CETME
CETME is an acronym for Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales (Center for Technical Studies and Special Materials), a Spanish government design and development establishment. While being involved in many projects CETME was mostly known for its small arms research and development. The CETME rifle is its most famous project.
The CETME rifle, which was initially designed for other calibers, but eventually chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO caliber, was designed primarily by the German engineer, Ludwig Vorgrimmler, who based his model on a late WWII German prototype assault rifle, the experimental StG45(M) and the development of the French made AME 49 in Mulhouse where Vorgrimmler and his team were in charge of developing the french assault rifle program. The StG45 used a roller-delayed blowback mechanism somewhat similar to the roller-locking system patented by the Edward Stecke in the 1930s in Poland and used in the MG42. The MG42 locking system actually locks completely and requires a short stroke barrel that travels backwards to unlock, compared to the StG45(M) system that never completely locks and does not require a moving barrel.
Manufactured in Spain from 1957, the CETME Model A served as a blueprint for the German Heckler & Koch G3 series of battle rifles. The CETME features roller-delayed blowback operation, which it shares with many German weapons. The CETME series of battle rifles was manufactured in five models, the A, B, C, L , LC and LV models. The primary difference in the three first models is the absence of bipod and the lightweight C model.
CETME also designed the CETME C2 a 9 mm advanced Sterling-like submachine gun, and the CETME Ameli (AMEtralladora LIgera) a light machine gun in 5.56x45mm NATO.
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Development versions
For 50 years the CETME developed different versions of this rifle
CETME A and A1
CETME B
CETME C
CETME E
CETME L and LC
Right side view CETME L
CETME L basic components
Selector lever positions
Click here to view a graphic of the various versions: 112-1 – CETME mod. B, 112-2 – CETME mod. Z, 112-3 – CETME mod. L, 112-4 – CETME mod. L, 112-5 – CETME mod. LK).
Other CETME designs
CETME C2
The CETME C2 is a Sterling type SMG.
CETME Ameli
This model was an unsuccessful attempt to replace the MG 3 with a 5,56 mm Light Squad Automatic Weapon.The prototypes of the weapon were quite good,having good if not excellent performance in trials and first units, being tested not only in spanish army but by british 22nd SAS regiment in 1984, beating FN Minimi and HK-33E1.Production examples had far less quality,with poorer materials, UK Army returned their serial production units (A total of 600 purchased for SAS,SBS and paratroopers) to Santa Bárbara and Spanish Army units did never fully replaced MG 3 (Which is still in service) with AMELI (with only about 300 units in service and many units with functional problems due to low quality materials; further orders were cancelled).Both models are expected to be replaced with FN Minimi (Alreaady operational) and MG 4.
Spanish marines lightly modified the weapon adding reinforcements and additional weldings in order to correct some functional problems.
Sources and literature
- Manual del soldado de Infantería de Marina ( 1985 ). Marine Corps soldier Manual Edited by the Spanish Ministry of Defence.
- Manual de instrucción básica de la Escuela Técnica de Seguridad y Defensa del Aire (ETESDA) (2002). Basic instruction Manual of the Technical School Safety and Air Defence (ETESDA) (2002). Edited by the Spanish Ministry of Defence.
- Centro de Documentación y Publicaciones del Ministerio de Defensa. Publications and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Defence.
- CETME: 50 años del fusil de asalto español . (CETME: 50 years of Spanish assault rifle). José María Manrique García and Lucas Molina Franco. Edit. La Esfera de los Libros. (The Sphere of Books). ISBN 8497343980.
