The FN Minimi (for Mini-mitrailleuse) is a light machine gun designed in the 1970s by the Belgian national factory FN Herstal.
Also known as the M249 SAW (modified version for the US Army), it appears in many films and video games. SAW stands for Squad Automatic Weapon.
Description
M249 SAW Para.
This machine gun is chambered in 5.56 mm NATO, more specifically the “ss109” cartridge having been initially created for it. This 5.56 mm ammunition, normally used in assault rifles, is less powerful and therefore carries less distance than the ammunition generally used in medium machine guns, but it is also less cumbersome and therefore makes it possible to have a more mobile that can be handled by one man. In addition, it has a high rate of fire, which allows it to provide effective support, both defensively and offensively.
This gas machine gun was designed to support the FN MAG, not to replace it. In a combat section, there is usually a general support machine gun (FN MAG, M60E4 or AAT 52) and two FN Minimi for support.
A version firing the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO cartridge has been developed and is notably in service with the French Army.
Versions and users
Troop minimi airborne (TAP)
Minimi paratrooper version, spare barrel and belt/magazine holder.
Light continuous fire automatic collective weapon for direct use against a ground objective.
Numerical data
Caliber :5.56 × 45 mm NATO (SS109)
Length of the weapon butt extended :918 mm
Weight of bare weapon :7,200 kg
Fuel system :Soft tape or Type M16 magazine
Theoretical rate of fire :750 to 950 cps/min
Summary description
The weapon consists of 8 main parts:
The receiver
The barrel
The moving assembly
The feed mechanism
The trigger mechanism
The rear block and the stock
The bipod
Spare accessories
Belgium uses this weapon in the classic Minimi version (M1 with classic tubular stock) and Para M3 (retractable stock and short barrel). Exported to Brazil, Chile, United Arab Emirates, France, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Nepal, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, in the UK (L108/L110 Para), Sweden (Ksp 90/Ksp 90B "Para), Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland (LMg 05), Thailand and Venezuela.
Theoretical ammunition is 800 rounds for an automatic rifleman on a combat mission for 3 days.
M249 SAW and derivatives
The United States adopted it under the name of "M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon for section automatic weapon) / M249 Para", manufactured in the United States by the local subsidiary of the FN Herstal.
Revised version with a polymer stock, a cooling sleeve and often equipped with a red dot sight. Exported to Argentina, Norway, Thailand, Philippines and manufactured under license in Japan by a subsidiary of Sumitomo Heavy Industries. The US Army also uses the M249 SPW, shortened and equipped with a telescopic stock and a front grip, as well as the MK 46 mod.0, derived from the latter but without front grip and with a fixed stock. The theoretical staffing of a US Army infantry combat group is two M249s.
C9
Canadian C9A1.
Canada produces the weapon under the denomination of C9, the version currently used by the Canadian forces is the C9A1 fitted with a C79 Elcan telescopic sight, and the version to come is the C9A2 whose modifications are the shortened barrel and the M4A1 stock. The manufacture is ensured under license of the FN Herstal by Colt Canada, Canadian subsidiary of Colt. The C9 is also one of the regulation weapons within the armed forces of New Zealand.
F89
Outside of NATO, the Minimi was manufactured in Australia with the designation F89 under license from FN Herstal by Thales Australia. The main changes compared to the Minimi M1 include a long flash hider, a Picatinny type rail mounting system, a 1.5x scope and a fixed carrying handle. She is in service with the Australian Armed Forces and those of East Timor.
Numerical data
Minimi M1
Ammunition :5.56 x 45 mm NATO.
Mass of empty weapon with bipod :6.85 kg.
Mass of the loaded weapon (box of 200 cartridges) :10.01 kg.
Length :1,038 mm.
Barrel :466 mm.
Feeding:magazine of 30 or 50 cartridges, belt of 100 or 200 cartridges.
Theoretical rate of fire:700 or 1,100 c/min .
Minimi Para
Ammunition :5.56 x 45 mm NATO
Mass of empty weapon with bipod :6.5 kg.
Mass of loaded weapon (box of 200 cartridges) :10.01 kg.
Length :900 mm/725 mm with stock retracted.
Barrel :350 mm.
Power supply :magazine of 30 or 50 cartridges, strip of 100 or 200 cartridges.
Theoretical rate of fire:700 or 1,100 c/min.
delivered with 2 barrels interchangeable which are changed every 200 shots to avoid overheating.
Minimi 7.62x51 NATO (Mk 48)
Ammunition :7.62 x 51 mm NATO
Weight:8 kg empty and 11.5 kg with a box of 100 rounds.
Range :1,000 meters against 600 meters for the standard version.
The USSOCOM made a tender at the beginning of the century for a light machine gun in caliber 7.62 x 51 mm NATO NATO that could be used by dismounted infantry. FN Herstal therefore responded by creating its version of the minimi in this caliber. It was adopted by the US army under the name "Mk 48".
The recoil is practically identical to that of the Minimi in 5.56 NATO thanks to a hydraulic shock absorber. The weapon meets the needs in the field even if some prefer the MAG which is heavier but more resistant, the low weight of this version having been obtained by an accurate calculation of the parts.