General Dynamics Lightweight Medium Machine Gun

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Not sure why we need a new GPMG that shoots farther with heavier ammo, I think we want a lighter GPMG with lighter ammo......


http://www.generaldynamics.com/news/press-releases/detail.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1811=17733

General Dynamics Unveils New Medium-caliber Machine Gun at Joint Armaments Conference in Seattle
Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) will be on display May 15 – 17.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today unveiled a next-generation Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) at the Joint Armaments Conference in Seattle, Wash.

Identifying an unmet warfighter need, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products conducted its own research and development program to develop the LWMMG in just over one year. The weapon is designed for low-cost production and for maximum effectiveness at the small unit level, where weight and lethality are decisive factors.

“The LWMMG is an affordable weapon that closes a current operational gap, providing .50 caliber-like firepower in range and effect at the same weight and size of currently fielded 7.62mm machine guns,” said Steve Elgin, vice president and general manager of armament systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. “Weighing in at 24 pounds and featuring a fully collapsible stock, the LWMMG offers superior mobility and portability in both mounted and dismounted operations.”

General Dynamics’ LWMMG also offers a distinct advantage in both extended and close-in fighting by using the highly efficient .338 Norma Magnum cartridge for increased accuracy and lethality out to 1,700 meters, a distance currently gapped in the operational capabilities of warfighters.

“By employing the larger .338 NM round, the LWMMG delivers twice the range and dramatically increases lethality above the 7.62 round,” said Elgin. “In addition, the LWMMG goes beyond providing suppressive fire and gives warfighters the ability to attack point targets at significantly extended ranges.”

The LWMMG has a firing rate of 500 rounds per minute, a maximum range of 5,642 meters, and is equipped with quick-change barrel technology. In addition to use by dismounted infantry and on ground vehicles, the weapon can be used as the armament system aboard helicopters and littoral craft, providing greater range and effectiveness for those platforms.

“The LWMMG is a well-designed machine gun ideally suited to provide long-range lethality to U.S. and allied forces,” Elgin said.

For more information regarding the LWMMG, visit the General Dynamics exhibit at the Joint Armaments Conference (booth 204, Exhibit Hall, Washington State Convention Center) or visit http://www.gdatp.com/jacefd.

For more information about General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, please visit www.gdatp.com.

More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.


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“The LWMMG is an affordable weapon that closes a current operational gap, providing .50 caliber-like firepower in range and effect at the same weight and size of currently fielded 7.62mm machine guns,” said Steve Elgin, vice president and general manager of armament systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products.

I expect that "operational gap" is more of an in-house GD perception than an actual gap.
 
".338 Norma Magnum cartridge for increased accuracy and lethality out to 1,700 meters"

"a maximum range of 5,642 meters"

What would be the point of shooting it at 5,642 meters?
 
".338 Norma Magnum cartridge for increased accuracy and lethality out to 1,700 meters"

"a maximum range of 5,642 meters"

What would be the point of shooting it at 5,642 meters?

General area suppression. Happens when fighting ridge to the next ridge in mountainous terrain for example. That's the theory, reality varies of course.
 
General area suppression. Happens when fighting ridge to the next ridge in mountainous terrain for example. That's the theory, reality varies of course.

Yeah, suppression fire at three and a half miles range with a weapon of less than 0.50 cal does more to help the shooter feel better than it does to keep enemy heads down.
 
In WWI they called it "hard rain"....indirect fire with Vickers and other guns kept the Germans from going out at night and fixing the artillery smashed barbed wire on Vimy Ridge during the week that led up to the battle.

There is good value in the ability to deliver indirect fire with a machine-gun. That is why the Tripod and Sustained Fire role exists. It might not hit accurately, but it is an effective area denial tool, with no way that an artillery fire-finder radar would be able to track it back to the firing position.

NS
 
At extreme ranges a mg lobs over the hills. With aid of a spotter and a c2 sight you can rain down a world of hurt and never show yourself. Engaging a section or platoon from 5 km... That would be something, that puts you in mortor like ranges.

As for the capacity, that "gap" is there... There is a reason we broke out the 60 year olds 50 cals in afghanistan... The C6 just wernt cutting it on the rws systems; not enough effective range for desert fighting.
 
At extreme ranges a mg lobs over the hills. With aid of a spotter and a c2 sight you can rain down a world of hurt and never show yourself. Engaging a section or platoon from 5 km... That would be something, that puts you in mortor like ranges.

As for the capacity, that "gap" is there... There is a reason we broke out the 60 year olds 50 cals in afghanistan... The C6 just wernt cutting it on the rws systems; not enough effective range for desert fighting.

Some US guys are saying a PKM in good repair is pretty close to the capabilities of a C6 or M240...

That's probably the reasoning behind this (and not wanting to hump a Ma Deuce in the mountains)...
 
At extreme ranges a mg lobs over the hills. With aid of a spotter and a c2 sight you can rain down a world of hurt and never show yourself. Engaging a section or platoon from 5 km... That would be something, that puts you in mortor like ranges.

Its even beyond the range of many 60mm and 81mm mortars. I'll take the mortar in those circumstances.
 
This whole concept is just ballistic masturbation. Somebody had a cool idea after a long night of Stella and Jaegermeister and took it to the engineering department. Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to insert another ammo type into the supply chain has some crazy mad weed on the go...
 
This whole concept is just ballistic masturbation. Somebody had a cool idea after a long night of Stella and Jaegermeister and took it to the engineering department. Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to insert another ammo type into the supply chain has some crazy mad weed on the go...

I worked for General Dynamics.....trust me, you're not far off.
 
".338 Norma Magnum cartridge for increased accuracy and lethality out to 1,700 meters"

"a maximum range of 5,642 meters"

What would be the point of shooting it at 5,642 meters?

With a full buffered tripod, yes this would probably be feasible. But try firing a standard GPMG at ranges past 1500 without one.... Good luck. At ranges beyond that, your turning your fire support weapon for medium distance engagement and suppression, into a modern day ballista as correction for bullet drop would have your barrel pointing at the moon. The area supression given at those ranges would be harassing fire. Basically to keep heads down and remind the enemy that we have them on our sights. You would be lucky to create effective suppression beyond 1200m with anything less than a .50cal.

Plus the bipod Is pointless unless your in a fixed position as it takes a two man MG team to carry and set that ##### up. Then you have to compensate for the amount of ammo you need to fitfully the effective suppression at greater ranges. Rounds start to fly in a huge cone shape after 1500-1600 and therefore less rounds landing in one spot. Therefore to compensate, more rounds need to be fired. Which then brings you onto the heating of the barrels which would need to be changed pretty quickly after shooting 500-600 rounds or so (cherry red is when you might wanna swap out) So really it would probably only be effective as a support weapon up to 1200 if your a damn fine tuned gunner.
 
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