General-Purpose Machine Gun: Machine gun adaptable for several light and medium roles

It can be used in many different roles: it can support infantry from a bipod or tripod or be put onto a helicopter or armoured vehicle. It can provide fire support for vehicles or infantry from a variety of mounts.

A general-purpose machine gun is generally a medium machine gun. It also fires rifle cartridges like the 7.62×51mm NATO or 7.92x57mm Mauser. It is usually used from a bipod, tripod or on a vehicle. This is because it is usually too powerful and heavy to be fired well on foot or while moving.

Some examples of general-purpose machine guns are:

• German Maschinengewehr 34.
• German Maschinengewehr 42.
• American M60.

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  A general-purpose machine gun in Australian service.
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  A GPMG on a tripod.
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  On a vehicle, in Dutch service.
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  A GPMG on a U.S. Navy destroyer.
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  On a helicopter.

• Light machine gun
• Heavy machine gun
• Squad automatic weapon