M134 Minigun (7.62 mm) - Revision history

U38088265 at 21:17, 29 July 2024

2024-07-29T21:17:48Z

U12017485: Reverted Secondary distinction - too much work to accurately represent it across all vehicles and weapons.

2024-07-28T09:11:43Z

Reverted Secondary distinction - too much work to accurately represent it across all vehicles and weapons.

U12017485: Added mh_60l_dap, made a distinction between Suspended and Secondary

2024-07-28T08:48:35Z

Added mh_60l_dap, made a distinction between Suspended and Secondary

U22067555: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */ Added OH-58D

2023-10-06T15:32:19Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon: Added OH-58D

U44629479: Edits

2023-04-17T18:49:34Z

Edits

U17577377: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2023-03-13T22:32:20Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U38088265: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2023-01-10T21:54:58Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U38088265: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2022-10-10T17:46:08Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U38088265: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2022-06-21T20:58:51Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U38088265: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */ Updated

2021-01-27T12:19:42Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon: Updated

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-6M}}{{Specs-Link|ah_6m}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-Line|OH-58D}}{{Specs-Link|oh_58d}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Utility helicopters'''}}
 {{Navigation-Line|AB 205}}{{Specs-Link|ab_205a_1}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-Line|UH-1}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1b}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c_xm_30}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1d}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-End}}

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-1Z}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1z}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-6M}}{{Specs-Link|ah_6m}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-{{Navigation-Line|OH-58D}}{{Specs-Link|oh_58d}}&nbsp;(Secondary)
+{{Navigation-Line|OH-58D}}{{Specs-Link|oh_58d}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Utility helicopters'''}}
 {{Navigation-Line|AB 205}}{{Specs-Link|ab_205a_1}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-Line|UH-1}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1b}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c_xm_30}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1d}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-{{Navigation-Line|UH-60}}{{Specs-Link|mh_60l_dap}}&nbsp;(Secondary)
+{{Navigation-Line|UH-60}}{{Specs-Link|mh_60l_dap}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-End}}

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-1Z}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1z}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-6M}}{{Specs-Link|ah_6m}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-{{Navigation-Line|OH-58D}}{{Specs-Link|oh_58d}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Line|OH-58D}}{{Specs-Link|oh_58d}}&nbsp;(Secondary)
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Utility helicopters'''}}
 {{Navigation-Line|AB 205}}{{Specs-Link|ab_205a_1}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-Line|UH-1}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1b}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c_xm_30}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1d}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-End}}

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-1Z}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1z}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-6M}}{{Specs-Link|ah_6m}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Utility helicopters'''}}

@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 == Media ==
 <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
-{{Youtube-gallery|rIlwHT4IdRc|[Forgotten Weapons] M134 Minigun: The Modern Gatling Gun}}
+;Videos
 == See also ==
@@ Line 82: / Line 83: @@
 ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 * ''topic on the official game forum;''
 * ''other literature.''

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:54, 10 January 2023
Line 15:		Line 15:

	{{Navigation-Start\|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}		{{Navigation-Start\|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
		+
		+	{{Navigation-First-Line\|'''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link\|douglas_a_1h}} (Suspended)

	{{Navigation-First-Line\|'''Attack helicopters'''}}		{{Navigation-First-Line\|'''Attack helicopters'''}}

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 {{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attack helicopters'''}}
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-1G}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1g_iaf}}
 {{Navigation-Line|AH-1Q}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1q_iaf}}

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 == 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.'' -->
-The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a six-barrel rotary machine gun which is powered by an external source to rotate the barrel allowing for a high rate of speed when it comes to firing the weapon.  This gun can be plugged into an electric motor or a vehicle such as a UH-1 helicopter to receive power.  The term minigun is in reference being smaller compared to the original and larger 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon of which the M134 is based on.  The M134 utilises rifle calibre 7.62 x 51 mm NATO rounds instead of the 20 mm autocannon shells the M61 uses.
+The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a six-barrel rotary machine gun which is powered by an external source to rotate the barrel allowing for a high rate of speed when it comes to firing the weapon. This gun can be plugged into an electric motor or a vehicle such as a UH-1 helicopter to receive power. The term minigun is in reference being smaller compared to the original and larger 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon of which the M134 is based on. The M134 utilises rifle calibre 7.62 x 51 mm NATO rounds instead of the 20 mm autocannon shells the M61 uses.
-The M134 can either be mounted to a hard point on a vehicle for remote firing or can be put on a pedestal which allows a human to directly aim and fire the machine gun at will. The Minigun was designed and developed in the early '60s and was first used in the Vietnam War where it was primarily outfitted on helicopters which had issues with overheating barrels on their machine guns.  The Minigun alleviated this problem with the air-cooled rotating barrels and could sustain fire longer when necessary, especially in hotter environments.
+The M134 can either be mounted to a hard point on a vehicle for remote firing or can be put on a pedestal which allows a human to directly aim and fire the machine gun at will. The Minigun was designed and developed in the early '60s and was first used in the Vietnam War where it was primarily outfitted on helicopters which had issues with overheating barrels on their machine guns. The Minigun alleviated this problem with the air-cooled rotating barrels and could sustain fire longer when necessary, especially in hotter environments.
 So reliable was the M134 Minigun, it found many applications, but not just on helicopters inside mounted pods such as the OH-6 Cayuse, AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 "Huey". Fixed wing aircraft also found a place for the M134 such as the A-37 Dragonfly, A-1 Skyraider, Douglas AC-47, Fairchild AC-119 and the Lockheed AC-130 where the ability to mount multiple Miniguns turned these aircraft into potent aerial firing platforms which could spray an area of the ground below with a hail of bullets.
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 <!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
-* {{Specs-Link|ab_205a_1}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
-* {{Specs-Link|ah_1f}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-* {{Specs-Link|ah_1g}}
+{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attack helicopters'''}}
-* {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_early}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Line|AH-1F}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1f}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1f_iaf}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-* {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_late}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Line|AH-1G}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1g_iaf}}
-* {{Specs-Link|ah_1s}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Line|AH-1Q}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1q_iaf}}
-* {{Specs-Link|ah_1z}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Line|AH-1S}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1s_early}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1s}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1s_late}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-* {{Specs-Link|uh_1b}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Line|AH-1Z}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1z}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-* {{Specs-Link|uh_1c}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
-* {{Specs-Link|uh_1c_xm_30}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Utility helicopters'''}}
-* {{Specs-Link|uh_1d}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
+{{Navigation-Line|AB 205}}{{Specs-Link|ab_205a_1}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 == General info ==
@@ Line 42: / Line 45: @@
 == 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.'' -->
 The main purpose of the M134 Minigun is to lay down a lot of bullets in a short period of time in a relatively small area. While not very effective against armoured vehicles it can be used effectively against lighter armoured vehicles or other aircraft.
 === Pros and cons ===
@@ Line 53: / Line 56: @@
 '''Cons:'''
 * Smaller calibre bullets (7.62 mm), challenges against thicker armour
 * Blows through ammunition when continuously fired
 == History ==
@@ Line 59: / Line 62: @@
 There are few weapons systems which stand the test of time and which are still in continual military use with only minor upgrades as time goes on, to name are few are the B-52 Stratofortress, C-130 Hercules and the M134 Minigun.
-Throughout time, man has always looked at improving weapons to be either bigger, better or faster than the enemies weapons, ensuring an advantage.  Ball and powder guns gave way to guns utilising bullets.  Revolvers allowed continuous firing until all of the loaded rounds were fired and then reloading took place.  Magazines allowed for more bullets to be loaded than revolver capacity, but true power came with belt loaded guns which had a hand-crank in the 1860s developed by Richard Gatling, allowing continuous firing until the cranking was stopped or bullets ran out. The gun would fire as fast as the person could crank the handle. While a fantastic weapon at this point, Gatling sought to improve the gun by connecting it to a revolutionary new invention, the electric motor. To optimize the firing rate, Gatling actually had to slow down the mechanism, however, at this rate could potentially still fire at 3,000 rounds per minute. Unfortunately newer, cheaper and lighter machine guns were developed a the same time and became the favoured guns and the Gatling gun as a whole was shelved. During World War I and later on, both the Germans and the British attempted to build upon Gatling's idea, however, none were successful enough to be deployed into combat.
+Throughout time, man has always looked at improving weapons to be either bigger, better or faster than the enemies weapons, ensuring an advantage. Ball and powder guns gave way to guns utilising bullets. Revolvers allowed continuous firing until all of the loaded rounds were fired and then reloading took place. Magazines allowed for more bullets to be loaded than revolver capacity, but true power came with belt loaded guns which had a hand-crank in the 1860s developed by Richard Gatling, allowing continuous firing until the cranking was stopped or bullets ran out. The gun would fire as fast as the person could crank the handle. While a fantastic weapon at this point, Gatling sought to improve the gun by connecting it to a revolutionary new invention, the electric motor. To optimize the firing rate, Gatling actually had to slow down the mechanism, however, at this rate could potentially still fire at 3,000 rounds per minute. Unfortunately newer, cheaper and lighter machine guns were developed a the same time and became the favoured guns and the Gatling gun as a whole was shelved. During World War I and later on, both the Germans and the British attempted to build upon Gatling's idea, however, none were successful enough to be deployed into combat.
-As the United States became involved in the Vietnam Conflict, it was determined there was a need for an electric powered, rotating barrel Gatling-style gun.  The gun needed to have a high rate of fire, but have a durable gun barrel which would not fail due to overheating from the high rate of fire. Taking note from the M61 Vulcan cannon which fired 20 mm autocannon rounds, General Electric developed a scaled down version which utilised the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO rounds and could fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute and with the electric rotating barrels, prevented overheating of the weapon. This weapon fit the bill which the military was looking for and was installed on a variety of helicopters, aircraft and vehicles.
+As the United States became involved in the Vietnam Conflict, it was determined there was a need for an electric powered, rotating barrel Gatling-style gun. The gun needed to have a high rate of fire, but have a durable gun barrel which would not fail due to overheating from the high rate of fire. Taking note from the M61 Vulcan cannon which fired 20 mm autocannon rounds, General Electric developed a scaled down version which utilised the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO rounds and could fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute and with the electric rotating barrels, prevented overheating of the weapon. This weapon fit the bill which the military was looking for and was installed on a variety of helicopters, aircraft and vehicles.
-By the 1990s, many of the guns still available were failing to operate properly.  The company Dillon Aero acquired a large number of these weapons and determined that the Miniguns were worn-out from all of the use they went through.  In an attempt to fix the problems with the worn out parts, Dillon actually improved upon the original design.  The United States Army once again became interested in acquiring these upgraded M134s which then prompted Dillon to reevaluate other components of the gun such as the barrel, gun housing and the bolt.  The emphasis was to work with lighter weight metals with equal or greater strength of steel to reduce the total weight of the unit. The new version procured by the US Army was designated the M134D or the GAU-17 for the United States Marines. Further modifications resulting in using titanium for some of the parts resulted in the M134D-T and M134D-H, allowing for continuous service of the weapon for upwards of 1.5 million rounds before parts replacement was needed. The M134 Minigun has been exported and used by almost 40 countries and is still in use today.
+By the 1990s, many of the guns still available were failing to operate properly. The company Dillon Aero acquired a large number of these weapons and determined that the Miniguns were worn-out from all of the use they went through. In an attempt to fix the problems with the worn out parts, Dillon actually improved upon the original design. The United States Army once again became interested in acquiring these upgraded M134s which then prompted Dillon to reevaluate other components of the gun such as the barrel, gun housing and the bolt. The emphasis was to work with lighter weight metals with equal or greater strength of steel to reduce the total weight of the unit. The new version procured by the US Army was designated the M134D or the GAU-17 for the United States Marines. Further modifications resulting in using titanium for some of the parts resulted in the M134D-T and M134D-H, allowing for continuous service of the weapon for upwards of 1.5 million rounds before parts replacement was needed. The M134 Minigun has been exported and used by almost 40 countries and is still in use today.
 == Media ==