(Aliens) - M56 Smart Gun

You aren't supposed to lift information word for word from other sites, it is against IMFDB policies (read the rules and regulations). We appreciate you not uploading a blank page but this isn't the right way to fill one. In the future, write it in your own words. (at least you gave credit to the sources you jacked) - Gunmaster45 04:25, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG-42

The MG42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or "Machine Rifle 42") is a machine gun that was developed for and entered service with Nazi Germany in 1942, during World War II. The 7.92 mm rifle caliber weapon was developed from, and was intended to supplant the MG34 machine gun, though both were manufactured and used until the end of the war.[1] The MG42 has a proven record of reliability, durability, simplicity, and ease of operation, but is most notable for being able to produce a stunning volume of suppressive fire. The MG42 has one of the highest average rates of fire of any single-barreled light machine gun, between 1,200 and 1,500 rpm, resulting in a distinctive muzzle report. There were other automatic weapon designs with similar firepower at its inception, such as the Hungarian-Gebauer single-barreled tank MGs and the Russian 7.62 mm GShak aircraft gun. However, the MG42's belt-feed and quick-change barrel system allowed for more prolonged firing in comparison to these weapons.

The MG42's lineage continued past Nazi Germany's defeat, forming the basis for the nearly identical M52, MG1 (MG 42/59), and subsequently improved into the still very similar MG2, which was in turn followed by the MG3. It also spawned the Swiss SIG 710-3, MG42/59, and a 5.56 mm Spanish CETME Ameli machine gun, and lent many design elements to the American M60. The Ameli and the MG3 were in service with many armies during the Cold War and remain so into the 21st century.

part 2

SOURCE: http://members.tripod.com/CORP_HICKS/smartgun.html

The M-56 Smart Gun fills the Squad Automatic role in a USCM section. A Smart Gun needs special training to use and is only issued to such "Smart Gunners". The length of the weapon is 122 cm, with a straight rear firing grip and a fore firing grip. In addition, a cocking handle is mounted on the right side of the gun, for manual cocking once a new ammo drum has been attached (reliability drops to UR on the first trigger pull if the weapon is left to cock automatically). The gun is mounted on a servo-assisted gyro-stabilisation arm attached to an armoured torso harness. The weapon has an inbuilt smart-targeting system, consisting of a targeting processor in the harness, infrared sensors in the headset and above the barrel of the gun, and the gyro-balancing servo arm. When a target is designated through the headest and barrel sensors, the servo arm immediately moving the gun to track the target. Changing targets is done simply by directing the gun toward a new target. The electronicpulse action allows great control over the rate of fire of the weapon, which is controlled by a toggle switch on the fore grip. It can fire a four-round burst (3-round burst r) and has a full-auto fire mode of 60 rounds.

-- from a visual note. the M56 Smartgun, has a mechanical assist servo that coincides with the operators vision targeting system. as you can see in the movie, the operators use a visual field sight, that most likely tells the weapon where it needs to be firing. thus making that weapon much more accurate with mechanical and computed fire corrections. the muzzle size would indicate that the rounds would indicate that the rounds would be in the 7.62 to 14.5 (.308 - .50 caliber) range. the comment of 1LT Gorman "10 millimeter explosive tip caseless. Standard light armor piercing round, why? " would indicate that the rounds were pretty standard among the marine unit's ordinance and rather effective. the advantage of the M56 smartgun of course would of course be the cyclic rate and the optic used with the M56. the M56 in the movie also had what appears to be a power cell when SGT APONE says "clear and lock". this power cell seems to be an ignighting system for the M56 system, an essential part of the weapons operating system. THANKFULLY, Pvt. Vasquez had 2 of these units hidden in her bosoms.