INTRO TO M2/M3 BFV - OD0456 - LESSON 1/TASK 1
five minutes after the bottles have been discharged.
The two crew
compartment bottles can also be activated manually from outside the vehicle.
The bottle in the engine compartment is activated manually and works just as
quickly to extinguish the fire.
g.
Characteristics and Capabilities of the Vehicle Firepower Components.
The firepower components of the BFV consist of the 25mm gun, TOW subsystem,
coaxial machinegun, and firing port weapons. Each of these components will
be discussed in the subparagraphs below.
(1) 25mm M242 Automatic Chain Gun.
The primary weapon of the IFV is
the 25mm M242 automatic chain gun. The M242 has a selective rate of fire of
100 rounds per minute on single shot and 200 rounds per minute on automatic.
The
gun
fires
both
armor-piercing
and
high
explosive
interchangeably.
(2) TOW System.
The secondary heavy weapon of the BFV is the TOW
missile subsystem.
The TOW launcher carries TOW missiles under armor
protection and is mounted on the left side of the turret.
(3) 7.62mm M240C Machinegun.
The M240C is mounted coaxially with the
25mm gun.
The M240C fires up to 950 rounds per minute with a maximum
effective range of 900 meters.
(4) Turret-housed Weapon Control Systems.
The following weapon control
systems are housed in the vehicle turret:
o
The electronic guidance system for the TOW missile system.
o
A stabilization system for firing the 25mm gun and coax machinegun
while the vehicle is moving.
The above-mentioned turret-housed systems
are also linked to the integrated night unit (ISU), which has both clear and
thermal image capabilities. An optical extension from the ISU provides the
commander with the same field of view as the gunner.
6
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