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 caliber (American English) or calibre (British English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod. ... 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 a external source of power, rather than recoil, to cycle the weapon. ... Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is a major US aerospace and defense contractor with sales of approximately USD $2. ... A mile is any of several units of distance, or, in physics terminology, of length. ... A mile is any of several units of distance, or, in physics terminology, of length. ... 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 a 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. ... The flag of NATO NATO 2002 Summit The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 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, 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 . ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units. ...

The weapon was designed and originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (a subsidiary of 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) is a leading American aircraft and aerospace manufacturer, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with its largest production facilities in Everett, Washington, near Seattle, Washington. ... Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is a major US aerospace and defense contractor with sales of approximately USD $2. ... Mormon temple in Mesa at night, courtesy Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. ...

Design & History

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. ... A firearm is a kinetic energy weapon that fires either a single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. ... 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. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... 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. ... The word receiver has a number of different meanings: In communications and information processing, a receiver is the recipient (observer) of a message (information), which is sent from a source (object). ... Caliber: 25 mm NATO Firearm action: Chain gun Manufactured by: ATK Barrel Length: 85. ... The barrel of a firearm is the tube, usually 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 McDonnell Douglas, 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 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 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. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... General Characteristics (M2 Bradley) Length: 21 ft 2 in (6. ... Infantry in the First World War Infantry (or Infantrymen) are soldiers who fight primarily on foot, using personal weapons. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ... Explosive material - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... 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. ... The flag of NATO NATO 2002 Summit The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949. ...

1. M791 Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot with Tracer
   1. 5.7 million rounds produced
   2. The APDS-T penetrates lightly armored vehicles, Self-propelled artillery, and aerial targets such as helicopters and various slow-moving, fixed-wing aircraft.
2. M792 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer and Self Destruct
   1. 5.5 milion rounds produced
   2. 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
   1. 11.5 milion rounds produced
   2. 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
   1. 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
   1. 228,000 rounds produced
   2. Used by the U. S. Navy in their Mk38 naval weapon system.
6. M919 Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot With Tracer.
   1. 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. ... Categories: Military stubs | Artillery | Armored fighting vehicles | Self-propelled artillery ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... 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 (French: shoe) is a device used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile or bullet that is smaller than the bore diameter. ...

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. ... The Norwegian Army is Norways military land force. ... The Armed Forces of Switzerland are equipped with modern, sophisticated, and well-maintained weapons systems and equipment. ... Canadian Forces Flag The Canadian Armed Forces (Fr. ... The Finnish Army (Finnish: Maavoimat) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ...

Ground Vehicles

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 Canadian 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 equippage 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. ... General Characteristics (M2 Bradley) Length: 21 ft 2 in (6. ... General Characteristics (M2 Bradley) Length: 21 ft 2 in (6. ... 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 breach 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. 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chrome may refer to: (most commonly) chrome plating where the element chromium is fixed to a surface (in computer science) the chrome of an application, i. ... A muzzle brake is a device that is affixed to the muzzle of a firearm, and which redirects propellant gases to either counter the recoil of the gun, or to prevent the muzzle from climbing during rapid fire. ... 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. ... This article is in need of attention. ... General Characteristics (M2 Bradley) Length: 21 ft 2 in (6. ...

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 25 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). ... The Boeing IDS AH-64 Apache is the US Armys principal attack helicopter, the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ...

Naval

The Mk38

In 1977 the U. S. Navy realized that it needed a replacement for the Oerlikon 20 mm Mark 16 gun. In 1986 their need was satisfied with the introduction of the Mk38 weapons system. A derivative of the M242 system, the Mk38 consists of the M242 Chain gun and the Mark 88 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 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 Swiss anti-aircraft artillery manufacturer made famous by its 20mm cannons in World War II. Copies and derivatives of these designs were used by the Germans, French, British and Japanese weapon manufacturers. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A patrol boat is a small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence duties. ... 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

• M230 30 mm automatic cannon
• Bushmaster II 30 mm Chain gun
• Bushmaster III 35/50 mm Chain gun

• List of firearms
• List of modern weapons

• List of weapons of the U.S. Marine Corps
• List of crew served weapons of the US Armed Forces

The Hughes M230 Chain Gun is a 30 mm automatic cannon developed and manufactured by Hughes (McDonnell Douglas). ... This is long flat list, mainly of firearms, including the usual machine guns, rifles and shotguns, but also some other man-firable weapons such as mortars and grenade launchers. ... Small Arms See also List of firearms Small Arms (Pistols) Semi-automatic handgun Beretta Beretta 92F/FS (M9) Colt Model 1900 Model 1902 Sporting Model 1902 Military Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Model 1903 Pocket Hammer Model 1905 Military Model 1907 Military Model 1908 Vest Pocket Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless Model... Small arms Pistols .38 Caliber Revolver 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

• Federation of American Scientists: M242 (http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/m242.htm)
• U. S. Army Field Manual 3-22.1
• Canadian-American Strategic Review: M242 (http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-m242.htm)
• 25 mm/87 (1") Mark 38 Machine Gun System (http://www.warships1.com/Weapons/WNUS_25mm_mk38.htm)