Hécate II
The PGM Hécate II
TypeAnti-materiel rifle
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1993–present
Used bySee Users
WarsWar in Afghanistan[1]
Northern Mali Conflict
Operation Serval
Yemeni Civil War
Production history
DesignerGilles Payen
ManufacturerPGM Précision
Specifications
Mass13.8 kg (30.42 lb) with no sight
Length1,380 mm (54.3 in)
1,140 mm (44.9 in) with stock removed
Barrel length700 mm (27.6 in)
Cartridge.50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)
ActionBolt-action
Muzzle velocity825 m/s (2,707 ft/s)
Effective firing range1,800 m
Maximum firing rangeOver 2,000 m
Feed system7-round detachable box magazine
SightsTelescopic sights

The Hécate II is the standard heavy sniper rifle and anti-materiel rifle of the French Army, sometimes known as the FR-12.7 (French: Fusil à Répétition de calibre 12.7 mm or "12.7 mm calibre repeating rifle"). It is manufactured by PGM Précision of France. This is the largest weapon manufactured by PGM, chambered for the .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) cartridge. The name of the rifle is derived from the ancient Greek goddess Hecate.

Design

Its design is the same metallic-skeleton as used in other similar rifles in the PGM family, only scaled up. The barrel of the Hécate is manufactured by FN Herstal and is lined with Stellite alloy which is also used for large calibre machine guns. This increases the barrel's longevity.[2] It is fitted with a high-efficiency muzzle brake which reduces the felt recoil to about the level expected of a 7.62×51mm NATO-chambered rifle.[3] The rifle is equipped with both an adjustable front bipod and a rear monopod for maximum accuracy. The stock is also adjustable. The Hecate II was a heavy firearm and weighs up to 35.27 pounds at most.

The standard-issue sight used with the Hécate II is the SCROME LTE J10 F1 10× telescope.

The anti-materiel rifle in the video game Fallout: New Vegas is heavily influenced by the design of the Hécate II.[4] Although the rifle is not widely used in the United States, the choice to use it was primarily aesthetic, as explained by Fallout: New Vegas's game director Josh Sawyer: "I based the anti-materiel rifle on the Hécate II because honestly I was/am sick of seeing Barretts in games and I think the Hécate II looks better."[5]

The Hecate II is also the preferred weapon of Sinon (Shino Asada), a character in season two of the anime Sword Art Online (2012), referred to in series as the «PGM Ultima Ratio Hecate II».[6]

Users

Map with PGM Hécate II users in blue

See also

References

  1. ↑ Neville, Leigh (2016-08-25). Modern Snipers. General Military. Osprey Publishing. pp. 105–106. ISBN 9781472815347.
  2. ↑ Forgotten Weapons - "PGM Hecate II: A Battle-Hardened .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle" on YouTube
  3. ↑ Forgotten Weapons - "PGM Precision Hecate II at the Range" on YouTube
  4. ↑ "I have read your comment at the Bozar - regardless if it was just a joke or not - the antimaterial rifle always reminded me of the Bozar from the first Trailer I saw - was the design of it inspired by the Bozar? | Formspring". 2013-03-21. Archived from the original on 2013-03-21. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  5. ↑ "Frog Helms Fan Club". Tumblr. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  6. ↑ Sword Art Online 5: Phantom Bullet, p. 48
  7. 1 2 3 Lagneau, Laurent (2016-06-17). "Le mini Hecate II, le nouveau fusil de précision français destiné aux forces spéciales". Zone militaire (in French).
  8. ↑ "Kaitseministeerium ostab Eesti kaitseväele snaiprirelvi". mod.gov.ee (in Finnish). 2007-07-06. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20.
  9. ↑ "Le fusil de précision de 12,7 mm PGM". defense.gouv.fr (in French). 2016-10-19.
  10. ↑ "Hecate II: Senapan Runduk Heavy Barrel Andalan Den Bravo Paskhas TNI AU". Indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  11. ↑ "isayeret.com The Israeli Special Forces Database". Archived from the original on 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  12. ↑ "Latvian National Armed Forces, Facts and Figures" (PDF). 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-01. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  13. ↑ "12.7 mm PGM Hecate Sniper Rifle". Ministry of Defence, Slovenian Armed Forces. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
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