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|
GAU-19/B heavy machine gun |
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GAU-19/B heavy machine gun on a naval pedestal mount |
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|
GAU-19/B heavy machine gun on an Humvee vehicle |
|
GAU-19/A |
GAU-19/B |
|
Caliber |
12.7х99 |
12.7х99 |
|
Weight, kg |
63 (gun body with motor and feeder-delinker) |
48 (gun body with motor and feeder-delinker) |
|
Length, mm |
1181 |
1181 |
|
Barrel length, mm |
914 |
914 |
|
Rate of fire, rounds/minute |
1000 - 2000 |
1300 |
|
Feed |
belt |
belt |
Externally powered heavy machine gun of 0.5” caliber was developed by US-based
General Electric Company
during 1980s, as a possible armament for future combat helicopters and
other aircrafts, such as V-22 “Osprey”. Originally known as GECAL .50,
this machine gun was derived from earlier
7,62mm M134 “Minigun”
by scaling it up to accept .50BMG / 12.7mm ammunition. Early versions
of GECAL 50 were produced with 6 barrels, but production models were
reduced to 3 barrels in cluster to reduce weight. These weapons were
adopted by US Army and Air forces as GAU-19/A heavy machine guns, and
mounted on several types of light combat helicopters, HMMWV combat
vehicles, military ships (for close in-shore defense against incoming
fast surface crafts) and fast boats, used for Commando-style operations.
In 2011 General Dynamics, current manufacturer of GAU-19/A machine
guns, presented the GAU-19/B version, which is noticeably lighter, and
is intended mostly for airborne use on light combat helicopters.
GECAL-50 / GAU-19/A heavy machine gun is an externally powered weapon
of Gatling type. It uses built-in electrical motor to rotate barrel
cluster (which has three barrels) and operate feeder-delinker unit.
Bolts are cycled through cam-shaped path inside the gun housing,
continuously feeding, firing and ejecting spent cases from barrels as
they rotate. Gun is fed using standard M9 disintegrating belts, same as
used in Browning M2HB heavy machine gun. Since the belt links have
closed loops, each cartridge is pulled out of the links by the
feeder-delinker unit before presenting it to the gun for loading. Rate
of fire is controlled by electronic circuit, and can be adjusted up to
2000 rounds per minute, although GAU-19/B is limited to 1300 rounds per
minute due to lighter barrels. GAU-19/A machine guns can be mounted in
aircraft gun pods and flexible or fixed aircraft mounts. Surface use
includes ring-type mounts installed on the roof of the HMMWV vehicles
and pedestal mounts used on naval ships and fast boats. Some types of
mounts include integral ammunition containers (with typical capacity
between 500 and 1500 rounds) and dedicated battery to operate the gun.
Firing controls normally include dual spade grips, attached to the gun
cradle, with electric triggers and safety switches.
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