The multi-station machine gun "Minigun" M134 is often used by Hollywood directors to create an epic picture when displaying military confrontations. The alternative names for weapons are “meat grinder”, “cheerful Sam”, “magic dragon”. These "nicknames" characterize the product in accordance with its typical growling sound and a strong fiery flash when shooting. Consider its features and real features.
Development and creation
The M134 Minigun machine gun was originally developed by the American company GE back in 1960. His caliber was calculated at 7.62 mm. The basis of the created weapons lay aircraft gun type M61 Vulcan. The specified model was built for the air force, combined with the capabilities of the Gatling card holder. The first prototypes of 7.62 mm caliber appeared in 1962. Two years later, they began to mount weapons on AC-74 aircraft. Such a solution made it possible to ensure perpendicular firing at the heading of the aircraft. This design showed itself well with the support of the North Vietnamese infantry, firing from the windows and doors of the fuselage at ground targets.
Given the success of the tests in theory and practice, General Electric Corporation began their mass production. These models came into service under the indices M134 and GAU-124. At the beginning of the 70s of the last century, the US Army numbered over ten thousand copies of the M134 Miniguns. Most of them were mounted on helicopters deployed in Vietnam. The remaining versions were installed on river ships transporting special forces.
History of creation
The original idea for the development of these weapons was planned from the middle of the last century. At the same time, the creators wanted to introduce the maximum possible indicators of power, rate of fire and aiming into the design. All copies were built at leading plants specializing in metal processing and firearms. As a result, a unique device appeared, designed to fire from shelter or purposefully.
It was originally planned to release the installation with a caliber of 12.5 millimeters. However, power over 500 kgf at a speed of 6 thousand volleys per minute led the idea into a dead end. The updated Minigun machine gun was tested in action on an AS-74 fire support aircraft, aimed at supporting infantry from the air. Specialists liked the gun so much that a few months later they began to mount it on aircraft such as UH-1 and AH-1 Cobra.
Features
The ability to adjust the firing mode of a multi-barrel machine gun made it possible to install this model on twin installations. In this case, firing on the target ended with the shedding of its remains with spent lead. This unit terrified the rebels of North Vietnam, who simply fled in panic after shelling forests and ambushes. Only by the 70s, more than 10 thousand copies were created, which mainly went to equip helicopters for transport and assault purposes. In addition, light boats and boats were equipped with such devices.
Partially considered weapons were mounted on wheeled transport vehicles. However, when the battery was broken, the Minigun M134 machine gun worked for no more than 2-3 minutes. A few years later, the civilian version sold well in the US, especially in Texas. The product was operated using infantry bipod with a reserve of a thousand ammunition. For the correct operation of the guns, a constant supply source was required. The supply of cartridges was carried out by posting a standard tape by sending charges without using links. In the first version, a sleeve extraction mechanism with a special flexible metal sleeve is mounted on the gun.
Characteristics of the Minigun M134
Below are the main parameters of the weapon in question:
- rate of fire - 3-4 thousand rounds per minute;
- maximum weight - 30 kg;
- length with and without barrel - 559/801 mm;
- caliber - 7.62 mm (51 - NATO).
Principle of operation
Machine-gun "Minigun" M134, the description of which is given above, is focused on the defense of stationary structures. As an offensive weapon, this modification was absolutely unsuitable. With a mass of 30 kilograms and an ammunition reserve of 4, 500 rounds, no more than a minute was spent in battle until it was completely discharged.
The operation of the unit can be described as follows:
- automation works from an external drive mechanism with a direct current electric motor;
- Three gears and a worm drive are included in the design;
- block of six trunks;
- the charge-discharge cycle is divided into several stages, which appear at the junction of the receiver unit with the box.
Exploitation
Moving up and in a circle, the barrel simultaneously removes and ejects the spent sleeve. The barrel is locked by turning the combat mask along with the movement of the bolts. The last elements are controlled by a groove in a curved configuration. Power is supplied by a chainless charge supply or by a tape mechanism.
The required rate of fire is guaranteed by an electronic specialized unit, which is equipped with a rate of fire switch and an activation button displayed on the handle of the gun. The modern variation of the machine gun under consideration has two versions of firing: 2 and 4 thousand volleys per minute. In working condition, there is no rejection of the barrel or its withdrawal to the side. Sending a cartridge is carried out using a special mechanism that is responsible for the reliability and continuity of the sending of charges from the very beginning of firing.
Equipment
On the machine gun "Minigun M134" there is the possibility of mounting diopter, collimator and other sighting devices that are needed when operating tracer ammunition. In this case, the trace after the shot is bright and visible, similar to a fiery stream.
It should be noted that in a real display, the M134 has never been shown on a movie screen. This is due to the fact that the strongest recoil and loud sound can knock a person down and put him into a stupor. For the filming of cult films, analogues of the XM214 type (caliber - 5.4 mm) were used, the returns of which fit into the face value of about 100 kg. Paradoxically, the second version was in no way suitable for the army, due to its small size and low rate of fire. But for the "movie" Hollywood, he came up perfectly.
