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CETME rifle
The CETME Model 58 is a stamped-steel, select-fire battle rifle produced by the Spanish armaments manufacturer Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales (CETME). The Model 58 used a 20-round box magazine and was chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO round (although originally designed for the 7.92×41mm CETME cartridge and later for the reduced power Spanish 7.62×51mm cartridge). The CETME 58 would become the foundation of the widely deployed German Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle. Semi-automatic variants were also produced for the civilian market.
The CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales) rifle was designed primarily by the German engineer Ludwig Vorgrimler, who based his design on the experimental German StG 45(M) and the French-made AME 49. The StG45 used a roller-delayed blowback mechanism somewhat similar to the roller-locking system patented by Edward Stecke in the 1930s in Poland and used in the MG 42. The MG42 locking system actually locks completely and requires a short-stroke barrel that travels backward to unlock, compared to the StG45(M) system that never completely locks and does not require a moving barrel.
The CETME design inherits the StG45(M)'s fixed-barrel. However, the CETME Model 58 introduced a novel solution to the problem of cartridges sticking in the chamber, namely, a fluted chamber—horizontal grooves in the chamber—that allows the cartridge cases to float on a layer of gas to aid extraction. The horizontal marking left on spent cartridge cases has become a signature of this design.
The requirements for the original design specified that the rifle weigh no more than 4.1 kg, had an effective range of 1,000 metres and a large magazine capacity. This required an ambitious development of rifle technology but the CETME engineers, based on earlier German experiments, believed this would be possible using an unconventional projectile.
Thus the 7.92×41mm CETME, CA-001 cartridge was developed and unveiled in 1953. It would be lightweight and elongated to make it aerodynamic, yet fired at normal rifle velocities. The rounds weighed 6.8 grams and had a muzzle velocity of 800 m/s. To allow such a long projectile to be stable in flight, a method was required to achieve proper mass distribution. The solution was that the aluminium core be wrapped around the middle in a copper jacket that was open at both ends, leaving the exposed aluminium core at either end (the core's middle section was compressed to allow the copper jacket to fit without protruding). While such a lightweight bullet would normally be affected by crosswinds compared to a normal weight projectile, the engineers at CETME contended that the bullet's aerodynamic shape minimised this problem. Sources from the time indicate that at 1,000 metres, the dispersion characteristics of the bullet were equal to those of normal rifle projectiles despite its light weight. In addition, sources state that at 1,000 metres, the projectile could perforate Spanish, Russian, Italian, Czech and German helmets. The bullet reportedly behaved like a standard full metal jacket bullet. The lightness of the projectile meant it had a lower recoil impulse, which was a key objective of the engineers as it would reduce bullet dispersion during fully automatic fire.
Later on in development, the Bundesgrenzschutz informed CETME that they were interested in the rifle but requested the cartridge diameter be reduced from 7.92mm to 7.62mm and that the same 41mm cartridge case should be used. This was accomplished after considerable time and effort, with the new round being designated the 7.62×41mm CETME, CA-002. Despite the rifle performing excellently with this cartridge, the Bundesgrenzschutz later stated that they could only adopt it if it was rechambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge due to standardisation agreements and thus the weapon was redesigned for this NATO cartridge, designated by the Spanish as Modelo B.
The first prototype rifles fired the same 7.92×33mm Kurz round as the StG45, and a variety of experimental 7.92 and 7.62mm cartridges were tested before settling on the 7.62×51mm CETME. This round, chosen due to requirements of the then-interested West German Bundesgrenzschutz, was dimensionally identical to 7.62×51mm NATO, but with a lighter bullet and powder charge to reduce recoil, making the fully automatic fire more controllable. In December 1956, the West German Bundeswehr received 400 CETME A rifles for intensive trials. Due to the tests performed by the Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung, the ergonomy of the rifle was improved. With feedback from Heckler & Koch, the rifle was able to fire the fully powered 7.62×51mm NATO round due to the better quality of its steel. The Model B went on to be the foundation of the widely deployed Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle.
The CETME B rifle in 7.62×51mm CETME was adopted as the Fusil de Asalto CETME Modelo 1958 de 7,62mm by the Spanish Army in September 1957 and its production began in Spain during 1961. The CETME series of battle rifles were manufactured in four basic models; the A, B, C and E models. The primary difference in the production models is the modes of fire, the absence of bipod and lighter weight for later models.
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CETME rifle
The CETME Model 58 is a stamped-steel, select-fire battle rifle produced by the Spanish armaments manufacturer Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales (CETME). The Model 58 used a 20-round box magazine and was chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO round (although originally designed for the 7.92×41mm CETME cartridge and later for the reduced power Spanish 7.62×51mm cartridge). The CETME 58 would become the foundation of the widely deployed German Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle. Semi-automatic variants were also produced for the civilian market.
The CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales) rifle was designed primarily by the German engineer Ludwig Vorgrimler, who based his design on the experimental German StG 45(M) and the French-made AME 49. The StG45 used a roller-delayed blowback mechanism somewhat similar to the roller-locking system patented by Edward Stecke in the 1930s in Poland and used in the MG 42. The MG42 locking system actually locks completely and requires a short-stroke barrel that travels backward to unlock, compared to the StG45(M) system that never completely locks and does not require a moving barrel.
The CETME design inherits the StG45(M)'s fixed-barrel. However, the CETME Model 58 introduced a novel solution to the problem of cartridges sticking in the chamber, namely, a fluted chamber—horizontal grooves in the chamber—that allows the cartridge cases to float on a layer of gas to aid extraction. The horizontal marking left on spent cartridge cases has become a signature of this design.
The requirements for the original design specified that the rifle weigh no more than 4.1 kg, had an effective range of 1,000 metres and a large magazine capacity. This required an ambitious development of rifle technology but the CETME engineers, based on earlier German experiments, believed this would be possible using an unconventional projectile.
Thus the 7.92×41mm CETME, CA-001 cartridge was developed and unveiled in 1953. It would be lightweight and elongated to make it aerodynamic, yet fired at normal rifle velocities. The rounds weighed 6.8 grams and had a muzzle velocity of 800 m/s. To allow such a long projectile to be stable in flight, a method was required to achieve proper mass distribution. The solution was that the aluminium core be wrapped around the middle in a copper jacket that was open at both ends, leaving the exposed aluminium core at either end (the core's middle section was compressed to allow the copper jacket to fit without protruding). While such a lightweight bullet would normally be affected by crosswinds compared to a normal weight projectile, the engineers at CETME contended that the bullet's aerodynamic shape minimised this problem. Sources from the time indicate that at 1,000 metres, the dispersion characteristics of the bullet were equal to those of normal rifle projectiles despite its light weight. In addition, sources state that at 1,000 metres, the projectile could perforate Spanish, Russian, Italian, Czech and German helmets. The bullet reportedly behaved like a standard full metal jacket bullet. The lightness of the projectile meant it had a lower recoil impulse, which was a key objective of the engineers as it would reduce bullet dispersion during fully automatic fire.
Later on in development, the Bundesgrenzschutz informed CETME that they were interested in the rifle but requested the cartridge diameter be reduced from 7.92mm to 7.62mm and that the same 41mm cartridge case should be used. This was accomplished after considerable time and effort, with the new round being designated the 7.62×41mm CETME, CA-002. Despite the rifle performing excellently with this cartridge, the Bundesgrenzschutz later stated that they could only adopt it if it was rechambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge due to standardisation agreements and thus the weapon was redesigned for this NATO cartridge, designated by the Spanish as Modelo B.
The first prototype rifles fired the same 7.92×33mm Kurz round as the StG45, and a variety of experimental 7.92 and 7.62mm cartridges were tested before settling on the 7.62×51mm CETME. This round, chosen due to requirements of the then-interested West German Bundesgrenzschutz, was dimensionally identical to 7.62×51mm NATO, but with a lighter bullet and powder charge to reduce recoil, making the fully automatic fire more controllable. In December 1956, the West German Bundeswehr received 400 CETME A rifles for intensive trials. Due to the tests performed by the Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung, the ergonomy of the rifle was improved. With feedback from Heckler & Koch, the rifle was able to fire the fully powered 7.62×51mm NATO round due to the better quality of its steel. The Model B went on to be the foundation of the widely deployed Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle.
The CETME B rifle in 7.62×51mm CETME was adopted as the Fusil de Asalto CETME Modelo 1958 de 7,62mm by the Spanish Army in September 1957 and its production began in Spain during 1961. The CETME series of battle rifles were manufactured in four basic models; the A, B, C and E models. The primary difference in the production models is the modes of fire, the absence of bipod and lighter weight for later models.