Rheinmetall RMG.50
| RMG.50 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2008-09 |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 25.0 kg (55.1 lb) |
| Length | 1,884 mm (74.2 in) |
| Barrel length | 1,200 mm (47 in) |
| Cartridge | 12.7x99 mm NATO |
| Caliber | .50BMG |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | gearbox-driven crank, externally powered[1] |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds per minute |
| Effective firing range | 1,800 m (5,900 ft) |
| Feed system | dual linkless feed |
The RMG.50 is a German heavy machine gun developed by Rheinmetall.
The RMG.50 machine gun is under development by the company under contract to the Bundeswehr as a replacement for the Browning M2HB recoil-operated heavy machine gun of the same calibre. According to a company representative, work on the RMG.50 started in 2008 and the first firings took place at the end of 2009. A second prototype was completed and started trials in August 2010. A third prototype were delivered in 2011 for internal qualification and pre-series weapons were delivered to the German Ministry of Defence test authority in 2012. The weapon entered service with the German Bundeswehr in 2014.[1]
Due to its weight and need for external power source it is currently (as of 2023) only mounted on vehicles, such as the Puma.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c "Rheinmetall RMG 50 machine gun (Germany)". Modern Firearms. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ "Frag Out! Magazine - Frag Out! Magazine #11". fragout.uberflip.com. Retrieved 10 July 2023.