Knowledge

Talk:General-purpose machine gun

Source 📝

556:
equaled Browning M1917, light machine gun equaled Browning M1919A4 and BAR equaled automatic rifle or machine rifle. A true light machine gun could however in my opinion, not be categorised as a GPMG. In my opinion a true GPMG needs the following: 1. Full calibre, full energy rifle rounds; like the 7.62mmx51mm and 7.62mmx54mmR. 2. Be belt fed. 3. Be capable of being used both on a bipod in the light role and on a tripod or on/in vehicles, helicopters etc in the sustained fire role. Furthermore, it being possible to rapidly change from bipod use to tripod use and vice versa. 4. Have a quick-change barrel. The Bren's service with the UK armed forces overlapped with that of the L7 GPMG and the Bren was always referred to as a LMG. In my opinion a Bren could not be described as a GPMG, because it is magazine fed and therefore could not provide the volume of fire and uninterrupted fire necessary for the sustained fire role on a tripod or on/in vehicles. In the case of small calibre MG's like the 5.56mm Minimi, because their calibre is unsuitable for the long distance fire required for the sustained fire role on a tripod or on/in vehicles. Therefore Bren and 5.56mm Minimi type machine guns, are usually not referred to as GPMG's. In my opinion, true medium machine guns are for example the Goryunnov SG-43/SGM, Browning M1919A4 and Vickers MK I. A rifle calibre machine gun (i.e for example 7.62mmx54mmR, .303in) designed for use on a tripod or on/in vehicles in the sustained fire role and cannot be used on a bipod. The BAR could never be categorised as a GPMG. It is magazine fed, lacks a quick-change barrel and could not be used on a tripod.
254: 238: 22: 303: 123: 282: 195: 184: 173: 81: 53: 162: 151: 629:
Army in response to the "German MG34 and MG42 machine guns they were facing". Contrast this with all of the other weapons on the list which were specifically designed to be used both as LMGs and MMGs. As a minimum the inclusion of the M1919 should contain a qualifier. Otherwise we might also include the MG 08/18 version of the Maxim
650:
Strongly agree. Including the M1919 will only tend to confuse the reader. Indeed, the M1919 could just as easily be at the top of a list of examples of machine guns that are NOT GPMGs. The appearance of the M1919A6, a belated attempt to GMPG-ize the M1919 notwithstanding, it is hard to think of a
628:
fits well with the other "notable examples". While the M1919A6 version could be used as a light machine gun (LMG), it was a much later conversion, and in all other aspects the M1919 is a 'pure' medium machine gun (MMG). The Wiki article on the M1919 describes the A6 as a "stopgap measure" by the US
533:
I agree that it is co-incident that most weapons referred to as GPMGs are MMGs. Not all MMGs are GPMGs. The two major historical GPMG-style weapons are the MG38/42 and BAR, both with their own inherent differences in make and use. I doubt the BAR would ever be referred as an MMG. FWIW GPMG is from
555:
The term MMG was used by the UK, long before the USA. For example the Vickers MK I: i.e. a rifle calibre machine gun, designed to be used on a tripod in the sustained fire role and not on a bipod. In the past the USA had these terms: Large caliber machine gun equaled M2 Browning, heavy machine gun
591:
Article says "In the late 1956, the Canadian military adopted the FN MAG as the C6A1 GPMG along with the purchase of the FNC1 and FNC2's". The Canadians were still using the Browning M1919A4 as late as the mid 1980's. When the Leopard C1 tanks came into service I believe they came with the FN-MAG
382:
GPMG does not refer specifically to the MAG-58 / L7A1; it can refer to any machine gun that is designed to be able to fulfill the roles of either light machine gun or medium machine gun. Apart from the MAG-58 which fills that role in the British Army, other well known GPMG's include the
494:
You have a good point but i dont think its right though. Any machine gun could really be a general purpose machine gun. That fact that most Medium machine guns are general purpose machine is just coincident. A light machine gun could be a gneral purpose machine gun also.
450:"Firing from the Hip" is both taught in several armies as well as a more correct description of the technique, since one doesnt have to be "on the move" to fire from the hip. Just because "Arnie" or "Rambo" fires from the hip, that should not influence technical language. 808:
Is it wise to focus almost solely on german WWII GPMGs as the main and pretty much only GPMGs during the war? It seems (to me at least) that this gives undue weight to the Nazis, and presents them almost as a Wunderwaffe akin to how the StG 44 was the first
517:
Tom Anderson, I'm not sure where the term GPMG geographically originated, but I am American, and I am familiar with the term, specifically as it refers to a weapon that is designed to fulfill the roles of both an LMG and a MMG, such as the MG42 or
453:
It seems inaccurate to describe the MK48 as a GPMG, as it is narrowly a .308 adaptation of the MK46, which is a Special Forces weapon therefore used as a small arm by an individual; as opposed to being crew-served and vehicle-mountable
405:
A full article should discuss the origin of the idea of the GPMG, its tactical role, and why many modern armies are moving away from it back to a LMG/SFMG doctrine. I might do it in a couple of weeks but I am flat out at the moment.
245: 63: 651:.30 cal post-WWI belt-fed machine gun that is less like a GPMG than the M1919. It should be taken off the "notable example" list or, at the dead minimum, the M1919A6 model should be the only variant listed. 619: 841: 846: 734: 409:
Concerning an article on the MAG-58, it should probably also mention the large number of countries who have adopted it. Also the cyclic rate is actually variable. -- Roger 13 Aug 2003
645: 752: 748: 580: 261: 67: 136: 439: 497: 413: 357: 666: 484:
Isn't MMG pretty much synonymous with GPMG these days? If so, the pages should be merged. If not, notes should be added about how they're different.
93: 527: 549: 822: 510: 836: 565: 122: 798: 612: 866: 576: 347: 712: 871: 861: 851: 422:
The "hip firing" reference is rather 'Arnie' or 'Rambo', isn't it. For a more encyclopedic tone I suggest 'while on the move'.
88: 58: 856: 803: 475: 469: 97: 442: 572: 461: 416: 323: 658: 541: 319: 586: 447:
Hip firing is something that is rarely ever employed except for when firing light machine guns or GPMGS on the move.
675: 751:
to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the
402:- Yes, by the very soldiers that use the FN MAG ;) Any soldier will love theirs best (unless its an early M60) 430:
I think hip firing is possible only with weapons up to light machine guns. After that it's simply unfeasible.
310: 287: 608: 92:. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a 487:
My hunch is that GPMG is a British/Commonwealth term, and MMG is a USAian term, although i could be wrong.
33: 818: 684: 770:
If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with
625: 465: 318:
on Knowledge. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the
438:
I would like to request that an image be uploaded to this page. Actually I may do that myself now--
662: 545: 21: 755:
before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template
814: 771: 790: 758: 716: 713:
https://web.archive.org/20130226162750/http://army.mod.uk/equipment/support-weapons/1463.aspx
592:
designated as the C6. The FN-MAG replaced the Browning about the time the FNs were retired.
39: 778: 654: 596: 537: 457: 412:
The absolute best should be the one that originated the concept. In other words, the MG42.
8: 561: 737:, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by 641: 523: 477: 423: 777:
If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with
694: 604: 786: 377: 702: 688: 384: 557: 743:. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than 399:. (However it is widely accpeted that the MAG 58 is the best GPMG ever made!) 830: 637: 519: 813:
assault rifle, but not solely the basis for every subsequent assault rifle.
253: 600: 431: 534:
the french, but made popular by the British standardisation of the term.
744: 699:
after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add
571:
The Russian term for GPMG this is единый, meaning unified or universal.
237: 315: 707:
to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
302: 281: 842:
Start-Class military science, technology, and theory articles
630: 620:
Problematic to have the M1919 Browning as a "notable example"
847:
Military science, technology, and theory task force articles
722:
When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the
392: 717:
http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/support-weapons/1463.aspx
80: 52: 396: 388: 683:
I have just added archive links to one external link on
314:, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of 134:
This article has been checked against the following
747:using the archive tool instructions below. Editors 246:
Military science, technology, and theory task force
828: 733:This message was posted before February 2018. 19: 86:This article is within the scope of the 829: 106:Knowledge:WikiProject Military history 96:. To use this banner, please see the 837:Start-Class military history articles 490:-- Tom Anderson 2008-01-28 1819 +000 109:Template:WikiProject Military history 308:This article is within the scope of 15: 38:It is of interest to the following 13: 804:POV and Focus on German WWII GPMGs 252: 236: 121: 14: 883: 687:. Please take a moment to review 867:Low-importance Firearms articles 301: 280: 193: 182: 171: 160: 149: 79: 51: 20: 573:Someone not using his real name 352:This article has been rated as 332:Knowledge:WikiProject Firearms 1: 872:WikiProject Firearms articles 862:Start-Class Firearms articles 852:Start-Class weaponry articles 823:18:11, 8 September 2022 (UTC) 667:08:18, 14 November 2012 (UTC) 470:18:36, 26 February 2019 (UTC) 417:15:31, 20 February 2006 (UTC) 335:Template:WikiProject Firearms 857:Weaponry task force articles 550:03:52, 4 February 2010 (UTC) 528:21:48, 9 February 2008 (UTC) 511:19:21, 28 January 2008 (UTC) 89:Military history WikiProject 7: 799:06:22, 26 August 2015 (UTC) 685:General-purpose machine gun 646:08:33, 22 August 2012 (UTC) 581:21:55, 18 August 2013 (UTC) 443:18:52, 8 October 2005 (UTC) 10: 888: 764:(last update: 5 June 2024) 705:|deny=InternetArchiveBot}} 680:Hello fellow Wikipedians, 626:M1919 Browning machine gun 613:23:17, 19 April 2010 (UTC) 587:FN-MAG in Canadian Service 566:21:51, 17 March 2011 (UTC) 358:project's importance scale 154:Referencing and citation: 426:16:14, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC) 351: 296: 260: 244: 219: 215: 133: 112:military history articles 74: 46: 633:as a "notable example". 434:20:46, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC) 676:External links modified 624:I don't think that the 220:Associated task forces: 165:Coverage and accuracy: 257: 241: 198:Supporting materials: 126: 28:This article is rated 391:(and once the famous 256: 240: 125: 745:regular verification 730:to let others know. 691:. If necessary, add 311:WikiProject Firearms 735:After February 2018 726:parameter below to 395:), and the Russian 262:Weaponry task force 187:Grammar and style: 140:for B-class status: 740:InternetArchiveBot 478:Medium Machine Gun 322:and see a list of 258: 242: 127: 94:list of open tasks 34:content assessment 815:ShamblingShoggoth 797: 765: 657:comment added by 616: 599:comment added by 540:comment added by 472: 460:comment added by 372: 371: 368: 367: 364: 363: 338:Firearms articles 275: 274: 271: 270: 267: 266: 211: 210: 167:criterion not met 156:criterion not met 98:full instructions 879: 793: 792:Talk to my owner 788: 763: 762: 741: 706: 698: 669: 615: 593: 552: 509: 506: 502: 455: 340: 339: 336: 333: 330: 305: 298: 297: 292: 284: 277: 276: 227: 217: 216: 201: 197: 196: 190: 186: 185: 179: 175: 174: 168: 164: 163: 157: 153: 152: 131: 130: 114: 113: 110: 107: 104: 103:Military history 83: 76: 75: 70: 59:Military history 55: 48: 47: 31: 25: 24: 16: 887: 886: 882: 881: 880: 878: 877: 876: 827: 826: 806: 796: 791: 756: 749:have permission 739: 700: 692: 678: 652: 622: 594: 589: 535: 504: 498: 496: 482: 403: 380: 337: 334: 331: 328: 327: 290: 225: 199: 194: 188: 183: 177: 172: 166: 161: 155: 150: 111: 108: 105: 102: 101: 61: 32:on Knowledge's 29: 12: 11: 5: 885: 875: 874: 869: 864: 859: 854: 849: 844: 839: 805: 802: 789: 783: 782: 775: 720: 719: 711:Added archive 677: 674: 673: 672: 671: 670: 621: 618: 588: 585: 584: 583: 531: 530: 514: 513: 481: 474: 462:50.203.251.142 436: 435: 420: 401: 379: 376: 374: 370: 369: 366: 365: 362: 361: 354:Low-importance 350: 344: 343: 341: 306: 294: 293: 291:Low‑importance 285: 273: 272: 269: 268: 265: 264: 259: 249: 248: 243: 233: 232: 230: 228: 222: 221: 213: 212: 209: 208: 206: 204: 203: 202: 191: 180: 169: 158: 144: 143: 141: 128: 118: 117: 115: 84: 72: 71: 56: 44: 43: 37: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 884: 873: 870: 868: 865: 863: 860: 858: 855: 853: 850: 848: 845: 843: 840: 838: 835: 834: 832: 825: 824: 820: 816: 812: 801: 800: 794: 787: 780: 776: 773: 769: 768: 767: 760: 754: 750: 746: 742: 736: 731: 729: 725: 718: 714: 710: 709: 708: 704: 696: 690: 686: 681: 668: 664: 660: 659:69.205.156.83 656: 649: 648: 647: 643: 639: 636: 635: 634: 632: 627: 617: 614: 610: 606: 602: 598: 582: 578: 574: 570: 569: 568: 567: 563: 559: 553: 551: 547: 543: 542:203.9.185.137 539: 529: 525: 521: 516: 515: 512: 508: 507: 501: 493: 492: 491: 488: 485: 479: 473: 471: 467: 463: 459: 451: 448: 445: 444: 441: 440:131.111.8.103 433: 429: 428: 427: 425: 424:GraemeLeggett 419: 418: 415: 410: 407: 400: 398: 394: 390: 386: 375: 359: 355: 349: 346: 345: 342: 325: 321: 317: 313: 312: 307: 304: 300: 299: 295: 289: 286: 283: 279: 278: 263: 255: 251: 250: 247: 239: 235: 234: 231: 229: 224: 223: 218: 214: 207: 205: 200:criterion met 192: 189:criterion met 181: 178:criterion met 170: 159: 148: 147: 146: 145: 142: 139: 138: 132: 129: 124: 120: 119: 116: 99: 95: 91: 90: 85: 82: 78: 77: 73: 69: 65: 60: 57: 54: 50: 49: 45: 41: 35: 27: 23: 18: 17: 810: 807: 784: 759:source check 738: 732: 727: 723: 721: 682: 679: 653:— Preceding 623: 590: 554: 532: 503: 499: 489: 486: 483: 456:— Preceding 452: 449: 446: 437: 421: 414:209.221.73.5 411: 408: 404: 381: 373: 353: 309: 135: 87: 40:WikiProjects 595:—Preceding 536:—Preceding 176:Structure: 30:Start-class 831:Categories 811:successful 476:Same as a 324:open tasks 320:discussion 64:Technology 785:Cheers. — 779:this tool 772:this tool 558:Sulasgeir 387:, German 695:cbignore 655:unsigned 638:Mojowiha 609:contribs 597:unsigned 538:unsigned 520:Cbmclean 458:unsigned 378:Untitled 329:Firearms 316:firearms 288:Firearms 137:criteria 68:Weaponry 795::Online 724:checked 689:my edit 601:Ibm1130 505:Brigade 432:Oberiko 356:on the 703:nobots 36:scale. 631:MG 08 500:Bones 819:talk 728:true 663:talk 642:talk 605:talk 577:talk 562:talk 546:talk 524:talk 518:M60. 466:talk 393:MG42 753:RfC 715:to 397:PKM 389:MG3 385:M60 348:Low 833:: 821:) 766:. 761:}} 757:{{ 701:{{ 697:}} 693:{{ 665:) 644:) 611:) 607:• 579:) 564:) 548:) 526:) 468:) 226:/ 66:/ 62:: 817:( 781:. 774:. 661:( 640:( 603:( 575:( 560:( 544:( 522:( 480:? 464:( 360:. 326:. 100:. 42::

Index


content assessment
WikiProjects
WikiProject icon
Military history
Technology
Weaponry
WikiProject icon
Military history WikiProject
list of open tasks
full instructions
B checklist
criteria
Taskforce icon
Military science, technology, and theory task force
Taskforce icon
Weaponry task force
WikiProject icon
Firearms
WikiProject icon
WikiProject Firearms
firearms
discussion
open tasks
Low
project's importance scale
M60
MG3
MG42
PKM

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.