GAU-19

Infobox Weapon
name=GAU-19/A


caption= A Mexican Marine gunner mounts a Gau-19
origin=flagcountry|United States
type=Heavy machine gun
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_missile=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=See History
wars=
designer=General Electric
design_date=
manufacturer=General Dynamics
production_date=1983–present
number=
variants=3-barrel or 6-barrel
weight=With feeder and transfer unit:139 lbs. (63 kg)
length=53.9 in. (1,369 mm)
part_length=36 in. (914 mm)
width=13.5 in. (343 mm)
height=15 in. (381 mm)
diameter=
crew=
cartridge=.50 BMG
caliber=
action=Electric
rate=1,000 or 2,000 rounds per minute
velocity=2,910 fps (887 m/s)
range=1,800 m
max_range=6,000 m
feed=linkless or M9 linked belt
sights=

The GECAL 50, officially designated by the United States military as the GAU-19/A, is an electrically-driven Gatling gun that fires the .50 BMG (12.7x99mm) cartridge. Due to its weight and size, it is not a field-portable weapons system, but it is often installed on helicopters, ground vehicles, and water vessels.

Technical Specifications

The GAU-19/A is designed for a linkless feed, but can be fed from a standard M9 linked belt if a delinker feeder is used. The rate of fire is selectable to be either 1,000 or 2,000 rounds per minute. The HMMWV armament kit version fires at 1,300 rounds per minute. [http://www.gdatp.com/Products/PDFs/GAU19%20Hummer.pdf] The average recoil force when firing is 500 lbs.

History

The GECAL 50 was first manufactured by General Electric, then by Lockheed-Martin, and now by General Dynamics. Early prototypes had six barrels, but three barrels is now standard.

The GAU-19/A was originally designed as a larger more potent version of the M-134 Minigun. Due to the loss of nine helecopters in Grenada GE started building prototypes of the weapon in both a three barreled and a six barreled configuration [http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2943.html] . Soon it was recommended as a potential armament for the V-22 Osprey. [http://www.gdatp.com/news/2000/NR00_08_092000.htm] The magazine would be located underneath the cabin floor and could be reloaded in-flight. However, the project has been canceled.Fact|date=March 2007 In 1999, the United States sent 28 GAU-19s to Colombia. [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov1999/m11101999_m176-99.html] Oman is known to use the GAU-19/A mounted on their HMMWVs. In 2005, the GAU-19/A was approved to be mounted on the OH-58D Kiowa helicopter. It may also be used on the Army's new Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&sid=cp108omsRF&refer=&r_n=sr260.108&db_id=108&item=&sel=TOC_134924]

Users

*flag|Colombia - Used by Drug Enforcement troops.
*flag|Mexico - Used by the Mexican Military
*flag|Oman- Used on Army HMMWV.
*flag|United States

ee also

*Gatling gun
*Minigun
*M61 Vulcan
*XM214 minigun
*M197 Gatling gun
*Yak-B 12.7mm machine gun a Soviet designed 12.7mm aircraft gun.

References

*cite book|title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 1997-98|edition=23rd edition|publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon, UK|isbn=0-7106-1548-5|pages=298
*PDFlink| [http://www.gdatp.com/Products/PDFs/GAU-19%20External.pdf General Dynamics Fact Sheet] |401 KB

External links

* [http://www.gdatp.com/Products/Gun_Systems/GAU-19_External/GAU-19AExternal.htm GAU-19/A page] , and [http://www.gdatp.com/Products/Gun_Systems/GAU-19%20Hummer/default.htm GAU-19/A1 page on General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products site]
* [http://www.combatfilms.com/cfrtv_archive_0005.asp GAU-19 Gatling Gun Video]
* [http://www.canit.se/~griffon/aviation/text/akandata.htm List of Military Gatling & Revolver cannons]
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_50cal-GAU-19_MG.htm Information at Navy weapons]