CETME Model L
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Model L | |
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 The Model L |
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| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin |  Spain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1984-1999 |
| Used by | Spain |
| Production history | |
| Designer | CETME |
| Designed | 1981 |
| Manufacturer | CETME |
| Produced | 1985- |
| Variants | Model LC, Model LV |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) |
| Length | 925 mm (36.4 in) (model L) 860 mm (33.9 in) stock extended / 665 mm (26.2 in) stock collapsed (model LC) |
| Barrel length | 400 mm (15.7 in) (model L) 320 mm (12.6 in) (model LC) |
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| Cartridge | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Action | Roller-delayed blowback |
| Rate of fire | 600-750 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 875 m/s (2,871 ft/s) (model L) 832 m/s (2,729.7 ft/s) (model LC) |
| Effective range | 200-400 m sight adjustments |
| Feed system | 12, 20, 30-round STANAG magazine |
| Sights | Font: shrouded post, rear: flip-up aperture, 440 mm (17.3 in) sight radius |
The Model L is a Spanish 5.56 mm assault rifle developed in the early 1980s at the state-owned research and development institute CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales) located in Madrid. The rifle incorporates many proven design elements the company had used previously in its CETME Model A, B and C battle rifles.[1] The weapon was successfully trialled between 1981-1982 and was approved for serial production in 1985 at the Empresa Nacional Santa Bárbara plant (currently Santa Bárbara Sistemas, integrated into General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems division). The Model L replaced the 7.62 mm CETME Model C in service with the Spanish Army.[1] It has now been replaced in Spanish service with a license-built variant of the G36E.[1]
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[edit] Design details
The Model L is a selective-fire, roller-delayed blowback firearm.[1] The weapon features a two-piece bolt mechanism that consists of a bolt head and a supporting locking piece. During the “unlocking” sequence, the two cylindrical rollers contained in the bolt head are cammed inward against inclined flanks of the barrel extension and act upon the locking piece and bolt carrier, propelling it rearward at a velocity greater than that of the bolt, which remains locked until the fired bullet has left the barrel and pressures inside the bore have been reduced to a safe level before withdrawing together with the bolt carrier. The bolt also has a cartridge casing extractor, while the ejector is located inside the trigger housing (the extractor is lifted by the recoiling bolt carrier, actuated with every shot). The weapon is hammer-fired and has a fire control lever, which is also a manual safety. The safety and fire selector lever is located on the left side of the receiver unit, just above the pistol grip, and has three settings: “S” – weapon safe (trigger is disabled mechanically), “T” – semi-automatic fire and “R” – fully automatic fire (initial production rifles also had a burst selector setting, which was abandoned, and featured a different style handguard). The Model L fires from a closed bolt and uses the NATO-standard 5.56x45mm cartridge with the SS109 projectile.[1]
The rifle feeds from standard NATO magazines that adhere to STANAG specifications (interchangeable with magazines from the M16 rifle) and have a 30-round capacity, but it can also use short 12-round box magazines (early rifles and carbines were also adapted to use special 20 and 30-round magazines that had an entirely different design).[1]
The rifle’s barrel features 6 right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 178 mm (1:7 in) and is fitted with an open-type, 3-prong flash suppressor that is additionally designed to mount and launch rifle grenades. The Model L’s fixed stock, pistol grip and forward handguard are made of a high-strength plastic.
The CETME Model L is equipped with adjustable iron sights that are comprised of a forward post (corrected mechanically for elevation) and a flip-up rear sight with two apertures set for firing at distances of 200 and 400 m (early rifles had rear sights that featured 100, 200, 300 and 400 m range settings). The weapon can also be deployed with a knife bayonet. The Model LV (Visor) is a marksman variant equipped with a detachable optical sight that mounts to the rear sight base; the optic generally used in this role is the British SUSAT sight.
The rifle strips into the following components for regular maintenance and cleaning: the receiver, stock, pistol grip and trigger group, handguard, bolt, bolt carrier and return mechanism. Standard equipment supplied with the rifle includes a cleaning kit, sling, bayonet, lightweight bipod, blank-firing adaptor, rifle grenade launcher cup attachment and magazine-loader tool.
A variant of the Model L is the Model LC carbine that features a short barrel and a telescopic, collapsible metal stock, making it particularly suitable for officers, special forces and riot police. These features also allow a high degree of movement in closed spaces or moving vehicles. This carbine version however cannot be used with a bayonet or rifle grenades.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- (Polish) Woźniak, Ryszard (2001). "p. 142-143", Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej - tom 1 A-F. Warsaw, Poland: Bellona. ISBN 83-11-09149-8.
