M247H machine gun

The M247H Heavy Machine Gun, abbreviated M247H HMG, is a heavy weapon used extensively by the United Nations Space Command ground forces. This weapon is one of many variants of the widely used M247 General Purpose Machine Gun.

Design details
The M247H is an air-cooled, gas-operated, electrically fired, linkless-fed weapon. It can be used in both anti-personnel and anti-vehicle roles. It is most often seen mounted on stationary tripods and used as a defensive weapon, but can also be carried by those strong enough to efficiently operate it. The M247H is also mounted on both sides of most UH-144 Falcons.

Like many other heavy support weapons used by the UNSC, the M247H is fitted with metal shield plating near the rear end of its barrel to protect the user. Some versions, including the one mounted on the Falcon, lack this feature.

Trivia

 * Chief Warrant Officer Jorge-052, a SPARTAN-II Commando, utilized this weapon throughout the Human-Covenant War. His customized M247H lacked the shield plate, which had been replaced by a heat cover over the barrel and many other smaller differences. Judging by its appearance, it is likely that CWO Jorge-052 has been using this weapon for years and prefers an older model of the M247H.
 * During the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, the M247H was erroneously labeled as the AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun in Bungie.net game stats.