FN Minimi

The FN Minimi was a combination 'belt-fed'/magazine fed' light machine gun, designed to serve in the role of "Squad Automatic Weapon". The SAW was a mobile suppressive fire platform that was light weight and single man transportable - much more so than the venerable M60 (which was always supposed to be a General Purpose Machine Gun, i.e. a crew served weapon). The U.S. Military adopted the first models of the FN Minimi in the 1980s directly as the XM249 or later as the M249 SAW (with some slight design changes in the official U.S. Adopted version). Later versions of the gun, reflected upgrades and design changes that were requested by the U.S. Military.

On a historical note: in the first months of the First Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm 1990), there were not enough M249s to supply the massive troop buildup in the Middle East, so the U.S. Army bought outright a number of unaltered FN Minimis directly from FN, to supplement the weapons. So it is not inaccurate to see first pattern FN Minimis in the hands of U.S. Soldiers who are supposedly issued M249 SAWs since the Army mixed the two versions together until the Late 1990s.

Please note that a number of movies, particularly those filmed in British Columbia, Canada, use the Daewoo K3 to stand in for the FN Minimi and M249. Visit the Daewoo K3 page to compare the two guns.

The FN Minimi and variants are used by the following actors in the following movies, television series, video games, and anime:

Specifications

(1984 - Present)

Type: Machine Gun

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO

Capacity: 100, 200 round linked belts, or STANAG Magazines

Fire Modes: Full Auto Only (650-900 RPM) (No Selector Switch, safety is a push button)

FN Minimi

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FN Minimi with 200-round ammo drum - 5.56x45mm (note 90-degree carry handle and flash hider design).

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M249 (first pattern U.S. adopted variant of the original FN Minimi) - 5.56x45mm. The only noticeable change from the Belgian Minimi is the rear sight design and cut outs in the buttstock. Other minor changes would result in the M249-E1 and the M249-E2.

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FN Minimi Para with 100-round camo cloth ammo bag - 5.56x45mm. Note handguard design distinguishing this from the paratrooper version of the M249 SAW below.

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Notation	Date
Cockneys vs. Zombies	Georgia King	Emma		2012
Battleground				2012
Osombie	Paul D. Hunt	Joker	Paratrooper version	2012
The Viral Factor		Gunther	Paratrooper version	2012
The Other Guys		Rasta robbers		2010
Green Zone		U.S. Army soldiers	Substitutes the M249 SAW with an added heatshield	2010
Quantum of Solace		Gunmen	Paratrooper version	2008
The Mark of Cain	Gerard Kearns	Pte Mark "Treacle" Tate	Paratrooper version	2007
The Mark of Cain		British soldiers	Paratrooper version	2007
Home of the Brave	Brian Presley	Specialist Tommy Yates	Paratrooper version mounted on Humvee with 200-round woodland camo cloth ammo bag	2006
36th Precinct	Patrick Médioni	Robert Boulanger	Para, w/ammo box, w/Beta-C mag	2004
Swordfish	John Travolta	Gabriel Shear		2001
Black Hawk Down	Ian Virgo	PFC John Waddell	Substitutes the M249 SAW	2001
Black Hawk Down	Tom Hardy	Specialist Lance Twombly	Substitutes the M249 SAW	2001
Proof of Life		Downtown 3	Substitutes the M249 SAW with an added heatshield	2000
Bravo Two Zero	Richard Graham,Rick Warden,Steve Nicolson	Mark,Tony,Dinger	the open front sights of the Canadian C9 variant, and also used the FN Minimi prototype.	1999
Ronin	Robert De Niro	Sam	The Paratrooper version is used	1998
Half a Chance	.	Various	.	1998
Dobermann	Monica Bellucci	Nat the Gypsy	With M203 grenade launcher	1997
The One That Got Away	Steve John Shepherd	Small Bob	prototype	1996
Courage Under Fire	Lou Diamond Phillips	Staff Sergeant John Monfriez	Fitted with heat shield to pass for M249 SAW	1996
Operation Condor		Hotel manager		1991
	Eva Cobo de Garcia	Elsa
Robocop		Detroit SWAT officer		1987

Television

Show Title	Actor	Character	Notation	Air Date
Ultimate Force	Ross Kemp	SSgt. Henry "Henno" Garvie	Handled but never fired	2002 - 2006
	Danny Sapani	Cpl. Ricky Mann	Fed from 200 round cloth ammo drum
	Alex Reid	Cpt. Caroline Walsh
	Liam Garrigan	Cpl. Ed Dwyer	Fitted with FN FAL style folding stock and fed from 200 round cloth ammo bag
	Louis Decosta Johnson	Cpl. Dave Woolston	Fed from 200 round cloth ammo bag and loose belts
			Para model, fed from 30 round magazine
	William Meredith	Fender	Para model, fed 200 round cloth ammo bag
Iris - Season 1		North Korean terrorists		2009

Video Games

Title	As	Notation	Release Date
Resident Evil Game		Can only be found in the PC version	1996
Project IGI: I'm Going In			2000
Project IGI 2: Covert Strike			2003
Mercenaries 2: World In Flames	as the "Light MG"	M249 (First Variant)	2008
Project Reality		Paratrooper version with optional SCROME J4 scope, EOTech red dot sight, and 100-round DPM camo cloth ammo bag	2005
Project Reality	As the "L110A1" and "L110A2"	L110 variants with optional SUSAT scope and 100-round DPM camo cloth ammo bag	2005
Little Busters!			2007
World in Conflict		Cutscenes only	2007
7.62 High Calibre		Standard and Para versions	2008
Wheelman		w/ full stock and M249-style pistol grip and trigger guard	2009
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action	Minimi	Minimi Para with heat-shield	2012
Medal of Honor: Warfighter	Ksp 90	Bofors Ksp 90	2012

Anime

Film/Television Title	Character	Notation	Date
Kochikame, The Movie	Volvo Saigo		1999
Asobi ni Ikuyo!			2010
Gunsmith Cats			1995
Sword Art Online II			2014 M249-E1 / M249-E2 / M249 Paratrooper SAW Error creating thumbnail: File missing M249-E1 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) with 200-round ammo drum - First major upgrade of the SAW officially adopted by the U.S. Military (this is a real blank adapted movie gun) - 5.56x45mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing M249-E2 SAW - upgraded M249 with heat shield and full synthetic Stock, equipped with a 200 round ammo drum - 5.56x45mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing M249 SAW paratrooper version with 200 round ammo drum - 5.56x45mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing M249 Paratrooper - a real blank adapted movie gun with bipod folded and a picatinny rail on the top of the feed tray cover - 5.56x45mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing M249 SAW Paratrooper - this one features components of the Product Improvement Package (PIP), including the new telescoping stock, heat shield, and RIS handguard, and is also fitted with an ACOG scope and a 100-round woodland camo cloth ammo bag - 5.56x45mm Film Title Actor Character Notation Date Escape Plan Arnold Schwarzenegger Swan Rottmayer 2013 Escape Plan A gunner on helicopter 2013 A Good Day to Die Hard Bruce Willis John McClane Paratrooper model fitted with EOTech sight and RIS handguard 2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Dwayne Johnson Roadblock Standard M249 fitted with red dot sight and RIS handguard 2013 Act of Valor U.S. Navy SEALs Fitted with red dot sights and RIS foregrips 2012 Safe House mercenary 2012 New Kids Nitro Wesley van Galen Rikkert M249-E1 SAW with fixed stock 2011 Memorial Day Thomas Sellwood PFC Nick Sullivan With custom picatinny rail 2011 Memorial Day 34th Infantry Division soldiers 2011 Special Forces Alain Figlarz Victor Paratrooper model with foregrip and ACOG sight 2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon Lester Speight Eddie With barrel shroud and Aimpoint sight 2011 Colombiana Guard 2011 Battle: Los Angeles Gino Anthony Pesi Cpl. Nick Stavrou With ACOG scope 2011 Battle: Los Angeles U.S Marines With ACOG scope 2011 Gamer Keith Jardine Mean Slayer With barrel shroud 2009 G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Heavy Duty With grenade launcher 2009 District 9 MNU mercenaries 2009 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem Special Forces soldier With Elcan M145 MGO and suppressor 2009 In the Valley of Elah Hans Steckley Cpl. Steckley Paratrooper version 2007 I Am Legend Will Smith Dr. Robert Neville 2007 Stop-Loss Joseph Gordon-Levitt Pfc. Tommy Burgess With Elcan M145 MGO 2007 28 Weeks Later U.S. Army soldiers 2007 Idiocracy Terry Crews President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho Para, Red and blue highlights, presidential seal on ammo box 2006 The Island Mercenaries Paratrooper model; mounted on fictional 'Black Wasp' airbikes 2005 War of The Worlds ??? U.S. Army soldiers 2005 Jarhead U.S. Marines 2005 The Island Mounted on the 'Black Wasp' craft 2005 Harsh Times 2005 Bad Boys II A member of the rescue team Paratrooper version 2003 Hulk Soldiers in the Secret Lab fitted with Cobray CM203 Flare Launcher 2003 The Hunted Carrick O'Quinn Kohler 2003 Tears of the Sun Nick Chinlund Michael "Slo" Slowenski Paratrooper version with cloth ammo pouch and accessory rail mounted on feed tray cover 2003 Die Another Day U.S. Army soldiers Paratrooper 2002 Television Show Title / Episode Actor Character Notation Air Date Banshee - Season 2 / E10 Hoon Lee Job M249-E2 2014 Ultimate Weapons U.S. Marines M249-E2 2010 Revolution Extra Militia Monroe M249-E1 2013 Generation Kill Billy Lush Lance Corporal Trombley 2008 Generation Kill U.S. Marines 2008 CSI: NY/Heroes ??? U.S. Marine May 10, 2006 Invasion Hybrid National Guardsmen 2005-2006 Over There Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones Pvt. Maurice 'Smoke' Williams Starts out with the standard version, then changes to paratrooper version 2005 Red Cap Army Air Corps Gunner Paratrooper model 2003-2004 Video Games Title Appear As Mods Notation Release Date Insurgency Counter-Strike Online M249 Red(Christmas Special) and Skull-7 Anti-Zombie Variant Paratrooper version TBD Operation 7 ??? Half-Life Only appears in the expansion pack Opposing Force, magazine capacity is 50 rounds 1998 Armored Fist 3 Seen in title sequence, non-playable 1999 Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear M249 SAW w/ 200-round ammo can Urban Operations expansion 2000 Counter-Strike M249 Paratrooper version 2000 Delta Force: Land Warrior 2000 Parasite Eve 2 Light Machine Gun 2000 Fallout Tactics FN M249 SAW w/ 30-round STANAG magazines 2001 Delta Force: Task Force Dagger 2002 America's Army 2002 Conflict: Desert Storm 2002 XIII Sub-machinegun No stock 2003 Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield w/scope 2003 Counter-Strike: Condition Zero M249 Paratrooper version 2003 Söldner: Secret Wars 2004 Kill.Switch 2004 Full Spectrum Warrior 2004 Counter-Strike: Source M249 Paratrooper version 2004 Far Cry Machine gun No stock 2004 Battlefield 2 With Minimi-style carry handle and muzzle brake Handheld or vehicle-mounted, or in fixed positions 2005 Close Combat: First to Fight M249 SAW 2005 Project Reality With paratrooper-style telescoping stock In fixed defensive positions 2005 Project Reality Paratrooper version with optional M145 MGO or ACOG scope, M4-style telescoping stock, RIS foregrip, and 100-round woodland camo cloth ammo bag 2005 Far Cry: Instincts 2005 Battlefield 2: Modern Combat 2006 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories SAW 2006 Alliance of Valiant Arms With custom tiger-stripe paint scheme 2007 America's Army: True Soldiers 2007 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare M249 SAW 2007 ArmA: Armed Assault 2007 Soldier of Fortune: Payback 2007 Battlefield: Bad Company Paratrooper version 2008 Far Cry 2 Metal belt box 2008 Terminator Salvation 2009 America's Army 3 With 200-round ammo drum or 100-round woodland camo ammo bag and M68 Aimpoint red dot scope 2009 ArmA II M249 SAW Also available in M249 Paratrooper and L110A1 models 2009 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 M249 SAW An M249 SAW is seen mounted on a log in the level "Whiskey Hotel" 2009 Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising M249 SAW 2009 Marines: Modern Urban Combat 2010 Just Cause 2 Machine Gun 2010 Fallout: New Vegas w/lower wooden handguards 2010 Delta Force: Xtreme 2 2010 Medal of Honor M249 SAW w/ variety of accessories w/ MK 46 Mod 0 heat-shield 2010 Army of Two: The 40th Day M249 SAW Can be fitted with a variety of stocks, barrels, magazines, scopes, suppressors/muzzle brakes 2010 Homefront M249 2011 Battlefield 3 M249 SAW Can be use with a variety of options, Both Russian and United States options for scopes and attchments 2011 SOCOM 4: US Navy SEALs ISR-N56 2011 War Inc. Battlezone w/ various attachments 2011 Karma Online 2011 Spec Ops: The Line 2012 Medal of Honor: Warfighter "M249" various variants w/o STANAG magazine well 2012 Arctic Combat 2012 Ravaged 2012 ArmA Tactics M249 M249 Para PIP 2013 America's Army: Proving Grounds 2013 Anime Film/Television Title Character Notation Date Full Metal Panic! Sousuke Sagara M249-E2 SAW 2002 Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Batou M249 SAW 2002 Blood+ Red Shield personnel 2005 Flag mounted on UNF tank M249-E1 2006 Puella Magi Madoka Magica Homura Akemi M249 SAW Paratrooper 2011 Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino Italian Army M249-E2 2008 FN Minimi SPW Error creating thumbnail: File missing FN Minimi SPW with 100-round cloth ammo bag and RIS foregrip - 5.56x45mm The Minimi SPW or M249 SPW (Special Purpose Weapon) is a modified SAW with shorter barrel and collapsible buttstock. The carrying handle, STANAG magazine well, and vehicle mounting lug have been removed to reduce weight. Several times seen as a modified Daewoo K3. Video Games Title Appear As Mods Notation Release Date Kane and Lynch: Dead Men 2007 Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter "MK48" w/ carry handle 2005 Rainbow Six: Vegas M249 SPW With optional ACOG scope, red dot sight, and improved stock 2006 Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 M249 SPW with a variety of accesories and wrong buttstock when used by the player 2008 7.62 High Calibre 2008 Code of Honor 3: Desperate Measures "M249 MOD 2" 2009 Bodycount "Minimi" With 100-round solid drum 2011 Armed Forces Corps "M249 MOD 2" 2009 Mk 48 Mod 0 Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mk 48 Mod 0 machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO The Mk 48 Mod 0 is the 7.62x51mm variant of the Mk 46 Mod 0. This version is no longer manufactured, it was dropped for the favor of the Mk 48 Mod 1. Film Title Actor Character Notation Date SEAL Team Six: The Raid On Osama Bin Laden Xzibit Mule 2012 Zero Dark Thirty Navy SEAL suppressor 2012 Television Show Title Actor Character Notation / Episode Air Date Future Weapons Richard Machowicz Richard Machowicz Predators February 26, 2007 Mail Call R. Lee Ermey Video Games Title Appear As Mods Notation Release Date SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Confrontation Mk. 48 2008 Combat Arms Mk.48 2004 Soldier of Fortune: Payback M48 SAW custom stock and carry handle w/ EOTEch, reflex scope or red dot scope 2007 7.62 High Calibre 2008 ArmA II M68 Aimpoint 2009 Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising Mk48 Mod 0 2009 Battlefield Play4Free "Veteran's M249 SAW" With optional EOTech red dot sight Depicted as upgraded version of Mk 46 Mod 0 2011 Operation Flashpoint: Red River 2011 Ghost Recon: Future Soldier MK48 w/ various attachments w/ M249 Para-type collapsing stock 2012 Mk 48 Mod 1 Error creating thumbnail: File missing FN Mk 48 Mod 1 - 7.62x51mm NATO Video Games Title Appear As Mods Notation Release Date Ghost Recon Online Mk 48 Mod 1 w/ various attachments 2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Mk48 w/ various attachments 2012 Mk 46 Mod 0 File:Mk46.jpg Mk 46 Mod 0 light machine gun - 5.56x45mm The Mk 46 Mod 0 is a short-barreled Mk 48 in 5.56x45mm NATO. This version is no longer manufactured, it was dropped in favor of the Mk 46 Mod 1. Film Title Actor Character Notation Date Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen NEST soldiers With Harris bipods, Aimpoint and Elcan M145 MGO sights 2009 Iron Man Seen on table during weapons demonstration 2008 XXX 2: State of the Union Ice Cube Darius Stone 2005 XXX 2: State of the Union Samuel L. Jackson August Gibbons 2005 Television Show Title / Episode Actor Character Notation Air Date Future Weapons/Predators Richard Machowicz Richard Machowicz February 26, 2007 Video Games Title Appear As Mods Notation Release Date Rainbow Six: Vegas MK46 w/variety of accessories 2006 World in Conflict Anachronistic 2007 Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 MK46 w/variety of accessories 2008 Saints Row 2 AR-200 2008 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Mk. 46 Mod 1 Actually a Mod 0 2008 Operation 7 2006 7.62 High Calibre 2008 MAG 2010 Counter-Strike Online Destiny gold key w/ 1.5x M145 MGO scope 2010 The 3rd Birthday 2010 Battlefield Play4Free As the "M249 SAW" With optional EOTech red dot sight 2011 Medal of Honor: Warfighter M249 Mk46 Mod1 w/ various attachments 2012 Binary Domain Schwarzlose M-489 SAW Para stock, SAW-style handguard, enormous bayonet-like device 2012 Grand Theft Auto V "Combat MG" w/ the buttstock of an M60 2013 Mk 46 Mod 1 Error creating thumbnail: File missing FN Mk 46 Mod 1 - 5.56x45mm NATO Video Games Title Appear As Mods Notation Release Date SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 Mk 46 Mod 1 w/ various attachments 2010 Medal of Honor: Warfighter M249 Mk46 Mod1 w/ various attachments 2012 FN C9 Light Machine Gun The C9 is a variant of the Minimi used by the Canadian Armed Forces, identifiable by the open front sight and rounded trigger guard as opposed to the hooded front sights and squared trigger guard on other Minimi variants. The upgraded version, the C9A1, features an ELCAN scope mounted on the feed tray cover and an optional vertical grip that mounts to the stock for added stability during prone firing. The newest version, the C9A2, is a mid-life upgrade that incorporates a paratrooper-length barrel and an overall olive drab coloration and M4-style telescoping stock to match the Canadian-issue C7A2 rifle. FN C9 light machine gun - 5.56x45mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing FN C9A1 light machine gun with bipod removed, ELCAN scope, and 200-round ammo drum - 5.56x45mm File:101-smallarm-2-c9a2-lmg.jpg FN C9A2 light machine gun with ELCAN scope, AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, and 200-round cloth ammo bag - 5.56x45mm Film Title Actor Character Notation Date Battle for Haditha U.S. Marines Fitted with buttstock to pass for M249 SAW 2007 Video Games Title Appear As Mods Notation Release Date Project Reality C9A2, with optional ELCAN scope and 100-round cloth ammo bag Handheld or vehicle-mounted 2005 See Also FN Herstal - A list of all firearms manufactured by FN Herstal.