Mendoza RM2
| Mendoza RM-2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin |  Mexico |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Mexico |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rafael Mendoza |
| Designed | 1928-1933 |
| Variants | See variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 6,3 kg |
| Length | 1,092 mm |
| Barrel length | 610 mm (24 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.92x57mm Mauser .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm) |
| Action | Gas-operated, open bolt |
| Rate of fire | 450-650 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 805 m/s (2,640 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 548 m (599 yd) |
| Feed system | 20/32-round detachable box magazine |
The Mendoza RM2 was a light machine gun similar to the M1918 BAR manufactured in Mexico by Productos Mendoza, S.A.. Rafael Mendoza have been producing machine guns for the Mexican Army since 1933 and all have been noted for their lightness and cheap construction without sacrificing reliability.
History
Rafael Mendoza, a veteran of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 was also a part talented engineer gunsmith. In 1920 he joined the National arms factory in Mexico City and began work on his own machine gun. The prototype machine gun came in 1932 and in October of that year the Mexican military began testing a machine gun. The tests were successful. The machine gun in 1933 was adopted by the (as a consultant to the American engineer involved in the work). Serial production of the machine gun began in June 1934.
The M1933 Mendoza was a reliable weapon and a modern design at that time. Features guns were quick change barrel (barrel retention mechanism was designed by Rafael Mendoza and had a U.S. patent), mounted on top of the store, the rate of fire was 400 rounds per minute (with an open shutter). cartridges caliber 7.92x57mm, which were standard cartridge Mexican army since 1885, when President Porfirio Diaz adopting them. It was fed from a 20 round magazine similar to that found on the Madsen LMG. Magazine was inserted on the top right, while Madsen gun shop top left. One of the innovations gun Mendoza was symmetrical striker, with the same form of the ends. This allowed the striker in case of damage, and turn the striker gun could fire again.
In the Mexican Army infantry machine gun serviced 4 or 2 cavalry. Marines were put to the gun 1000 rounds in 50 stores, while the cavalry was supposed to 860 rounds in 43 stores. In addition to military ammunition transferred spare parts for the machine gun.
Overview
The Mendoza used a gas-operated Lewis LMG operation with improvements, an overhead box magazine and a quick-change barrel. It used a gas cylinder system that delivers a short impulse to the piston, and the bolt is similar to that of the Lewis Gun, rotating and driven by two cams engaged with the piston rod. The RM2 is the most recent model and adds a simplified method of stripping, by simply removing a lock pin, the stock and rear of the receiver can be folded down to allow the bolt and piston to be withdrawn backwards.
Variants
M1933
M1945
The M1945 was virtually the same weapon with additional small changes (different pattern bipod instead of the M1933′s individually-swiveling side-mounted bipod legs, front sight relocated on the barrel to a point above the gas cylinder, smooth pistol grip, perforated muzzle brake, etc.) and a change in caliber to .30-06 utilizing a slightly-curved magazine.
M1955
The RM2 of 1955 was a greatly simplified version with reduced production costs that differed significantly from its predecessors. It had a fixed smooth barrel with a slash-cut slotted muzzle brake, simplified gas cylinder, different front and rear sights, less-raked handguard / foregrip, separate handguard and buttstock assemblies, side-mounted sling swivel on the left side just above and behind the pistol grip, and a straight sided magazine. It was more of a heavy-barreled automatic rifle than a LMG, and was not as effective as the M1933 or M1945. It was not adopted for general service.
RM2
Ultimate model. The RM2 was made shortly after World War 2 and chambered for the .30-06 US (7.62x63) ammunition, which was adopted as the new standard by the Mexican army during the late 1940s. This weapon was rather light and dispensed with a quick-detachable barrel. It was a serious competitor to the M1918 BAR, although it never saw any significant use outside Mexico.
See also
References
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