M56 smart gun
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| M56 smart gun | |
|---|---|
 The large muzzle flash of the M56 Smart Gun. The operator can be seen standing behind it. Aliens. |
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| Type | Machine gun |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United States Colonial Marines |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 10×28 mm caseless ammunition |
| Feed system | 300-round magazine
500-round magazine |
The M56 smart gun is a fictional weapon, first appearing in Aliens, the second film in the Alien film series.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Description
Shown as significantly larger than an M41A pulse rifle, it is used to provide squad level supporting fire for a United States Colonial Marines infantry unit. The M56 fires 10×28 mm caseless ammunition.[2] In comparison, an M41A fires 10×24 mm caseless ammunition. The M56 has a capacity of 300 rounds, or in the case of Aliens versus Predator, 500 rounds. For comparison, an M41A has a maximum capacity of 99 rounds.
Since the weapon is fairly weighted and has a sizeable bulk, a special harness was developed to make the weapon more comfortable to handle. This has a swiveling, 3-piece arm attached from the hip of the harness to the base of the gun, and a breastplate. This allows for relief of some of the weight, and a highly-maneuverable range of movement.
The name "smart gun" comes from an advanced firing computer which is integrated into the weapon, a headset and the harness. This computer is capable of various enhancements to an operation, the most obvious being that it can help the user by locking onto moving targets (usually the center of mass of a target). Because the M56 operates with motion detection, it does not lock onto targets that are not moving. On a headset for all Colonial Marines, specifically a non-helmet version, a moveable eyepiece acts as a HUD for the M56.
[edit] The prop
The prop gun used in the film was designed around a German MG42 machine gun. A heavily modified steadicam harness was used for the film's harness. The firing and foregrip handles of the M56 were taken from a Kawasaki motorcycle.[3]
[edit] In other media
The M56 has appeared in the video games Alien vs. Predator (arcade game), Alien vs Predator (Jaguar game), Alien Trilogy, Aliens versus Predator, Aliens versus Predator 2, Aliens versus Predator: Extinction (in which they use a new and improved version of the M56 called the M57), and will appear in Aliens: Colonial Marines.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ James Cameron (writer and director). (1986). Aliens [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Brimmicombe-Wood, Lee (1996). Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual, pp.159. ISBN 0-06-105343-0.
- ^ (2003). Superior Firepower: The Making of Aliens, Alien Quadrilogy, Disc 3 [Documentary]. 20th Century Fox.
