STK 50MG
| STK 50MG | |
|---|---|
 The CIS 50MG on display during Singapore Army open house 2007. | |
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | Singapore |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1991–present[1] |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Chartered Industries of Singapore(CIS, nowST Kinetics)[1][2] |
| Designed | Mid-1980s[1] |
| Manufacturer | • CIS: 1988–2000[1] • ST Kinetics: 2000–present[1] |
| Produced | 1988–present[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 30 kg (66.14 lb) (complete gun assembly w/o feed chute and tripod adaptor)[1][3] |
| Length | 1,778 mm (70.0 in) with stock[1] |
| Barrellength | 1,143 mm (45.0 in)[1] |
| Width | 190 mm (7.5 in)[3] |
| Cartridge | 12.7×99mm NATO[3] |
| Calibre | 12.7 mm (0.50 in)[1][3] |
| Barrels | Single barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 8 grooves)[1] |
| Action | Gas-operated,rotating bolt[1] |
| Rate of fire | 400–600 rounds/min[1] |
| Muzzle velocity | 890 m/s (2,920 ft/s)[1] |
| Feed system | Single sprocketBelt-fedwith dual-feed chutes[1] |
| Sights | Folding leaf sight[1] |
TheSTK 50 MG,formerly known as theCIS 50MG,[a]is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed heavy machine gun developed and manufactured byChartered Industries of Singapore(CIS, nowST Kinetics) in the late 1980s, in response to a request by theSingaporean Defence Ministryto replace the12.7mm Browning M2HB machine gunsthen in ubiquitous service with theSingapore Armed Forces(SAF).[2][4][5]
The aim was to have a brand new heavy machine gun design, that fires the same type of.50 calrounds as the M2HB machine guns and to have the gun parts more readily available in view of easing SAF's chain of logistics and supplies.[1]
Design
[edit]
The CIS engineers learned from the lesson of the canceled (lack of funding) American "Dover Devil GPHMG" program known as the Special Projects Group at Picatinny Arsenal led by Charles J. Rhoades. Curt Johnson and Phil Baker developed the original concept to create a modular weapon suited for modern tactical doctrines and production techniques.[3]In 1988, CIS introduced the new 12.7mm machine gun which was aptly named as theCIS 50MG,after two years of development and testing phase.[2]
As the STK 50 MG is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed weapon, the gun is operated using dual gas pistons, located in two gas tubes placed on either side of the barrel. The barrel is locked by means of a rotary bolt with multiple radial lugs that engages the barrel extension, eliminating the need for headspace adjustments. The CIS 50MG utilises the same "constant recoil" system used in theUltimax 100and it also has a quick-detachable barrel equipped with a carrying handle to facilitate the ease of barrel changing under combat situations or during operational manoeuvres.[2]
Features
[edit]The one unique feature of the weapon is its dual belt-feed system, the system allows for fast and easy switching of ammunition from standard ball rounds to theRaufoss Mk 211Armor-Piercing-Incendiary roundsor theSaboted light armor penetrator(SLAP), which are capable of penetrating arolled homogeneous armourplate with a thickness of 25 mm (0.98 in) from a range of 1 km (0.62 mi).[2][3]
Such systems are more commonly used in modernautomatic cannonssuch as theM242 Bushmaster25mm cannon and theMk44 Bushmaster II30mm cannon, both of which are also in use by theSingapore Army'sBionix AFVs.[1]
Users
[edit]
Bangladesh:Used byBangladesh Navyon multiple ships.[6][5]
Indonesia:Licensed production byPT Pindadas thePindad SMB-QCB(Senapan Mesin Berat-Quick Change Barrel) for the Indonesian military.[1][7]In 2018, it has been renamed asSM5.[8]
Myanmar:Used by Myanmar military. Probably licensed production byMyanmar Directorate of Defence Industriesas theMA-16.[5]
Nigeria:Used by the Nigerian Army.[9][5]
Singapore:Singapore Armed Forces[1]& thePolice Coast Guard[1][10][5]
Explanatory notes
[edit]- ^Using the Wayback machineon this CIS 50 pageindicates that the CIS 50 MG name was used until 2016, when it changed to the STK 50 MG nameas seen here.
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuRichard J, 2008.
- ^abcde"50MG Product Brochure"(PDF).ST Engineering.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 19 February 2009.Retrieved11 September2008.
- ^abcdefAndrew C, 1989.
- ^"Maximum Firepower: The Machine Guns of the SAF".Singaporean Defence Ministry.7 June 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 4 August 2012.Retrieved14 July2010.
- ^abcde"STK 50MG".Military Today.Retrieved8 July2021.
- ^"5 x Patrol Craft BN".Khulna Shipyard.Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2021.Retrieved8 July2021.
- ^"Un repaso a las armas ligeras de Pindad"(in Spanish). ARMAS. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2013.Retrieved5 July2010.
- ^"[Indo Defense 2018] MP5 Clones, 7.62mm Rifles, News from Indonesia's Pindad -".The Firearm Blog.5 December 2018.Retrieved6 April2020.
- ^Binnie, Jeremy; de Cherisey, Erwan (2017)."New-model African armies"(PDF).Jane's. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 June 2017.
- ^Muhammad Juffry, Bin Joihani (July–August 2009)."PCG upgrades with new fleet and training centre".Police Life Monthly.35(7). Singapore:Singapore Police Force.ISSN0217-8699.Archived fromthe originalon 22 June 2011.Retrieved10 November2010.
General and cited references
[edit]- Jones, Richard; White, Andrew (2008).Jane's Guns Recognition Guide.HarperCollins.p. 398.ISBN978-0-00-726645-6.
- Tillman, Andrew C. (October 1989)."IDR test report: Singapore's Lightweight Heavy".Jane's International Defence Review.Jane's Information Group:1377–1380.ISSN0020-6512.Retrieved10 November2010.
External links
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