FN Minimi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| FN Minimi | |
|---|---|
 FN Minimi |
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| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Belgium |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | FN Herstal |
| Variants | M249 Squad Automatic Weapon |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.1 kg |
| Length | 1,038 mm (41 in) Para: 914 mm (stock extended), 766 mm (retracted) |
| Barrel length | 465 mm (18 in) Para: 349 mm |
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| Cartridge | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO (STANAG 4172), 7.62×51 NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, open bolt |
| Rate of fire | 725 round/min with linked belt |
| Effective range | 1,000 m Para: 800 m |
| Feed system |
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The FN Minimi is a squad automatic weapon — the name coming from Mini-mitrailleuse (French: "mini-machine gun". It is a 5.56 x 45 mm NATO light machine gun manufactured by the Belgian arms manfuacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) and its subsidiaries.
The Minimi was the winner of a competition carried out by the U.S. military in the late 1970s–early 1980s for a new squad automatic weapon and adopted as the US M249, which is made by FNH USA, the American subsidiary of FN. Since then, the Minimi has been adopted by many other countries, especially among NATO members.
The Minimi was one of many firearms that came about as a result NATO's adoption of a new smaller round replacing the previous standard 7.62 mm. The winner of the trials was the Belgian cartridge, the SS109, which was developed for use with the Minimi.
Contents |
[edit] Minimi (and M249) usage
[edit] NATO
[edit] Belgium
(Minimi): the Belgian Army and Belgian Air Force regular troops use the standard Minimi (M1). Paracommando troops use the para Minimi (M3).
[edit] Canada
(C9): the original Canadian Forces C9 is a standard factory Minimi with a steel tubular stock. The C9A1 comes fitted with a Picatinny rail on the feed cover and a 3.4x Elcan C79 Optical Sight. The C9A2 mid-life upgrade introduces a shorter barrel, camo green components, cloth ammo boxes (replacing plastic magazines), an M4 Carbine-style collapsible stock, a folding pistol foregrip, and a standard-issue laser aiming module/device (LAM/LAD). Two C9s are carried by each infantry section.
[edit] France
(Minimi): the Minimi is widely used by the French Armée de Terre. It replaced the AAT-F1 GPMG.
[edit] Greece
(Minimi): the Minimi is widely used by the Hellenic Army. It is mostly used by Special Forces Units.
[edit] Italy
(Minimi): the Minimi is made under license by Beretta, which has a partnership with FN, and is employed by all the Italian Armed Forces, replacing in the squad automatic weapon role the MG-42/59 (post-WW2 improved MG-42, which however still sees widespread mounted use). The Minimi is being widely employed by Italian forces in current international theatres of operation (Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq).
[edit] Netherlands
(Minimi): the Royal Netherlands Army has brought in the para version of the Minimi to replace the FN MAG in some infantry roles. The MAG is still being used as a GPMG and support fire weapon and as a vehicle-mounted weapon.
[edit] Norway
(M249): used by Coastal Rangers and Army Ranger Command.
[edit] Slovenia
(Minimi)
[edit] United Kingdom
(L108A1 [SAW]/L110A1 [Para]): the British Army equips each four-man fireteam (2 per section) with the current variant of the Minimi Para. The L110A1 has essentially replaced the LSW in the British Army as a light section support or fire support weapon and is now used in that role, as well as that of a light machine gun. The L110A1 is usually fitted with the Common Weapon Sight (CWS), an optical "day and night" sight.
[edit] United States
(M249): the M249 was officially adopted on 1 February 1982. However, official distribution was delayed until the late 1980s. In the U.S. Marine Corps, the SAW is usually carried at the fireteam level; one member of a three to five-man team carries this weapon. The SAW is also standard issue for a four to five-man amphibious reconnaissance team.
[edit] Non-NATO
Argentina (M249): the Argentine Marine Corps uses the M249 SAW in all of its combat arms (e.g. Infantry, Artillery, Recce) units. These guns were acquired as part of the Marine Corps' modernisation programme of the mid to late 1990s.
Australia (F89): the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy , and the Royal Australian Air Force use a locally built (ADI) version of the FN light machine gun. It is essentially the same, but fitted with a Picatinny rail and the same 1.5x magnification optical sight as used on the F88 rifle. It also has a longer flash suppressor (same type as the FN MAG 58) than the standard Minimi. There is no heat shield and the carrying handle is fixed, not folding. Each F89 comes with two live barrels and one blank-firing barrel. The gunner will normally carry the spare barrel in the field. Two F89s are carried in each nine-man infantry section. Small numbers of the Minimi Para are used by Australian paratroopers and special forces.
Brazil (Minimi): the Fuzileiros Navais (Brazilian marines) adopt in mid-90's the Minimi as support weapon of platoon-sized unit.
Chile (Minimi): the Chilean Army and Infantria de Marinas have used the Minimi since the 1990s
East Timor (Minimi): the Minimi was recently adopted by the East Timorese military.
Indonesia (Minimi): the TNI-AD and their Komar (Marine Corps) have recently fielded Minimi machine guns.
Israel (Minimi): the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Limited numbers of Minimis were purchased in the early 1990s and saw combat in south Lebanon. The Minimi performed well and built itself reputation, but in 1995 it was decided to purchase the IMI Negev, an Israeli manufactured 5.56 mm light machine gun, which fitted more into Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) requirements.
Japan (M249): the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces replaced the Type 62 machine gun with the Minimi. It is manufactured under licence by Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
Malaysia (Minimi): known to be in service with all Special Forces.
Mexico (M249 and Minimi): the Mexican Army and Navy uses the M249 and Minimi machine guns, while the Grupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales and Fuerzas Especiales uses them as well.
Morocco (Minimi): known to be in service with the Royal Moroccan Army (Moroccan SFOR contingent as well).
Nepal (Minimi): the Nepalese Army uses 5,500 Minimi machine guns. The weapon delivery was endorsed on July 11, 2002 by the Belgian government.
New Zealand (C9): the New Zealand Defence Force (Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force and New Zealand Army) uses the Minimi under the designation C9.
Philippines (M249): in use by the Philippine Army and Marines. Acquisition of the M249 LMGs for use in the Philippine military were subject of a controversy due to allegations that AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) officials wanted to use them over the Daewoo K3 and the Ultimax 100 Mark 3 LMGs.
Sri Lanka (M249)
Sweden (Ksp 90): the Swedish Armed Forces use the Minimi machine gun.
Taiwan (Type 75): the Taiwanese army field the Minimi under license as the Combined Service Forces (CSF) Type 75, formerly done under Hsing-Hua Arsenal.
Thailand (M249 and Minimi): the Royal Thai Army use the Minimi machine gun replace M-16A1 with bipod.
Venezuela (Minimi): the Venezuelan army has employed the weapon since the 1990s.
[edit] FN Minimi variants designations
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
- [1]
- U.S. Army M249 Fact File
- FN USA Webpage
- Official FN Herstal Minimi page
- Modern Firearms — FN Minimi
- Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide
- RFP for new U.S. LMG
- Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide (FILM) FN M249 SAW Presentation (.MPEG)
| Designation | Nationality | Description |
|---|---|---|
| F89 | Australia | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun |
| C9 | Canada | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun, steel stock |
| C9A1 | Canada | C9 variant; w/ C79 optic |
| C9A2 | Canada | C9 variant; lifetime extension; C8-style retractable stock, accessory mounts, and C79A2 optic |
| C9 | New Zealand | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun, steel stock |
| Ksp 90 | Sweden | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun |
| Ksp 90 B | Sweden | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun; short barrel, retractable stock, accessory mounts |
| L108A1 | United Kingdom | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun |
| L110A1 | United Kingdom | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi Para machine gun |
| XM249 | United States | 5.56 x 45 mm FN Minimi machine gun; SAW candidate |
| XM249E1 | United States | XM249 variant; w/ 1:7-inch rifling |
| XM249E2/M249 | United States | XM249E1 variant; 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun variant w/ Product Improvement Program (PIP) kit improvements, including the heat shield |
| M249E3 | United States | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi Para machine gun variant; longer barrel |
| M249E4 | United States | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi SPW machine gun; also incorporating PIP kit improvements |
| Mk 46 Mod 0 | United States | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO FN Minimi SPW/M249E4 machine gun variant; fixed buttstock and improved rail handguard |
| Mk 48 Mod 0 | United States | 7.62 x 54 mm NATO FN Minimi machine gun, Re-barreled variant to replace M60E4 in US Special Operations Forces |
