M247 machine gun

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.

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. 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.

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.

The M247 had entered service with the UNSC as early as 2526.

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.

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. Another variant was also concepted and implemented in early builds, sporting a 25mm grenade launcher mounted atop the weapon.

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.

List of appearances

 * Halo 2
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Halo: Last Light
 * Halo: Oblivion