M247H machine gun

The M247H Heavy Machine Gun is the most widely used turreted machine gun in service with the UNSC Armed Forces. It is manufactured by Misriah Armory.

Overview
The M247H is an air-cooled, gas-operated, electrically fired, linkless-fed weapon that fires 12.7mm High Velocity, Explosive rounds. It is generally used to provide suppressing fire, point-to-point cover fire, and, predominantly, direct fire in an anti-personnel role, though it is also capable of destroying light vehicles with relative ease.

Due to its light weight and ease of use, it is used at most UNSC bases and high-priority sites. Reports indicate that personnel have been seen firing the M247H from the hip to pursue enemies beyond the fixed weapon's range, though such situations are unlikely unless performed by a Spartan. Even so, such reports remain unsubstantiated.

The M247H had entered service with the UNSC as early as 2526.

Design details
The standard configuration of the M247H is affixed to a tripod turret base, similar to the older AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun. Like many other UNSCDF support weapons, the M247H is fitted with a metal shield near the rear of its barrel to protect the user, though some versions, including the one mounted on the UH-144S Falcon, lack this feature. The ammunition box is located behind this shield; the standard box contains 200 rounds, though this capacity varies. The firing mechanism and trigger are located at the rear of the weapon and are accompanied by a pair of handles, allowing the operator to rotate it 180 degrees. Its basic design has changed significantly over time.

Variants

 * Etilka - Chief Warrant Officer Jorge-052's modified M274H machine gun lacked the shield plate, which was replaced by a heat cover over the barrel and was colored differently from the standard version. He also modified the handles of the gun to be easier on the wrist.
 * War Games Etilka - After the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC created a variant for use in 's War Games modeled after Etilka. Now equipped with a red high-capacity magazine, the weapon grants increased movement speed, damage resistance, and weapon damage. It is also branded with "S-052" (Jorge's designation) and Noble Team's logo.

Gameplay
The weapon is excellent against enemy infantry, especially when they are encountered in large numbers. However, the user is entirely exposed. Carrying the turret greatly decreases the player's speed and maneuverability. In Halo Wars 2, it has become an exclusive weapon for Alice-130.

Trivia

 * The M247H is erroneously labeled as the AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun in Bungie.net game stats. The weapon's description on the official Halo: Reach website erroneously claims that the M247H uses 7.62mm cartridges, which are actually used by the M247 GPMG.
 * When firing, the weapon makes the same sound as the AIE-486H HMG, including the sound of the gun spooling up, despite the M247H having only a single barrel.
 * Like the AIE-486H HMG featured in Halo 3, if the Infinite Ammo setting is active, the detached turret will not have unlimited ammunition. However, if the Bottomless Clip setting is enabled, detached turrets will have infinite ammunition.
 * In Halo: Reach, Sangheili and Grunts will use these turrets if in their vicinity.
 * Early concept art by Isaac Hannaford for the Falcon's side-door guns closely resembles the AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun from Halo 3, but was later changed to the M247H Heavy Machine Gun.
 * The M247H, like turrets in Reach minus the Shade, tends to overheat after extensive use, forcing the user to wait for the gun to cool down or risk it jamming until it is fully cooled.
 * Etilka is a Hungarian and Hebrew name which means "Noble".
 * In Halo 4, the HUD elements for the M247H do not show a remaining round count when the weapon is dismounted as in previous games, but instead show a percentage of ammo left remaining, similar to its counterpart, the . The same quirk appears with the Etilka REQ weapon in Halo 5: Guardians, which is especially curious considering that the game's standard machine gun turret, the M343A2 chaingun, now once again displays a round count instead of a percentage when removed from its mount.

List of appearances

 * Remember Reach
 * Deliver Hope
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Halo: Last Light
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Halo: Ground Command
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo: Fireteam Raven
 * ''Halo: Oblivion
 * Halo Infinite