Belt-fed machine gun

Abstract

A belt-fed machine gun (1) for firing a multiplicity of cartridges (6) encased in sleeves (7), which sleeves are linked to form a belt (8). The machine gun includes a plurality of substantially parallel barrels (2) mounted for circumrotation, a plurality of cradles (5) for supporting the cartridges encased in the sleeves, said cradles being mounted for circumrotation with said plurality of substantially parallel barrels (2) wherein a number of the plurality of cradles in an operative condition are aligned coaxially with corresponding barrels, a housing (9) and a breechblock (10). The housing and said cradles (5) in an operative condition engage sleeves (7) encasing cartridges (6) to form chambers with said breechblock, wherein the breechblock includes a guide (11) for engagement with a follower (15) on the cartridges (6) to urge cartridge and sleeve (7) into engagement with a barrel (2). The gun (1) further includes a firing mechanism for initiating a propellant charge (18) in one or more of the cartridges (6) supported by cradles (5) in the operative condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.