lift helicopters such as the CH-46, CH-47, and CH-53 series.  The primary differences are the change to fire from an open bolt and an air-cooling jacket on the barrel, allowing the rate of fire to be increased dramatically.  The belt-pulling power has also been increased, allowing the use of longer belts with the weapon. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This is a very rare weapon in the Twilight 2000 timeline.