C9 Light Machine Gun

C9 Light Machine Gun

Also known as the "Minimi" (and in American service as both the M249, and the SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon)), the C9 Light Machine Gun replaced the FN C2 as the C7 rifle was replacing the FN C1. This weapon fired the same 5.56mm round as the C7 rifles, either from a C7 magazine, or more commonly from a belt (usually 220 rounds in length, carried inside a green plastic box magazine).

The C9 came to be issued two guns per 8 man infantry section. The weapon could be fitted with either iron sights, or a rail for the ELCAN sight, in which case a simple battle sight was also used in the absence of the ELCAN.

The C9 Light Machine Gun was adopted as part of the new family of weapons introduced in the late 1980s using the new NATO standard 5.56mm ammunition.

Description

The Minimi light machine gun was designed by Belgium's Fabrique Nationale, the same firm that designed the FN C1 and FN C2 family of weapons that were replaced by the new C6/C7/C8/C9 family (of which the C6 and C9 were also FN designs).

The C9 could fire from 650 to 1000 rounds per minute, off of either a 200 round belt (most often carried in a plastic box, or "assault drum" fitted directly to the weapon, or in an emergency from 30 round C7 magazines. The rate of fire could be changed by a flip of the gas regulator switch.

Each weapon came with two barrels, to keep the barrel from being damaged during prolonged firing, but the weapon was considered a personal weapon (not a crew served one). The gun was light enough to be fired standing, from either the shoulder or hip, but was most accurate when fired prone or behind cover using the bipod.

Variants

• C9 was the standard weapon with FN leaf sights ("iron sights").

• C9A1 was a C9 with an Elcan C79 3x power optical sight, identical to the sights used on the C7A1 rifle. The C79 sight was a controversial modification, as vibrations tended to transfer to the mount during automatic firing; the C79 was also heavy and prone to damage.

• C9A2 refers to a modernized version instituted after combat experience in Afghanistan in 2002 and is beyond the scope of this website.