AAI GPHMG
Country or
Origin: United States
Appears In:
Company and other literature as early as the mid-1980s (as far as I know).
Notes: This
weapon was designed as a private venture for a replacement for the M2HB.
It aimed to fix a number of perceived problems with the M-2HB, such as
the variable headspace and timing, the slow loading times, the lack of dual-belt
ability, and other small details.
The AAI GPHMG can be fired from a tripod (NHT) or vehicle mount. The
weapon has a dual-feed mechanism and is normally loaded within both BMG and SLAP
belts. It also has a mount for sighting or ranging gear, a quick-change barrel,
and does not require the tedious headspace and timing adjustments of the M2HB.
The AAI GPHMG fell victim to budgetary problems in the US government, and
did not sell anywhere else. It
remains an interesting “what if.”
Twilight 2000
Notes: The AAI GPHMG appeared too late for widespread distribution, but was
acquired by the US military at the advice of the Chairman of the JCS.
It was popular and much sought-after.
Merc 2000 Notes:
This is a weapon that sold better overseas than to the US military, most notably
to the South Koreans. Nonetheless,
it was never a big seller.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
AAI GPHMG |
.50 BMG |
21.32 kg |
110 Belt (x2) |
$10104 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
AAI GPHMG (Normal Ammo) |
5 |
10 |
2-2-3 |
12 |
1 |
3 |
450 |
AAI GPHMG (SLAP Ammo) |
5 |
10 |
1-1-1 |
12 |
1 |
3 |
541 |
Country of
Origin: Belgium
Appears in: I
first heard of this weapon in the RDF
Sourcebook, and later confirmed it in mid-1980s issues of
Jane’s Infantry Weapons.
Notes: This is a
Belgian-made heavy machinegun designed to fill the gap between the .50
machinegun and the 20mm cannon. It was also conceptually influenced by the
Russian KPV heavy machinegun and the British 15mm Besa. Though it looks very
much like an M-2HB, the BRG-15 is gas-operated instead of recoil-operated with a
rotating bolt. This is similar to an enlarged FN-FAL operation, and most of the
operation takes place above the barrel, again like a FAL. It has a dual-feed
system that gives the gunner a choice of ammunition. The BRG-15 can also be used
on helicopter mounts. It cannot be
fired without a vehicle or tripod mount.
The BRG-15 uses the NHT and was given a hard look by US, NATO, Israeli,
and other countries’ militaries, but eventually found no takers.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The BRG-15 partially replaced the M2HB in the USMC, Belgian, French, and
Israeli Defense Forces.
Merc 2000 Notes:
There is isolated special operations use of this weapon, but it is mostly
unknown.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
BRG-15 |
15.5mm BRG |
60 kg |
100 Belt (x2) |
$14552 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
BRG-15 (Normal Ammo) |
5 |
12 |
2-2-3 |
14 |
1 |
2 |
479 |
BRG-15 (SLAP Ammo) |
5 |
12 |
1-1-1 |
14 |
1 |
2 |
575 |
GE XM-214
Microgun
Country or
Origin: United States
Appears in: The
Microgun idea has been kicked around for while; it appears in literature as
early as 1982 (as far as I've been able to find out).
Notes: Also
known as the Six-Pack or the Mini-Minigun, the XM-214 is s smaller version of
the M-134 Minigun designed for use by ground or light vehicle-mounted troops to
deliver massive amounts of small-caliber fire for defensive purposes.
It is basically similar to the Minigun, except that it fires 5.56mm NATO
ammunition and have various differences in layout to adapt it to tripod and
vehicle use. Though rumors persist
of its testing in various hot spots around the world, it is unknown whether the
Microgun has seen any real combat use, and it remains officially an experimental
weapon as of 2003. The Microgun has
two rates of fire, and can actually be hip-fired (though it is unwieldy).
Rumors say that this weapon gave the makers of the movie
Predator the idea for their fictional
man-packed minigun.
The Microgun is
fed by a pair of 500-round belts contained in “cassettes,” roughly square
containers of belts which are then connected to the gun by a feed chute. When
the cassette is running dry, a flag is tripped telling the crew that they must
soon switch the feed chute to the other cassette. This takes one phase. The
Microgun may be run off of external power (it takes 24 Volts DC) or by a
battery, which enough to fire 3000 rounds.
Recharging the battery takes 15 minutes.
Twilight 2000
Notes: This weapon was type-standardized M-214 in 1992, though it was still not
produced in great quantities. In an
odd sort of competition, it became sort of a badge of rank for command vehicles
of infantry units to be armed with the Microgun whenever possible.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
XM-214 |
5.56mm NATO |
18.06 kg |
2x500 Belt |
$5639 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
XM-214 |
10/60 |
3 |
1-Nil |
7 |
1 |
2/6 |
58 |
XM-214 (Tripod) |
10/60 |
3 |
1-Nil |
7 |
1 |
1/1 |
116 |
Melanika Uirapuru
Country of
Origin: Brazil
Appears in:
Jane's and company literature up to the late 1990s.
Notes: Designed
to be the standard Brazilian machinegun, the Uirapuru fell victim to budget cuts
and competition from cheaper imports before it could be widely produced and
distributed. Built by Mekanika Industries, the Uirapuru is named after a rain
forest bird and has proven to be an excellent and reliable machinegun, though a
bit expensive. The weapon is simple but ergonomically built, and has a very
efficient muzzle brake.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Unlike in the real world, the Uirapuru was widely built and distributed
in the Twilight 2000 World.
Merc 2000 Notes:
The Uirapuru enjoyed lots of sales to mercenaries and clandestine units.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Uirapuru |
7.62mm NATO |
13 kg |
100 Belt |
$2589 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Uirapuru |
10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
2 |
8 |
79 |
Uirapuru (Bipod) |
10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
4 |
103 |
Uirapuru (Tripod) |
10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
2 |
159 |
Stange MG-39 Rh
Appears in:
Competition to replace the MG-34 just prior and during early World War 2.
Notes: This
Czech light machinegun dates back to the German request for a lighter,
simplified, improved machinegun to replace the MG-34, which was eventually won
by the MG-42. The original
requirements were a higher rate of fire, more reliability, better suited to mass
production through the use of modern production methods such as stamped metal
and spot-welding, and production which cut down time and the need for skilled
labor. The design was to use as
many of the MG-34’s accessories as possible, such as the bipod, tripod, and
non-disintegrating link belts as well as disintegrating-link belts.
As the design process at the stage at which the MG-39 Rh appeared, the
designs to be submitted were still considered experiments and not required to be
completely finalized. The design
proved to be superior in almost all ways to the other two prototypes, including
the Grossfuss prototype design which eventually evolved into the MG-42.
However, Germany decided to go with the Grossfuss design anyway; but
Stange decided to keep developing his gun, figuring that if the Grossfuss team
couldn’t work out the bugs in their design, they would be waiting in the wings
with a perfected design.
The MG-39 Rh
owes much to Vaclav Holek’s ZB-26, the gun that went on to become Britain’s Bren
gun. The MG-39 Rh has the tilting
bolt locking method, the bolt carrier has bolt unlocking ramps, and the firing
pin is contained within the bolt and the gun fires by striking a separate
projection on the bolt carrier, therefore actuating the firing pin indirectly.
However, there were plenty of operating differences, including only
having the front part of the bolt tilting upward for locking, the bolt meeting
the barrel and stopping, but the bolt carrier continuing to move forward (which
is what tilts the bolt). The ZB-26 was largely machined, but the MG-39 Rh was
largely made of stamped metal, with spot-welding and riveting.
The only machined part is the core of the barrel mounting block.
The design of the locking lugs required that turn-bolt locked – some say
this was an unnecessary complication.
Instead of simple recoil operation, the MG-39 Rh used gas operation,
which brings up the specter of fouling.
Belt pull also uses a complicated operation, with the feed not gripping
the rim of the cartridge, requiring a spring-loaded rim stabilizer, and the
belt-feed mechanism contained entirely within the feed cover, with many small
parts. The MG-26 Rh’s extractor was
also unusual, being an oscillating spur suspended from pivot pins and a
projecting ejector plunger. The
bolt was surprisingly light, despite its complication, filling the requirement
for a high rate of fire. The firing
pin is a three-pronged star shape to make it stronger, but requiring more skill
on the part of laborers. (A conventional firing pin would be snapped by the
violent action of the extractor system.)
The quick-change barrel was threaded, and had a handle on it, but
required that a nut at the base of the barrel be tightened, negating much of the
advantage of the handle. This also
resulted in a chronically leaky gas chamber.
Rotating off a hot, swollen, tight barrel often required banging the nut
with a hammer.
In the end, the
design of the MG-39 Rh was simply too complicated and far more quirky than the
MG-42 turned out to be. However,
some of its best design features would show up in later designs, such as on the
PK and PKM and the Vz-59. It was
turned down by the German military. It was a marvelously lightweight design, but
simply too complicated for a country in the middle of a major war that needed
machineguns fast and built by largely unskilled labor.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
MG-39 Rh |
8mm Mauser |
6.55 kg |
50 Belt, 100 Belt |
$2758 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
MG-39 Rh |
10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
9 |
3 |
14 |
80 |
MG-39 Rh (Bipod) |
10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
9 |
1 |
7 |
104 |
MG-39 Rh (Tripod) |
10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
9 |
1 |
3 |
159 |