User:The All-knowing Sith'ari/M247H machine gun

The M247H machine gun (more formally, Machine Gun, Calibre 12.7 mm, Model 247 - Heavy), is a heavy machine gun in use by the United Nations Space Command Defence Force. A derivative of the M247 general purpose machine gun, the M247H uses the larger and more powerful 12.7x99mm NATO cartridge. In service, the gun is typically referred to as the "fifty-cal." by personnel, in reference to its calibre. It is effective against infantry, unarmoured or lightly-armoured vehicles, light fortifications, and low-flying aircraft.

History
The M247 series of machine gun was developed in the 2440s to replace the ageing M38 .50 calibre heavy machine gun and the M231 .30 calibre light machine gun, which were beginning to suffer from reliability issues. The M247H was developed out of the M247 7.62mm GPMG to replace the M38 as a medium infantry support weapon. With its closed bolt, lower weight, faster barrel-change time, electronic firing and higher tolerances to damage or contamination by foreign matter, the M247H proved to be superior to the M38.

The M247H is typically issued to a section of a rifle company's weapons platoon, for a total of three heavy machine guns. Two men from each fireteam operate the M247H, while the other two operate an M247 GPMG.

Users

 * United Nations Space Command
 * Unggoy Star Empire
 * Various New Covenant successor states