Machine gun apparatus

A weapons system comprising:

• a weapons support element having upper and lower sides;
• a machine gun having a longitudinal axis;
• gun mounting means defining first and second axes mutually perpendicular to each other and to said longitudinal axis and means for selectably rotating said machine gun about said first and second mutually perpendicular axes;
• said gun mounting means comprising:
• base means mounted on the upper exterior side of the weapons support element defining said first axis so that it is perpendicular to said support element,
• gun support means rigidly supporting said machine gun for rotating about said first axis, rotatably mounted on said base means to define therewith said second axis such that it is parallel to the upper side of the weapons support element,
• means for damping oscillation of said gun support means about said second axis,
• handle means on said lower side of said weapons support element, for pivoting said gun mounting means about said first and second axis,
• means for limiting the rotation of said means for selectably rotating said machine gun to predetermined first and second arcs of rotation about said respective first and second axes and with respect to respective first and second datum positions, said first arc of rotation extending for approximately minus 15.degree. to plus 60.degree. relative to said first datum position, and said second arc of rotation extending from approximately minus 15.degree. to plus 65.degree. relative to said second datum position,
• means for aiming and for firing said machine gun from said upper side of said support element;
• and
• means for aiming and for firing said machine gun from said lower side of said support element comprising means for selectably rotating said gun support means about said first and second axes.