FN BRG-15
A dual-feed heavy machine gun designed to rival the Soviet KPV.
The FN BRG-15 was a heavy machine gun from Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, designed to potentially replace the Browning M2HB .50 caliber machine gun. FN announced in October 1983 that it was working on a more powerful round to defeat light armored vehicles, aiming for a Western equivalent to the Soviet 14.5mm KPV. The first attempt used a 20mm Hispano case necked down to 15mm (15x115), but rapid barrel wear led to a second version in 15.5mm (15.5x106), created by necking out the KPV case. The gun featured an unusual dual-feed system with ammunition belts feeding from both sides, while spent casings ejected downward—similar to the later FN P90. The quick-change barrel assembly was later adapted for an updated M2HB. The project was canceled in the early 1990s as FN shifted focus to the P90. The 15.5mm subcaliber bullet produced 40,000 J of muzzle energy, more than double the M2HB's 18,000 J.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Belgium
- Is Ranged
- YES
- Design Date
- 1980s
- Manufacturer
- Fabrique Nationale Herstal SA
- Cartridge
- 15x115 mm
- Caliber
- 15 mm
- Length
- 2000 mm
- Part Length
- 1500 mm
- Action
- Gas
- Rate
- 700 rounds/min
- Velocity
- 1055 m/s
- Range
- 2000 m
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The FN BRG-15 was announced in October 1983 as FN's effort to develop a more powerful replacement for the .50 BMG, better able to penetrate light armored vehicles—in effect, a Western equivalent to the Soviet 14.5mm KPV heavy machine gun. FN initially selected the 20mm Hispano case as a basis and necked it down to 15mm for the FN-BRG (15x115). The weapon and its ammunition had a protracted development and finally emerged as a 15.5mm because of fast barrel wear.
The 15.5x106 was FN's second effort to make a KPV competitor in the BRG-15, appropriately by necking out the KPV's case. It also utilized an unusual dual feed device, with link ammunition belts feeding from both the right and left. Spent shell casings were ejected out of the bottom of the gun, as in FN's later P90 personal defense weapon. The quick-change barrel assembly developed for the BRG-15 was redesigned for use in an updated version of the M2HB.
The project was cancelled in the early 1990s, as FN shifted its focus to the P90 personal defense weapon.
Reader's Guide
The FN BRG-15 represents a significant but ultimately abandoned attempt to create a Western heavy machine gun capable of matching the Soviet 14.5mm KPV in armor penetration. Its development spanned several cartridge iterations, from a necked-down 20mm Hispano case to a final 15.5x106 round based on the KPV's own case. The weapon's dual-feed system, allowing ammunition belts from both sides, and its bottom ejection were unusual features later seen in FN's P90. The quick-change barrel assembly designed for the BRG-15 was later adapted for an updated version of the M2HB, extending the legacy of that older design. Despite its cancellation in the early 1990s due to FN's shift in focus to the P90, the BRG-15 demonstrated the pursuit of increased firepower in the heavy machine gun class, with its subcaliber bullet achieving a muzzle energy of 40,000 J—more than double that of the M2HB's 18,000 J. The project's cancellation left the M2HB as the continuing standard in Western service.
Did You Know?
- The FN BRG-15 was designed as a potential replacement for the Browning M2HB .50 caliber machine gun.
- Its final cartridge, the 15.5x106, was created by necking out the Soviet KPV's case.
- The subcaliber bullet fired from the 15.5mm round had a muzzle energy of 40,000 J, more than double the M2HB's 18,000 J.
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