The 5.56×45mm NATO (official NATO nomenclature 5.
56 NATO, fyv-FYV-six) is
a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge family developed in the late 1970s in Belgium
by FN Herstal.[5] It consists of the SS109, SS110, and SS111 cartridges. On 28 October 1980
under STANAG 4172 it was standardized as the second standard service rifle cartridge for NATO
forces as well as many non-NATO countries.[6][5] The 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge family was
derived from, but is not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge designed by Remington
Arms in the early 1960s.
Contents
1History
2Cartridge dimensions
3Rifle barrel configurations
4Performance
o 4.1Criticism
o 4.2Improvements
o 4.3Alternatives
55.56mm NATO versus .223 Remington
o 5.1Brass case
o 5.2Pressure
o 5.3Chamber
6Ammunition capacity for weight comparison
75.56mm NATO versus 7.62mm NATO
8Military cartridges
o 8.1Australia
o 8.2Belgium
o 8.3Canada
o 8.4France
o 8.5Germany
o 8.6South Africa
o 8.7Switzerland
o 8.8United Kingdom
o 8.9United States
8.9.1US Army
8.9.2US Air Force
8.9.3US Navy & US Marine Corps
o 8.10SS109/M855
o 8.11M855A1
8.11.1Deployment
o 8.12Mk 262
o 8.13Mk318
o 8.145.6mm Gewehr Patrone 90
9See also
10References
11Further reading
12External links
History[edit]
The 7.62×51mm NATO and 5.56×45mm NATO cartridges compared to an AA battery
In 1954, the larger 7.62×51mm NATO rifle cartridge[7] was selected as the first standard NATO
rifle cartridge. At the time of selection there had been criticism that the recoil power of the
7.62×51mm NATO, when fired from a hand-held lightweight modern service rifle, did not allow a
sufficient automatic rate of fire for modern combat.[8]
The British had extensive evidence through their own experimentation with intermediate
cartridges since 1945 and were on the point of adopting a .280 inch (7 mm) cartridge when the
selection of the 7.62×51mm NATO was made. The FN company had also been involved in the
development of the .280 round, including developing a version of the FN FAL in .280.[9] The
concerns about recoil and effectiveness were effectively overruled by the US within NATO, and
the other NATO nations accepted that standardization was more important at the time than
selection of the ideal cartridge.[5]
Service rifle cartridge cases: (left to right) 7.62×54mmR, 7.62×51mm NATO, 7.62×39mm, 5.56×45mm
NATO, 5.45×39mm
The development of the cartridge that eventually became the .223 Remington (from which
5.56mm NATO would eventually be developed) would be intrinsically linked to the development
of a new lightweight combat rifle. The cartridge and rifle were developed as one unit by Fairchild
Industries, Remington Arms, and several engineers working toward a goal developed by U.S.
Continental Army Command (CONARC). Early development work began in 1957. A project to
create a small-calibre, high-velocity (SCHV) firearm was created. Eugene Stoner of Armalite was
invited to scale down the AR-10 (7.62mm) design. Winchester was also invited to participate.[10]
[5]
The parameters that were requested by CONARC:
.22 Caliber
Bullet exceeding supersonic speed at 500 yards[10][5]
Rifle weight of 6 lb
Magazine capacity of 20 rounds
Select fire for both semi-automatic and fully automatic use
Penetration of US steel helmet through one side at 500 yards
Penetration of .135-inch steel plate at 500 yards
Accuracy and ballistics equal to M2 ball ammunition (.30-06 Springfield) out to 500 yards
Wounding ability equal to M1 Carbine [5]
Springfield Armory's Earle Harvey lengthened the .222 Remington cartridge case to meet the
requirements. It was then known as the .224 Springfield. Concurrently with the SCHV project,
Springfield Armory was developing a 7.62mm rifle. Harvey was ordered to cease all work on the
SCHV to avoid any competition of resources.
Eugene Stoner of Armalite (a division of
