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| XM312 |
|
| Type |
Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin |
 United States |
| Service history |
| In service |
unknown |
| Production history |
| Designer |
General Dynamics/Joint Services Small Arms Program |
| Designed |
2000 |
| Manufacturer |
General Dynamics |
| Produced |
2004 |
| Variants |
XM307 |
| Specifications |
| Weight |
52 lb. (19kg) |
| Length |
61.42 in. (1,560 mm) |
| Width |
9.84 in.(250 mm) |
| Height |
7 in.(180 mm), 18 in. (46 mm) adjustable tripod |
| Crew |
2 |
|
| Cartridge |
12.7 × 99 mm NATO/.50 BMG |
| Caliber |
12.7mm |
| Action |
"Recoil-reducing action" (modified rotating bolt) |
| Rate of fire |
260 rpm (4.3 hz) |
| Maximum range |
lethal and suppressive to 2000 meters |
| Feed system |
Belt-fed |
| Sights |
Open, optics may be mounted. |
The XM312 is a modern heavy machine gun chambered for the 12.7 × 99 mm NATO (.50 BMG) cartridge which is derived from the XM307 25 mm autocannon. It was designed in response to a request by the US military for a replacement for the aging M2HB heavy machine gun, and as a complement to the heavier XM307. It is quickly capable of being converted to an XM307 with a small number of parts and a few minutes of work at the unit level (and vice versa from the XM307)[1]. Procurement of the XM312 will allow easier use of the XM307, as only the related kits would have to be adopted.[1] Three years ago field testing began with the XM312, but the test results were not encouraging because of the very low rate of fire of only 260 rounds per minute, so it initially seemed unlikely the XM312 would have ever entered service with the U.S. Military.[2][3]. However, by May 20th 2008, the authoritative Jane's Information Group has stated that the US Army has awarded GDATP (General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products) an US$ 9 million contract to develop a ligtweight 0.50-calibre machine gun called the LW50MG to replace the Browning M2, starting deployment in 2012.[2].
[edit] Specifications
- Weight:
- 40 pounds (20 kg) max. (weapon only).[3]
- 40 pounds (20 kg) max. (ground mount system).
- Dimensions: 9.9W x 7.2H x 61.5L max. inches (25.1 mm x 18.3 mm x 1562 mm)(52.5L, 1334 mm) charged).
- Portability: Man portable or vehicle mountable.
- Stability: Up to 18 inch (460 mm) tripod height.
- Operation: Currently a hybrid gas & recoil operating group. Gas powers the bolt mechanism while recoil drives the barrel/barrel extension and the feed system. Design changes are underway to eliminate the gas system totally to provide increased reliability and reduced complexity.
- Environmental: Operationally insensitive to conditions.
- Reliability: 6,000 MRBF (threshold) / 10,000 MRBF (objective).
- Rate of fire:
- 260 shots per minute (4.3 hz)(cyclic).[4]
- 40 shots per minute (0.7 hz)(sustained, without barrel change). In Burst of 5 to 7 rounds, the same as the M2HB.
- Dispersion: Less than 1.1 miliradian, one sigma radius.
- Range: Lethal and suppressive out to 2,000 meters.
- Ammunition: .50 BMG M33 ball, M8, M20 & Mk211 API, M903 SLAP.
- Recoil: 300 foot-pounds (407 J)(similar to the 7.62 mm M240).[3]
- Feed system: Weapon-mountable ammunition can or feed from any can using bellmouth attachment. M9 rear stripping link - common with current M2 ammunition. Left hand feed, right hand eject of cases and links.
[edit] Program status
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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