I'm interested in the Spanish army's light machine gun, the CETME Ameli. There an entry in world.guns.ru (http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg25-e.htm) about it, but it's very short and the pics aren't too good.



I've searched on Google, but there doesn't seem to be that much about it, which is strange since it's currently in use by a modern army. I'd like to know the non-stats stuff, like is it reliable, how easy is it to use, its cost, are there any variants etc?

On paper it looks like a very good light support weapon, possibly better than the SAW/Minimi para, but I'm not aware that it was trialled by either the British or American armies when they were looking for a weapon to replace/supplement the M60 or L86 LSW. Its rate of fire is particularly impressive, higher than the MG42 (the feared German LMG of WWII fame).

Is there anyone here who's ever fired it, or know someone who has?

I would rather have the MG-3...

Especially in the field, where the stronger mechanism of the MG-3 is able to cope with quite a bit of snow and vegetation... I doubt the Ameli is able to function as well under the same circumstances...

I understand that people like beltfeds because they believe it gives them massive firepower, only traded for some extra weight and bulk... Well, that isn´t the full truth... As well as extra weight and bulk, you get more failure-sources, and belts are not always the most pleasant way to carry ammunition... If you have to do fire and movement, FIBUA or patrolling (which is what infantry mostly do), you are much better off with a heavy-barreled automatic rifle than a beltfed.

Of course one automatic rifle cant really be measured against a beltfed in terms of firepower... But two will be more than equal, and three even more so... Because an automatic rifle is basically just an assaultrifle, it can be handled in the same way too... Thereby the squad will actually be more agile with three automatic-rifles than with one beltfed (or two), and all the soldiers in the squad can carry ammo for the automatic rifles in their basic load.

However an automatic rifle must be built for fast reloading, and preferably assisted reloading... This is the main problem with the L86, as well as it weighs more than it should have...

That's all great, but have you seen one fired?

I guess both the US and the British Army forgot to ask you for your opinions on beltfed weapons when they decided to adopt the Minimi variants ...

What's confusing me is the lack of information about the Ameli available on the net. Most weapons manufacturers have corporate websites that describe their products, but not CETME. Also, the fact that the Ameli is in service with an armed force (unlike other weapons which are all over the net, e.g. F2000 etc.) means that I expected there to be more, but there isn't ...

Is it in service with any armed force other than the Spanish?

Well, If I am not very wrong, I believe the Ameli is going to be replaced by the HK MG-43...

I´ve also tried to google up things about the Ameli, and the little I´ve found has been negative rumours...

I´ve never seen an Ameli fired, and I´ve not even seen one in real life... I have however fired tens of thousansd of rounds through the MG-3, and found that extremely enjoyable. But I didn´t like carrying it. Not because it was heavy, but because it is a bitch to carry with ammo in it. Both with a short loose belt, and with a small box.

You are right that nobody asked me about my opinion on beltfeds... But it seems like the US Marines are thinking about procuring automatic rifles...

I do not dislike beltfeds, I actually love beltfeds, but I prefer to use them in a role which is more stationary. Thereby avoiding that infantry is slowed down by too heavy and cumbersome equipment during an assault.

Originally Posted by dobrodan

Well, If I am not very wrong, I believe the Ameli is going to be replaced by the HK MG-43...

I´ve also tried to google up things about the Ameli, and the little I´ve found has been negative rumours...

Interesting ... can you provide some links?

Originally Posted by Doug97

Is it in service with any armed force other than the Spanish?

As far as I am aware of, it is only Mexico.

Came across this website that provides some information on the rifles, not on the Ameli, unfortunately, but okay entry point never the less.

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315.../2200/2225.htm

Thanks Snub!

I've found the following page which states that in 1985 the British MoD signed a contract to buy 600 Amelis. I guess the deal fell through, and when the MoD (eventually) decided it wanted a belt-fed after all, the Minimi was chosen instead.

http://web.jet.es/rafa/e_spsteel_cetme.html

Anyone know if this theory is true?

[EDIT]

Just found this posted on a forum by a guy who used to be in the USMC:

"Back in the late 70's, I was part of an evaluation team that was testing different designs of M.G.s for replacing the M-60 in the squad automatic role. There was a design from Spain that was, in my opinion, a dream to shoot and maintain. It was a somewhat smaller version of the German MG42, chambered in .223. I loved it! But, it for some reason didn't make the grade, and was eliminated early in the testing. I think it was due more to personal bias on the part of some Officers on the team, than to a shortcoming in the gun."

Anyone know how I can find out more about this trial?

Looks like a fine weapon. Maybe, now the price will come down and we civilians can get our hands on them.

The CETME Ameli LMG is a fine weapon system in my opinion. It's a smaller MG-42 chambered in 5.56X45MM. I think that the MG-42/MG-3 System is the best Machine Gun System on the market.

I've played with one. It's pretty cool. My only deal is that Civilians can't own them. Damn Machine Gun laws.

The Cetme ameli was built for remplace the MG 42 as light machine gun for a squad.

I have used if at the INFANTRY ACADEMY but is not being used in the army because it was a really good prototype that when they wanted to build it cheaper It became a poor machine so we still using the MG-42

If you want tecnical data or pictures from the original I can try to send you.

It was an excelent prototype that become a poor machine gun