M242 Removed from Bradley

[Tegyrius]

Here's an odd question for the ordnance gurus. Is it possible to dismount an M242 Bushmaster from an M2 Bradley, reassemble it, provide an external power source, and use it as a manually-aimed weapon in a fixed position? I'm aware of the naval variant that appears to be in a similar configuration, but I don't know if it's feasible to convert a standard ex-Bradley (or ex-LAV-25) gun to work that way.

- C.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

I would be shocked if removing the Bradley's autocannon wasn't field expedient. There have to be cases where that was considered a necessary issue. With that said, the feasibility of removing the gun and then reassembling it on another platform...hmm...

[dragoon500ly]

Here's an odd question for the ordnance gurus. Is it possible to dismount an M242 Bushmaster from an M2 Bradley, reassemble it, provide an external power source, and use it as a manually-aimed weapon in a fixed position? I'm aware of the naval variant that appears to be in a similar configuration, but I don't know if it's feasible to convert a standard ex-Bradley (or ex-LAV-25) gun to work that way.

- C.

The naval mounts are nothing more than a pedestal mount with a power hook-up, otherwise its identical to the M242, its supposed to have taken a gunner's mate all of an hour to modify and a Beltway Bandit over a year to validate......or at least that's the story!

[Panther Al]

Agreed:


Not a simple procedure, but with a decent shop and a decent set of tools, I don't see why it wouldn't be too large an issue based off of when I was looking over the mounts and the take down of the bushmaster when I was with the Cav. Of course, power, and recoil would have to be taken in account.

[HorseSoldier]

Yeah -- guys with scrapped Bradleys or other sources of M242s to scavenge from could make it happen with enough know how and equipment, but it wouldn't be anything that could happen without a machine shop and some free time.

[bobcat]

so my insane idea of putting a pair of 242's on a HEMMT gun truck could actually be feasible. :D

[Legbreaker]

What about just grafting the whole turret onto something else? M1 hull, truck, go cart, whatever is strong enough to carry it. :p

[bobcat]

What about just grafting the whole turret onto something else? M1 hull, truck, go cart, whatever is strong enough to carry it. :p

the recipient vehicle would also have to be able to provide power to the turret. i would assume that alone would severely limit your options. dismounting the M242 and feed assembly and placing it on a functional vehicle would be far simpler.

though twin brad turrets on a hemmt guntruck would be awesome if the power plant could handle it.:D

(note i like the idea of having ungodly firepower on large cargo vehicles.)

[raketenjagdpanzer]

the recipient vehicle would also have to be able to provide power to the turret. i would assume that alone would severely limit your options. dismounting the M242 and feed assembly and placing it on a functional vehicle would be far simpler.

though twin brad turrets on a hemmt guntruck would be awesome if the power plant could handle it.:D

(note i like the idea of having ungodly firepower on large cargo vehicles.)

Abrams APU appropriated to power the Brad turrets on your HEMMT "land destroyer", et voila.

[bobcat]

Abrams APU appropriated to power the Brad turrets on your HEMMT "land destroyer", et voila.

think that would be enough juice for the tow launchers to work on the frankentank too?

[rcaf_777]

think that would be enough juice for the tow launchers to work on the frankentank too?

Well I remember correctly from my TOW Missile Course, the Missile Guidance Set (MGS) will work off of batteries or it can slaved to a vechicle electrical system, in my training we used the M113 or the German Iltis, I am guessing you have do so re wiring to have it off the APU of the M1, but dos'nt the bradley have a APU?

[Tegyrius]

Thanks, guys.

If we're talking about just the gun itself, not the whole turret assembly, what sort of power requirement is involved?

- C.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Thanks, guys.

If we're talking about just the gun itself, not the whole turret assembly, what sort of power requirement is involved?

- C.

A flashlight would have enough juice to run the solenoid for the firing pin but the chain mech to pull the ammo belt through is another story.

[Legbreaker]

Rip an old lawn mower apart and there's a motor to run a few of the mechanicals. A civilian generator should produce enough for the electrical systems.
It wouldn't be pretty, but with a sufficiently imaginative and skilled team of techs, any obstacle could be overcome.

In most of the games I've been involved with in the past few years, scrapyards have been very valuable resources. In fact, one game in Krakow had the local "powers that be" reward the PCs with not weapons, ammo, food, fuel, medical supplies, etc, but with 48 manhours on the ORMO's scrapyard. Whatever they could pry loose was theirs. The players treated this right as worth more than gold!

[rcaf_777]

Would European Semi's have a APU? I know US ones do

[bobcat]

well according to the vehicle guides the 242 can be mounted on a humvee and function so unless i missed an APU in the specs a 24V battery would be sufficient.(and as portable as a G/VLLD :D)

[Rockwolf66]

That was the HMMWV Fire Support Varient with a Red-T turret. It was an interesting concept but I have heard that there were issues with it breaking the armored windows and deffening the crew.

[Panther Al]

OK - Did some digging: The US Navy is using the Bushmaster on a pedestal mount on its ships now. The mount is beefy yes, but its nothing out of the ordinary in itself. As far as power goes, it looks as if it doesn't have any major power lines running to it, so I would say a few heavy duty truck batteries (Or, say, the batteries scrounged out the donor Brads) might be able to run it for a short period of time.


Another thing to consider, speaking not as a Bradley Gunner - but bouncing around in a platoon made of Abrams and Brads for a couple years - that there was never any real thought about draining the batteries of a Brad by firing without the engine running.

[pmulcahy11b]

Here's an odd question for the ordnance gurus. Is it possible to dismount an M242 Bushmaster from an M2 Bradley, reassemble it, provide an external power source, and use it as a manually-aimed weapon in a fixed position? I'm aware of the naval variant that appears to be in a similar configuration, but I don't know if it's feasible to convert a standard ex-Bradley (or ex-LAV-25) gun to work that way.

- C.

I haven't been able to find anything about the M242 being dismountable, but something like that...you probably just need to find a brainy enough gearhead and big enough pile of parts to build what you need.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Hummer FSV :

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/chico20854/AFVs%20and%20such/HMMWV20FSV.jpg

[Panther Al]

I understand why the FSV was never put into service, but I would have really liked to have seen the kinks of the concept worked out as I think it would be a great addition to the light cav units to give them some very needed firepower in a package that doesn't let them think they are capable of taking tanks on face to face.

[Legbreaker]

If Oerlikon can develop the man portable (barely) Iltis 25mm infantry gun, then it shouldn't be too difficult to work the M242 into something similar.
http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/25-mm-Oerlikon-Iltis-infantry-gun-Switzerland.html