LMG/GPMG

[Lord Ruthe]

Most factions' automatic riflemen use an LMG that fires the same small round as their rifles. Why do the Russians have the PKM rather than the RPK-74, or why don't other factions use FN MAG (M 240, GPMG) instead of the minimi (M 249). I recon the larger calibre machine guns would be a suitable weapon for another specialist class and the automatic riflemen should have lighter machine guns.

[RedAlertSF]

Well...Russians use the PKM in real life. US, UK and Canada use the M249 in real life. I don't see a problem in this.

[supahpingi]

the m240 is part of a 2 man squad and is only used on a company level afaik

[Eddie Baker]

Platoon or company level, depending on the unit, getting attached to smaller units. But it is a crew served weapon of at least 2, and everybody in the larger unit it supports will likely carry some ammunition for it.

[Lord Ruthe]

The UK, US and Canada all use the 7.62 FN MAG as well as the 5.56 minimi, but PR chooses to give them only the latter. I'd be very surprised if Russia dont use RPK-74s along side PKMs, but the game takes the opposite tack and gives them only the heavier gun.

[DankE_SPB]

because the PKM is the actual LMG for RF and its not crew served weapon,

but the game takes the opposite tack and gives them only the heavier gun.

nothing bad with it, not everything should be mirrored, also from my knowledge PKM is usually more common than RPK in combat zones and RPK ends up with only its magazines used on simple AK-74 as 1st use mag

[Conman51]

Platoon or company level, depending on the unit, getting attached to smaller units. But it is a crew served weapon of at least 2, and everybody in the larger unit it supports will likely carry some ammunition for it.

arent they light enough to be carried by one person and ammo?

[Pariel]

arent they light enough to be carried by one person and ammo?

The weapon is carried by one person, but the ammo is generally spread across a number of soldiers, due to it's size and weight.

That said, I do think that one or two medium machine guns kits would not be out of place in PR.

When you look at the unit size a standard PR side represents (given the weapons and vehicles it has), it's clear that it's at least company sized.

[Eddie Baker]

arent they light enough to be carried by one person and ammo?

Theoretically, yes, but in practicality, not so much. Even without a single 100 round belt (about 7 lbs.) loaded, the M240B/M240G weighs around 25-27 lbs. That's not including additional belts and spare barrels for the thing. Take into account a soldier's/Marine's body armor and other "battle rattle," there's a reason they're trying to lighten it up (M240L program), and why the Mk-48 was created for USSOCOM. Also take into account that for the sustained fire role the MG team carries a tripod; they're working on lightening that, too.

[Drunkenup]

Well it seems in PR, that Machine guns can be separated by performance. The PKM, which compared to the FN Minimi, is not so much different in contrast. The FN Minimi, is a light caliber, high rate of fire, low recoil weapon. But using the .223 has proven to not have that well penetration. The PKM on the other hand, is a heavy caliber, Slower, and higher than the minimi recoil. Together, they both sorta balance each other out. Then comes the FN MAG, Both High caliber and High rate of fire, not sure about how much kick it gives. Best of both worlds in one.

Speaking of the FN MAG, do the Marines use the M240B at all, or just the G model?

[Thermis]

The weapons are linked to the Role of the class. IE Automatic riflemen, which in the US the weapon used by Automatic riflemen is a M249 Saw firing a 5.56 Nato round. In Russia it is the PKM.

The idea to add GPMGs into the game as a request-able class has been talked about. As for right now we have plenty of military advisors that help us get this right.

Thread Locked because we've talked about this in the past.