Modular delinker for machine gun

A machine gun comprising:

• a barrel assembly configured to receive ammunition cartridges, fire the ammunition cartridges, and eject spent casings from the ammunition cartridges;
• a modular delinker comprising:
• a main body configured to receive linked ammunition cartridges and separate an ammunition cartridge from the linked ammunition cartridges when the delinker is operating, wherein the main body extends along a longitudinal axis;
• a paddle wheel configured to receive the ammunition cartridge from the main body and provide the ammunition cartridge to the barrel assembly of the machine gun when the delinker is operating;
• and
• a nose configured to releasably engage the main body to retain the paddle wheel longitudinally within the main body when the delinker is assembled;
• wherein the main body comprises a paddle wheel housing configured to at least partially surround the paddle wheel when the delinker is assembled;
• and
• wherein the nose releasably engages the paddle wheel housing via interlocking lugs;
• a main drive motor configured to drive the barrel assembly and the delinker when the gun is assembled and firing;
• and
• a gun control unit configured to provide power to the main drive motor when the gun is assembled and firing.

A modular delinker for a machine gun, said delinker comprising:

• a main body configured to receive linked ammunition cartridges and separate an ammunition cartridge from the linked ammunition cartridges when the delinker is operating, wherein the main body extends along a longitudinal axis;
• a paddle wheel configured to receive the ammunition cartridge from the main body and provide the ammunition cartridge to a barrel assembly of the machine gun when the delinker is operating;
• and
• a nose configured to releasably engage the main body to retain the paddle wheel longitudinally within the main body when the delinker is assembled;
• wherein the main body comprises a paddle wheel housing configured to at least partially surround the paddle wheel when the delinker is assembled;
• and
• wherein the nose releasably engages the paddle wheel housing via interlocking lugs.

A modular delinker for a machine gun, said delinker comprising:

• a main body configured to receive linked ammunition cartridges and separate an ammunition cartridge from the linked ammunition cartridges when the delinker is operating, wherein the main body extends along a longitudinal axis;
• a paddle wheel configured to receive the ammunition cartridge from the main body and provide the ammunition cartridge to a barrel assembly of the machine gun when the delinker is operating;
• and
• a nose configured to releasably engage the main body to retain the paddle wheel longitudinally within the main body when the delinker is assembled;
• wherein the paddle wheel comprises a front paddle wheel and a rear paddle wheel;
• wherein the nose includes a nose shaft extending along the longitudinal axis when the delinker is assembled;
• and
• wherein the front paddle wheel is retained on the nose shaft such that when the nose is disengaged from the main body and removed from the paddle wheel housing, the front paddle wheel is removed from the main body.