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 MG42 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 DM1 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 M1917/1919 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 M240SLR made by Ohio Ordnance Works in the US, conforms
for the most part to the MAG/M240, 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.
The Taiwanese
make a copy of the MAG, called the Type 74 (or simply T74).
This is for the most part the same as the MAG, except for the M60-style
bipod and pistol grip, a stock shape better suited to the average Taiwanese
soldier, a rear sight adjustable for windage, and cooling fins on the barrel. It
is heavier than the standard MAG.
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 M240SLR does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline, nor does the CQ
7.62x51.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
MAG (Early) |
7.62mm NATO |
11.8 kg |
50
Belt, 100 Belt, 200 Belt |
$3054 |
MAG (Current) |
7.62mm NATO |
10.15 kg |
50
Belt, 100 Belt, 200 Belt |
$3064 |
CQ
7.62x51 |
7.62mm NATO |
10.85 kg |
50
Belt, 100 Belt, 200 Belt |
$3102 |
Type 74 |
7.62mm NATO |
12.06 kg |
50
Belt, 100 Belt, 200 Belt |
$3054 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
MAG (Early) |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
2 |
6/12 |
61 |
(With Bipod) |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
3/6 |
79 |
(With Tripod) |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
1/3 |
122 |
MAG (Current) |
5/10/13 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
3 |
6/13/16 |
61 |
5/10/13 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
3/6/8 |
79 |
|
(With Tripod) |
5/10/13 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
1/3/4 |
122 |
CQ 7.62x51 |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
2 |
5/9 |
61 |
(With Bipod) |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
2/5 |
79 |
(With Tripod) |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
1/2 |
122 |
Type 74 |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
5/11 |
61 |
(With Bipod) |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
2/5 |
79 |
(With Tripod) |
5/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
½ |
122 |
FN M2HB/QCB
Notes: This is
an M2HB machinegun modified to allow quick changing of the barrel without the
tedious headspace and timing adjustments normally necessary on the M2HB.
This also greatly reduces the chances of stoppages.
An incidental effect is that the M2HB/QCB can fire blanks without a
special blank adapter. The new
parts also make the weapon somewhat lighter than a standard M2HB.
These versions of the M2HB have become more and more common as the years
went by, and a QCB version of the M2HB is now the standard M2HB for the U S
military (though I don’t know if this is the Belgian kit or not). The M2HB/QCB
can use M2HB barrels if they are machined to accept the QCB kit. The QCB kit
makes the M2HB 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 M2HB and vcan be used on
the same tripods or pintle mounts. This weapon cannot be fired without a tripod
or vehicle mount.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
M2HB/QCB |
.50
Browning Machinegun |
36
kg |
110
Belt |
$9996 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
M2HB/QCB (Normal Ammo) |
5 |
9 |
2-3-4 |
11 |
1 |
3 |
375 |
M2HB/QCB (SLAP Ammo) |
5 |
9 |
1-2-3 |
11 |
1 |
3 |
450 |
FN M3M
Notes: The M3M
is an M2HB 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.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
M3M |
.50
Browning Machinegun |
48.22 kg |
400
Belt |
$9996 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
M3M (Normal Ammo) |
10 |
9 |
2-3-4 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
375 |
M3M (SLAP Ammo) |
10 |
9 |
1-2-3 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
450 |