MK-38
Unofficial
names/slang: n/a
Function:
Single barrel, air cooled, semi- and full-automatic,
manually trained and elevated machine gun system
Date
deployed: 1986
Contractor:
Designed and assembled by Crane Division, Naval
Surface Warfare Center; components procured from
various contractors
Unit cost:
unavailable
Length:
108.5 in. overall, 80.0 in. barrel
Weight:
244 lbs gun, 1250 lbs w/ mount
Rate of Fire:
Single shot; 175 rounds per minute automatic
Ammo type:
25 mm (1 inch)
Guidance:
Unstabilized, manually trained and elevated
Range:
approx. 2457 m |
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Description:
The MK-38 is a 25-mm (one inch diameter) heavy
machine gun, effective to 2,700 yards (2,457
meters).
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.
Functional Description: 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.
M242 25mm Automatic Gun: 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.
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