M249 Squad Automatic Weapon
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The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (M249 SAW) is the United States military designation for a sub-family of the Minimi squad automatic weapon, or Mini-mitrailleuse, for "mini-machine gun". Both are 5.56 x 45 mm NATO light machine guns manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) and its subsidiaries.
The Minimi is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium, while the M249 is made by FNH USA, the American subsidiary of FN. The M249 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. The Minimi has been adopted by many other countries since that time, especially among NATO members.
The M249 was one of many firearms fielded in the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that was part of the NATO adoption of a new smaller round. The Belgian cartridge (SS109), developed for use with the Minimi, was the winner of the competition for the new, standardized 5.56 mm round. In the United States, the M16A2 was adopted following the M249 as part of the move to this compatible, although different, round — firearms intended to fire the SS109 cartridge use a different rifling twist rate (1:7 inches) from the previous U.S. standard M193 5.56 mm cartridge.
The Minimi and the M249 are not exactly the same weapon — they weigh different amounts and have slightly different configurations; M249 variants can differ significantly. Although officially adopted in the early 1980s, some early production problems delayed full deployment until the turn of the decade. One thousand Minimis were purchased directly from FN for the Gulf War in 1991, as there were not enough M249 yet in service at the time. The M249 has undergone a number of variant and improvement programs, though it is scheduled to be replaced by a new lightweight machine gun — possibly, the AAI LMGA (2004 contract). In early 2005, a contract for a new light machine gun was issued.
Overview
The M249 is an air-cooled, gas-operated, fully-automatic-only firearm that fires from an open bolt position. It can accept belts of linked 5.56 x 45 mm NATO (.223 inch) ammunition through the top-mounted feed tray or M16-type magazines through the side-mounted port. Linked ammunition can be fed from either a loose belt or from a plastic box (or cloth pouch) for 200 rounds, clipped under the receiver. The hard plastic box has issues with being insecurely attached and by producing noise with movement in its standard form. The M249 SAW features a built-in bipod and a tripod-mounting lug for supported fire, as well as a quick change barrel that helps prevent overheating during sustained fire. Barrels may be individually zeroed. The forearm is designed to contain a small cleaning kit for field use, though they may not be stored there in practice.
The gun has good firepower for its size. The latest reports on failures of M249 SAW weapons in Iraq are sometimes attributed to the age of the weapons used, and sometimes to the dusty environment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of the current-issue M249s in U.S. Army are more than 10 years old, which is not excessively old for a service firearm, but can reduce reliability. There have been issues with its performance at other times, particularly earlier in its development.
For training exercises, the M249 is used with the M15A2 BFA (blank-firing attachment), which is the same one used on the M16A2. For the M249 to function when firing blank rounds, the BFA must be used. The basic reason is that the pressure will not be high enough to cycle the gas system. U.S. M249s are sometimes fitted with the M145 MGO, a low-power optic that fits on via a top M1913 rail, when the rail is fitted. The regular M249 does not have a rail, however. The M249 mod kit increases the weight to 16.41 pounds.
United States military doctrine describes 3,600 m as the maximum range. Effective ranges include 600 m for a point target, 800 m for an area target, and 1,000 m for suppression. Tracer ammunition burnout is at 900 m, however. The advised rates of fire are 85 rounds per minute with no barrel changes. With a barrel change every two minutes, this increases to 200 rounds per minute. For a barrel change every minute, the rate of fire can go up to 850 rounds per minute, which is approximately equal to the cyclic rate of fire, at about 850 to 900 round/min.
M249 variants
M249 Para
The M249 Para is a commercial product (law enforcement and military sales only) by FNH USA, not a type classification. It features a metallic, retractable stock and a shorter barrel. It was designed as a paratrooper weapon, although its compact dimensions make it desirable in any combat scenario. The U.S. military did test a short-barreled variant based on a standard M249, but it would appear short-barreled M249s (not M249E4 SPWs or Mk 46 Mod 0s) have been modified to this standard in the field and are not original from factory. The difference between the FN M249 Para and the FN Minimi Para is the use of the so-called PIP (Product Improvement Program) kit developed for the M249, which is also found on all commercial M249 variants.The following are U.S. military type classifications (see FN Minimi variants designations for a complete list):
M249E4
The M249-based variant of the FN Minimi Special Purpose Weapon (SPW) has Picatinny rails mounted on the feed cover and handguard, a short barrel and a Para-style retractable stock. Some features from the SAW and Para models were removed to save weight — these include the STANAG magazine port, the tripod-mounting lug and the built-in bipod.Mk 46 Mod 0
Adopted by USSOCOM, the Mk 46 Mod 0 features an improved rail handguard and uses the standard fixed buttstock, which is significantly lighter than the E4's M5 retractable unit from FN. The Mk 46 variant differs notably from the M249 and Minimi in that it is only belt-fed, while the latter work with belts or M16-type magazines. The Mk 46 is lighter due to this change. While extremely similar, the Mk 46 Mod 0 and the M249E4 are not the same weapon.
Minor variants and modifications
Many M249 SAWs have been modified to carry SPW-style Picatinny rails on the feed cover. This allows them to mount commercial day and night optical sights such as the M68 Aimpoint or low-magnification scopes. Additionally, early SAWs have fixed steel tubular stocks; the polymer stock pictured above was introduced with the PIP kit. Many M249s have been refitted with shorter Para-length barrels in the field, but there is nothing official to suggest these were received from the factory in this configuration.All SAWs can mount the laser equipment needed to participate in a MILES combat simulation. [This picture] shows an M249 fitted with MILES gear.
The weapon can also mount third-party suppressors. In particular, Gemtech manufactures suppressors designed to be mounted on NATO standard flash hiders, such as the one used by most variants of the M249. In reality, however, this practice should be limited to responsible burst firing (as dictated in the M249 technical manual) since 5.56 mm ammunition is prone to soften, shed jackets, and destabilize when the host firearm is subjected to abusive firing schedules.
Minimi and M249 usage
NATO
- Belgium (Minimi)— the Belgian Army and Belgian Air Force regular troops use the standard Minimi (M1). Paracommando troops use the para Minimi (M3).
- Canada (C9)— the original Canadian Armed 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.
- France (Minimi)— the Minimi is widely used by the French Armée de Terre. It replaced the AAT-F1 GPMG.
- Netherlands (Minimi)— the Royal Netherlands Army has brought in the Minimi to replace the FN MAG in infantry use. The MAG is still being used as a vehicle-mounted weapon.
- Norway (M249)— used by Coastal Rangers and Army Ranger Command.
- Slovenia (Minimi)
- 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. It is considered a fire support weapon between light support weapons and general purpose machine guns. They are usually fitted with the Common Weapon Sight (CWS), an optical "day and night" sight. The Minimi is also commonly used within the Royal Marines.
- United States (M249)— the M249 was officially adopted 1 February 1982. However, it had a delayed introduction with fielding not starting in earnest until the late 1980s. The U.S. Army website lists 1987 as the year it entered Army service. In the U.S. Marine Corps, the SAW is usually carried at the fireteam level; that is, 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.
Non-NATO
- Argentina (M249)— the Argentine Navy 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 1990's.
- 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. Licensed and manufactured by Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
- 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 to.
- 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 designated as the 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 K-3 and the Ultimax 100 Mark 3 LMGs.
- 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.
- Venezuela (Minimi)— the Venezuelan army employs standard Minimi since the past decade.
Minimi specifications
FN Minimi
- Operating principle: Gas-operated
- Overall length: 1,040 mm (40.94 in)
- Barrel length: 465 mm (18.3 in)
- Overall weight: 7.1 kg (15.6 lb)
- Barrel weight: 1.8 kg (3.96 lb)
- Effective range: 1,000 m (1,094 yd)
- Firing mode: Fully-automatic only
- Cyclic rate of fire: 700–1,000 round/min
FN Minimi Para
- Operating principle: Gas-operated
- Overall length:
- *914 mm (35.98 in), stock extended
- *766 mm (30.16 in), stock retracted
- Barrel length: 349 mm (14.2 in)
- Overall weight: 7.1 kg (15.6 lb)
- Barrel weight: 1.6 kg (2.86 lb)
- Effective range: 800 m (875 yd)
- Firing modes: Fully-automatic only
- Cyclic rate of fire: 700–1,000 round/min
FN Minimi variants designations
| 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 |
| 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 |
U.S. civilian purchases
The M249 was the first major machine gun which essentially no United States civilians are permitted to own in fully-automatic form. The reason is that importation of fully-automatic machine guns was banned in the 1960s, and in 1986 it was made illegal to buy those manufactured in the United States. The M249 plant in South Carolina did not start producing them in earnest until the late 1980s due to early production problems. Transferrable pre-1986 M249s do exist, but they are rare.M249 in popular media
The M249 is present in numerous films and computer and video games. On May 2006, The U.S. Army aired an unedited tape showing the then-leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (killed by U.S. airstrike on 7 June 2006) firing an M249, highlighting his inability to clear the weapon after it jammed.See also
- Machine gun, light machine gun
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- List of crew-served weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Ares Shrike 5.56 (M16/M4 belt feed conversion kit)
External links
- [U.S. Army M249 Fact File]
- [FN USA Webpage]
- [FN USA M249 and M249 Para Page]
- [Official FN Herstal Minimi page]
- [FAS Military Analysis Network — M249 SAW]
- [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)]
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