RE: DS: SAW versus APSW versus RFAC

Snipped a lot here.......

> ----------
> From: 	John Leary[SMTP:realjtl@sj.bigger.net]
> Subject:	Re: DS: SAW versus APSW versus RFAC
> 
	>     HOWEVER, the reduction in weight coupled with an increase
in
	>firepower (tri-barrel), will cause the weapon to 'walk' upwards
at
	>an alarming rate, it is not unlikely that such a weapon would
roll
	>over if an attempt was made to fire a sustained burst.  It is
very
	>unlikely that more that two rounds from this weapon could have
a 
	>chance to hit a target.   (It could justify the 'fourth man' on
the
	>crew, he could throw himself across the gun to add weight.
The 
	>disadvantage here is that it will be more difficult to aim!)
Please readjust the perception that machine guns fire in long sustained
bursts every time the trigger is pulled. The correct teaching (ala
Australian Direct Fire Weapons Platoons) is to fire bursts of 2 to 3
rounds when firing from bipod or tripod "free traverse". Only in firing
"fixed lines" or dedicated Fire Missions are bursts of 20 rounds fired.
In the latter case the mount (when on tripod) or the barrel/bipod are
firmly secured. Anyone who would be trying to fire long bursts without
bedding the tripod should expect the mount to move and his fire not to
be effective!!! These are your Green 3 troops!

Another point of note is that machine guns are not primarily employed to
kill individual soldiers (what ? blasphemy?) but are employed to
suppress an enemy position!! That is why they produce a 'cone of fire'
and the pattern the rounds will form on the ground is a 'beaten zone';
generally around 1 m wide and from 40 to 100+ m long (another reason why
MGs are best used in ENFILADE). Heavy Machine Guns are meant to take out
lightly armoured vehicles, lightly fortified postions and definitely are
effective at SUPPRESSING  infantry.

	OK, Theory of Small Arms Fire lesson over for now. I would like
people to have a close think about what effectiveness they are trying to
acheive with the weapon categories. 

	And a last comment; please be a little careful about using the
'in WWII.......'  Present day military theorists have recognised that
there is a great danger in preparing an army to 'fight the last war'.

	Carefully donning Kevlar,

	Owen G