M122 Light Machine Gun

"Its like having a LMG in your pocket!"

- Anonymous Marine

The M122 LMG is the UNSC's standard LMG, giving aquad based units a light and adaptable light support weapon. This allows squad based units to produce triple their normal amount of firepower against infantry targets. The weapon features a SB-7 polymer body with heat-resistant metal alloy components and computer-driven thermal transfer system, the M122 requires neither mid-battle barrel changes nor maintenance, allowing for rapid, uninterrupted fire. With a retractable bipod and a interchangable reflex sight on a Misriah Rail the M122 is most accurate when fired from the prone position. The weapon is designed for ease of carrying, with a carrying handle on the butt and a flip up carrying handle on the reciver, allowing ease of transport and steady firing from the hip.

Uses
The primary function is that of a LSW or SAW, providing covering or automatic fire for a unit, giving them adaptable and mobile firebases. The weapon is primarily used amongst the UNSC Marines Mobile Regiments where its light weight and small size compared to the GPMG make it preferred.

Operation
The weapon is an air cooled, gas operated, belt fed, automatic weapon. The M122 is operated using conventional gas action with the gas piston located below the barrel, and the barrel is locked using the traditional rotary bolt. The M122 has an alternative feed system, which allows to use disintegrating nitrocellulose bindings as a primary feed option, or MA6A magazines as a back-up feed option. The belt is feed using the top feed unit, the magazines are inserted through the magazine port, located at the left side of the receiver and angled down. The Flip-up dust cover closes the magazine port when it is not in use, serving also as a belt guide. When magazine is in place, this cover raises up and closes the belt-way to avoid dual feeds and jams. Since the belt feed uses additional power to pull the belt through the gun, the rate of fire with the belt is somewhat slower that it could be using conventional magazine.

UNSC Comments
"Four years of fighting the Remnant then the Necros and i have never changed the barrle on mine. Never."

"While i was at the Marianus siege i ran outta box rounds during the third day of wave infantry attacks so i started inserting MA6A magazines. sure i was out in a flash but they still did the job. "

"Its not as relentless as the Gimpy but its certainly alot more dependable. You could take a crap in the mechanism, bury it in the desert, dig it up a month later, tap out the crud and it it would still fire first time!"