RT GPSMG

RT GPSMG
An RT GPSMG
Type	General-purpose machine gun
Place of origin	Erebonian Empire Gallia-Bruhl
Service history
In service	1958–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War of Lorican Aggression Post-War of Lorican Aggression Crisis The Troubles X924 (1998) Second Lucis Civil War Imperial Crisis
Production history
Designer	Ernst Vandemeer and Oscar Erickson
Designed	1950
Manufacturer	Theimer Works Rainford Group Theimer Works Rubrum BSAF
Produced	1958–present
No. built	1,000,000
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	11.8 kg (26.01 lb)
Length	1,263 mm (49.7 in)
Barrel length	630 mm (24.8 in)
Width	118.7 mm (4.7 in)
Height	263 mm (10.4 in)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm GAL
Action	Gas-operated long-stroke piston, open bolt
Rate of fire	650–1,000 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	840 m/s (2,756 ft/s)
Effective firing range	800 m (875 yd) (bipod) 1,800 m (1,969 yd) (tripod)
Maximum firing range	3,500 m (3,828 yd)
Feed system	Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt
Sights	Folding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade

The RT GPSMG is a joint Erebonian-Gallian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Randgriz Ordnance by Erebonian Engineer Ernst Vandemeer and Gallian Engineer Oscar Erickson. It has been widely used by numerous nations. Under license, it was produced by several factories outside Gallia and Erebonia by the Birmingham Small Arms Factory and Theimer Works Rubrum. It gained its reputation as a widely used and reliable weapon with features inherited from the Lucian Brnfield LMG, TM18 Automatic Rifle, and the Erebonian MG36 GPMG.

The weapon's name is an abbreviation for General Purpose Support Machine Gun. The GPSMG is available in three primary versions: the standard, infantry Model GPSMG Mk. I machine gun, the GPSMG Mk. II coaxial machine gun for armoured fighting vehicles and the GPSMG Mk. III aircraft variant.

Variants

GPSMG Mk. I

A GPSMG Mk. I mounted on a tripod.

First introduced in 1983, the GPSMG Mk. I was envisioned as a lighter variant of the original GPSMG. It was developed as a response to the Gallian Galmetall MG 4. The Mk. I was developed for use by airbourne and special operations formations. Although its role was envisioned by such, the Mk. I found use amongst regular infantry formations and proved to be a popular general purpose machine gun, such that it fitted the classification of the Squad Automatic Weapon. The Mk. I incorporates titanium construction and alternative manufacturing methods for fabricating major components. The resulting improvements reduced the soldier's combat load while allowing easier handling and movement of the weapon.

Apart from this, the Mk. I was added with a built-in with picatinny rails, hydraulic buffer inside of the butt stock to reduce the recoil, and a gas setting changer. This allowed the machine gun to have alternating rate of fire between 650 to 1000. The action was largely strengthened, thus the Mk. I jammed less than its original counterpart. The original GPSMG had a side effect that the weapon will not fire when extremely dirty. As a result, Rainford Group added a feature that when the charging handle is operated on, the piston acts as a cleaning rod, such that when the charging handle is pushed forwards, the rod underneath the feeder automatically clears the port of dusts or dirt. The result was that the Mk. I became much easier to maintain.

The stock can be changed into a foldable or extracting stock, making storage easier and portable. The barrel also has a screw for attaching a suppressor, making it suitable for convert or special operations missions that required stealth. The Mk. I retained its interchangeable barrel system, such that the user can change the barrel to switch roles from a squad support weapon, to a static machine gun or to resolve overheating. To increase the longevity of the gun in sustained suppressing fire, the barrel was made with new carbon fiber coatings, new alloys, or ceramic liners, thus decreasing heat retention, warping, and eliminate cook-offs.

GPSMG Mk. II

GPSMG Mk. II mounted as a machine gun on HMNS Yuudachi.

GPSMG Mk. III

The GPSMG Mk. III mounted on an RG 330 Puma.

Users

Alteria: Standard Issue
Altissia: Standard Issue
Basel-Ebel: Standard Issue
Esthar and Balamb: Standard Issue
Erebonian Empire: Standard Issue
Gallia-Bruhl: Standard issue, alternatively used over the Galmetall MG 3
Guinea Islands: Standard Issue
Jutland-Gimli: Standard Issue
Lestallum: Standard Issue
New Akiba: Standard Issues
Nibelheim-Saxe-Hanover: Standard issue, alternatively used over the Galmetall MG 3
Nihhon-koku: Standard Issue
Rubrum: Standard issue; designated as RT RGMG
Taoyuan: Standard issue
Tenebrae and Solheim: Standard issue
United Kingdom: Standard issue
Zanarkand: Standard issue; designated as RT RG88