The TRW Low Maintenance Rifle or LMR was a proposed insurgency weapon designed by TRW Inc. (formerly Thompson Ramo Wooldridge) of the United States during the Vietnam War. The intent was to produce an easy-to-use and operate firearm which could be disseminated to insurgent forces supporting the United States' military interests. The design utilized the same 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition and STANAG magazines as the M16 rifle. It would have been equipped with the M6 bayonet along with its M8A1 scabbard.
TRW Low Maintenance Rifle | |
---|---|
Type | Full-automatic fire only insurgency assault rifle |
Place of origin | United States |
Production history | |
Designer | Donald A. Stoehr (1927-2011)[1] |
Designed | February 1971[2] |
Manufacturer | TRW Systems Group |
Unit cost | Specified cost of less than $130 (1971),[3] |
Produced | 1971—1973 |
No. built | fewer than 10. |
Specifications | |
Mass | Unloaded: 3.30 kg (7.3 lb)[4] Loaded: 3.64 kg (8.0 lb)[4] |
Length | 871 mm (34.3 in)[4] |
Barrel length | 493 mm (19.4 in)[5] |
Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
Action | Roller locked open bolt gas-operated long-stroke piston |
Rate of fire | 450 RPM Cyclic[4] |
Muzzle velocity | 3,248 ft/s (990 m/s)[4][5] |
Effective firing range | 460 metres (1,510 ft)[4] |
Maximum firing range | 2,425 metres (7,956 ft)[5] |
Feed system | 20, 30-Round STANAG magazine[4] |
Sights | Rear: Two-position flip aperture Front: Adjustable post |
Development began in 1971, and ceased in 1973 with the weapon never having been fielded.