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Encyclopedia > M242

US M242
Technical Summary
Caliber: 25 mm NATO
Firearm action: Chain gun
Manufactured by: ATK
Barrel Length: 85.6 in (2.175 m)
Effective Range: 1.2 miles (2 km)
Maximum Range: 4.23 miles (6,800 m)
Maximum ROF: 200 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity: 1,100 m/s (3,610 ft/s)
Total Weight: 110 kg (243 lb)

The M242 Bushmaster is a 25 mm chain gun. It is currently used by the US Armed Forces and other NATO forces. It is used extensively on vehicles and aircraft. The M242 Bushmaster Cannon. ... The word calibre (British English) or caliber (American English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod, also common for handguns. ... Crewman relinking 25 mm rounds The 25 mm caliber is a standard size of heavy machine gun (specifically autocannon) ammunition for NATO forces. ... In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. ... The M242 25mm Chain gun A chain gun is a type of machine gun or autocannon that uses an external source of power, rather than recoil, to cycle the weapon. ... Alliant Techsystems NYSE: ATK is a major US aerospace and defense contractor with sales of approximately USD $2. ... A mile is any of a number of units of distance, each in the magnitude of 1–10 km. ... A mile is any of a number of units of distance, each in the magnitude of 1–10 km. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ... Crewman relinking 25 mm rounds The 25 mm caliber is a standard size of heavy machine gun (specifically autocannon) ammunition for NATO forces. ... The M242 25mm Chain gun A chain gun is a type of machine gun or autocannon that uses an external source of power, rather than recoil, to cycle the weapon. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ...


It is an externally powered, chain driven, single-barrel weapon which may be fired in semi-automatic or automatic modes. It is fed by a metallic link belt and has dual-feed capability. The term "chain gun" derives from the use of a roller chain that drives the bolt back and forth.


It can destroy lightly armored vehicles and aerial targets (such as helicopters and slow-flying aircraft). It can also suppress enemy positions such as troops in the open, dug-in positions, and built-up areas. The standard rate of fire is 200 rounds per minute, and has a range of 2,000 meters (depending on the type of ammunition used). Rimmed, centerfire . ... The metre, or meter, is a measure of length. ...


The weapon was designed and originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (later acquired by the Boeing Corporation), however it is now produced by Alliant Techsystems (ATK) of Mesa, Arizona. DC-10, retired from American Airlines fleet at gate McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA)(TYO: 7661 ) is the worlds largest aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with its largest production facilities in Everett, Washington, about 30 miles north of Seattle, Washington. ... Alliant Techsystems NYSE: ATK is a major US aerospace and defense contractor with sales of approximately USD $2. ... The City of Mesa logo Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona and part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale Metropolitan Area. ...

Contents


Design & History

The Enhanced M242 on the M2 Bradley
The Enhanced M242 on the M2 Bradley

Unlike most firearms, the M242 does not depend on recoil to actuate its firing system. Instead, it uses a 1.0 hp (750 W) DC motor, positioned in the receiver, to drive the chain and Dual-Feed system. The weapon assembly consists of three parts: the barrel assembly, the feeder assembly; and the receiver assembly. Due to the considerable weight of the system, the three-part structure makes installation or removal possible by a single person. The M242 Bushmaster Cannon on the M2 Bradley. ... The M242 Bushmaster Cannon on the M2 Bradley. ... An assortment of modern handheld firearms using fixed ammunition, including military assault rifles, a sporting shotgun (fourth from bottom), and a tactical shotgun (third from bottom). ... An early naval cannon design, allowing the gun to roll backwards a small distance when firing The recoil when firing a gun is the backward momentum of a gun, which is equal to the forward momentum of the bullet or shell, due to conservation of momentum. ... SHP redirects here. ... Direct current (DC or continuous current) is the continuous flow of electricity through a conductor such as a wire from high to low potential. ... Electric motors of various sizes. ... In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of the firearm that houses the operating parts of the gun. ... Caliber: 25 mm NATO Firearm action: Chain gun Manufactured by: ATK Barrel Length: 85. ... The barrel of a firearm is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion is released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at great speed. ...


The weapon has received praise worldwide. To date, more than 10,000 pieces are in service. One of the major reason for this is the extremely reliable nature of the weapon. It has a rating of 24,000 Mean Rounds Between Stoppage (MRBS), much higher than many comparable devices.


Design on the weapon system was first begun in 1972 by Hughes Aircraft , however, the system was not put into service until 1981 when the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle was first produced. Since 1990, there have been several enhancements made upon the weapon, resulting in the Enhanced 25 mm gun. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The M2 Bradley and M3 Bradley are American infantry fighting vehicles. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers or marines who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units. ... This article is about the year. ... Caliber: 25 mm NATO Firearm action: Chain gun Manufactured by: ATK Barrel Length: 85. ...


Dual-Feed System

A dual-feed system uses sprockets and extractor grooves to feed, load, fire, extract, and eject rounds. A system of clutches allows either sprocket to engage and feed either an AP or High Explosive cartridge with the flick of a switch. Rimmed, centerfire . ... An Armour piercing shell is a type of ammunition designed to penetrate armour. ... Preparing C-4 explosive This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... Rimmed, centerfire . ...


Ammunition

A wide range of ammunition has been developed for this weapon, providing it with the capability to defeat the majority of armored vehicles it is likely to encounter, up to and including some tanks. The ammunition used in the M242 may also be used in a variety of weapons such as the French Giat M811, the GAU-12, or the Oerlikon KBA weapon system. It has the capability to fire U.S. manufactured ammunition as well as their NATO equivalents. Primarily though, it can fire six types of rounds: the M791, M792, M793, M910, MK210, and M919. An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... The General Electric GAU-12/U Equalizer is a 25 mm, five-barrel Gatling gun used by the United States and several other NATO nations. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ...

  1. M791 Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot with Tracer
  2. M792 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer and Self Destruct
    • 5.5 million rounds produced
    • The HEI-T can destroy unarmored vehicles and helicopters and suppress antitank missile positions and enemy squads out to a maximum effective range of 3,000 meters.
  3. M793 Target Practice with Tracer
    • 11.5 milion rounds produced
    • The TP-T cartridge is a fixed-type, percussion-primed training round that matches the High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer (HEI-T MK210) round ballistically. The TP-T's tracer is visible out to 2,000 meters, however, the round has a maximum effective range (accuracy-limited) of 1,600 meters.
  4. M910 Target Practice Discarding Sabot with Tracer
    • The TPDS-T replicates the flight pattern of the M791 Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot with Tracer (APDS-T) round. The TPDS-T allows units to realistically practice sabot engagements.
  5. MK210 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer
    • 228,000 rounds produced
    • Used by the U. S. Navy in their Mk38 naval weapon system.
  6. M919 Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot With Tracer.
    • The APFSDS-T round penetrates light armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and aerial targets, which includes helicopters and slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft. It is identical to the M791 Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot with Tracer except in its quality of being fin-stabilized.

An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artilley or locomotive artillery) vehicles mount a large howitzer (or alternatively mortar or rockets) and are used for long-range indirect bombardment support. ... The Bell 206 of Canadian Helicopters Robinson Helicopter Company (USA) R44, a four seat development of the R22 A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors. ... Airbus A380 An aircraft is any machine capable of atmospheric flight. ... There are several uses for Tracer: Tracer ammunition Tracer isotope or radioactive tracers as used in positron emission tomography, SPECT and autoradiography. ... A sabot is a wooden shoe worn in some European countries. ... Caliber: 25 mm NATO Firearm action: Chain gun Manufactured by: ATK Barrel Length: 85. ...

Variations

The M242 is an extremely popular weapon. It is currently in use by the U.S. Army, the U. S. Navy, the U. S. Marine Corps, the Norwegian Army, the Swiss Army, the Canadian Army, the Finnish Army, the Australian Army, as well as several others. Such a wide usage requirement has necessitated several variations and modifications on the standard M242 weapon system. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... Ranks Norwegian military ranks The Norwegian Army is Norways military land force. ... In a railway station, a young Swiss militia soldier returning to duty after a week-end break The Armed Forces of Switzerland is a unique institution somewhere between a militia and a regular army. ... The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes) are the combined armed forces of Canada. ... The Finnish Army (Finnish: Maavoimat) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. ... The Australian Army Emblem The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ...


Ground Vehicles

The United States Marine Corps' LAV-25
The United States Marine Corps' LAV-25

The M242 is standard equipment on the U. S. Army M2 and M3 Bradley fighting vehicles. It is also in use on the LAV-25. Currently, Bushmaster II 30 mm chain gun (a successor to the M242) is also in use on the Marine Corps' Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV). The M242 is also a popular choice of primary armament for armoured fighting vehicles manufactured around the world. The United States Marine Corps LAV25. ... The United States Marine Corps LAV25. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The M2 Bradley and M3 Bradley are American infantry fighting vehicles. ... General Characteristics (M2 Bradley) Length: 21 ft 2 in (6. ... The LAV-25 has two M240 machine guns and the M242, a 25mm autocannon The United States Marine Corps LAV-25 LAV-25 is an eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier based on the Mowag Piranha family of armoured fighting vehicles used by the United States Marine Corps. ... The Bushmaster II is a derivative of the M242 Bushmaster cannon. ... USMC Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ...


Enhanced 25 mm gun

In 1990 it was realized that the M242 needed to be updated. In doing so, three major systems and seven minor systems were improved. The modifications began with introducing a chrome-lined barrel, an enhanced feeder, and an enhanced receiver. The weapon systems also received minor upgrades such as quick-detachable link covers, a larger breech assembly, a high efficiency muzzle brake, longer recoil, an integral round counter, an extended life firing pin & spring, and a triple-spring drive clutch. It was first put to use on the M2A3 Bradley, the third version of the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle. This article is about the year. ... Chrome may refer to: Chrome is a song from Debbie Harrys debut solo album Koo Koo. ... The muzzle brake of an AMX 10 RC. Muzzle brake of the Sig 550 rifle The S&W Model 500 is among the rare handguns to feature a muzzle brake. ... An early naval cannon design, allowing the gun to roll backwards a small distance when firing The recoil when firing a gun is the backward momentum of a gun, which is equal to the forward momentum of the bullet or shell, due to conservation of momentum. ... PIN can mean different things: Personal identification number Postal Index Number Personal Internet Name. ... The M2 Bradley and M3 Bradley are American infantry fighting vehicles. ...


Aircraft

While the M242 itself is not used on aircraft, the 25 mm cartridge is a major tool on the AC-130U and also on the AV-8 Harrier II (with its GAU-12 Cannon). The sister weapon of the M242, the M230 30 mm chain gun is standard equipment on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Rimmed, centerfire . ... AC-130 deploying flares The AC-130 Gunship is an armed variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. ... April 7th 2003: an AV-8B Harrier takes off from the assault ship USS Nassau, to engage targets over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom See also Hawker Siddeley Harrier The Harrier II is a second generation, vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) light-attack jet aircraft used... The General Electric GAU-12/U Equalizer is a 25 mm, five-barrel Gatling gun used by the United States and several other NATO nations. ... The Hughes M230 Chain Gun is a 30 mm automatic cannon developed and manufactured by Hughes (McDonnell Douglas). ... Boeing AH-64 Apache The Boeing IDS AH-64 Apache Helicopter is the US Armys principal attack helicopter, the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. ... The Bell 206 of Canadian Helicopters Robinson Helicopter Company (USA) R44, a four seat development of the R22 A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors. ...


Naval

The Mk38
The Mk38

In 1977 the U. S. Navy realized that it needed a replacement for the Oerlikon/Hispano-Suiza 20mm Mk 16 series of guns. In 1986 their need was satisfied with the introduction of the Mk 38 Mod 0 weapons system. A derivative of the M242 system, the Mk 38 consists of the M242 chain gun and the Mk 88 Mod 0 machine gun mount. It provides ships with defensive and offensive gunfire capability for the engagement of a variety of surface targets. Designed primarily as a close-range defensive measure, it provides protection against patrol boats, floating mines, and various shore-based targets . The US Navy also developed a high ROF variant under the designation Mk 45 Mod 0, as well as, a modified version of the system for use in the RAMICS (Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System) Program. The Mk38 Naval Weapons System. ... The Mk38 Naval Weapons System. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Oerlikon is a quarter in the northern part of Zürich, Switzerland: Zürich Oerlikon a Swiss anti-aircraft artillery manufacturer founded in Zürich Oerlikon: Oerlikon ContravesWerkzeug Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon part of Oerlikon Buhrle*Oerlikon 20 mm cannon This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the... The Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20 mm autocannon was one of the most widely used aircraft weapons of the 20th century, used by British, American, French, and many other military services. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Ship types ... A naval mine is a stationary self-contained explosive device placed in water, to destroy ships and/or submarines. ...


Operation

The M242 weapon system has both electrical and manual fire control and can be operated electrically or manually. In doing so, the gunner can choose from three rates of fire: (1) Single Shot Semi-Automatic. The gunner can shoot as fast as he can squeeze the trigger. (2) Low Rate Fully Automatic. The weapon fires 100 rounds a minute, plus or minus 25 rounds. (3) High Rate Fully Automatic. The weapon fires 200 rounds a minute, plus or minus 25 rounds.


See also

A list of the worlds artillery, by type. ... The Hughes M230 Chain Gun is a 30 mm automatic cannon developed and manufactured by Hughes (McDonnell Douglas). ... The Bushmaster II is a derivative of the M242 Bushmaster cannon. ... 3 ... Located below is an extended list of personal firearms, ranging from pistols to machine guns and even to large handheld devices such as grenade launchers and anti-tank rifles. ... List of all weapons currently in development, production, or significant service in the world. ... // Bladed weapons Bayonets M6 Bayonet M9 bayonet M7 bayonet OKC-3S bayonet Fighting Knives Ka-Bar Small arms Pistols M1911A1 . ... Rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and machine guns FIM-92 Stinger FOTT Javelin M2 machine gun M242 Bushmaster Chain gun M19 (Mk19) Grenade launcher M37 M47 Dragon M60 machine gun M73 M85 M219 M220 TOW M240 M1919 OCSW Mortars M29 81 mm mortar M30 107 mm mortar M120 120 mm mortar...

External links and sources


  Results from FactBites:
 
M242 25mm Automatic Gun (2673 words)
The M242 is fed by a metallic link belt and has dual-feed capability which allows the crew to select and load two types of available service ammunition.
The M242 is the primary armament on the U.S. Army M2/M3 series Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the U.S. Marine Corp LAV-25.
The M919 cartridge significantly increases the lethality of the M242 against all threat infantry fighting vehicles.
  More results at FactBites »

 

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