General-purpose machine gun
A general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) is a machine gun which gets its ammunition from a belt. It can be used in many different roles: it can support infantry from a bipod or tripod or be put onto a helicopter or armoured vehicle.[1] It can provide fire support for vehicles or infantry from a variety of mounts.
A general-purpose machine gun is generally a medium machine gun. It also fires rifle cartridges like the 7.62×51mm NATO or 7.92x57mm Mauser. It is usually used from a bipod, tripod or on a vehicle. This is because it is usually too powerful and heavy to be fired well on foot or while moving.
Examples
Some examples of general-purpose machine guns are:
Gallery
A general-purpose machine gun in Australian service.
A GPMG on a tripod.
On a vehicle, in Dutch service.
On a helicopter.
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General-purpose Machine Gun Media
The MG-42 type general-purpose machine guns in both bipod and tripod configurations. The tall tripod on the right is for anti-aircraft use.
MG 34 belt-fed tripod version (top) and saddle-drum magazine bipod version (below)
MG 42 general-purpose machine gun with bipod retracted
Campo d'Arma del Comando Brigata Granatieri di Sardegna*Monte Romano, Giugno 2013
An MG3 of the German Army. A non-disintegrating metal DM1 ammunition belt with some inert rounds is inserted in the MG3.
MG 74 mounted on its tripod
Machine gun mounted on a French VBL armored vehicle
M60 Medium Machine Gun Primary function: Anti-personnel, aerial defense and light materiel targets. Length: 43.5 in. Weight: 23 lbs. Caliber: 7.62 mm NATO. Maximum effective range: 1,100 meters. Cyclic rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute.
FN MAG.*If you'd like to use this image, please credit FN Herstal as the author, that is the condition to be licensed under Creative Common Attribution.
7.62 mm PKM machine gun used by Finnish military on display during the Finnish Navy 2012 anniversary.
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Related pages
References
- ↑ British Army. "British Army weapons". British Army. British Army.
- ↑ Bishop, Chris (2002). Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. ISBN 9781586637620. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ↑ Bishop, Chris (2002). Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. ISBN 9781586637620. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ↑ Cutshaw, Charles W. "Tactical Small Arms of the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Small Arms From Around the World". Retrieved July 24, 2012.[dead link]