Killer Mounts
Mounting Weapons on Just About Anything
That Moves is What SOF Likes to Do.
by Adam Baddeley, SOTECH Correspondent
While remote weapon stations catch the imagination, it is manned turrets and weapon mounts that are responsible for carrying much of the offensive and protective firepower carried by tactical vehicles and protection mobility platforms on patrol in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to these operations the weapon mounts themselves would differ little from those operated by their grandfathers in WWII. Responding to demand from the field, these mounts have become more sophisticated, protecting the user and allowing greater firepower to be directed more accurately and more rapidly, surrounded by greater protection.
When DoD required armored protection kits for the M1114 ring mount over and above that required by the gunner protection kits (GPK), units acquired solutions from a number of companies that were referred to as gunner add-on protection kits, which typically added higher armor plating, typically with transparent armor for improved situational awareness. The new objective-GPK (O-GPK) formalized this into a single government-approved kit, which adds a 40 centimeter-high barrier around the users, primarily using transparent armor.The O-GPK, designed by the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny represents the standard for upgrading U.S. weapon stations, and the services expected to begin the process of replacing legacy systems on vehicles such as MRAP. The DoD’s plan is for 20,000 O-GPKs to be manufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois by 2008.
Though currently government dominated, supplying equipment in this area remains a dynamic market with technology and innovation being assessed and considered to continue to give U.S. forces that extra edge.
MILITARY SYSTEMS GROUP
Military System Group’s history with gun mounts started about 24 years ago, focusing mainly on naval requirements. MSG also worked with the USMC on riverine assault craft (RAC) in the early 1990s. In 2000 the company became involved with the Phase II of the ground mobility vehicle (GMV) program through special operations and USASOC. “We are the current supplier many components of the GMV and its variants to the Letterkenny Army Deport,” said Tom McCrimmon Jr., MSG manager of sales.
“Letterkenny has a good capacity to afford the operator inside SOCOM a quick turnaround and we are privileged to support the effort at their facility, said McCrimmon. “We supply equipment to the recap program for SOCOM for their GMVs plus their new-build vehicles.”
“We are involved with SOCOM on many of their weapon programs that are vehicle-oriented,” he continued. “It’s not unusual for them to call us and explain a need that has come up. Our response has always been to put every available resource on the project to find a solution for them immediately. We go wherever they ask us to go inside the U.S. to see what they need first hand and come up with a weapon configuration that is optimum for their need downrange. Normally we can turn their need from a concept to a prototype in five to seven days.
“Our gun mounts are now being incorporated into other systems, for example, the Marine Corps opted to use our mounts on for all of their vehicle programs,” explained McCrimmon. “Through our relationship with SOCOM, MSG has been able to establish a reputation for building high-quality gun systems, being a system integrator and having the capability of fixing needs as they arise.”
MSG has manufactured their standard swing arm gun system since 1999 and over the years incorporated upgrades to the design. In those upgrades, the company went from a welded design to a machined billet design, added friction locks so that the weapon can be secured easier without the need for big travel locks and added the ability to install front alignment blocks. These alignment blocks automatically align the front pin of a weapon allowing it to be mounted even in complete darkness. These upgrades can also be added as an aftermarket item for mounts that have already been procured and are in service.
The swing arm mounts are designed to accommodate weapons up to the M240B, MAG58, M249 SAW, and the Minimi.
“The H24-6 with an adaptor kit is our newest design,” said McCrimmon. “It is a system we built based on reduction of calibers in Iraq where they had to go from a 12.7 mm to 7.62 mm machine gun. The problem was that there was never a system designed that allowed the operator to lock the machine gun to the mount and the mount to shield. So we designed based on operator feedback and what they were experiencing in the field. Barrels were being damaged from ‘barrel bang,’ which is from the movement within the slot on the armor shield. We found the simplest solution was to use the same mount we use for the swing arm to establish basically what we consider a modular mount system. We reduced the cost to the government and gave the operator more capability.”
For the future, McCrimmon hinted at a new developmental system, but would not offer much information on the development of it. “We are dedicated to finding new and innovative solution to ensure a competitive advantage for the U.S. warrior,” said McCrimmon.
BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems, with the acquisition of Armor Holdings, is now the principle provider of the M1114 turret rings to DoD, with over 20,000 now deployed on variety of platforms, according to Matt Deters, manager of business development mobility and protection systems.
BAE systems continue to provide the M1114 ring to the U.S. military for use with new O-GPK. BAE Systems had also bid its improved gunner shield with integrated transparent armor (I-GS). This system remains on offer for export.
Deters described the division of responsibility on the O-GPK, “Everything under the turret hatch is BAE’s M1114 ring. Everything above it is the O-GPK.” Deter said that they are providing every MRAP supplier with the M1114 ring.
Another key BAE contribution to the O-GPK is the battery-powered motorized traversing unit (BPMTU) which is used to power the O-GPK. The powered traverse is controlled by a joystick with the systems capable of traversing at speed of six revolutions per minute (rpm) with leak-proof batteries supplying power for up to 10 hours of continuous operation. The BMPTU can be fitted to any uparmored HMMWV turret and has also been fitted onto a number of other platforms including the M1117 ASV, Cougar and FMTV-LSACs.
IBIS TEK
Ibis Tek, Butler, Pa., has developed several solutions as add-ons to the GPK, such as the clear gunner’s add-on protection kit which offers two levels of ballistic protection that add up to 5.3 cm of protection. It also offers the smaller clear gun shield. The company’s rock- and gravel-resistant transparent armor has been proven against 7.62 mm AP rounds. The company also a range of weapons cradles supporting various standard weapons. The M7 pedestal mount with honeycomb base uses high-strength aluminum and supports all the company’s cradles, and fits into all HMMWV models with flatbeds.
FN HERSTAL
FN’s M3M pintle weapon system is uniquely built around the M3 airborne version of the M2HB, the notable difference being the use of open bolt firing to reduce the chance of cook off and increasing the rate of fire to 1,100 rounds per minute. The barrel on the M3 is considerably lighter than the M2, however, with the M3 the barrels is equipped with an external guide and support to maintain accuracy at the high temperatures the weapons rate-of-fire generates.
The USMC tested the weapon and mount in 2004 and 2006. Gilbert Theunissen, product manager, pintle and pod mounted systems at FN Herstal, said the Marines found that the new mount increased the rate at which target vehicles were destroyed by a rate four times over the conventional M2HB mount. According to FN, the system is balanced so that the operator can fire the weapon one-handed using a shoulder brace. This, explained Theunissen, was the major reason for the increased rate of destruction, as it allows the users to move between targets far more quickly.
The mount fits on any NATO STANAG, and by itself can carry 300 rounds on the pintle. FN Herstal has developed an optional support on a ring which carries 600 rounds. The feed system is entirely mechanical, allowing the systems to be fired in the absence of electrical power. The systems also allows a reflex or laser sight to be mounted.
The only difference between the airborne M3M—known as the GAU-21—and the vehicle solution is a different fork, using the same main cradle.
BURTEK
Involved in the conversion of AM General HMMWVs into special operations vehicles, Burtek Inc., Chesterfield, Mich., also has developed and manufactures weapon stations for use in U.S. military trucks in Afghanistan—primarily those made by International.
“We have been developing weapon mounts for either larger capability equipment like .50 cal mounts and smaller weapons for several years,” said Bob Kegerreis, vice president of corporate planning for Burtek. We have had a significant demand for our .50 cal weapon station since 2005 when we first built weapons stations for Radian.”
Their .50 mount has been used on different types of vehicles, but for the last two years it has found the most use on the Afghan truck transport, primarily on an International truck [basically a 7400 tractor] that has been converted to a troop carrier in Afghanistan for the last two years.
“In order to adapt a weapon station to a standard commercial-type truck, we had to completely design a support system to support the weapon station within the cab, said Kegerreis. “The weight of the weapons station and the dynamics of firing a heavy weapon from it could create severe stress if not precisely designed. We designed a special weapon station tower which secures to the frame rails of the truck and comes up through the cab and supports the weapon station. To make this happen we utilized finite element analysis to engineer the support stand such that it would be able to withstand the recoil of the weapon as well as other operational rigors.”
The weapon stations are built at the Burtek facility and then shipped as kits to a third party location for integration with the International trucks. Kegerreis also said that their weapon stations are used on a variety of other military vehicles.
W&E PLATT
Australian firm W&E Platt has provided a number of mounts that have seen service on a range of vehicles currently in service (including MRAPs and Strykers with the U.S.). The company is looking at future opportunities including the Marine Corps’ requirement to increase protection on small weapon mounts on the multi-role variants of the LAV, MRAP 2, JLTV and the MMPV.
W&E Platt offer a ring mount that is a direct replacement for the M1114 ring mount, which the company has matched with a proprietary A-frame and their own designed soft mount that will take up to eight different weapon types. The mount was originally designed for use by the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and is an unusual double-buffered system with springs mounted forward and rear of the mounting blocks. The ring mount is available in two sizes: the MR 655 is an open ring or armored ring mount, or the MR550, which is an armored ring mount.
Lachlan Rodwell, project manager, international sales at the company, said, “As opposed to greased tube sealed-forlife designs seen on other soft mounts, the springs [in our design] are open, not enclosed. Any wear and tear or corrosion on the buffering systems can instantly be seen.”
The systems were originally designed for the harsh environment of Australia and surrounding regions. The design modification came about to aid maintenance activities and to quickly identify and rectify any potential problems. However, Rodwell explained there had been very few maintenance requirements for the springs themselves.
Platt’s mounts operate a barrel stroke override gearbox. Rodwell explained, “If it hits a tree it doesn’t damage the gun—it just overrides. The clutch mechanism in the gearbox is like a dog clutch. When it hits something over 1G, it will then override and keep overriding until that problem has passed. All that is then required is for the operator to rotate the gearbox until it clicks back in, and then you can operate the weapon mount again.”
Rodwell explained the reason that Platt’s soft mount is noteworthy is because it is the only one in production that can carry such a range of weapons; including the 5.56 mm Minimi through to the MK19 40 mm AGL.
The company has also supplied a large number of swing mounts on Stryker vehicles. Rodwell said, “This is an articulated mount, with depression from minus 40 degrees right through to an elevation of 85 degrees and 270 degree operations in azimuth. It is currently made from 431 stainless steel, but we are looking at aluminum to make it lighter for a lot of variants of vehicles that are calling for lightweight solutions.”
The use of lighter materials would reduce weight from 20 kilograms (kg), down to about 13 kg and would be aimed specifically at requirements for uparmored and amphibious vehicles. Rodwell specifically cited the USMC LAV fleet as one market being pursued.
DILLON AERO
Dillon Aero offers the DVRM-1 and 2 drop-in solutions for open bed mountings with the operator firing from the standing position, primarily designed for the HMMWV with other vehicles being supported, including a new General Dynamics fast attack vehicle. The system weighs just 375 pounds and takes an hour to install. The DVRM-2 and -3 provide an armored assembly for mounting on the M1114 ring mount on HMMWVs. It weighs 250 pounds and takes just 30 minutes to fit.
The company’s M134 gun system, mounting a six-barreled weapon, is capable of firing up to 3,000 7.62 mm rounds per minute. Chris Dillon explained, “Actually, the high rate of fire makes mounting the gun very easy. This may sound odd but consider that, unlike the .50 cal, there is no repetitious recoil to compensate for. When the gun is fired it moves back a tiny amount— that limit is determined by the amount of play in any mount—and is pinned there by the guns’ 250 pound recoil. Because there is so little time between each shot [1/50 second] the weapon can never move forward between shots. Thus, no recoil. We do a demo where the operator puts his left finger on the left firing button and his right finger on the right firing button and pushes, firing the weapon. And, using only his two fingers, shoots and controls the weapon.”
Dillon has also developed a Q-mount, which is carried within an adapted civilian SUV. The mount and weapon can quickly rise out the top of the hatch with rounds ready to fire. The system is configured to absolutely prevent the M134D from being fired while in the stowed position.
VINGHOG
Norwegian firm Vinghog AS’ ring mount is designed for light vehicles and takes up to 7.62 mm. Gudmund Kjaerheim, vice president sales and marketing, explained that the system had been fitted to Norway’s Mercedes Benz G-Wagons—the same as USMC’s interim fast-attack vehicle—Scania military trucks and has also been used on Iveco 4x4 special forces platforms in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vinghog’s 12.7 mm HMG soft mount’s core approach is to limit operators’ contact with the weapon itself, with the frame incorporating the sight on a Picatinny rail or dove tail mount, handles and shoulder bar. The mount, which uses dampeners on either side, reduces recoil effects by roughly 80 percent. The soft mount fits on NATO STANAG pintle mount. Vinhog offer a shield for the solution sourced from Denmark’s Roshield. The system is in services with around 30 countries worldwide including the UK, with trial quantities having been supplied to the United States.
Their smaller buffer mount offers similar approach to the soft mount and can also tilt some 20 degrees, and a recent innovation is the increased use of aluminum to reduce weight.
The lite-lift bracket (LLB) has been developed by the company to improve elevation limitations imposed by the ergonomics of the vehicle. The LLB is an elevation mechanism that can be quickly attached to vehicle mounts and allow the operator to depress the weapon to minus 45 degrees up to 55 degrees and to deal with urban threats. Originally designed for the M113, it can be attached to the original bolts in less than five minutes. The system is designed to fit directly onto the company’s buffer mounts or soft mounts. For operator ease the elevation of the weapon is fixed, and the operators can easily move the weapon around aided by two built-in gas struts calibrated to the weight of the weapon.
ISTEC
The core Istec solution is the universal gun mount (UGM), designed to fit on the ubiquitous M3 tripod. The UGM that had originally been designed to be strong enough and rugged takes a 20 mm cannon, specifically the Giat (now Nexter) 621 cannon, and had also been tested with the Milan anti-tank missile launcher.
With that requirement the 19 kg UGM can take anything from the 20 mm down to the M249 with suitable cradles and soft mounts. Istec have designed the mount to be secure when locked, eliminating backlash when in that mode. Users lock the weapon in place and then use two hand wheels to control traverse and elevation.
The UGM can operate from 75 degrees to minus 65 degrees in unlocked mode and minus 30 to 30 degrees when locked. The UGM is in limited U.S. service, with numbers shipped in 2003 and 2007 to an undisclosed customer in addition to Canada. It is also used on a number of U.K. platforms including the Supacat-based WMIK and new MWEMIK in service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.K. also uses the mount on the Mastiff. The UGM first saw action in Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s.
Istec is developing a gearbox and winding mechanism to allow the option of remote firing from under armor, allowing users to switch quickly between manned and unmanned mode. This would be done mechanically via gearbox and winding mechanisms to control elevation. Armor solutions are largely sourced from NP Aerospace.
Istec have also developed the twin GPMG mount which uses twin M240 MGs, each with a 200 round drum.
KIESLER DEFENSE
Kiesler Defense began manufacturing state-of-the-art weapon mount systems in the wake of 911. “Our first projects were for those immediately involved in the global war on terror,” said Chip Kruer, Kiesler marketing director. “Operators had a requirement to increase firepower and effectiveness in very confined spaces like outposts, guardshacks, and in the back of small trucks like the Hi-Lux. We designed our cantilever system so that it could fit virtually any weapon from COMBLOC [Communist Bloc] type weapons like the PKM and DSHK, to NATO weapons like the M60, MK43, M240G, M249, M2, Mk 19/HKGMG and others. It is one mount for many missions.”
The advantage of the Kiesler system is that it places the center of the weapon away from the operator allowing the user to get closer to the center of the platform increasing accuracy, mobility, and safety. “Without this type of mount, you could not fit a five-foot M2 in the back of a four-foot bed,” said Kruer. Regardless of the weapon or the size of the gunner, targets can be engaged quickly 360-degrees from vehicles and maritime applications.
Kiesler’s also makes a smaller multi-purpose cantilever system that makes use of existing hole patterns on HMMWV doors. The mount, can also be adapted to other vehicles including light trucks, and ATVs.
Among Kiesler’s other innovative projects is a Europeanstyle DHSK machine gun cradle and tripod with an adjustable depression block, elevation and travel lock. The tripod has fully telescoping legs that allow different heights. The feet also have machined holes allowing it to be secured to the deck of virtually any vehicle, as well as ground mounted operations. This increases the versatility over traditional tripods that only work as ground mounts. ♦