Russo-Ukrainian War: The FN MAG General-Purpose Machine Gun

Source: @inukraine.official on Instagram

     Somewhere above Ukrainian held territory, a Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) helicopter of the Ukrainian Army Aviation branch prepares to engage a Russian Geran-2 loitering munition. The Mi-8 has two door gun positions. The first is seen here, situated on the left side of the fuselage, behind the cockpit. A second position is in the rear of the fuselage, firing out from a opening in the right hand clamshell cargo door. Normally, the 7.62mm PK machine-gun would have been the standard defensive weapon but here, the gunner has elected to use a 7.62x51mm FN MAG machine-gun. Countries that have sent FN MAG machine-guns to Ukraine include Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The gunner's FN MAG looks to have been one provided to Ukraine by France. The FN MAG, the original developed and built by the Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal, entered service in 1958 and today, it is deployed by dozens of countries. Several countries license build the FN MAG and they are the United Kingdom (as the L7A1), Canada (as the C6), Indonesia (as the SM2), Sweden (as the Kulspruta 58), and the United States (as the M240).

     The FN MAG is, as mentioned, chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, and it uses a gas operated, long-stroke bolt action which fires from an open bolt. The rate of fire varies from 650 rounds per minute up to 1,000 rounds per minute. This variance is created by the gunner adjusting the gas valve which permits him to accommodate various cartridge loadings, to overcome barrel fouling, and modify the rate of fire to suit the target being engaged. The empty weight of the FN MAG is 26 pounds though this particular FN MAG uses a polymer plastic buttstock that lightens the mass to a small degree. The FN MAG feeds from the left, ammunition being held in either the M13 disintegrating link belt or the non-disintegrating DM1 belt. Each belt holds 50 rounds and belts can be connected to create longer ones. A quick-change barrel allows for rapid switching in case of barrel failure or to allow a barrel to cool after prolonged sustained fire. When firing from a bipod, the effective range of the FN MAG is .5 of a mile (800 meters) but if using a tripod, the effective range increases to 1.1 miles. The maximum range of the round is 2.1 miles.

     The regular sights of the FN MAG consists of a front blade sight and a rear mounted folding leaf sight with both an aperture and a notch. As this example of the FN MAG is fitted with a Picatinny rail, the gunner has added what looks to be a Thermion 2 thermal imager rifle scope made by the Lithuanian based company Pulsar. The Thermion 2 series is offered in two objective lens sizes: F35 and F50. The Thermion 2 uses a AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display with a magnification ranging between 2.5X up to 12X depending on the model. Other features of the Thermion 2 scope series include Wi-Fi for connecting to smartphones (the thermal imager can be operated from a compatible smartphone), reticle style customization, color options for the reticle and display, photograph and video recording (16 GB of internal memory storage), and IPX7 (Level 7) waterproofing. This means the scope can be fully submerged in water up to a depth of 3.2 feet for no longer than 30 minutes without permanent damage. Detection range is between .8 of a mile up to 1.1 miles for the larger model. The FN MAG has a brass catcher bag fitted to collect ejected empty cartridges so that they do not roll around the floor of the compartment, causing a slip hazard for the crew. 

     As it turned out, the gunner was able to successfully engage the Geran-2, shooting it down where the drone crashed into a copse of trees before exploding when its warhead detonated.

Belgian C.47 on Carden-Loyd Mk. VI: Too Much On Too Little

A captured Carden-Loyd Mk. VI tank destroyer being inspected by German troops. The emblem for the 2e Régiment de Cyclistes-Frontière along with the Belgian roundel can be seen on the side of the vehicle, the roundel just behind the pivot for the gun shield. (Author's Collection)

     The Carden-Loyd Tankette, designed by Sir John Carden and Vivian Loyd, enjoyed commercial success both domestically in Britain as well as in foreign markets. Production commenced in 1927 and ran through 1935 with the most widely built model being the Mark VI. The Carden-Loyd Mk. VI was a small, lightly armored, two man tankette and it set the standard for future tankette designs. The Mark VI had a combat weight of 1.5 tons, was 8.1 feet long, 6.6 feet wide, and a height of only 4 feet. The typical weapon fit was a single .303in. Vickers machine-gun provided with 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The crew, driver and commander, was provided with 6mm to 9mm of face-hardened armor for protection. Power came from a Ford 4-cylinder, inline engine that developed 20 horsepower and was paired with a Ford 2-speed epicyclic transmission that gave the Mark VI a maximum road speed of 30mph and ten gallons of fuel was carried to give the tankette a operational range of 100 miles.

     The British Army was the largest purchaser of the Carden-Loyd Mk. VI, with some 325 of them in service as machine-gun carriers, reconnaissance vehicles, and gun tractors for light artillery among other uses. On the foreign market, sales were brisk with such countries as Bolivia, Canada, China, India, Greece, and more placing orders for the tankette. Thailand was the largest customer, having purchased 60 of the vehicles. Even Japan was a buyer, obtaining six examples with the Imperial Japanese Navy using them in service as the Type 6 Machine-Gun Car (Rokushiki Kikan Jū-sha or Ka-shiki Kijū-sha meaning Carden-Loyd Tankette). Another foreign buyer, among others, was Belgium and what they decided to do with the Carden-Loyd Mk. VI is the subject of the photograph here.

     The Belgian Armed Forces were looking for a way to fully mechanize a gun by fitting it to a tracked vehicle. This had the advantage of providing the gun with a self-propelled mounting that didn't need to be towed into combat and could be more rapidly deployed. By being fitted on a tracked vehicle, this also provided for better cross-country mobility. Given the popularity of the Carden-Loyd Mk. VI, Belgium submitted an order for six examples and received them in 1931. Two guns were chosen as the test weapons with the first being the 76mm Canon de 76 Fonderie Royale des Canons (FRC; Royal Cannon Foundry) infantry support gun while the second was the Canon Anti-Char de 47mm Fonderie Royale de Canons Modèle 1931, mercifully shortened to C.47 FRC Mod.31. Each gun was fitted in a fixed mount centered on the front of the Mark VI which meant that while the gun had some elevation capability, to effect traverse, the entire vehicle had to turn in place. A gun shield was fitted to a metal frame that provided some frontal protection for the crew but when the vehicle was not in action, the gun shield could be tilted up and backwards that gave a meager measure of overhead protection from the elements. When testing commenced, the problems with the design were immediate. The biggest problem was the recoil of both guns with the Canon de 76 FRC having the largest amount of recoil despite its hydro-spring recoil mechanism. The recoil forces caused the front of the Mark VI to kick upwards and once the front end hit the ground again, the gun was no longer sighted and the target had to be re-sighted or reacquired. In addition, the violent motion caused undo strain on the chassis and running gear. Another problem was that the addition of the gun to the Mark VI along with the ammunition brought the combat weight of the tankette to 3 tons, a doubling of the weight without any compensation in regards to a larger, more powerful engine. As a consequence, the maximum speed was reduced and both the engine and the transmission suffered from more rapid wear which required additional maintenance hours as well as decreased the service life of the motor and drive components. Other problems included the very weak armor, the lack of crew protection overall, poor off-road handling, too little ammunition carrying capacity, and the fact that two men had to operate guns that normally were crewed by 3 to 5 men. The Canon de 76 FRC equipped Mark VI was refitted with the C.47 FRC Mod.31 and the remaining four were also converted to use the anti-tank gun, turning the vehicles into tank destroyers.

     Despite the problems with the tank destroyer Mk. VI, all six were issued to the elite Régiment des Chasseurs Ardennais (Ardennes Chasseur Regiment), a mountain division formed in 1933 and which continues to serve to this day in battalion strength. The C.47 FRC Mod.31 was formidable anti-tank gun, the armor-piercing round having a muzzle velocity of 2,400 feet per second and capable of going through 1.9 inches of armor plate at 300 meters. This put it on par with many of its contemporaries and at the beginning of World War Two, it was a threat to many light and even medium tanks. Unfortunately, the tank destroyers were a disaster in service with the regiment where both the elevation and mountainous terrain degraded not only the mobility but the performance of the already overburdened engine as well. The Régiment des Chasseurs Ardennais hastily dumped the six tank destroyers on the Régiment Territorial des Cyclistes Frontière (border guard regiments) and the vehicle shown in the photograph specifically belonged to the 8e Compagnie, 2e Régiment de Cyclistes-Frontière under the command of Capitaine-Commandant G. Verjans.

     At the start of the German invasion of Belgium that commenced on May 10, 1940, 8e Compagnie had only four of the Carden-Loyd tank destroyers left and all four were in poor condition. The remainder of the unit was comprised of six more modern T-13 tank destroyers, also equipped with the C.47 FRC Mod.31 gun. Verjans deployed the four Carden-Loyd tank destroyers into fixed camouflaged positions as part of the third Position Fortifiée de Liège (Fortified Positions of Liège or PFLIII) and in support of the 6e Compagnie under the command of Lt. A. Parent. Their defensive line was situated between the village of Lixhe and a connecting canal between the Maas (Meuse) River and the Albert Canal. The unit went into action on May 11, 1940, sometime in the late morning, early afternoon when German troops were spotted along the banks of the Maas River. Sporadic fire erupted between the Belgians and the Germans but the Germans made no attempt to cross. However, by 3pm that day, German forces had crossed the Albert Canal and at 10:30pm that night, the order to retreat was given. 8e Compagnie abandoned the four Carden-Loyd tank destroyers along with a number of T-13 tank destroyers due to mechanical problems. By May 20, 1940, the company was down to only four T-13s with the last battle being fought by 8e Compagnie on May 24, 1940 when the remaining T-13 tank destroyers covered the Belgian retreat to the Leie (Lys) River where the troops set up a defensive line between the villages of Izegem and Ingelmunster. Interestingly, the Germans did not attack the gathered Belgian forces there but accepted their surrender when Belgium capitulated on May 28, 1940.

 

Captain Fernand Jacquet: Belgium's World War One Ace

Capt. Jacquet (left) and his gunner, Lt. Robin, with their Farman F.40.

     In October 1907, Fernand Maximillian Leon Jacquet (born November 2, 1888) enlisted in the Belgian Army as a cadet. After successfully completing training at the École Royale Militaire located in Brussels, Belgium, Jacquet received his commission as an infantry second lieutenant and was posted to the 4e Régiment de Ligne (4th. Line Regiment) on June 25, 1910. Jacquet, though, soon grew very keen on aviation and towards the end of 1912, he applied for both civilian flight school as well as military flight school in order to earn his flying credentials. He received his instruction in the village of Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor and earned his civilian pilot license (license no. 68) on February 25, 1913 and then his military pilot certification on August 30, 1913. After a promotion to first lieutenant, Jacquet was posted to the 2e Escadrille d’Observation (2nd. Observation Squadron) based in Boninne, Belgium. An interesting note was that Jacquet was nearsighted and it was the main reason he always flew two-seater aircraft so that he would do the flying while his gunner would do the shooting.

     When World War One began and Germany invaded Belgium in August 1914, Jacquet was in the thick of it, flying reconnaissance missions from his unit's Boninne base, to include deep penetrations behind German lines. He also took it upon himself to bomb German positions whenever possible, hitting German targets at Groote Hemme on November 24, 1914 and twice on December 24, 1914 at Beerst and Essen. At this time, Jacquet's mount was a Farman HF.20 pusher reconnaissance aircraft and it was on this aircraft and his later Farman F.40 aircraft that would carry the grim moniker of the death's head on the nose. On April 17, 1915, Jacquet scored Belgium's first aerial kill when his gunner Henri Vindevoghel shot down a German Aviatik reconnaissance plane. Sometime in 1916, Jacquet traded in the HF.20 for an improved F.40 mount. Like the HF.20, it was a two-seat pusher-style reconnaissance aircraft but while slower and with less range than the HF.20, the F.40 had a better service ceiling, had better armament, and in addition to a better bomb load, could carry ten Le Prieur rockets. During the course of the war in 1916, Jacquet and his gunner, Louis Robin, racked up another three kills though, on September 8, 1916, their F.40 was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire. Fortunately, while the F.40 was utter wreckage, both men walked away unscathed. In December 1916, Jacquet was given command of the 1ère Escadrille de Chasse. On February 1, 1917, Jacquet became an ace when Robin downed a German Rumpler aircraft while Jacquet was flying a two-seat Sopwith 1 1⁄2 Strutter and by December 1917, Jacquet was promoted to Captain-Commandant and put in charge of the Groupe de Chasse, Belgium's first fighter wing. By now, Jacquet was flying the two-seat SPAD S.XI with his unit being a mixture of the SPAD S.XI and Sopwith 1 1⁄2 Strutters.

     When the war ended, Jacquet had seven confirmed victories with another nine unconfirmed and he had an impressive array of medals to go with his wartime service. His decorations included being a Knight of the Order of Leopold (Chevalier de Ordre de Léopold), Ordre de la Couronne avec des Palmiers (Order of the Crown with Palms), the Croix de Guerre (six citations), Médaille de la Victoire 1914-1918, Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1914-1918, Knight of the Legion of Honor (Chevalier de Légion d'Honneur), the Croix de Guerre (the French version), the Russian Order of St. Anna (Орден Святой Анны), and the British awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross (the only Belgian to have received this decoration during World War One).

     The photograph depicts Jacquet (on the left) with his gunner, Lt. Robin. Jacquet's rank is that of Captain as shown by the three stars on his collar tabs. The fuselage of his F.40 was all black with a predominantly white skull on the nose. The F.40 was a tall aircraft, standing 12.1 feet in height, had a length of 30.4 feet, and a wingspan of 57.9 feet. The F.40 used many engines but the most common was a Renault V-12, air-cooled piston engine that developed 130 horsepower that drove a 2-bladed, fixed pitch wooden pusher propeller. This gave the F.40 a maximum speed of 84mph at 6,600 feet. Enough fuel was carried for a 260 mile range or a total air endurance of 2 hours and 20 minutes. The service ceiling was 13,290 feet and it took the F.40 a total of fifteen minutes to reach 6,600 feet. For weapons, the usual fit was a single .303 caliber Lewis machine-gun though it could be fitted with two. A total of 530 pounds of bombs could be carried and the F.40P model could mount ten Le Prieur air-to-air incendiary rockets. These rockets were exclusively used against observation balloons and German Zeppelin airships.

     Jacquet retired from the Belgian military in 1921 after fourteen years of service. He, along with Louis Robin, opened a flying school in Gosselies, Belgium. On August 27, 1931, Jacquet became the commercial director for the British aviation firm Fairey's Belgium subsidiary Société des Avions Fairey that the British company had set up at Gosselies' aerodrome. When the Germans, again, invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940, Jacquet once again heeded the call to battle and joined the Résistance Belge (Belgian Resistance) at the age of 52. He was captured by the Germans and imprisoned at Fort de Huy in the city of Huy in 1942. The fort was used by the Germans to house all manner of criminals, communists, resistance fighters, captured soldiers from England, France, and Russia, and even hostages for one reason or another. It was also used as a transit stop for Jews and other "undesirables" before being taken to either the Neuengamme concentration camp in northern Germany or the Vught concentration camp in the Netherlands. Jacquet survived imprisonment and was freed from Fort de Huy upon the end of the war. He moved to Leval-Chaudeville and that was where he passed away on October 12, 1947 at the age of 58.