M247 machine gun

M247 General Purpose Machine Gun
Production overview
Manufacturer:	Misriah Armory
Type:	Machine gun
Specifications
Length:	Portable: 156 centimeters; Mounted: 154.5 centimeters;
Weight:	Portable: 10.43 kilograms (23 lb); Mounted: 19.28 kilograms (42.5 lb);
Ammunition type:	M118 Full Metal Jacket Armor-Piercing
Feed system:	Unlimited (in-game)
Operation:	Fully automatic
Rate of fire:	600 rounds per minute
Effective range:	1,100 meters (3,609 feet)
Service history
In service:	Human-Covenant War

The M247 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), formally known as the Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M247, is a machine gun used extensively by the United Nations Space Command Armed Forces. It is a scaled-down version of the more widely utilized M247H Heavy Machine Gun.^[3]

Overview

The M247 GPMG is chambered for the ubiquitous M118 7.62×51mm FMJ AP cartridge, unlike the M247H, which uses the 12.7mm high velocity cartridge.^[3] Being a general-purpose machine gun, the M247 is fed via a belt box on the right side of the gun and is usually deployed on a tripod. The weapon's mobility allows personnel to quickly establish defensive perimeters or to provide suppressing fire.^[4]^[5]

Although it is usually used as a mobile support weapon, the M247 GPMG is often permanently turret-mounted and bolted to the ground, with a large slab of armor protecting the operator. In this configuration, the weapon is fed by a drum magazine, which is considerably larger than the standard box magazine. The M247 GPMG is also commonly mounted in the troop bays of D77-TC Pelicans, which allows the dropship's crew chief to provide suppressing fire for embarking and disembarking troops; many Pelican-mounted M247s are equipped with an underslung drum magazine to complement the belt feed.^[5]^[6]

The M247 had entered service with the UNSC as early as 2526.^[7]

Variants

M247 General Purpose Machine Gun Turret Autocannon: This variant is an autocannon that can be placed on the M312 Elephant.
M247H Heavy Machine Gun: This variant is the most widely used turreted machine gun in service.
M247T Medium Machine Gun: This variant is outfitted mostly on the M808 Scorpion and M850 Grizzly main battle tanks as an onboard anti-infantry weapon.

M247 GPMGT.
M247H Heavy Machine Gun.
M247T Medium Machine Gun.

Production notes

During the production of Halo 2, the M247 was considered for inclusion as a first-person weapon, with a playable version in the files of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.^[8] Another variant was also concepted and implemented in early builds, sporting a 25mm grenade launcher mounted atop the weapon.^[9]

Trivia

This weapon shares a very similar name to the real-world FN Herstal M249E4 PIP and M240E6LW machine guns, as well as sharing a similar design and combat role.
In the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta, the packaging of the M247 can be found in the map High Ground, though the weapon does not appear in the game.

Gallery

Halo 2 concept art of the M247.
The M247 GPMG in Halo 2.
Forward and rear views of a portable M247 GPMG in Halo 2.
A turret-mounted M247 GPMG.
Views of a turret-mounted M247 GPMG.
A Marine using the portable version of the M247 GPMG.
A Marine carrying a portable M247 GPMG.
A Marine door gunner operating an M247 GMPG mounted on the rear hatch of a Pelican.
A Spartan using an M247 GPMG on the multiplayer map Waterworks.
Concept art for Halo 2: Anniversary.
Concept art of the base for Halo 2: Anniversary.
Concept art of the weapon's Pelican mount for Halo 2: Anniversary.
Sergeant Johnson arms an M247 mounted into the bay of a Pelican.
A Marine mans an M247 against the Covenant aboard Cairo Station.
HUD of the M247 in Halo 2: Anniversary campaign.
John-117 manning an M247.
A marine carrying the M247.
An M247 with an M247H.
HUD of the M247 in Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer.
A Sangheili firing an M247 on Skyward.
A shield version of the M247.
The GPMG in first-person.
An image of a Marine using an M247 GPMG with the grenade launcher attachment.