OVERVIEW
The Fabrique Nationale FN M3P is a modernized form of the Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun - intended for vehicle, watercraft and aircraft mounting.
The Fabrique Nationale FN M3P is a modernized form of the Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun - intended for vehicle, watercraft and aircraft mounting.
YEAR: 2009
MANUFACTURER(S): Fabrique Nationale (FN herstal) - Belgium
OPERATORS: Belgium; Germany; United Kingdom; United States
SPECIFICATIONS
Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible. * Calibers listed may be model/chambering dependent.
Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible. * Calibers listed may be model/chambering dependent.
ACTION: Full-Automatic; Belt-Fed
CALIBER(S)*: 12.7x99mm NATO
LENGTH (OVERALL): 1,650 millimeters (64.96 inches)
LENGTH (BARREL): 1,150 millimeters (45.28 inches)
WEIGHT (UNLOADED): 77.16 pounds (35.00 kilograms)
SIGHTS: Iron
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,900 feet-per-second (884 meters-per-second)
RATE-OF-FIRE: 1,025 rounds-per-minute
RANGE (EFFECTIVE): 6,000 feet (1,829 meters; 2,000 yards)
VARIANTS
Series Model Variants
• FN M3P - Base Series Designation; open-air design.
• FN HMP250 LCC - Podded variant; 250-round feeding with links collector.
• FN HMP400 LC - Podded variant; 400-round feeding with links collector.
• FN HMP400 LCC - Podded variant; 400-round feeding with links and cases collector.
• FN RMP LC - Podded variant; 250-round feeding with 3 x 2.75" tube-launched rockets.
Series Model Variants
• FN M3P - Base Series Designation; open-air design.
• FN HMP250 LCC - Podded variant; 250-round feeding with links collector.
• FN HMP400 LC - Podded variant; 400-round feeding with links collector.
• FN HMP400 LCC - Podded variant; 400-round feeding with links and cases collector.
• FN RMP LC - Podded variant; 250-round feeding with 3 x 2.75" tube-launched rockets.
HISTORY
Detailing the development and operational history of the Fabrique Nationale FN M3P Belt-Fed Vehicle Heavy Machine Gun (HMG). Entry last updated on 12/16/2016. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com.
Detailing the development and operational history of the Fabrique Nationale FN M3P Belt-Fed Vehicle Heavy Machine Gun (HMG). Entry last updated on 12/16/2016. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com.
The Fabrique Nationale (FN Herstal) FN M3P is a vehicle machine gun based on the hugely successful Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun series. The M3P is simply a modernized form intended for use on trainable vehicle mountings or as a fixed vehicle/aircraft gun (podded or open-air). It can be manually-fired or remotely fired (via solenoid) which sufficiently broadens battlefield applications. In the former, it can be sat upon a trainable pintle mounting and used as a normal open-air, air-cooled machine gun (defensive application or on a vehicle/watercraft for offensive purposes). In the latter, it can serve through a remote weapons station installation, as a coaxial machine gun on a tank (or other wheeled/tracked armored vehicle) or in "podded" form and slung under the wing of an aircraft - light strike or helicopter - used in conjunction with the aircraft's existing weapons software suite.
The FN M3P showcases a design faithful to the original Browning with its rectangular receiver, large ejection port and feed units and perforated barrel for air cooling. A large, cylindrical muzzle brake is fitted. Belt-feeding is standard (from left or right of the receiver) as is full-automatic fire. The weapon is chambered for the proven 12.7x99mm NATO standard heavy cartridge and fires at a rate nearing 1,025 rounds per minute. its overall construction provides a weight-savings measure over the original Browning M2.
The FN M3P is marketed across several designated variants beyond the base open-air gun mounting. These include the podded FN HMP250 (250-rounds), the FN HMP400 (400-rounds) and FN RMP (250-rounds with 3 x 2.75" rockets underslung).
The FN M3P showcases a design faithful to the original Browning with its rectangular receiver, large ejection port and feed units and perforated barrel for air cooling. A large, cylindrical muzzle brake is fitted. Belt-feeding is standard (from left or right of the receiver) as is full-automatic fire. The weapon is chambered for the proven 12.7x99mm NATO standard heavy cartridge and fires at a rate nearing 1,025 rounds per minute. its overall construction provides a weight-savings measure over the original Browning M2.
The FN M3P is marketed across several designated variants beyond the base open-air gun mounting. These include the podded FN HMP250 (250-rounds), the FN HMP400 (400-rounds) and FN RMP (250-rounds with 3 x 2.75" rockets underslung).
MEDIA
CLOSE ×
Where applicable, the appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Russian Ministry of Defense, Chinese Ministry of Defense or British Ministry of Defence visual information does not imply or constitute endorsement of this website (www.MilitaryFactory.com). Images marked with "www.MilitaryFactory.com" or featuring the Military Factory logo are copyrighted works exclusive to this site and not for reuse in any form.
