2003 US Army BRADLEY GUNNERY 503p.pdf - Survival Books

FM 3-22.12-4. M231 5.56-MM FIRING PORT WEAPONThe infantry rifle squad uses the M231 5.56-mm FPW to engage enemy personnel,crew-served weapons, and ATGM teams, and to suppress suspected close-in enemypositions (Figure 2-6). The FPW has a maximum effective range of 300 meters (tracerburnout). The basic BFV M2 has six firing port mounts, two on each side and two in theramp. The BFV M2A2, M2A2 ODS, and A3 have two firing port mounts in the ramp(none on the sides). When not using the FPWs, the crew stores them in their assignedstorage racks located inside the vehicle.DANGERAMMUNITIONAVOID USING M193, M855 BALL, OR M856AMMUNITION IN THE FPW--THESE WORK ONLY INTHE M249 SAW OR IN THE M16A2.FIRING PORT WEAPONBEFORE USING THE FPW, MAKE SURE THAT THEEXHAUST FANS WORK AND THAT THE EXHAUSTHOSE IS IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THEYMUST BE ABLE TO REMOVE POISONOUS GASSESFROM THE TROOP COMPARTMENT.Figure 2-6. M231 5.56-mm firing port weapon.2-5. M257 SMOKE-GRENADE LAUNCHERThe BFV has two, four-tube, electrically fired grenade launchers, one on each side of the25-mm gun (Figure 2-7, page 2-12). Therefore, each can fire four grenades. Onactivation, the grenades create enough smoke to screen the Bradley in three seconds.Using one switch inside the turret, the BC or gunner fires the launchers. The launcherscannot fire independently. Both launchers--all eight grenades--fire at once.2-11