NationStates Jolt Archive

The Imperial Cottish Army hereby announce its intention to replace the existing M60 and M249 light machine guns currently in service with a new light machine gun, and offer a lucarative contract to the provider of the best weapon.

Specifications:

Max price $5000 per weapon

Use caliber 7,62 x 51 mm

Must handle much use

Be able to sustain lenghty periods of firing

Easy maintenance

Not too heavy (after all, it's a light MG)

Easy to use


The contract is on approximately 400 000 weapons, and is worth $2 trillion for the winner.

The table is now open for bidding.

" We'll see what we can do..."

-Christopher Biggs
ALPHAtech Industries, Director of Sales

To: The Imperial Cottish Army
From: Scott Clemens, Contract Procurement Officer, Juumanistran United Defense Consortium
Subject: Gun submissions

The Juumanistran United Defense Consortium has submitted your specifications to its member defense contractors and has found four guns that meet your specifications with regard to caliber, price, and intangibles. We must put a disclaimer on what the United Defense Consortium is submitting, however, in that Juumanistran defense firms are a little...reverent of the gas operated rotating bolts. They've been the standard action in all Juumanistran small arms for decades and they are more than a little paranoid of bullpulp, blowback, and other more "exotic" rifle designs. If you're looking for something a little less conventional, we are sorry for wasting your time.

Yu-77
Manufacturer: Makihara Munitions
Caliber: 7.62x51mm
Action: Gas operated rotating bolt
Overall Length: 967mm
Weight / With Standard Magazine: 4.4kg / 6.9kg
Magazine Capacity: 100 round drum
Rate of Fire(cyclic): 800 RPM
Rate of Fire(sustained): 95 RPM
Maximum Effective Range: 700m
Firing Modes: Full automatic
Price: $3,650 USD

Makihara Munitions’s Yu-77 constitutes the standard service SAW for the Juumanistran military and its design reflects the unique operating conditions of the Juumanistran Army. Given Juumanistra’s adoption of a 6.8mm standard round, the need for a traditional assault gunner has been diminished greatly and thus the Yu-77 has been stressed portability and weight reduction, leading to a smaller and shorter weapon at the expense of rate-of-fire and magazine size.

J32
Manufacturer: Aoyama Defense
Caliber: 7.62x51mm
Action: Gas operated rotating bolt
Overall Length: 1103mm
Weight / With Standard Magazine: 5.2kg / 9.3kg
Magazine Capacity: 200 round box
Rate of Fire(cyclic): 1100 RPM
Rate of Fire(sustained): 135 RPM
Maximum Effective Range: 1100m
Firing Modes: Full automatic
Price: $4,100 USD

The J32 is the conversion of the JBT-35's 7.62 gun largely reflects the needs of the tank that it was originally installed on. It boasts rates of fire and an effective higher than the M249, though it is fairly bulbous relative the smaller guns offered, particularly the Yu-77 and J44. The J32 is very much a point-and-shoot weapon and incredibly easy to learn on, which is why it sees much use in Juumanistran boot camps for training assault gunners.

J44
Manufacturer: Himou Defense Labs
Caliber: 7.62x51mm
Action: Gas operated rotating bolt
Overall Length: 1004mm
Weight / With Standard Magazine: 5.5kg / 9.4kg
Magazine Capacity: 200 round box
Rate of Fire(cyclic): 970 RPM
Rate of Fire(sustained): 175 RPM
Maximum Effective Range: 1000m
Firing Modes: Full automatic
Price: $5,000 USD

The J44 represents what is, arguably, the best gun the Juumanistran arsenal. It has become a mainstay of armored forces in its incarnation as a co-axial tank gun; it’s relatively light, no bigger than an assault rifle, has a high sustained rate of fire, and doesn’t trade in on effective range or accuracy in order to deliver what it does. It is, however, the most expensive in the Juumanistran catalogue and can be the most finicky; whilst it certainly isn’t susceptible to jamming, it requires more attention than the Yu-77 or J32.

MDA1E1
Manufacturer: Minaduki Arms
Caliber: 7.62x51mm
Action: Gas operated rotating bolt
Overall Length: 1045mm
Weight / With Standard Magazine: 6.4kg / 10.5kg
Magazine Capacity: 200 round box
Rate of Fire(cyclic): 1350 RPM
Rate of Fire(sustained): 215 RPM
Maximum Effective Range: 1300m
Firing Modes: Full automatic
Price: $4,750 USD

Juumanistran soldiers often joke about Big Bertha; the MDA1 is the heaviest in the Juumanistran arsenal, though in reality it really doesn’t weigh all that much more when deployed than an M249. It delivers the highest rate of fire and effective range of all Juumanistran SAWs, but at the price of weight. Given Juumanistran operating doctrine, that weight was entirely too much of a burden. It may well be what you’re looking for, though, as it clearly has its counterparts beaten in the fire volume department.

*=*=*=*=*

[OOC: I feel more than a little out of my depth after checking out Mekugi's ALPHATech storefront. I probably have no business being in the same thread as that good from there, but public humiliation is good for the soul. At least that's how I make it through the night. ;)]

-Support Weapon Model 7, Caliber .30-
Caliber 7.62x51mm
Action: Gas, Rotating Bolt
Weight: 5 kg w/o belt; 6.8kg loaded, 8.7kg on tripod
Length: 1200 mm
Length of barrel: 530 mm
Feed: 50-250 rnd Belt
Effective Range: 1000m
Rate of Fire: 600-850 rounds per minute
Price Per Unit: 3800.00 USD

Concept-
The S7 Light Machine Gun is a gas operated, air-cooled, belt-fed. selective fire weapon. The long stroke gas piston is located above the barrel, and operates the rotating bolt with a three lug triangular locking mechanism. The trigger unit is select fire and allows the weapon to be fired from closed bolt in single shots (for maximum accuracy when acting as a support rifle), and from open bolt in full auto (for better barrel cooling during sustained firing).

Operation-
During operation the non reciprocating bolt handle is pulled back which withdraws a cartridge rearward from the belt by the extractor which is then pushed forward into the chamber via the bolt. Since there is no separate drive motor for the belt simplifying the operation, the feed mechanism also advances the belt one position per cycle by means of a feed arm attached to the feed cover and cam-ed directly to the gas piston. As the Bolt and Gas piston move forward the bolt stops against the chamber face, as the gas piston continues forward pressing against the cam slot in the bolt rotating the bolt and forcing its three lugs to engage the into the chamber. As the bolt locks the piston with the attached firing pin continue sforward for a short straight distance before perforating the primer and igniting the cartridge. The bullet then races down the barrel towards its target, as some of the propellant gasses are tapped for the next cycle. The Main spring is wrapped around the primary gas piston and makes the whole system much more compact compared to a traditional layout with main spring behind the bolt.

A rather beefy investment cast Main piston with Feed cam stud, extracting stud and firing pin holder make up the bulk of the operating parts of the weapon in one robust piece, the only remaining operating parts being the feed arm, The bolt, the Firing pin (which is held in the firing pin holder and acts as the retainer for the camming action of the bolt, and is replaceable in the field.) and the trigger sear. With so few moving parts, and the few moving parts being well reinforced allows for a high reliability, and ease of field matienence. With only two main springs the system is considered a die hard piece of machinery and extremely tolerant or extreme environments. All internal parts are Hard Chrome-Molybnium coated which allows for extreme performance even when completely un-lubricated and subject to battlefield dust, and grime a necessary feature for today’s battlefield.

The replaceable barrel has eight parallel grooves running along its length which not only lighten the barrel but also provide the maximum amount of surface area in order to provide maximum convection and therefore maximum cooling to the barrel. Made of a proprietary Chromium Vanadium Tungsten (CVT) Austenic steel alloy the barrel is guaranteed to slag long before it would warp and effect the accuracy of the weapon, since the Alloy doesn’t anneal (soften), and has extremely high melting point the barrels themselves are reusable and can simply be thrown to the side when they get too hot, and reused after they have cooled back down. To replace the barrel one grips the forward hand grip (closer in style to that of the HK21 than the M240, and permanently attached to the barrel and sticking out 90* from the receiver) pushes it forward, then rotated down thirty degrees, pushed all the way forward free of the receiver, and then pulled out from the support ring near the muzzle in one nearly fluid movement.

Spring-loaded dust covers on both ports prevent any unwanted dirt or dust from contaminating the action during transport, and deployment, and are quick to disengage via a single catch for both covers at the rear of the main receiver. An integral bipod is mounted near to the muzzle, and hinges rearward to act as a heat guard for the firers hands when closed. Eight inches of Picatinny M1913 rail along the top of the receiver forward of the Feed cover adds additional multi-mission capability by allowing just about any sight system currently available to be mounted as necessary or desired.

Overview-
Only three major moving parts, Designed around the extreme worst case scenario, Extensive field testing, and proven lethality… The S7 fills the niche it was designed to fill and nudges over into several other realms of capability far beyond that of just a normal Light Machine Gun.

I can sell you my M35 LMG for a price of $4,000 each.

M35 Light Machine Gun

The M35 is the newest light machine gun of the ILM. It is designed to replace the M240 and M60E3 on vehicles and in infantry as a 7.62 x 51mm cartridge. It will complement the 5.56 x 45mm M249 SAW and allow for extreme suppressive firepower on enemy positions with phenominal accuracy and little weight. The M35 allows for a high rate of fire with little wear and tear to the barrel. The light weight of the M35 allows it to be carried easily with a significant amount of ammunition. Like the M31, it incorporates a 5-round burst selector, semi-automatic fire, and fully automatic fire.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Export/M35.jpg

Caliber: 7.62 x 51mm
Action: Gas operated, open breech
Fire Mode: Semi-auto, 5-round burst, or automatic
Overall Length: 41" [open]; 32" [folded]
Barrel Length: 18.90"
Weight: 14.25 lb.
Magazine: 100 round belt or 200 round box
Rate of Fire: 900 rounds per minute
Shell: Standard Ball with Tungsten penetrator
Maximum Range: 3,725 meters
Effective Range: 1,800 meters
Muzzle Velocity: 840 mps
Underwater Shoot: No
Chamber Pressure: 50,000 psi
Equippment Availabilities: Suppressor, bipod, scope optics, front handle, laser, flashlight
Cost: $6,000 <--- $4,000!!!
Service Life: 30,000 rounds

We are offering the M12-PA
Caliber: 7,62 x 51 mm
Weight: 3.2 kg
Lenght (stock closed/open): 418 / 660 mm
Barrel lenght: 200 mm
Rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 75 round belt/ 50 round box
Cost: 1500$

May be used in almost any conditions, including swamp and limited underwater capabilities. The M12-PA for easy of operation and maintence under any conditions, including pitch blackness.

Well, I do believe we can help you out here. Although we choose not to participate in warfare, our industry excells in this field.

We can offer you the newest weapon to come out of Bass weapons, the most advnaced weapons producers in Pablicosta.

Here we go then,

http://www.fmft.net/archives/gpmp/GPMG.jpg

The Bass RM2 LMG

A super little shooter with the specified 7.62 Calliber. It can handle upto 13 minutes of continuous firing at optimum speed and range. It is recomended that you cease fire for the advised 2 minute cooling time after this period, although in intense situations you can continue firing for another 7 minutes. Please be aware, if usage exceeds 13 minutes warranty is void. In te long term it fits the bill, with the item covered by warrenty for 15 years, although effective use is expected to continue for atleast a further 5 years beyond this point. Maintenance is simple and designed to be easy for troops on the move, the average test time was 35 seconds in a Wartime retreat situation to fully check the weapon was working to a suitable standard. A computer chip comes as an added option, which observes and displays key factors of the weapon such as temperature and even if any potential blockages are in the weapon. However, this would push the price of each unit up from US$2,750 to US$3,500. The standard weight of the RM2 unit is 21lbs, slightly less than the M60, although for an extra US$500 we can reduce the weight to 17lbs, which is highly noticeable during long periods of use on the battlefield. The RM2 also exceeds the M60 in Capacity and rate of fire, due to upgraded technology and fine tuning. Capacity sits at 300 Rounds, but due to the patented quick load feature a second set of 300 rounds can be set in place before the first set even begins to run out. This ensures for continuos and sustained fire, crucial for modern warfare situations. The RoF on the RM2 model operates at double the maximum speed of the M60, whilst at a Sustained pace. Wheras the the M60 operated on a 100,200,550rpm basis (Sustained, Rapid and Cyclic respectively), the RM2 operates on 150,400,1200rpm, far superior to the M60 model.

For the price, we believe this RM2 unit is the best on the market.

Basic $2,750
Computer Aided $3,500 (+$500)
Weight Reduction Model $4,000 (+$500)

The bidding is now complete. We will announce a winner momentarily.

Colonel Harry Trixton
Arms Purchases Department
Imperial Cottish Army

M35 Light Machine Gun

The M35 is the newest light machine gun of the ILM. It is designed to replace
the M240 and M60E3 on vehicles and in infantry as a 7.62 x 51mm cartridge.
It will complement the 5.56 x 45mm M249 SAW and allow for extreme
suppressive firepower on enemy positions with phenominal accuracy and little
weight. The M35 allows for a high rate of fire with little wear and tear to
the barrel. The light weight of the M35 allows it to be carried easily with a
significant amount of ammunition. Like the M31, it incorporates a 5-round
burst selector, semi-automatic fire, and fully automatic fire.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Export/M35.jpg

Caliber: 7.62 x 51mm
Action: Gas operated, open breech
Fire Mode: Semi-auto, 5-round burst, or automatic
Overall Length: 41" [open]; 32" [folded]
Barrel Length: 18.90"
Weight: 14.25 lb.
Magazine: 100 round belt or 200 round box
Rate of Fire: 900 rounds per minute
Shell: Standard Ball with Tungsten penetrator
Maximum Range: 3,725 meters
Effective Range: 1,800 meters
Muzzle Velocity: 840 mps
Underwater Shoot: No
Chamber Pressure: 50,000 psi
Equippment Availabilities: Suppressor, bipod, scope
optics, front handle, laser, flashlight
Cost: $6,000 <--- $4,000!!!
Service Life: 30,000 rounds


The Imperial Cottish Army have chosen the M35 Light Machine Gun supplied by Layarteb because of several reasons. It fulfills all our requirements, and we are most impressed with the add-on equipment available for this weapon. We are most happy with the price reduction that Layarteb is offering us (33,3% discount!!) and will be a welcome contribution to the Imperial Cottish Army. We congratulate Layarteb with the contract, and hereby place an order of 400 000 units, with the option to purchase more on a later date. 1,6 trillion USD will be wired shortly. Please give us an estimated time till delivery.

To the rest of you who contributed, on behalf of Cotland, I thank you for your offers and wish you a continued good life.

Colonel Harry Trixton
Arms Purchases Department
Imperial Cottish Army

The LDC can supply these weapons within 5 RL days. We have a massive arms push going on right now with increased mobilizations to allow us faster production. That and we "got" some extra factories in "Kaliningrad."

The Imperial Cottish Army thanks you for this, and will expect the weapons then. Thank you.