Picture 1: Mk. 48 mod. 0 machinegun prototype - basically an FN Minimi, scaled up from 5.56 to 7.62mm
Picture 2: Mk. 48 mod.0 machinegun fitted with RIS (Rail Interface System), optical scope and assault handle under the barrel
Picture 3: Mk.48 mod.0 on winter trials
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
Weight: 8.2 kg without ammunition and optical sights
Length: ~ 1000 mm
Length of barrel: no data
Feeding: belt
Rate of fire: ~ 700 rounds/min
The Mk.48 mod. 0 7.62mm LWMG (Lightweight Machinegun) is being developed by the FN Manufacturing Inc. (an US-based outfit of famous Belgian company FN Herstal). The request for new weapon came in 2001, and the first units in the US Special Operations Forces are scheduled to receive this machine guns in august, 2003. The Mk.48 mod. 0 is due to replace infamous 7.62mm Mk.43 mod.0 (M60E4) machine guns, which are quoted as insufficiently reliable. US SOCOM plans are to acquire several hundreds of Mk.48 mod. 0 LWMGs. It also probably will be offered for export by FN Mfg when the initial US Govt contract will be completed.
The Mk.48 mod. 0 is a "big brother", or a scaled-up version of the 5.56mm Mk.46 mod. 0 LMG, a derivative of the famous FN Minimi / M249 SAW LMG. Both 5.56mm Mk.46 mod. 0 and 7.62mm Mk.48 mod. 0 were developed for US Special Forces, led by the US Navy, hence the Mk. (Mark) designation.
The key advantages of the Mk.48 mod. 0 over the 7.62mm M240 / FN MAG are the light weight (essential for SpecOps, 17% lighter than M240B), parts compatibility with M240 and Mk.46 mod. 0, and a rail mounting system, that can be fitted with various sights and SOPMOD kit accessories. The Mk.48 mod. 0 will provide several firepower advantages (in both terminal effectiveness and range) over the Mk.46 mod. 0 and M249 SAW, being much lighter than M240 and much reliable than Mk.43 mod. 0 (M60E4).
Technical description.
The Mk.48 mod. 0 is a gas operated, air cooled, belt fed machine gun. Its action is very similar to one of M249 / Minimi, being a gas operated, with underbarrel gas system and a rotating bolt locking. Gun is fed using standard disintegrating 7.62mm belts (no magazine feed is available, as on the smaller Mk.46 mod.0). Belt can be fed from separate boxes or clip-on combat pouches for 100 rounds. Barrel is quick-detachable and has a carrying handle to assist replacement of the hot barrels. Mk.48 mod. 0 is fitted with open sights, and has 5 Picatinny rails (one on the top of the receiver, 4 on the forend), that can accept wide variety of sights and accessories. Mk.48 mod. 0 is fitted with solid, non-folding plastic butt, folding integral bipod, and a carrying sling. It seems that it also can be mounted on vehicles and infantry tripods for sustained or long range fire missions.
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