The XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun (LW50MG) was a developmental .50 caliber belt-fed heavy machine gun.[2] Development began in 2009 and was cancelled in 2012.
| XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | General Dynamics |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 40 lb (18 kg) (without XM205 tripod)[1] |
| Length | 1562 mm |
| Cartridge | .50 BMG |
| Action | Recoil operation |
| Rate of fire | 265 rounds per minute or 40 rounds per minute sustained |
| Feed system | M9 belt |
| Sights | Modified M145 Machine Gun Optic, BUIS |
Design edit
The XM806 weighed about 63 pounds (29 kg) less (49% lighter), had 60% less recoil than the M2,[1][2] and had a greater rate of fire than the failed previous attempt to replace the M2, the XM312. The XM806 did however have a considerably slower rate of fire than the M2.[3] The XM806 also had improvements to user safety and was easier to disassemble.
The XM806 was spun out from the cancelled XM307 and was developed by General Dynamics to augment the M2. General Dynamics received a $9 million contract for the weapon.[when?] It was expected to be deployed starting at the end of fiscal year 2012.[4] Delays caused its planned deployment to be pushed to 2013 or 2014. The XM806 was cancelled in July 2012, with the Army using the money allocated to upgrade their M2 machine guns to the M2A1 version.[5]
Notes edit
- ^ a b Fuller, Peter N.; Douglas A. Tamilio (18 May 2010). "Project Manager Soldier Weapons Briefing for NDIA" (PDF). PEO Soldier. United States Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ a b XM806 on PEO Soldier Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Army eyes new, lighter machine gun
- ^ Lowe, Christian (26 November 2010). "Army Working on Lightweight .50 cal]". Military.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ Army Cuts XM806 - The Firearm Blog, 24 July 2012
External links edit
- XM806 on PEO Soldier
- Farewell Ma Duce! Welcome LW50MG
- Ma Deuce Goes Back To The Drawing Board from Strategy Page
- LW50 on Modern Firearms
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