Description:
Features: The MK-38 is a
25-mm (one inch diameter) heavy machine gun, effective to 2,700 yards
(2,457 meters).
The MK-38 MOD 0 25mm Weapon System consists of the M242 25mm Automatic
Gun supported by the MK-88 MOD 0 Gun Mount, which is controlled by the
MK-218 MOD 0 Power Control Unit. The pedestal Gun Mount supports the
25mm Automatic Gun, Ammunition Tray, and Gun Control Box. It is an
unstabilized system that is hand-aimed. The Power Control Unit drives
the motor of the gun feed and bolt action of the Automatic Gun. The
Power Control Unit consists of a Gun Control Unit, Battery Charging
Unit, and a 24 VDC battery.
The M242 is based on the traditional "Chain Gun" in which a loop of
standard industrial double-row roller chain drives the bolt of the
Automatic Gun back and forth. The chain runs at constant speed,
carrying a shoe that drives the bolt. When in line with the bolt, the
shoe pulls back and forth, locking and opening the bolts when the shoe
travels to one side along the belt, and the Automatic Gun has time to
fire or to eject a fired cartridge (shell). The feed to the gun is
powered by the same motor that drives the chain.
Background:The MK 38
machine gun system (MGS)
was employed aboard various combatant and auxiliary ships in the
Mid-East Force escort operations and during Operations Desert Shield
and Desert Storm. The weapons are maintained in a rotatable pool,
available for temporary installation on various deploying ships and
permanent installation on certain amphibious and auxiliary ships,
patrol craft and Coast Guard cutters. |
|
