GPMG - General Purpose Machine Gun

GPMG mounted on tripiod, configured for sustained fire-mode.

The L7A2 GPMG, or 'GIMPY', is a 7.62x61mm belt-fed general purpose machine gun. The GPMG has been in service with the British military for decades.

The GPMG can be carried by foot soldiers and employed as a light machine gun (LMG), although it has largely been replaced by the lighter 5.56x45mm minimi in this role in most regiments. Not willing to give up the GPMG's stopping power for convenience, Paras, marines and UKSF still lug the weapon around on foot patrols. A fold-out bipod is used to support the GPMG in the LMG role.

The GPMG is more commonly mounted on vehicles, helicopter, boats and in fixed positions. When mounted on a tripod, with C2 optical sight added and with stock removed, the GPMG is used in 'sustained fire' (SF) mode. In SF mode, the GPMG, with a 2-man crew, lays down 750 rounds-per-minute at ranges up to 1800 meters.

UKSF, Paras and Royal Marines put the GPMG on their WMIK Land Rovers. The SAS have been known to have up to 3 GPMGs mounted on one vehicle. The 'beating zone' suppressed by multiple GPMGs is phenomenal.

GPMG configured for personal carry - the bipod is folded beneath the barrel.