MACHINE GUNS
AA 52 Machine Gun
The AA-52 (full designation Arme Automatique Transformable
Modèle 1952) is one of the first French-produced guns of the post-World War II
era. It was manufactured by the French government-owned MAS company (and now
Nexter). The AA-52 is still used today as a vehicle-mounted weapon.
The AA-52 can be used as a light machine gun with a bipod or as a heavy machine gun with a tripod. When used with a tripod for continuous fire, the gun is fitted with a heavier barrel. In the light machine gun configuration, the AA-52 is a relatively light weapon to carry. The AA-52 can be fired from the shoulder but this is slightly awkward because of the position of the handle, however the bipod can be used as a handguard when not in use. The barrel is changed by pressing a latch and rotating it a quarter of a turn. The APX(SOM) telescopic sight used on the MAS-49 and the FR-F1 sniper rifle can be mounted on the AA-52 as well as an infrared night sight.
The AA-52 has a maximum firing range of 3,200 meters and fires the 7.5x54mm French, and 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition.
The AA-52 can be used as a light machine gun with a bipod or as a heavy machine gun with a tripod. When used with a tripod for continuous fire, the gun is fitted with a heavier barrel. In the light machine gun configuration, the AA-52 is a relatively light weapon to carry. The AA-52 can be fired from the shoulder but this is slightly awkward because of the position of the handle, however the bipod can be used as a handguard when not in use. The barrel is changed by pressing a latch and rotating it a quarter of a turn. The APX(SOM) telescopic sight used on the MAS-49 and the FR-F1 sniper rifle can be mounted on the AA-52 as well as an infrared night sight.
The AA-52 has a maximum firing range of 3,200 meters and fires the 7.5x54mm French, and 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition.