OH-6A Cayuse, OH-58A Kiowa

M27 ARMAMENT SUBSYSTEM

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The Gatling Gun

M27 Armament Subsystem for OH-6A Cayuse/OH-58A Kiowa
M134 Gatling Machine Gun (7.62mm minigun)
Gatling Machine Guns indexed by Aircraft Model No.

NOTES:
1.This information is provided for information only. The M27/M134 weapon subsystem is no longer actively managed by the U.S. Army.
2.A blue arrow indicates a photo that can be viewed and downloaded.

MOUNT FOR M134 7.62mm Gatling MACHINE GUN

M27 ARMAMENT SUBSYSTEM FOR OH-6A CAYUSE/OH-58A KIOWA

The M27 armament subsystem mounted the 7.62mm M134 (minigun) high rate of fire machine gun. The subsystem consisted of a single, remotely controlled semi-flexible turret mounting the M134 Gatling machine gun on the left (port) side of the OH-6A and OH-58A light observation helicopters. Linked 7.62mm ammunition was stored inboard (2,000 rounds capacity) and fed to the gun through fixed and flexible chuting. A flexible, mechanically linked XM70E1 reflex sight enabled the pilot to remotely aim and fire the machine gun. The weapon subsystem was flexible in elevation and depression only, being fixed in azimuth, requiring the aircraft to be aimed by the pilot.
XM27E1 Armament Subsystem for M134 minigun [xm27e1.jpg] 18k

M134 Gatling Machine Gun (7.62mm minigun)

Description.The M134 (Air Force GAU-2B/A) is a 7.62mm, six-barrel, externally powered weapon for use on light fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It is a highly reliable, high rate of fire machine gun using the Gatling principle. The gun rate is selectable for either a Low 2,000 spm or High 4,000 spm (shots per minute) setting. Also available to users is a flash suppressor and a bullet trap.

Data

Length	29.5 inches
Weight	35 lbs
Effective Range	1500m

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Major Components. Components of the M134 minigun are the rotor assembly, six bolt assemblies, six removable bolt tracks, gun housing assembly, rear gun support, six barrels, barrel clamp assembly, safing sector, housing cover, and two quick-release pins. As the rotor turns within the stationary housing cover, the bolt assembly rollers follow the main cam path of the housing cover, causing the bolt assemblies to move along the accommodating tracks. Each barrel is mounted in the barrel clamp assembly, in a fixed position, in alignment with a bolt assembly.

Applications. The M134 minigun was used on the M21, M27, XM50, and Emerson MINI-TAT on the UH-1 "Huey", OH-6A Cayuse, and OH-58A Kiowa, XM18E1, M28 series, and XM64 on the AH-1G and MOD AH-1S "Huey" Cobra, XM53 on the AH-56A Cheyenne, and on a wide variety of U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force light fixed-wing aircraft. The M134 is also used on a number U.S. Army special operations aircraft. See table below for a cross-reference to specific armament subsystems.
M134 7.62mm minigun (GAU-2B/A) [kpm134.jpg] 34k
M134 minigun on M21 armament subsystem with M158 rocket launcher [m21m158.jpg] 38k
M134 Minigun firing (viewed thru pilot's window of UH-1M gunship) (Copyright Butch Lottman) [uh-1m-19.jpg] 26k
Pintle mounted M134 minigun on UH-1H Nighthawk gunship (Copyright Mike Austin at http://www.vietvet.org/bg23.htm) [uh1hm134.jpg] 55k

The Gatling Gun
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