M247 general purpose machine gun

M247 General Purpose Machine Gun
Production overview
Manufacturer:	Misriah Armory
Type:	General-purpose machine gun
Variants:	M247H machine gun; M247T machine gun;
Specifications
Length:	163 centimeters (64.1 in)
Weight:	Portable: 10 kilograms (23 lb); Mounted: 19.3 kilograms (42.5 lb);
Ammunition type:	M118 Full Metal Jacket Armor-Piercing
Capacity:	100 rounds (box magazine)
Feed system:	Belt-fed
Effective range:	1,100 meters (3,600 ft)
Service history
In service:	Human-Covenant War

The M247 general-purpose machine gun, more formally known as the M247 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), is a machine gun used extensively by the armed forces of the United Nations Space Command. It is a scaled-down version of the M247H heavy machine gun.^[4] Nicknames for the M247 GPMG include Meat Chopper, Chainsaw, MG, Butcher, (incorrectly but colloquially) Uzi, the Pig, Pork, and Porky.^[3]

Overview

Design details

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.^[4] 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.^[5]^[6]

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.^[6]^[7]

Operational history

The M247 had entered service with the UNSC as early as 2526.^[8]

Production notes

An M247 on High Ground in an alpha build of Halo 3.

Main article: Cut Halo 2 weapons

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.^[9] Another variant was also concepted and implemented in early builds, sporting a 20mm grenade launcher mounted atop the weapon.^[10] The Art of Halo: Creating a Virtual World erroneously claims this weapon as a 25mm launcher.^[11] The grenade launcher machine gun attachment was recovered and restored for use in retail Halo 2 by the Digsite project.^[10]
In Halo 3, a number of UNSC crates bear decals listing their contents as the M247, despite the game replacing the weapon with the AIE-486H machine gun. The decals reuse the label text and information from their equivalents in Halo 2, except for changing the crate's icon to the AIE. The M247 was present in early builds of Halo 3, though would ultimately be replaced for final release.
In the personnel profiles included in the limited edition of Halo Wars, the M312 Elephant's large top-mounted cannon upgrade is erroneously and contradictingly referred to as the "M247 GPMGT Autocannon". See here.

Gallery

Development images

Halo 2 concept art of the M247.^[11]
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.
The GPMG in first-person.
An image of a Marine using an M247 GPMG with the grenade launcher attachment.^[11]
The restored GPMG with 20mm launcher, given functionality by Digsite.^[10]
Master Chief firing the now-functional grenade launcher.^[10]

Screenshots

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.
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 shield version of the 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.

List of appearances

Halo 2 (First appearance)
Halo Wars
Halo 2: Anniversary
Halo: Last Light
Halo: Oblivion
Halo: The Television Series Season Two

Notes

^ The length stat used on this article reflects that provided in the 2022 Halo Encyclopedia book, using the Halo 2: Anniversary campaign model of the turret as a base. In the original 2009 and 2011 editions of the book, the length given was 150 centimeters (59 in).

Sources

^ ^a ^b Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 331
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 317
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 331
^ ^a ^b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 115
^ Halo 2, campaign level Outskirts
^ ^a ^b Halo 2, campaign level Metropolis
^ Halo 2, campaign level Delta Halo
^ Halo: Oblivion, chapter 4
^ YouTube - Lord Zedd, Halo: MCC - Flying The Falcon in Halo 2 And More!
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Halo Waypoint, Digsite Discoveries (Retrieved on Jul 17, 2023) [archive]
^ ^a ^b ^c The Art of Halo, page 109

[2] The length stat used on this article reflects that provided in the 2022 Halo Encyclopedia book, using the Halo 2: Anniversary campaign model of the turret as a base. In the original 2009 and 2011 editions of the book, the length given was 150 centimeters (59 in).

[Enc22-1] Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 331

[Enc09-3] Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 317

[Enc11-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 331

[EVG-5] Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 115

[Outskirts-6] Halo 2, campaign level Outskirts

[Metropolis-7] Halo 2, campaign level Metropolis

[8] Halo 2, campaign level Delta Halo

[Obliv4-9] Halo: Oblivion, chapter 4

[Zedd-10] YouTube - Lord Zedd, Halo: MCC - Flying The Falcon in Halo 2 And More!

[Discoveries-11] Halo Waypoint, Digsite Discoveries (Retrieved on Jul 17, 2023) [archive]

[AOHGrenadeLauncher-12] The Art of Halo, page 109

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