Ultimax 100
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2008-07-01T02:47:36Z
Dave1185
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clean up
{{redirect|Ultimax|the computer|Commodore MAX Machine}}
{{Infobox Weapon
|name=Ultimax 100
|image=[[Image:Ultimax100.jpg|300px]]
|caption=The Ultimax 100
|origin={{flag|Singapore}}
|type=[[Light machine gun]]
|is_ranged=yes
|service=1982-present
|used_by=See ''[[Ultimax 100#Users|Users]]''
|wars=1990s conflicts in the former [[Yugoslavia]], anti-guerrilla operations in [[Indonesia]] and the [[Philippines]], [[2006 Fijian coup d'état]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]
|designer=[[L. James Sullivan]]
|design_date=1977
|manufacturer=[[ST Kinetics|Chartered Industries of Singapore]]
|production_date=1981-present
|number=~80,000
|variants=Ultimax 100 Mark 2, Ultimax 100 Mark 3, Ultimax 100 Mark 4, Ultimax 100 Standard, Ultimax 100 Para
|weight={{kg to lb|4.75|sp=us|abbr=on|precision=2|wiki=yes}} (Mark 2)<br/> {{convert|4.90|kg|abbr=on}} (Mark 3)
|length={{mm to in|1030|abbr=on|precision=1|wiki=yes}} with buttstock / {{convert|800|mm|abbr=on|1}} buttstock detached (Mark 2)<br/> {{convert|1024|mm|abbr=on|1}} with buttstock / {{convert|810|mm|abbr=on|1}} buttstock detached (Mark 3)
|part_length={{convert|508|mm|abbr=on|1}} (standard)<br/> {{convert|330|mm|abbr=on|1}} (Ultimax 100 Para)
|cartridge=[[5.56x45mm NATO]]
|action=[[Gas-operated reloading|Gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]]
|rate=400-600 rounds/min
|velocity={{convert|970|m/s|0|lk=on|sp=us|abbr=on}} (M193 cartridge)<br/> {{convert|945|m/s|abbr=on|1}} (SS109/M855 cartridge)
|range=100 to 1,200 [[Metre|m]] sight adjustments
|max_range=460 [[Metre|m]] (M193 cartridge)<br/> 1,300 [[Metre|m]] (SS109/M855 cartridge)
|feed=100-round drum or 30-round [[STANAG]] [[M16 rifle|M16]] box [[Magazine (firearm)|magazine]]
|sights=Rear aperture sight and front post, {{mm to in|472|abbr=on|precision=1|wiki=yes}} sight radius
}}
The '''Ultimax 100''' is a [[Singapore]]an [[5.56x45mm NATO|5.56 mm]] [[light machine gun]], developed at the Chartered Industries of Singapore - CIS (currently incorporated into the Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd or ST Engineering company) by a team of engineers under the tutelage of [[United States|American]] firearms designer [[L. James Sullivan]]. Work on a new light support weapon for the [[Singapore Army]] began in 1978. The weapon is produced by CIS (presently STK - Singapore Technologies Kinetics), initially in the '''Mark 1''' version, later - the '''Mark 2''', and currently, only the '''Mark 3''' (a '''Mark 4''' variant is being evaluated). The Ultimax 100 (also called the '''U 100''') is used in significant numbers by the armed forces of Singapore, [[Croatia]] and the [[Philippines]].
==Design details==
The Ultimax 100, initially termed a "Section Machine Gun" is a [[Gas-operated reloading|gas-operated]] automatic weapon (capable of fully automatic fire only) with a short-stroke gas piston rod operating system powered by ignited powder gases bled from the barrel through a port at the gas block. The Ultimax 100 is a locked breech weapon with a [[rotating bolt]] that contains 7 locking lugs. It fires from an open bolt. The bolt contains both a spring extractor and a casing ejector. The weapon's non-reciprocating cocking handle is situated on the left side of the receiver and occupies the forward position during firing. The Ultimax 100 is striker fired. The feature that grants the weapon its low recoil (compared to similar LMGs) is the "Constant Recoil" principle. The overall design allows the bolt carrier group to travel all the way back without ever impacting the rear, instead stopping gradually along the axis of movement against the resistance of the return springs.<ref>{{US patent reference| number = 4,475,438| y= 1984| m= 10| d= 09| inventor= [[L. James Sullivan]]| title= Gas operated, automatic or semi-automatic guns}}</ref> The magazine catch consists of two tapered pins on a bar, controlled by the magazine release button. The machine gun feeds from a proprietary 100-round synthetic drum magazine (early models also used 60-round drum magazines), or from a modified 20 or 30-round [[STANAG 4179]] magazine (from the [[M16 rifle]]).
The Mark 1 version of the Ultimax 100 had a lightweight quick-change barrel (but due to issues arising during the removal procedure, this option was dropped), the Mark 2 - a heavy non-changeable barrel and the Mark 3 - a heavy, quick-change barrel. Currently the Mark 3 variant is also available in two different barrel lengths, a standard and short, para model, whereas the short barrel is designed for use with paratroopers and special forces. The barrel on all versions has a slotted [[flash suppressor]] and a carrying handle used to transport the weapon and assist in swapping the barrel out.
The Ultimax Mark 3 has a three-position gas regulator valve (prior models had a 5-setting gas adjustment valve) that allows the rate of fire to be varied and enables reliable operation in various environmental conditions. The gas regulator is usually pre-adjusted prior to operations. Where there is sluggish operation due to fouling, the gas setting may be increased by two clicks using the provided C-tool. The weapon features a standard pistol grip, a vertical forward grip integrated into the forend and a quick-detachable buttstock. Thanks to the mild felt recoil acting upon the shooter the weapon can be used effectively without the buttstock, using only the pistol and forward grips to support and aim the firearm. The adjustable [[bipod]] has a height adjustment mechanism and is secured to the weapon's forend, providing stability in a sustained-fire role. The bipod is quick-detachable and can be mounted or removed without the use of tools. The Ultimax 100 features an aperture-type rear sight (with range settings for distances up to 1,200 [[Metre|m]], graduated every 100 m) placed on a sliding scale and a forward vertical post housed in the front sight base and protected by two metal tabs.
The U 100 uses a manual safety mechanism that consists of a lever installed on the left side of the receiver (just behind the trigger) with two possible settings: "S" - weapon safe and "F" - continuous fire. An internal safety achieved through the proper arrangement of parts and mechanisms secures against premature detonation. The light machine gun was also designed to mount an M16-type [[bayonet]] and either day or night-time optics.
The weapon's design incorporates sheet metal stamping and synthetic components (e.g. the drum magazine, stock, pistol grip and forend with vertical grip are all made of [[polymer]]s).
The LMG is adapted to fire both the American [[5.56x45mm NATO|5.56x45mm M193]] cartridge (the weapon is then fitted with a barrel with 6 right-hand grooves and a 305 [[Millimeter|mm]] or 1:12 [[Inch|in]] twist rate) or the heavier [[Belgium|Belgian]] SS109/M855 cartridge (in this case, the weapon is equipped with a 178 mm or 1:7 in twist rate barrel with 6 right-hand grooves).
Standard accessories supplied with the weapon include: two magazines; a 100-round drum and 30-round box magazine, a spare barrel, sling, [[blank-firing adapter]] and a cleaning kit.
STK also developed a vehicle-mounted variant of the weapon. A new Mark 4 variant is currently under development aimed at the [[United States Marine Corps]], with the addition of a fire selector module and most likely a revised dual-drum [[Beta C-Mag|C-Mag]] design, with a translucent Lexan backplate (for visual round observation).
==Users==
*{{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
*{{flagcountry|Croatia}}
*{{flagcountry|Cyprus}}
*{{flagcountry|Fiji}}
*{{flagcountry|Honduras}}
*{{flagcountry|Indonesia}}
*{{flagcountry|Morocco}}
*{{flagcountry|Papua New Guinea}}
*{{flagcountry|Peru}}
*{{flagcountry|Philippines}}
*{{flagcountry|Singapore}}
*{{flagcountry|Solomon Islands}}
*{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
*{{flagcountry|Uruguay}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[ST Kinetics]]
==External links==
*[http://www.ultimaxsaw.com/ Official site]
*[http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg20-e.htm Modern Firearms]
*[http://www.stengg.com/CoyCapPro/detail.aspx?pdid=134 ST Kinetics]
*[http://www.stengg.com/upload/194X9nI4kMKCDKfW7kd.pdf ST Kinetics brochure]
{{Singapore-designed weapons}}
[[Category:5.56 mm firearms]]
[[Category:Light machine guns]]
[[Category:Weapons of Singapore]]
[[fr:STK Ultimax 100]]
[[no:Ultimax]]
[[pl:Karabin maszynowy Ultimax 100]]
[[zh:Ultimax 100輕機槍]]