Talk:Chaingun

OK, as a non-military man I find this article confusing. Conventional wisdom and Janes Infantry weapons suggest that the 7.62mm chaingun should be a great bit of kit. The operating cycle copes with misfires, hang fires and empty cases by chucking them out of the weapon because the operating cycle is powered by an electric motor driving an endless loop of chain. Another advantage is the weapon is sealed and doesn't vent noxious fumes into your turret. The yanks have been using bigger (25mm and 30mm) versions with no complaints for years as well, of course.

So much for conventional wisdom.

So, if the basic mechanism should feed and eject almost anything, why does the weapon have such a shit rep in the british army? What causes the stoppages? Does it fire OK from a Challenger II but not from a Warrior? A certain anglophobe of my acquaintance reckons the chainguns problems in british service are due to poor quality manufactue by the licence holder. Any considered responses gratefully received.