Difference between revisions of "Browning MG4 (7.62 mm)"

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[[File:Browning MG4.png|550px|thumb|right|The Browning MG4 on the Class 3 (P)]]
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!--''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''-->
 
<!--''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''-->
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The '''7.62 mm Browning MG4''' is a South African production designation of the Browning M1919 machine gun.
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The '''7.62 mm Browning MG4''' is a South African production variant of the [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|Browning M1919]] machine gun. Though similar in performance and profile, the MG4 differs with a modification that converts the machine gun to fire from an open-bolt configuration.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
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* {{Specs-Link|germ_th_800_bismark}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|germ_th_800_bismark}}
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_concept3_ngac}}
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_eland_90_mk_7}}
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_olifant_mk_2}}
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_ratel_20}}
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_ratel_90}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|uk_rooikat_76}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|uk_rooikat_76}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|uk_rooikat_105_td}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|uk_rooikat_105_td}}
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_ratel_zt3}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
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<!--''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
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*
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* Jack-of-all-trade machine gun with a decent penetration and rate of fire
 +
* Long belt feed allows for an extended period of firing time.
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
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* Subpar rate of fire compared to other machine guns being used at the MG4's mounted vehicle ranks
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!--''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''-->
 
<!--''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''-->
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[[File:2 SSB squadron training Eland-90.jpg|x250px|thumb|right|none|South African Eland-90s with Browning MG4s in pintle-mounts on some vehicles.]]
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In South Africa, multiple variants of M1919 Browning machine guns were in service of the South African Defense Force (SADF) in various calibers such as .303, .30-06, and 7.62x51 mm NATO. As the infantry standardized on the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge with newer rifles and machine guns, the Browning machine gun was still a desirable weapon for vehicle and armoured mounts due to the design's short inboard length, heavy barrel for sustained firing, and ability to change barrels from the rear of the receiver. Many Brownings were converted to use 7.62 mm NATO round for continued use in the SADF, such as on the [[Eland 90 Mk.7|Eland armoured cars]].<ref name="Pretoria">Pretoria 2017, pg 227-236</ref>
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However, by the mid-20th century, the Browning machine guns were becoming aging equipment. Part shortage was encountered when the surplus market for the Browning machine guns dried up. The weapon's approaching end-of-service life was also causing more malfunctions, and the closed-bolt design of the machine guns were causing "cook-offs", where the heat of the gun from sustained fire causes the next round to go off without the trigger being pulled. A decision was made not only to modify the weapon to prevent the "cook-off" malfunctions, but to also begin local production of the machine gun to continue the upkeep of the weapon in SADF service.<ref name="Pretoria">Pretoria 2017, pg 227-236</ref> This assignment was given to Lyttleton Engineering Works (LEW) in 1976.<ref name="RottmanM1919">Rottman 2014, p.67</ref> LEW's new Browning machine gun design was designated the '''MG4''', though it was also known as the ''L3'' in SADF designations.<ref name="Pretoria"/>
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 +
The biggest modification that LEW performed for the MG4 was converting it from the M1919's closed-bolt design into an open-bolt design, which kept the gun breech clear of any cartridges and allowed air to flow through and cool the barrel. Multiple other modifications were done to improve the weapon as well, including the addition of a safety lever on the right receiver side (though this feature was not unique to the MG4). LEW began by converting existing M1919A4 Browning into the MG4 from 1976 to 1980. To prepare the production of the MG4 in local factories, the M1919 was reverse-engineered and parts were built along M1919 specifications for the MG4, with production beginning by 1980.<ref name="Pretoria"/>
  
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The Browning MG4 was a production of the [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|Browning M1919]] machine gun in South Africa, by Lyttleton Engineering Works.<ref name="RottmanM1919">Rottman 2014, p.67</ref> This production was owned by Denel SOC Ltd. as Lyttleton was merged into a division under Denel Land Systems.<ref name="DenelLS">Denel Land Systems "Company Profile"</ref>
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The MG4 only served as the machine gun armaments for armoured vehicles, though the machine gun is compatible with a tripod for dismounted use if needed. The MG4 comes in a flexible and coaxial mounting variants. While the flexible mounting comes with features not too different from a standard M1919A4 design (aside from LEW's modifications), the coaxial variant comes with no pistol grip nor sights and was fired via a 28 {{annotation|VDC|Volt Direct Current}} trigger solenoid.<ref name="Pretoria"/>
  
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As of 2009, the Browning MG4 is still under production by Denel SOC Ltd.<ref name="DenelReport">Denel 2009</ref>
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The MG4 still serves today in the South African military as a machine gun armaments for armoured vehicles, some have been seen mounted in wind-shield ball mounts on Casspir MRAPs.<ref name="Pretoria"/> MG4 production switched over to Denel Ltd. in 1992 when the newly formed state-owned company took over ARMSCOR subsidiaries, which included LEW.<ref name="DenelLS">Denel Land Systems "Company Profile"</ref> This was later amalgamated to Denel land Systems in 2006.<ref name="Pretoria_LEWHistory">Pretoria 2017, pg 86-87</ref>
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As of 2009, the Browning MG4 is still under production by Denel Ltd.<ref name="DenelReport">Denel 2009, p.39</ref>
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
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* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
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* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''-->
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* [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)]] - The basis of the Browning MG4 design.
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''-->
 
* ''other literature.''-->
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;References:
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=== References ===
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;Citations
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 
;Bibliography:
 
;Bibliography:
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* Denel. "Annual Report 2009." ''Denel'', 21 Jul. 2009, [http://admin.denel.co.za/uploads/annual_report_2009.pdf Website].
+
* Denel. "Annual Report 2009." ''Denel'', 21 Jul. 2009, [http://admin.denel.co.za/uploads/annual_report_2009.pdf PDF link]. Accessed on 11 May 2021 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210511172748/http://admin.denel.co.za/uploads/annual_report_2009.pdf Archive]).
−
* Denel Land Systems. "Company Profile." ''Denel'', [http://www.denellandsystems.co.za/about-us/company-profile Website].
+
* Denel Land Systems. "Company Profile." ''Denel'', [http://www.denellandsystems.co.za/about-us/company-profile Website]. Accessed on 02 Apr. 2021([https://web.archive.org/web/20210402171106/http://www.denellandsystems.co.za/about-us/company-profile Archive]).
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* Rottman, Gordon L. ''America's War Machine: the Pursuit of Global Dominance: Arsenal of Democracy III''. Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2014.
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* Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Association. ''Firearms Developed and Manufactured in Southern Africa 1949 - 2000'', Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Association, 2017.
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* Rottman, Gordon L. ''Browning .30-caliber Machine Guns''. Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2014.
  
 
{{Tank machine guns}}
 
{{Tank machine guns}}
  
 
[[Category:Tank machine guns]]
 
[[Category:Tank machine guns]]

Latest revision as of 17:44, 6 February 2022

The Browning MG4 on the Class 3 (P)

Description

The 7.62 mm Browning MG4 is a South African production variant of the Browning M1919 machine gun. Though similar in performance and profile, the MG4 differs with a modification that converts the machine gun to fire from an open-bolt configuration.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.

Available ammunition

Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Jack-of-all-trade machine gun with a decent penetration and rate of fire
  • Long belt feed allows for an extended period of firing time.

Cons:

  • Subpar rate of fire compared to other machine guns being used at the MG4's mounted vehicle ranks

History

South African Eland-90s with Browning MG4s in pintle-mounts on some vehicles.

In South Africa, multiple variants of M1919 Browning machine guns were in service of the South African Defense Force (SADF) in various calibers such as .303, .30-06, and 7.62x51 mm NATO. As the infantry standardized on the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge with newer rifles and machine guns, the Browning machine gun was still a desirable weapon for vehicle and armoured mounts due to the design's short inboard length, heavy barrel for sustained firing, and ability to change barrels from the rear of the receiver. Many Brownings were converted to use 7.62 mm NATO round for continued use in the SADF, such as on the Eland armoured cars.[1]

However, by the mid-20th century, the Browning machine guns were becoming aging equipment. Part shortage was encountered when the surplus market for the Browning machine guns dried up. The weapon's approaching end-of-service life was also causing more malfunctions, and the closed-bolt design of the machine guns were causing "cook-offs", where the heat of the gun from sustained fire causes the next round to go off without the trigger being pulled. A decision was made not only to modify the weapon to prevent the "cook-off" malfunctions, but to also begin local production of the machine gun to continue the upkeep of the weapon in SADF service.[1] This assignment was given to Lyttleton Engineering Works (LEW) in 1976.[2] LEW's new Browning machine gun design was designated the MG4, though it was also known as the L3 in SADF designations.[1]

The biggest modification that LEW performed for the MG4 was converting it from the M1919's closed-bolt design into an open-bolt design, which kept the gun breech clear of any cartridges and allowed air to flow through and cool the barrel. Multiple other modifications were done to improve the weapon as well, including the addition of a safety lever on the right receiver side (though this feature was not unique to the MG4). LEW began by converting existing M1919A4 Browning into the MG4 from 1976 to 1980. To prepare the production of the MG4 in local factories, the M1919 was reverse-engineered and parts were built along M1919 specifications for the MG4, with production beginning by 1980.[1]

The MG4 only served as the machine gun armaments for armoured vehicles, though the machine gun is compatible with a tripod for dismounted use if needed. The MG4 comes in a flexible and coaxial mounting variants. While the flexible mounting comes with features not too different from a standard M1919A4 design (aside from LEW's modifications), the coaxial variant comes with no pistol grip nor sights and was fired via a 28 VDC trigger solenoid.[1]

The MG4 still serves today in the South African military as a machine gun armaments for armoured vehicles, some have been seen mounted in wind-shield ball mounts on Casspir MRAPs.[1] MG4 production switched over to Denel Ltd. in 1992 when the newly formed state-owned company took over ARMSCOR subsidiaries, which included LEW.[3] This was later amalgamated to Denel land Systems in 2006.[4]

As of 2009, the Browning MG4 is still under production by Denel Ltd.[5]

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Pretoria 2017, pg 227-236
  2. ↑ Rottman 2014, p.67
  3. ↑ Denel Land Systems "Company Profile"
  4. ↑ Pretoria 2017, pg 86-87
  5. ↑ Denel 2009, p.39
Bibliography
  • Denel. "Annual Report 2009." Denel, 21 Jul. 2009, PDF link. Accessed on 11 May 2021 (Archive).
  • Denel Land Systems. "Company Profile." Denel, Website. Accessed on 02 Apr. 2021(Archive).
  • Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Association. Firearms Developed and Manufactured in Southern Africa 1949 - 2000, Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Association, 2017.
  • Rottman, Gordon L. Browning .30-caliber Machine Guns. Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2014.


Tank machine guns
USA 
7.62 mm  M37 · M60D · M73 · M240 · M1919A4 · Mk.52
12.7 mm  FN M3P · M2HB · M80 · M85
Germany 
5.56 mm  MG4
7.62 mm  C6 · MG3A1
7.92 mm  MG13 Dreyse · MG34 · MG37(t) · MG42
12.7 mm  S.MG.50
USSR 
7.62 mm  DT · PKMB · PKT · PKTM · RP-46 · SGMT
12.7 mm  DK · DShK · 6P49 · NSVT
14.5 mm  KPVT
Britain 
7.62 mm  Browning MG4 · L3A1 · L8A1 · L8A2 · L37A1 · L37A2 · L94A1
7.7 mm  Vickers
7.92 mm  BESA
12.7 mm  L21A1
Japan 
6.5 mm  Type 91
7.62 mm  Type 74
7.7 mm  Type 97
12.7 mm  Type 60 (B)
China 
5.8 mm  QJT
7.62 mm  Type 55 · Type 59 · Type 86
12.7 mm  QJC88A · Type 54
14.5 mm  QJG02
Italy 
7.62 mm  Beretta MG42/59 · FN MAG 60-40
8 mm  34/40M · Breda Mod. 38
13.2 mm  Breda Model 31
France 
7.5 mm  AAT-52 · MAC 31
7.62 mm  A-A-F1N
8 mm  Hotchkiss Mle 1914
Sweden 
6.5 mm  ksp m/14-29
7.62 mm  ksp 39 C · ksp 58 · ksp 94
8 mm  ksp m/36 · ksp m/39B
12.7 mm  ksp 88

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