AA-52 machine gun

AA-52
Vehicle-mounted AA-52 featured on a Leclerc main battle tank
Type	General purpose machine gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1952-2008 (France)
Used by	See Users
Wars	First Indochina War, Algerian war, Suez Crisis, Gulf War, Bosnian War, War in Afghanistan
Production history
Designed	1952
Variants	NF-1, M.A.C. 58
Specifications
Weight	9.75 kg
Length	1080 mm
Barrel length	600 mm
Cartridge	7.5x54mm French
Caliber	7.5 mm
Action	Lever-delayed blowback
Rate of fire	900 round/min
Muzzle velocity	830 m/s
Effective range	600 metres
Maximum range	3200 metres
Feed system	Belt

The AA-52 (Arme Automatique Transformable Modèle 1952, "Transformable automatic weapon model 1952") is one of the first French-produced guns of the post World War II era. It was manufactured by MAS (Manufacture d'Armes St. Etienne, one of several government-owned arms factories in France). The AA-52 is still used today as a vehicle-mounted weapon due to large quantities in service, but has been replaced by the Belgian FN MAG for helicopter use, starting with the EC 725 Caracal of the Special Operations units and the Air Force Search and Rescue teams. The AA-52 had been phased out for infantry use in favour of the lighter FN MINIMI for a few years; the replacement of the AA-52 by the FN MAG or modernisation of AA-52 as the standard infantry GPMG is not taking place (in 2008).

History

The AA-52 machine gun was conceived and developed following the French military's experiences in Indochina during the early 1950s. At that time, the French army was equipped with an assortment of weapons from British and American sources, as well as some German weapons from the Second World War.

Effective supply of ammunition and replacement parts was an almost insoluble task and the army decided to adopt a standard machine gun. The result was the AA-52, conceived for easy production. The construction was of simple welded stamped sheet steel.

Overview

The AA-52 is a peculiar weapon among modern machine guns by its blowback system of operation. The AA-52 uses Lever-delayed blowback. When firing, the pressure pushing the case head rearward initiates an impulse on a cam that sends the bolt carrier rearward. After a certain distance, a link (in this case the firing pin) pulls the bolt head, hence extracting the spent case. Since there is no primary extraction, the chamber is fluted to allow powder gases to flow back, unsticking the case from the wall chamber like on H&K type Roller-delayed blowback weapons.

The AA-52 can be used as a LMG with a bipod or HMG with a tripod. When used with a tripod for continuous fire, the gun is fitted with a heavier barrel. In the LMG configuration, the AA-52 is a relatively light weapon to carry. To change the barrel, it is simply necessary to press a latch and rotate 1/4 turn.

Variants

NF-1

The AA-52 was conceived originally to use 7.5 mm cartridges that were used in the French FM-24/29. The general adoption of the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge reduced the opportunity for export sales, and the gun was adapted for the 7.62 mm calibre.

MAC-58

The MAC-58 was a version chambered in .50 BMG. A few prototypes were tested and one retained for preserial production, but it never reached production due to the large quantity of US Browning machine guns in service with the French armed forces.

Users

•  France
•  Djibouti
•  Guyana
•  Spain: A small number was used by the Spanish Army in the 1960s and 70s aboard the first batch of French made AMX-30 MBTs and the AML-60/90 combat car. The Spanish Air Force used a few aboard CSAR modified Super Puma helicopters in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Status uncertain.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: AA-52

• Gun's World AA-52
• MAC-58
• AA-52 pictures
• AAT Mod.52 / Mod. F1 at Modern Firearms.ru