New SOF 5.56 LMG

[Charlie]

Janes had a post that the SOF was looking for a new LMG to replace/augament the M249. Anybody heard about this??

[TR]

If their smart they'll go with the Stoner LMG already available. Haven't heard anything about thise (the library I was tryng to get the 99-00 Edition of IWOTW lost it before they could send it to me).

T.R.

[veil]

As far as i know, the 2 main contenders are the FNMI Special Purpose Weapon (a stripped-down 14"barrel variant of the Para-SAW) and the Stoner S-86 "Ares" machinegun.

The good folks at stoner sent me a comparison chart between the SAW and their shortie S-86 which shows some interesting features: They both accept the RIS & all acessories, they both have a weaver top-rail, they both have a retractable stock, they both use 200round boxes or 100round bags, they both do not have a bipod attached and they both fire at about the same rate.

However there are some differences. Not mentioned in the chart but IMHO the most important, is that the weaver-rail on the SPW is mounted ON the feed cover. This will probably shake the sight out of zero. The S-86 on the other hand has the feed cover in front of the rail, placing the scope closer to the eye without putting the link-feeding stress on the mount. This seems to be a big pro.

Dont know about actual performance, but considering the experience the folks at Stoner/KAC have it should be a working weapon. Also, it's been under development since the mid-80ies, like the saw.

The good part about the SPW is that most parts are interchangable with the standard SAW allready in service, making supplies and personal customization alot easier. The stoner's only compatible part is the stock, which is of the M4/M4a1 carbine model.

And last & pretty least : The SPW is one ugly sonofabitch, while the S-86 looks pretty sweet http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

I'd say only a thorough(sp?) field evaluation can show the true winner, but im sure the SPW will be chosen 'cause of the SAW.

BTW, does anyone know what happened to the "standard" variant of the S-86 with the long barrel, folding bipod and fixed tubular stock? It was advertised as the "basic" weapon in the mid-90ies but since then it has dissapeared from the KAC literature. Im interested 'cause it sposedly participated in the Dutch SAW trials some years ago, together with the NEGEV and the Minimi.

[MT]

The Navy is supposedly designing a 5.56mm MG that is supposed to have a unloaded weight around eight pounds. Haven't been able to find much else.

[Mike]

There is an article in JANE's Navy International of December 1999, p. 6 by Scott Gourley (he is a writer on SOF for several magazines) titled "U.S. Navy seeks lightweight machine gun for special warfare operations."