FN Minimi 7.62

Last updated
FN Minimi 7.62
FN Minimi 7.62 Fixed Stock.jpg
Minimi 7.62 with fixed stock
Type Light machine gun
Place of origin Belgium
Production history
Designer FN Herstal
Manufacturer FN Herstal
Specifications
Cartridge 7.62x51mm NATO
Feed system100 or 200-round belt contained in a 100-round or 200-round soft pouch

The FN Minimi 7.62 is the 7.62mm variant of the Belgian FN Minimi light machine gun, also classified as a squad automatic weapon developed by Ernest Vervier for FN Herstal.

Contents

History

The Minimi prototype was originally designed in 7.62×51mm NATO, and later redesigned for the 5.56 mm cartridge.

When the USSOCOM issued the requirements for the Mk 48 Mod 0 in the early 2000s, the original plans for the Minimi were retrieved and used to develop this new model.

As a result of favourable reviews of the Mk 48 Mod 0 and increasing demand for a more powerful variant of the Minimi, FN Herstal introduced the Minimi 7.62.

In November 2006, a FN Herstal press release said the Minimi 7.62 had recently been "launched onto the market" and was available "with a fixed or telescopic buttstock and a standard or triple rail handguard". [1]

Design

Like its 5.56 sister model, the Minimi 7.62 is a gas-operated, air-cooled, fully automatic machine gun belt-fed by M13 disintegrating links or German DM1 non-disintegrating belts.

Apart from the different caliber, the Minimi 7.62 incorporates a non-adjustable, self-regulating gas system and a hydraulic recoil buffer in the buttstock assembly.

The Minimi 7.62 also has a different sight setup calibrated for the larger cartridge. The rear sight is adjustable from 300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft), in 100 m (330 ft) increments. The sight can also be corrected for windage.

Variant

Australian special forces soldier with a Minimi 7.62 TR Sliding Butt in Afghanistan, 2009 SOTG soldier Oct 2009.jpg
Australian special forces soldier with a Minimi 7.62 TR Sliding Butt in Afghanistan, 2009

Minimi 7.62 TR

The Minimi 7.62 TR is a variant equipped with a Picatinny rail handguard from the factory.

Minimi 7.62 Mk3

In November 2013, FN Herstal unveiled the Minimi 7.62 Mk3.

The Mk3 upgrades were based on operational experience and user feedback over the past 10 to 15 years.

The stock is 5-position adjustable that is also adjustable for cheek rest height with a folding shoulder rest and hydraulic buffer. The feed tray has retaining pawls to hold ammunition from the belt in place while loading. The handguard has three forward picatinny rails. A new bipod is 3-position height adjustable and seamlessly integrates into the shape of the handguard when folded back regardless of accessories that may be attached.

Others features include a more ergonomic cocking handle and an optional heat shield, enabled by an added on long pin, to protect from barrel heat.

The Minimi 7.62 Mk3 can be converted to fire 5.56×45mm rounds.

Users that already have Minimi machine guns can partially or completely upgrade their existing weapons with the Mk3 features. [2]

Users

Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania

References

  1. ↑ "MINIMI Machine Gun 7.62 x 51 mm". FN Herstal (Press release). 13 November 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  2. ↑ "The World Famous FN MINIMI Adapts to New Operational Conditions". FN Herstal (Press release). 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Juchniewicz, Maj Nathan; Manchip, Capt James (12 May 2011). "Gun maximises combat power" (PDF). Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1258 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. p. 4. ISSN   0729-5685. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Maximi". Australian Army. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  5. ↑ Juchniewicz, Maj Nathan; Manchip, Capt James (12 May 2011). "Gun maximises combat power" (PDF). Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1258 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. p. 4. ISSN   0729-5685. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2019.
  6. ↑ Juchniewicz, Maj Nathan; Manchip, Capt James (12 May 2011). "Gun maximises combat power" (PDF). Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1258 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. p. 4. ISSN   0729-5685. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2019.
  7. ↑ "Maximi". Australian Army. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  8. ↑ Chile; Marines confirm SCAR 5.56mm rifles order Archived 2013-08-21 at the Wayback Machine - Dmilt.com, 2 August 2013
  9. ↑ Grohmann, Jan. "MINIMI - nový standardní kulomet pro Armádu České republiky". Armádní noviny. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Ministr obrany" (PDF). ods.cz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-07-12. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  11. ↑ redazionale (2023-03-02). "Mitragliatrici MINIMI per la Difesa Italiana". Ares Osservatorio Difesa (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  12. ↑ "Replenishment of Lithuanian Armed Forces stocks: MINIMI 7.62 and Carl-Gustaf ammunition on the way". 2 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand Switches from 5.56mm to 7.62mm FN Herstal Minimi Light Machine Gun". The Firearm Blog Website. 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
  14. ↑ Martin, Judith, ed. (February 2012). "New Light Support Weapon for NZ Defence" (PDF). NZ Army News. No. 428. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012. The New Zealand Defence Force has selected the FN Herstal 7.62mm Minimi TR as a replacement for the 5.56 mm LSW C9, currently in service. The weapons are being acquired now, with NZ delivery due to start from April this year, and introduction to service and issuing to units planned to occur in last quarter of 2012. The 7.62 LSW Minimi will be issued to certain Army and Air Force Units. This will replace the C9 capability, with priority being given to field force units and regional equipment pools.
  15. ↑ "Norway orders 4000 FN Minimi Mk3 7.62mm light machine guns from FN Herstal". Norway News. 4 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Portuguese Army advances its soldier modernisation effort". 2021-03-28. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  17. ↑ "存档副本". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  18. ↑ "存档副本". Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  19. ↑ "La armada compra 88 nuevas ametralladoras de FN Herstal a través de la empresa SDAL, S.L." (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  20. ↑ "FN MINIMI™ 7.62 Machine Gun Selected by British Military". Press release via army-technology.com. FN Herstal. 2011-06-08. Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.