Lewis Machine & Tool Company
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Private | |
Industry | Defense |
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Founded | 1980 |
Headquarters | Eldridge, Iowa, United States |
Products | Firearms, weapons |
Website | www.LMTDefense.com |
Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) is an American armaments company founded by Karl Lewis, in 1980. LMT manufactures weapon systems including a variant of the M4 carbine and the M203 grenade launcher.[1] LMT products are used by the military forces of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Estonia, and the United States. LMT formerly produced forged FAL receivers for Illinois-based DS Arms.
Products
Bolt and bolt carrier groups
A patented
LM308MWS and CQB MRP Defender
The Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP)[2] was created by the company, a one-piece, Picatinny-topped AR-15-pattern upper receiver made from a forged aluminum block.[3] The MRP upper receiver has a quick-change barrel system.[4] Its top rail position matches M4 and E3-type weapons for optical and sight compatibility.[5]
In late 2009, LMT introduced the .308 Modular Weapon System LM308MWS, which uses the 7.62×51mm NATO round.[6]
In February 2012, the British Transport Police began to use AR-pattern short-barreled rifles.[7][8][9]
L129A1
In 2009, a contract was signed to supply the
During the war in Afghanistan British light infantry units sometimes found themselves outranged by small arms beyond the effective range of their assault rifles and light machine guns chambered for the intermediate 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. At ranges between 400 and 800 m (437 and 875 yd), the then available small arms capable of returning effective fire, were the general-purpose machine gun and the bolt-action sniper rifle. These weapons chambered for the fully-powered 7.62 mm NATO cartridge were not well suited to increase the effective engagement range of the British eight-man rifle sections.
The LM308MWS was submitted for the British Ministry of Defence's Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) for immediate deployment of a semi-automatic
A Sniper Support Weapon (SSW) version, also designated L129A1, was adopted for use by the second man in each sniper team and is fitted with a Schmidt & Bender 3-12×50 telescopic sight and a Surefire suppressor.[16][17]
The New Zealand Army adopted the rifle under the LMT 308 MWS designation in October 2011. It differs from its UK counterpart in being select fire instead of semi=automatic only, a 20 in (508 mm) barrel the use of a Leupold adjustable 4.5-14× telescopic sight, canted iron sights and a foldable foregrip.[citation needed]
Within the
MARS-L and MARS-H
The LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS) | |
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Type | Assault rifle Battle rifle |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 2015-Present |
Used by | |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Lewis Machine & Tool |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.3kg (empty) |
Length |
|
box magazine |
The Modular Weapons System (MWS) was developed into the Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS), which is available in light and heavy variants. The light assault rifle variants are chambered for the
New Zealand
On 12 August 2015, the
The gas-operated, rotating bolt (internal piston) rifles were delivered in May 2017, and soldiers began training with them at Waiouru Military Camp on 15 June 2017.[23]
In September 2018, it was reported that some of the rifles had experienced breakages, including 130 with cracks around the bolt, and that all 9,040 rifles had had their firing pins replaced under warranty.
Estonia
In May 2019, the Estonian Defence Forces selected the MARS-L after two years of testing to replace their IMI Galil and Ak 4 rifles. The Estonian Defence League Started using the R-20 in early 2023.[26] 19,000 short-stroke piston MARS-L rifles were ordered under the designation R-20 Rahe ("Hail" in Estonian).[27] The upper receiver has a Picatinny rail on the top and M-LOK compatible attachment points on its sides and uses a short-stroke gas piston system. The standard barrel length of the R-20 is 14.3 in (363 mm), but a 12 in (305 mm) variant designated the R-20 S is also produced.[28][29] A modified trigger design allows the trigger safety to be engaged without the hammer being cocked, which is not possible on a standard AR-15 pattern rifle.[30] The rifles were ordered with a Shot Counter Grip Module housed within the pistol grip to track parts wear and ammunition consumption with objective digital data. The accompanying reader unit can provide armorers diagnostic maintenance warnings.[31]
In June 2020, the first batch of 1,500 R-20 Rahe rifles was delivered.[32] The R-20 is planned to fully replace the Galil and Ak 4 by 2022.[33]
Estonia also selected the MARS-H with a 16 in (406 mm) barrel as their designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO. The official Estonian designation for the MARS-H marksman rifle is the R-20 L.[34]
Switzerland
A 7.62mm Zf Stgw 20 designated MARS-H based designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO was introduced in 2023 by the Swiss Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10 and MP Spez Det.[35] These Swiss (professional) special forces units selected the Schmidt & Bender 3-20×50 PM II Ultra Short telescopic sight with the TREMOR3 reticle that enables quick targeting up to 800 m (875 yd) as their standard aiming optic.[36][37]
United Kingdom
Within the
Other contractors
Lebanon
An undisclosed amount of Short Barreled Rifles (SBR) chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO intermediate cartridge with an 10.5 in (267 mm) barrel have been ordered by Lebanon. The existence of a Lebanese contract became apparent as a production overrun of these weapons were offered on the internet in late 2023.[42]
References
- ^ The National-Military Muscle on Display
- ^ "Lewis Machine & Tool Monolithic Rail Platform". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ Grassi, Rich (9 May 2009). "LMT CQB MRP Defender 5.56mm". Tactical Life. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "LMT's MRP 6.8 Battle Rifle". Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ US8234808B2, Lewis, Karl R.; Bargren, James Arend Seabold & Schafer, Jacob A. et al., "Monolithic rail platform and bolt assemblies for a firearm", issued 2012-08-07
- ^ "Multi-Mission LMT .308 MWS". Tactical Life. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ "CQB 10.5 SBR". Lewis Machine & Tool Company. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Firearms used by British Transport Police - Freedom of Information Request 794-14" (PDF). British Transport Police. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ Austin, Jon (17 October 2015). "Guns on the Underground: Armed police to routinely patrol Tube amid threat from ISIS". Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Global Defence News and Defence Headlines - IHS Jane's 360". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ "L129A1 sharpshooter rifle". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ "LMT .308 AR Review". Guns & Ammo. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ Sharpshooter: The UK's New L129A1 7.62x51mm Rifle. Small Arms Defense Journal. 11 January 2012.
- ^ "New Ammo for British Troops: UK Develops More Effective 5.56mm and 7.62mm Ammunition -". The Firearm Blog. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Anthony G. Williams. "Cartridges for Long-Range Sniping Rifles". quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "L129A1 sharpshooter rifle". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ^ "L129A1 (SSW) Rifle". RAF. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ a b U.K. Royal Marines adopt a 6.5CM LMT as the L129A2, ft. HUXWRX and Leupold. The Firearm Blog. 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Individual Weapon Replacement". defence.govt.nz. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015.
- ^ New Zealand Army Selects LMT To Replace Steyr AUG - Thefirearmblog.com, 18 August 2015
- ^ Confirmed, LMT to supply NZDF with CQB16 - Thefirearmblog.com, 28 August 2015
- ^ New $59 million weapons package begins Defence Force rollout -Stuff.co.nz, 16 June 2017
- ^ [email protected], David Fisher Senior Writer (19 September 2018). "NZDF's new rifles - all 9040 of them - get firing pin replacements after breakages". NZ Herald.
- ^ a b "LMT Warranties Components with New Zealand Defense Forces MARS-L". The Firearm Blog. 25 September 2018.
- ^ ERR (12 September 2022). "Enamik kaitseliitlasi saab aasta lõpuks Rahed kätte". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ Turovski, Markus (12 September 2022). "Most Defense League members to get Rahe assault rifles by year's end". news.err.ee. ERR.
- ^ "LMT Defense Announces Award with Estonian Defence Forces -". 17 May 2019.
- ^ New Estonian LMT R20 RAHE Assault Rifle, 21 May 2021
- ^ "[TFB GUNFEST] New LMT Rifles, Uppers, and Triggers for 2021 -". 31 January 2021.
- ^ "LMT's Shot Counter Grip Module For Military And LE". 18 January 2021.
- ^ Wright, Helen (22 July 2020). "Gallery: Defense Forces introduced new R-20 Rahe automatic firearms". news.err.ee. ERR.
- ^ Kallaste, Kristjan (18 December 2020). "Defense Forces' new Rahe automatic rifle to make debut in Mali". news.err.ee. ERR.
- ^ "7,62 MM TÄPSUSPÜSS R-20 L". mil.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Military police special detachment (MP spec det)
- ^ Präzisionsgewehr LMT Defense 7.62mm Zf Stgw 20 Reference Rifle mit Schmidt & Bender 3-20×50 PM II
- ^ Technical Data SheetTremor ™3 Reticle (schmidtundbender.de)
- ^ USSOCOM Adopts 6.5 Creedmoor. soldiersystems.net, 23 March 2018
- ^ Weapons: The Hits Just Keep On Coming. strategypage.com, 7 January 2019
- ^ Baby Barrel Creedmoor – Study of a Short(er) 6.5 Creedmoor Riflee, Sean Murphy, December 4, 2019
- ^ Reaches Further Downrange: The L129A2 gets adopted 'Small Arms Defense Journal. 3 October, 2023.
- ^ 10.5" LMT SBR Lebanon Contract Overrun
External links