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-Present
Used by	See Users
Wars	First Indochina War Algerian war Suez Crisis Gulf War Bosnian War War in Afghanistan 2011 Libyan uprising[1]
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 7.62x51mm NATO
Calibre	7.5 mm 7.62 mm
Action	Lever-delayed blowback
Rate of fire	900 round/min
Muzzle velocity	830 m/s
Effective range	600 metres
Maximum range	3,200 metres
Feed system	Belt
Sights	Iron Removable APX(SOM) telescopic sights IR Scope

The AA-52 Transformable automatic weapon model 1952 (French: Arme Automatique Transformable Modèle 1952'), also known as "La Nana" is one of the first French-produced guns of the post WW2 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 in the helicopter role by the Belgian FN MAG, starting with the EC 725 Caracal of the Special Operations units and the Air Force Search and Rescue teams. The AA-52 had been largely phased out for infantry use in favour of the lighter FN Minimi. The AA-52 is still in use in Afghanistan.

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 is of simple welded stamped sheet steel.

Overview

The AA-52 is a peculiar weapon among modern machine guns by its Lever-delayed blowback operation. 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. The AA-52 can be fired from the shoulder but slightly awkward as the firer has to grip the handle such a way, however the bipod can be used as a handguard when not in use. To change the barrel, it is simply necessary to press a latch and rotate 1/4 turn. APX(SOM) telescopic sights used on the MAS-49 and FR-F1 sniper rifle can be used as well as an Infra Red night sight.

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 NATO calibre.

MAC-58

Main Article

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

•  Belgium: Twin AA-52 machine guns were found in Fouga Magister attack aircraft^[2].
•  Benin^[3]
•  Burkina Faso^[3]
•  Central African Republic^[3]
•  Comoros^[3]
•  Côte d'Ivoire^[3]
•  Djibouti^[3]
•  France: F1 variant.^[3]
•  Gabon^[3]
•  Ireland: Twin AA-52 7.62mm machine guns were fitted to the Irish Panhard AML 60-7 CS armoured cars.^[4]
•  Madagascar^[3]
•  Mali^[3] - Armed and Security Forces of Mali
•  Mauritania^[3]
•  Mauritius^[3]
•  Morocco: F1 variant.^[3]
•  Niger^[3]
•  Senegal^[3]
•  Seychelles^[3]
•  Somalia^[3]
•  Togo^[3]

AA-52 machine gun on display.

References

1. ^ http://www.theatrum-belli.com/media/02/00/3650079973.jpg
2. ^ http://www.fougamagister.be/armament/Guns.htm
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r} Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5. 
4. ^ Martin, Karl (2002). Irish Army Vehicles, transport and armour since 1922. Karl Martin. ISBN 0-9543413-0-9.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: AA-52

• MAC-58
• AAT Mod.52 / Mod. F1 at Modern Firearms
• (Photo en version lourde)
• AA-52 in Afghanistan
• AA-52 in Afghanistan
• AA-52 scope
• AA-52 scope
• MAC58
• [1]
• AA-52 in 1962
• [2]

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