±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 796
Total: 796
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: CPGlang
07: Member Screenshots
08: Community Forums
09: Photo Gallery
10: Community Forums
11: Photo Gallery
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Community Forums
16: Home
17: Home
18: Community Forums
19: Your Account
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Photo Gallery
23: Community Forums
24: Your Account
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Community Forums
28: Statistics
29: Community Forums
30: Downloads
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Home
35: Downloads
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Member Screenshots
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: CPGlang
43: Community Forums
44: Photo Gallery
45: Home
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Photo Gallery
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Your Account
56: Home
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Member Screenshots
62: Community Forums
63: Photo Gallery
64: Community Forums
65: Member Screenshots
66: Community Forums
67: Home
68: Community Forums
69: Home
70: Photo Gallery
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Downloads
80: CPGlang
81: Community Forums
82: Home
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Community Forums
90: Photo Gallery
91: Member Screenshots
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Home
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Photo Gallery
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Downloads
103: Photo Gallery
104: Community Forums
105: Photo Gallery
106: Member Screenshots
107: Photo Gallery
108: Community Forums
109: Photo Gallery
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Home
113: Photo Gallery
114: Photo Gallery
115: Community Forums
116: Home
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Your Account
122: Community Forums
123: Photo Gallery
124: Community Forums
125: Downloads
126: Downloads
127: Community Forums
128: Photo Gallery
129: Community Forums
130: Photo Gallery
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Member Screenshots
137: CPGlang
138: Your Account
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Photo Gallery
146: Community Forums
147: Photo Gallery
148: Community Forums
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Photo Gallery
155: Statistics
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Your Account
159: Community Forums
160: Photo Gallery
161: CPGlang
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Home
165: Your Account
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Home
170: Member Screenshots
171: Community Forums
172: Member Screenshots
173: Home
174: Home
175: Home
176: Community Forums
177: Home
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Photo Gallery
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Your Account
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Home
192: Home
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: News Archive
196: Member Screenshots
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Statistics
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: CPGlang
203: Photo Gallery
204: Community Forums
205: Member Screenshots
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Photo Gallery
211: Photo Gallery
212: Photo Gallery
213: Community Forums
214: Downloads
215: Community Forums
216: Statistics
217: Statistics
218: Community Forums
219: Home
220: Photo Gallery
221: Photo Gallery
222: Home
223: Photo Gallery
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Community Forums
230: Home
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums
238: Photo Gallery
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Photo Gallery
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Community Forums
247: Community Forums
248: Photo Gallery
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Home
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: News
258: Photo Gallery
259: Community Forums
260: Photo Gallery
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Home
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Home
269: Photo Gallery
270: Community Forums
271: Photo Gallery
272: Community Forums
273: Photo Gallery
274: Community Forums
275: CPGlang
276: Photo Gallery
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Member Screenshots
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Home
287: Downloads
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Home
294: Community Forums
295: Community Forums
296: Photo Gallery
297: Community Forums
298: Photo Gallery
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: News
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Home
305: Home
306: Photo Gallery
307: Home
308: CPGlang
309: Community Forums
310: News
311: Community Forums
312: Home
313: Photo Gallery
314: Photo Gallery
315: Downloads
316: CPGlang
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Photo Gallery
320: Community Forums
321: Your Account
322: CPGlang
323: Photo Gallery
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Photo Gallery
327: Photo Gallery
328: Community Forums
329: Home
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: CPGlang
334: Community Forums
335: CPGlang
336: Home
337: Community Forums
338: Photo Gallery
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Photo Gallery
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Photo Gallery
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Community Forums
351: Home
352: Community Forums
353: Downloads
354: Downloads
355: Home
356: Community Forums
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Photo Gallery
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Photo Gallery
365: Photo Gallery
366: Downloads
367: Home
368: Statistics
369: Community Forums
370: Your Account
371: Photo Gallery
372: Home
373: News
374: Photo Gallery
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Home
378: Community Forums
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Photo Gallery
383: Community Forums
384: Your Account
385: Photo Gallery
386: Photo Gallery
387: Community Forums
388: Community Forums
389: Community Forums
390: Photo Gallery
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Home
394: Photo Gallery
395: Community Forums
396: Photo Gallery
397: Community Forums
398: Member Screenshots
399: Home
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Home
403: Photo Gallery
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Community Forums
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Member Screenshots
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Home
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Downloads
418: Community Forums
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Home
422: Community Forums
423: Photo Gallery
424: Photo Gallery
425: Downloads
426: Community Forums
427: Photo Gallery
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Photo Gallery
431: Your Account
432: Community Forums
433: Community Forums
434: Home
435: Community Forums
436: Community Forums
437: Home
438: Community Forums
439: Community Forums
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Community Forums
446: Photo Gallery
447: Photo Gallery
448: Community Forums
449: Home
450: Community Forums
451: Photo Gallery
452: News Archive
453: Photo Gallery
454: Community Forums
455: Community Forums
456: Photo Gallery
457: Community Forums
458: Home
459: Community Forums
460: Home
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Home
465: Photo Gallery
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Member Screenshots
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: CPGlang
472: Photo Gallery
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Community Forums
476: Community Forums
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Photo Gallery
484: Community Forums
485: Home
486: Photo Gallery
487: Photo Gallery
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Your Account
496: Community Forums
497: Statistics
498: Photo Gallery
499: Community Forums
500: Home
501: Community Forums
502: Community Forums
503: Downloads
504: Your Account
505: Photo Gallery
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Downloads
513: Community Forums
514: Home
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Community Forums
518: Downloads
519: Home
520: Photo Gallery
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Community Forums
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Member Screenshots
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Photo Gallery
537: Community Forums
538: Your Account
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Photo Gallery
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Your Account
547: Your Account
548: Home
549: Photo Gallery
550: Photo Gallery
551: Community Forums
552: Community Forums
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Home
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Community Forums
559: Photo Gallery
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Community Forums
565: Community Forums
566: Community Forums
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Photo Gallery
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Community Forums
578: Community Forums
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Downloads
582: Community Forums
583: Community Forums
584: Community Forums
585: Downloads
586: Photo Gallery
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: CPGlang
590: Home
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Home
594: Community Forums
595: Community Forums
596: Home
597: Photo Gallery
598: Home
599: Member Screenshots
600: Statistics
601: Photo Gallery
602: Community Forums
603: Community Forums
604: Community Forums
605: Downloads
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Community Forums
609: Photo Gallery
610: Community Forums
611: Photo Gallery
612: Photo Gallery
613: Community Forums
614: Downloads
615: Photo Gallery
616: Community Forums
617: Community Forums
618: Community Forums
619: Community Forums
620: Photo Gallery
621: Community Forums
622: Photo Gallery
623: Community Forums
624: Community Forums
625: Community Forums
626: Community Forums
627: Photo Gallery
628: Community Forums
629: News Archive
630: Community Forums
631: Your Account
632: Community Forums
633: Home
634: Community Forums
635: Statistics
636: Home
637: Home
638: Photo Gallery
639: Community Forums
640: News
641: Community Forums
642: Community Forums
643: CPGlang
644: Community Forums
645: Community Forums
646: Community Forums
647: Community Forums
648: Contact
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Home
653: Community Forums
654: Home
655: Home
656: Home
657: Your Account
658: Community Forums
659: Community Forums
660: Community Forums
661: Home
662: Community Forums
663: Photo Gallery
664: Community Forums
665: Community Forums
666: CPGlang
667: Photo Gallery
668: Community Forums
669: Community Forums
670: Downloads
671: Your Account
672: Community Forums
673: Community Forums
674: CPGlang
675: Photo Gallery
676: Statistics
677: Community Forums
678: Downloads
679: Community Forums
680: Community Forums
681: Community Forums
682: Photo Gallery
683: Community Forums
684: Your Account
685: CPGlang
686: Community Forums
687: CPGlang
688: Community Forums
689: Photo Gallery
690: Community Forums
691: Home
692: Community Forums
693: Photo Gallery
694: Community Forums
695: Home
696: Community Forums
697: Statistics
698: Home
699: Community Forums
700: Community Forums
701: Community Forums
702: Community Forums
703: CPGlang
704: Community Forums
705: Community Forums
706: Community Forums
707: Community Forums
708: Photo Gallery
709: CPGlang
710: Community Forums
711: Community Forums
712: Community Forums
713: Photo Gallery
714: Community Forums
715: Photo Gallery
716: Community Forums
717: Photo Gallery
718: Community Forums
719: Community Forums
720: Community Forums
721: Community Forums
722: Community Forums
723: Photo Gallery
724: Community Forums
725: Community Forums
726: Your Account
727: Home
728: Your Account
729: Community Forums
730: Community Forums
731: Photo Gallery
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Community Forums
735: CPGlang
736: Community Forums
737: Community Forums
738: Home
739: Community Forums
740: Community Forums
741: Your Account
742: Home
743: Community Forums
744: Home
745: Community Forums
746: Community Forums
747: Community Forums
748: Home
749: Community Forums
750: Community Forums
751: Community Forums
752: Photo Gallery
753: Community Forums
754: Home
755: Community Forums
756: Statistics
757: Community Forums
758: Community Forums
759: Community Forums
760: Home
761: Community Forums
762: Community Forums
763: Community Forums
764: Community Forums
765: Community Forums
766: Downloads
767: Member Screenshots
768: Photo Gallery
769: Community Forums
770: Community Forums
771: Community Forums
772: Community Forums
773: Community Forums
774: Photo Gallery
775: Community Forums
776: Community Forums
777: Community Forums
778: Photo Gallery
779: Your Account
780: Downloads
781: Member Screenshots
782: Community Forums
783: Community Forums
784: Community Forums
785: Community Forums
786: Community Forums
787: Community Forums
788: Community Forums
789: Community Forums
790: Community Forums
791: Community Forums
792: Photo Gallery
793: Photo Gallery
794: Community Forums
795: Community Forums
796: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 1:10 pm
Post subject: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic



www.kmweg.com/gb/press....php?id=56

New armored infantry fighting vehicle presented to the public
04.05.2006
Munster. The public got its first look at the German Army’s new PUMA infantry fighting vehicle today during the Army’s fifty-year anniversary celebrations in Munster. In the presence of several hundred guests including politicians, the military, industry, and the media, the initial prototype gave a strong impression of its importance for current and future military missions.

PUMA successfully meets military requirements for a vehicle with high strategic and tactical mobility while still offering its crew the highest possible protection and outstanding firepower. This vehicle gives soldiers the ability to react immediately to new challenges while exhibiting flexibility and the appropriate level of intensity.

During the anniversary celebrations, Co-Managing Directors of PSM GmbH (responsible for producing and developing PUMA) Dr. Peter Hellmeister and Rainer Huth stressed the following: “PUMA is a joint effort between our country’s land systems industry and the Army that fully expresses Germany’s technological leadership in ground fighting vehicles. In international comparisons, PUMA offers a previously unavailable level of performance, especially with regards to the safety of soldiers in the vehicle.�

The German Army is expected to order 410 vehicles with a total value of approximately 3 billion euros. The political decision about series production of this armored infantry fighting vehicle is expected in 2007. An order was already placed at the end of 2004 for delivery of five pre-production vehicles as well as logistics and training services.

PUMA is based on a completely new vehicle design that reflects the armed forces’ new mission profile. New types of missions aimed at peacekeeping and peacemaking require a highly mobile weapons system that is ready for international deployment yet still provides the highest possible protection. PUMA gives its crew a level of protection against threats like mines and anti-tank weapons (widespread in the
world’s crisis regions) that was previously unavailable in a comparable vehicle.

PUMA offers two different levels of armor. The Level-A version is suitable for transport in the upcoming A400M transport plane. Despite its high armor protection it is rapidly deployable to a variety of locations. “At 31.45 metric tons total weight, the Level-A PUMA will fully meet the customer’s specifications for transport in the A400M,� according to Rainer Huth and Dr. Peter Hellmeister. At Level-C, rapid on-site adaptation with modular elements gives the vehicle the best protection against mines, hollow charges, and medium-caliber weapons that is currently available. Roof elements are also adaptable to shield the crew against bomblets.

The newly developed powerful 800-kW high-density power motor, decoupled running gear, an unmanned turret, and programmable munitions are additional ways that the PUMA sets new global standards for armored vehicles. More than thirty years after the German Army commissioned the original Marder infantry fighting vehicle, the new PUMA is serving as the founding member of a new category of high-performance vehicles.

PSM GmbH of Kassel, Germany is the prime contractor handling development and production of PUMA. PSM is a 50/50 joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Landsysteme, two of Europe’s leading systems providers for armored wheel and track vehicles.
Back to top
View user's profile
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 1:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

Another hi-res picture.



Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
Jinx
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 186
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 6:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pi

800 kilowatts = 1072 horsepower!

Surprised

Is that a 30mm cannon?
Back to top
View user's profile
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 6:24 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

Yes, its a Mauser MK30-2/ABM cannon.

Here is the brochure:

www.psm-spz.com/upload...uma_gb.pdf

And more pictures I have been able to find from the PSM website:













You can find more data sheets at www.psm-spz.com/en/dow...s_list.php

Apparently there will be one at Eurosatory, so hopefully I will get some good shots there Wink

Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
mike_Duplessis
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 236

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2006 7:41 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

Huh! Its not often we seen new full-up tracked armor these days (mine-proof armored truck designs, by comparison, seem to sprout like daisies!). I recall seeing preliminary promotional material on the Puma something like 18-20 years ago. Its a far cry from the 'good old days' that saw the progress from the PzIII to the Tiger II in only 5 years!
Back to top
View user's profile
buglerbilly
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 147

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 7:43 am
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pi

More images with troops..............All via friend Wolftrap in Germany













It's sure cosy in there! Rolling Eyes

Regards,

BUG
Back to top
View user's profile
BryanWilson
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 27

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 12:43 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

Looks like the Puma doesn't have firing ports. Is this something that they have found to be unecessary? Don't know how useful firing ports were in combat on any IFV.
Back to top
View user's profile
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 12:47 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

Am I right in thinking that only the prototype or A0 model Bradleys had firing ports, or something like that?

Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
mike_Duplessis
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 236

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 1:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

Firing ports were one of those Cold War ideas where it was envisioned that sealed-up APCs would be driving over a nuclear wasteland (meaning central Europe) where it would be too hot for troops to crawl around on the irradiated ground during combat. Then the likelyhood of fighting tactical nuclear wars diminished and the lethality of the ubiquitous RPG became apparent. Thinking now is if you're close enough to be within rifle range of the enemy you're too close to be sealed-up inside of your APC.

Yeh, it does look like the firing ports were covered over on the Bradly starting with the A1... with the exception of the rear ramp firing port, I think - thoughI'm not sure if any current Army rifles can fit through the port. Maybe the carbine?
Back to top
View user's profile
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 1:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

The M231 "Firing Port Weapon" was based off the M16 for use in the Bradley.

According to this, the M231s are still around, used for self-defense, etc. I wonder if anyone on here with first-hand knowledge can confirm or deny this...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_M231_FPW



By the look of it, I doubt an M16 or M4 could be used in its place at least unless you removed the hand guards...

Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
Chris_C
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 214
Location: WV, USA
PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 1:40 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pi

- mike_Duplessis
Yeh, it does look like the firing ports were covered over on the Bradly starting with the A1... with the exception of the rear ramp firing port, I think
The applique armor on the M2A2 did away with the firing ports, but they did indeed retain the two in the rear ramp.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2006 2:28 pm
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

- Neil_Baumgardner
The M231 "Firing Port Weapon" was based off the M16 for use in the Bradley.

According to this, the M231s are still around, used for self-defense, etc. I wonder if anyone on here with first-hand knowledge can confirm or deny this...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_M231_FPW



By the look of it, I doubt an M16 or M4 could be used in its place at least unless you removed the hand guards...

Neil


Neil

I did the Unit Armorers Course back in 85, and the M231 Port Firing Devise was one of the weapons in the course. It is similiar to the M16 in looks, but actually quite different. The barrel was heavy duty with no hand grips. No sight post since it locked into the vehicle mount. It has a triple recoil/ buffer spring to assist full auto firing. It is designed to fire Tracer ammo only to assist with (BOT or Burst on Target) aiming. The vision block had no aiming marks so one just walked the tracers on target.

It was not designed to be fired dismounted, only in the 'ball' firing port mount.

Haven't seen the weapon since. I figure it is still in the inventory.

Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Joe_D
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 2066
Location: Razorback Country
PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2006 1:46 am
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pic

Hi everyone,
It's still around. Usually just sits in the arms room. I worked with an 11B a few years ago who said it was great for clearing trenches. The high rate of fire (I think over 1000 rpm) and full auto feature were why. He put an assault sling on it and issued one per squad for when they trained MOUT and trench clearing. From what I remember he said there we two per track in the arms room. Makes sense since all the side ports are now covered. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't it fire from an open bolt? Hence the high rate of fire.

Joe D
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
buglerbilly
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 147

PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2006 3:54 am
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pi

it was great for clearing trenches. The high rate of fire (I think over 1000 rpm) and full auto feature were why


And in slightly over 1 and a half seconds you'd have an empty gun! Shocked

NOT too sure whether I'd want something that only held 28-30 rounds run out that quick....................the "climb" of the gun durimg hand-held firing must be something to behold (via a telephoto lens from far, far away)....... Wink

Regards,

BUG
Back to top
View user's profile
buglerbilly
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 147

PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2006 4:03 am
Post subject: Re: Puma IFV presented to the public (KMW release) - good pi

Specifics
The M231 is different in many ways from a standard M16. The original RIA FPW fired from an open bolt, with an extremely high rate of firing (1,050 rpm). The Colt XM231 introduced a special buffer and spring assembly, with three springs nested one within the other. This was done to allow the rate of fire to be lowered to 200 rpm, because the theory at that period was that, using all tracer magazines, if the high ROF was retained troops would exhaust their magazines before the weapon was brought to target. The original RIA FPW had an 11 in (280 mm) barrel, while the Colt prototypes and the production M231 both had 15.6 in (396 mm) barrels. Initially the FPWs had no locking mechanism and had flip up sights, along with a metal wire stock akin to that on the M3 SMG, to allow the weapon to be used outside of the vehicle more effectively. Later this was dropped, and a new handguard introduced with a screw type locking mechanism to fix the weapon into the port. Late XM231s had no rear sights either. By the time the M231 was finalized the wire stock had been done away with as the weapon had a tendency to unfasten itself from the firing port and the stock was deemed to be dangerous in the confines of the vehicle. The firing rate had also returned to a higher rate of 1,100-1,200 round/min.

These weapons are all capable of only fully automatic fire, with the special FPW upper receiver "locking out" any additional movement of the selector switch with a special side plate that extends down to the lower receiver. These weapons are retain a 65% commonality with standard M16 rifles.


You could always fit a C-MAG (100 rounds in drum magazines) but I'd still doubt the barrel could sustain much life at such volumes of fire.

Regards,

BUG
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum