×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

Mendoza RM-2


Light Machine Gun (LMG)


Mexico | 1947



"The Mendoza RM-2 marked the end of the Mendoza line of light machine guns."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Mendoza RM-2. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,968 ft
599.8 m | 656.0 yds
Max.Eff.Range
600
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
2,750 ft/sec
838 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the Mendoza RM-2. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,092 mm
42.99 in
O/A Length
609 mm
23.98 in
Barrel Length
13.89 lb
6.30 kg
Weight
Gas-Operated; Open Bolt
Action
.30-06 Springfield (30-caliber M1906)
Caliber(s)
20-round detachable box magazine
Feed
Offset Iron Front and Rear
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Mendoza RM-2 Light Machine Gun (LMG) family line.
RM-2 - Base Series Designation
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/01/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Mexican engineer Raphael Mendoza found success with his C-1934 Light Machine Gun which was accepted for service with the Mexican Army prior to World War 2. The weapon was chambered for the 7x57mm Spanish Mauser cartridge and proved to be a reliable system, easy to produce and cheap to manufacture while not lessening the quality of the weapon. In 1945, the weapon was refined to become the Model 45 with its shorter barrel, perforated muzzle brake and refined receiver while being chambered for the powerful American .30-06 Springfield cartridge. During World War 2, there arose a pressing American need for weaponry of any kind and Mendoza moved to rework his light machine gun series to perhaps land the lucrative defense contract from the spending American government.

The initiative produced a revised light machine gun that was chambered for the .30-06 Springfield cartridge as well as sans the "quick-change" barrel feature of the original production models (something of a drawback considering this to be an air-cooled, heavy volume, repeating fire weapon system). The new weapon was known as the "RM-2" and was designed to fulfill roughly the same function as the M1918 BAR. The weapon fed from a 20-round magazine fitted into the top of the receiver which forced the rear and front sights to be offset for aiming. A bipod helped to control the forward weight of the weapon when planted. A new slotted muzzle brake was fitted while the forward handguard and shoulder stock were wood fixtures. The receiver and barrel assembly were completed in metal. The charging handle was set to the right side of the body while a fire selector was set to the left - offering a safety, semi-automatic and full-automatic fire mode. Despite the changes, the RM-2 was still lighter than her contemporaries and cheaper to produce. Field-stripping of the weapon was facilitated by a hinged shoulder stock and rear receiver region that opened down to expose the internal workings.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.


Unfortunately for Mendoza, the war ended by September of 1945, bringing an end to the hope that the American military would be requiring large scores of automatic weapons. Mendoza then tried unsuccessfully to market the weapon to the Mexican Army who were still utilizing his 1934 and 1945 creations in number. In 1947, some 50 prototypes were sent to the Mexican Marines for evaluation but this endeavor came to naught. To make matters worse, strict Mexican export laws concerning weapons negated their sale overseas, essentially bringing an end to the Mendoza line of machine guns. Some RM-2 examples fell into museum hands while the lineage more or less fell to history.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Mendoza RM-2. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Productos Mendoza - Mexico
National flag of Mexico

[ Mexico ]
1 / 1
Image of the Mendoza RM-2
Right side view of the Mendoza RM-2 Light Machine Gun

Going Further...
The Mendoza RM-2 Light Machine Gun (LMG) appears in the following collections:
HOME
SMALL ARMS INDEX
SPECIAL FORCES
ARMS BY COUNTRY
ARMS MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE ARMS
ARMS BY CONFLICT
ARMS BY TYPE
ARMS BY DECADE
COLD WAR ARMS
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)