HMH-361 tests new weapon during Desert Talon

[thedrifter]

HMH-361 tests new weapon during Desert Talon
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification #: 200471153732
Story by - Cpl. Paul Leicht



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 will be deploying to Iraq soon with a new weapon system under their wing.

The "Flying Tigers" of HMH-361, currently conducted training missions here as part of Desert Talon 2-04, and have added the M3M GAU-21 .50-caliber to their arsenal of CH-53E Super Stallion assault support rotary-wing aircraft and put the weapon system to the test.

"We're flying section flights so our aircrews can receive instruction and test fire the GAU-21 using the ramp-mounted cradle while practicing evasive maneuvers, threat reaction from the ground, section landings and gunnery skills over the Chocolate Mountain Impact Area," said Maj. Richard S. Barnes, assistant airframes maintenance officer, HMH-361. "The GAU-21 so far has performed perfectly for us without jamming at all."

The Marine Corps has been using the M2 Browning Machine Gun aboard its helicopters for years and it has performed very well, but the Department of Defense has been looking for a replacement weapon system with greater accuracy, a higher rate of fire and increased reliability, according to Gunnery Sgt. Kenneth W. Jourdan, CH-53E crew chief instructor, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1.

The M3M GAU-21, designed and manufactured by the Belgian firm FN Herstal, performed superbly during Marine Corps testing in the Horn of Africa and production models are now being sent to units in the fleet, added Jourdan.

"There are some significant differences between the M2 and this weapon system," explained Jourdan while crouching behind a ramp-mounted GAU-21 on a "Flying Tigers" CH-53E. "The GAU-21 is an open bolt design so cook-offs are far less likely to occur. It has the capability to use 100, 300 or 600 round ammunition cans and has the capacity to fire all standard NATO .50 caliber ammunition.

It has an internal recoil spring, which means this weapon has roughly 60 percent less recoil than the M2 and significantly longer barrel life. The rate of fire is between 950 to 1,100 rounds per minute and it has the ability to maintain or increase the available fields of fire for each airframe."

Exhibiting great familiarity with the GAU-21, Jourdan said the GAU-21 is a weapon system rather than a machine gun because it has three parts: the machine gun itself, the medium pintle head or "soft mount" and the cradle, which is used to integrate the weapon into a particular aircraft or vehicle.

Capable of being mounted on a variety of platforms including the CH-46, CH-53, H-60, UH-1 and the MV-22, the GAU-21 has a flash suppressor, an optional integrated illuminator/laser spotting device that gives the GAU-21 day or night capability and the capability for dismounted operation by one person within two minutes or can be detached from the ramp in 20 seconds, with practice, added a smiling Jourdan.

"(MAWTS-1) tested this weapon system earlier this year during Desert Talon (1-04) and the production model these Marines will be deploying with include several enhancements," Jourdan said. "The production model is lighter, weighing 80 pounds, is easier to set up and dismount and the ramp-mounting pad is lower for bringing the weapon system inside the aircraft. Put simply, this weapon system will provide a level of suppressive fire support not available before."




A CH-53E from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 shows off a ramp-mounted M3M GAU-21 .50 Caliber weapon system during a training flight over the Chocolate Mountain Impact Area June 21 during Exercise Desert Talon. The flight allowed the Marines to hone their gunnery skills against range targets while flying threat reaction from the ground maneuvers and practicing section landings. HMH-361 is deploying to Iraq and will incorporate the M3M GAU-21 into its flying arsenal. Photo by: Cpl. Paul Leicht

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...F?opendocument


Ellie