G36

[General Dragosh]

Originally Posted by Harrod200

One things I've never understood about the G36; why was it designed with unique magazines? The majority of new guns in 5.56 work with STANAG mags to simplify logistics and, in an emergency, allow mags to be shared between allied troops (say at a joint base). I know there are some problems with the US-made STANAGs, but the H&K upgraded one is a superb little mag. Is there something unique about the workings of the G36 magazine, or is it simply a case of "We want our own"?

I think its more the "Own" thing, i like more the G36 mag more than the M4/16 mag that can be shared...

A hip hip hurra for Jerrys little sarcasm here

[[R-CON]nedlands1]

Originally Posted by Ninja2dan

Regarding the optics mentioned, is it actually possible to give a weapon multiple sighting methods? This could be applied to multi-optics like the one discussed here, as well as zoom-capable optics and binos. I doubt it's possible, but the question did spark my own curiousity.

Yep. The maglink function shares the ammunition supply of two weapons. An example of it is the deployed machines guns which you can see here. You could also use it to give weapons multiple RoF's (eg 2 round bursts of 1800 RPM and automatic bursts of 600 RPM with the AN-94 "Abakan"). You could use it to get a second zeroed range (eg 0-200m aperture or the 300m+ aperture on the M4/M16). Another potential use would be with explosives with multiple detonation options (eg SLAM's).

Originally Posted by Harrod200

One things I've never understood about the G36; why was it designed with unique magazines? The majority of new guns in 5.56 work with STANAG mags to simplify logistics and, in an emergency, allow mags to be shared between allied troops (say at a joint base). I know there are some problems with the US-made STANAGs, but the H&K upgraded one is a superb little mag. Is there something unique about the workings of the G36 magazine, or is it simply a case of "We want our own"?

Apparently you can fit STANAG magazines with a optional magazine well.

[Maxfragg]

right, this adapter was also used by the OICW mini G36 under the grenadelauncher, which was fitted with STANAG magazines