| Model L | |
|---|---|
 The Model L |
|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin |  Spain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1987–1999 |
| Used by | Spain |
| Production history | |
| Designer | CETME |
| Designed | 1981 |
| Manufacturer | CETME |
| Produced | 1986–1991 |
| Variants | Model LC, Model LV |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.4 kg
(7.5 lb)
(Model L) 3.55 kg (7.8 lb) |
| Length | 925 mm
(36.4 in) (Model L) 860 mm (33.9 in) stock extended / 665 mm (26.2 in) stock collapsed (Model LC) |
| Barrel length | 400 mm (15.7 in) (Model L) 320 mm (12.6 in) (Model LC) |
|
|
|
| Cartridge | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Action | Roller-delayed blowback |
| Rate of fire | 600–750 rounds/min (Model L) 650–800 rounds/min (Model LC) |
| Muzzle velocity | 875 m/s (2,871 ft/s) (Model L) 832 m/s (2,729.7 ft/s) (Model LC) |
| Effective range | 200–400 m sight adjustments |
| Maximum range | 400 m |
| Feed system | 12, 20, 30-round STANAG magazine |
| Sights | Font: shrouded post, rear: flip-up sight with two
apertures 440 mm (17.3 in) sight radius |
The Model L is a Spanish 5.56mm assault rifle developed in the late 1970s at the state-owned small arms research and development establishment CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales) located in Madrid. The rifle retains many of the proven design elements the institute had used previously in its Model A, B and C series of battle rifles.[1]
The weapon was successfully trialled between 1981–1982 and approved for serial production in 1984 at the Empresa Nacional Santa Bárbara factory (currently Santa Bárbara Sistemas, integrated into General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems division).[2] The Model L replaced the 7.62mm CETME Model C in service with the Spanish Army[1] and the first rifles were delivered in 1987, by which time orders for approximately 60,000 had been placed.[2] It has now been largely replaced in Spanish service with a license-built variant of the Heckler & Koch G36E.[1]
Contents |
The Model L is a selective fire, roller-delayed blowback firearm.[1] The weapon features a semi-rigid two-piece bolt mechanism that consists of a bolt head and a supporting angular locking piece. During the "unlocking" sequence, the two cylindrical rollers contained in the bolt head are cammed inward against inclined flanks of the barrel extension and act upon the locking piece and bolt carrier, propelling it rearward at a velocity greater than that of the bolt, which remains closed until the fired bullet has left the barrel and pressures inside the bore have been reduced to a safe level before withdrawing together with the bolt carrier.
The bolt also has a cartridge casing extractor, while the ejector is located inside the trigger housing (the extractor is lifted by the recoiling bolt carrier, actuated with every shot). The weapon is hammer-fired and has a fire control lever, which is also the manual safety. The safety and fire selector lever is located on the left side of the receiver, directly above the pistol grip, and has three settings: "S"—weapon safe (trigger is disabled mechanically), "T"—semi-automatic fire and "R"—fully automatic fire (initial production rifles also had a burst selector option, which was abandoned). The Model L fires from a closed bolt position and uses the NATO-standard 5.56x45mm cartridge loaded with the 62-grain SS109 projectile.[1]
The rifle's barrel features 6 right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 1 in 178 mm (1:7 in); it is fitted with an open-type 3-prong flash suppressor that is additionally designed to launch rifle grenades. The weapon will also mount a knife-type bayonet.
The Model L's fixed stock, pistol grip and handguard are made of a high-strength lightweight plastic. The rifle strips down into the following components for regular maintenance and cleaning: the receiver, stock, pistol grip and trigger group, handguard, bolt, bolt carrier and recoil mechanism.
The rifle feeds from standard NATO magazines that adhere to STANAG specifications (interchangeable with magazines from the M16 rifle) and have a 30-round capacity, but it can also use short 12-round box magazines (early rifles and carbines were also adapted to use special 20 and 30-round magazines that were of an entirely different design).[1]
The CETME Model L is equipped with adjustable iron sights consisting of a forward post (corrected mechanically for elevation) and a flip-up rear sight with two settings for firing at distances of 200 and 400 m (early models had a rotating drum rear sight that provided 100, 200, 300 and 400 m sighting range apertures). The Model LV (Visor) is a marksman variant equipped with a detachable optical sight that mounts to the rear sight base; the optic generally used in this role is the British SUSAT sight.
Standard equipment supplied with the rifle includes a cleaning kit, sling, bayonet, lightweight bipod, blank-firing adaptor, rifle grenade launcher guide and magazine loader tool.
A variant of the Model L is the Model LC carbine that has a short barrel and a collapsible metal shoulder stock, making it particularly suitable for officers, special forces and riot police. These features also allow a high degree of movement in closed spaces or moving vehicles. This carbine version however cannot be used with a bayonet or rifle grenades.[1]
   | CETME mod. L and LC (Spain) - Modern Firearms - Assault Rifles - CETME mod. L and LC |
|
|
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
