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Firearms / Machine guns / AAT-52

AAT-52

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Machine gun

  • ORIGIN
    France

  • NICKNAMES
    AA-52
    Arme Automatique Transformable Modèle 1952
    AAT-F1 (alternative designation for AAT-NF1)

  • DESIGNED
    1951 - 1952

  • DESIGNER
    Manufacture dÂ’Armes de Chatellerault

  • PRODUCTION
    1952 - 1980's

  • PRODUCERS
    France - Manufacture dÂ’Armes de Chatellerault
    France - Manufacture dÂ’Armes de St Etienne

  • QUANTITY
    Unknown

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Limited weight in LMG role
    Requires proper headspace adjustment

Introduction

The AAT-52 is a machine gun of French origin. It was developed in the early 1950’s to replace the various weapons in different calibers in service up to that point. The name AAT-52 stands for Arme Automatique Transformable Modèle 1952, which translates to transformable automatic weapon, model 1952. This refers to its use as a general purpose machine gun, being both carried by infantry, used on tripods and fitted to vehicles.

Design

The AAT-52 has a peculiar design using a lever-delayed blowback mechanism. A telescoping metal buttstock is fitted as well as metal pistol grip with plastic grip plates. The barrel can be easily changed, with a light barrel available for infantry use and a heavy barrel for mounted use. The light barrel is fitted with bipod and carrying handle.

Firepower

The AAT-52 fires the 7.5x54mm French round from interconnectable 50 round belts. The AAT-NF1 is a modified version to cater the 7.62x51mm NATO round using US M13 links. The rate of fire is rather high with a cyclic rate of fire of 900 rpm. The effective range from the bipod is 600 meters. This increases to 1 km when mounted on a tripod or vehicle.

Users

The main user of the AAT-52 was France, using it in the infantry role as well as mounted on various vehicles and aircraft. With the adoption of NATO ammunition the AAT-52 was converted to 7.62x51mm NATO. Large quantities in both calibers have been exported to nations with close ties to France. In French service the AAT-NF1 is being replaced by the Minimi in the infantry role and by the MAG for vehicle use.

Variants

AAT-52

AAT-52: Original model chambered in 7.5x54mm. Available with light barrel and bipod for the light machine gun role, known as AAT Légère. The original version is also referred to as the AAT Lourde.
AAT-NF1: AAT-52 modified to take the 7.62x51mm NATO round. Available with both a light and heavy barrel as in the original AAT-52.
AAT-52 Char: AAT-52 or AAT-NF1 for vehicle use with solenoid trigger. The Char No.1 model has a solenoid trigger and is meant for coaxial use. The Char No.2 has a manual trigger, shoulder stock and light barrel and is meant for use on a pintle mount.
AAT-52 Avion: AAT-52 or AAT-NF1 for aircraft use. Available in the versions No.1, No.2 and No.3 with solenoid trigger, plus the No.4 with manual trigger and iron sights.

TypeMachine gun
Caliber7.5x54mm French
MagazineBelt fed, 50 rounds
OperationGas operated, lever-delayed blowback
Fire selector0-F
Rate of fire700 rpm
Barrel length490 mm
Rifling?
Muzzle velocity820 m/s
StockRetractable
Length1.145 mm / 980 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight9.85 kg empty
SightsIron sights, barleycorn front and tangent leaf with U-notch rear, 200 to 2.000 m gradations
RemarksOptional bipod (0.82 kg) and monopod (0.69 kg)
TypeMachine gun
Caliber7.5x54mm French
MagazineBelt fed, 50 rounds
OperationGas operated, lever-delayed blowback
Fire selector0-F
Rate of fire700 rpm
Barrel length600 mm
Rifling?
Muzzle velocity840 m/s
StockRetractable
Length1.245 mm / 1.080 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight10.57 kg empty
SightsIron sights, barleycorn front and tangent leaf with U-notch rear, 200 to 2.000 m gradations
RemarksOptional bipod (0.82 kg) and monopod (0.69 kg)
TypeMachine gun
Caliber7.62x51mm NATO
MagazineBelt fed, 50 rounds
OperationGas operated, lever-delayed blowback
Fire selector0-F
Rate of fire900 rpm
Barrel length490 mm
Rifling?
Muzzle velocity810 m/s
StockRetractable
Length1.145 mm / 980 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight9.15 kg empty
SightsIron sights, barleycorn front and tangent leaf with U-notch rear, 200 to 2.000 m gradations
RemarksOptional bipod (0.82 kg) and monopod (0.69 kg)
TypeMachine gun
Caliber7.62x51mm NATO
MagazineBelt fed, 50 rounds
OperationGas operated, lever-delayed blowback
Fire selector0-F
Rate of fire900 rpm
Barrel length600 mm
Rifling?
Muzzle velocity830 m/s
StockRetractable
Length1.245 mm / 1.080 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight10.55 kg empty
SightsIron sights, barleycorn front and tangent leaf with U-notch rear, 200 to 2.000 m gradations
RemarksOptional bipod (0.82 kg) and monopod (0.69 kg)

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