Ask Ian: Are Man-Portable Chain Guns Coming?
BY PGF
2 years, 3 months ago
Chain guns are a specific type of externally-powered machine gun. They have a single barrel, and used a loop of chain to control the movement of the breech and feed system of a machine gun so that it cycles under external power independent of energy taken from the firing cartridge. They are most commonly used in:
– 20mm-30mm cannons
– Armored vehicle turrets
– Helicopters
– Naval AA mounts
Read the rest and watch the video in which he offers an interesting explanation of the functionality and history. Most of the commenters add interesting pieces of knowledge about these weapons systems.
Via The Gun Feed
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On September 4, 2022 at 7:50 pm, James said:
URL for Ian’s vid is: https://youtu.be/l7UrLLd1o-E
Saw it a few days ago and I learned a bunch.
On September 4, 2022 at 10:49 pm, Dan said:
Such weapons are almost pointless for ground troops currently. They weigh a LOT. They require a power supply, which weighs a LOT and they burn through ammo at prodigious rates. Ammo which weighs a LOT. No human can carry enough ammo to make the weapon useful in a mobile mission. Essentially anyone carrying such a weapon is NOT capable of moving fast or far. If they ever succeed in creating workable “power suits” that do the hard labor this may change. Till then it’s a Hollywood gimmick.