Organization: Computing Laboratory, U of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK NE1 7RU.
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In article <RATINOX.93Jan23150847@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu>, ratinox@meceng.coe.northeastern.edu (Gone with the Lemming) writes:
>>>>>> On Sat, 23 Jan 1993 19:07:43 GMT, cjd8@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu
>>>>>> (Christopher J de Zorzi) said:
>
>
>Christopher> Also, a definition of a chain gun would be most appreciated.
>Christopher> (Isn't it much the same as a gat, but with only one barrel
>Christopher> (chain feed allows the gun to keep firing without jaf a dud
>Christopher> round is encountered)?)
>
>Exactly. The term "chain gun" comes from the chain linked ammo belt.
>
>
Sorry to correct you but the term "chain gun" comes from the fact that the bolt mechanism is powered by a loop of industrial chain. The chain is held in a rectangular shape by four cogs, onw of which is powered. The bolt is connected to a link in the chain and is worked when this link traverses the long side of the rectangle. The short sides allow the chamber to cool off and all waste gasses to vent from the muzzle before the breech is opened for extraction. The chain gun was first used on the
Apache (Y= pre production prototype) and was developed by Hughes in parallel with the helecopter it's self (I think the model number for this type was mas the M230.) Since then it has been re-calibred and mounted on ground vehicles.
I hope this clears up any confusion.
Oh and by the way the Apache uses un-linked ammo in it's chain gun, the feed is by a conveyor belt from the magazine.
