Noah Corek
Cocked, Locked and a Smoking Barrel
- Intent: To create an upgraded version of the GPMG-01 for the Galactic Foreign Legion
- Image Source: Here
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: GPMG-01
- Manufacturer: Hekler'Kok Defense Industries (Original) and Galactic Foreign Legion Armorers (Modifiers)
- Affiliation: Galactic Foreign Legion
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: Legion Platoon Support Weapon Mk I (LPSW Mk I)
- Modularity: Various Optics, Accessories and Muzzle Devices
- Production: Minor
- Material: Titanium-Alusteel Alloy (Upper and Lower Receiver and Internal Mechanisms), Dallorian Alloy (Barrel) Chromium (Barrel Lining), Plastoid (Grip, Stock and Carrying Handle) and CeramiCoat (Plating)
- Classification: Slugthrower General Purpose Machine Gun
- Size: Large
- Weight: Heavy (without tripod) and Extremely Heavy (with tripod)
- Ammunition Type: Hekler'Kok 8.58x69mm Polymer Cartridges
- Ammunition Capacity: Small, 100 or 200 Round Belts
- Effective Range: Average
- Rate of Fire: High
- Damage Output: Extreme
- Recoil: Average (without tripod) and Very Low (with tripod)
- Reversible Safety
- Reversible Feed Tray Cover Release
- Reversible Feed Tray
- Reversible Charging Handle
- Advanced Recoil Buffer
- Telescoping Buttstock
- Threaded Barrel
- Heavy Barrel
- Quick Change Barrel
- Adjustable Gas System
- Optic Rail
- Accessory Rails
- Grip Rail
- Carrying Handle
- Integrated Bipod
- Tripod/Pintle Attachment System
- Heavy Suppressing Fire: With both its high rate of fire and massive stopping power the LPSW Mk I is capable of laying down awesome amounts of suppressing fire towards enemy infantry and even light vehicles
- Cumbersome and Ideally Crew Served: The LPSW Mk I is a rather large and heavy weapon and while this makes it an ideal emplaced weapon it is rather hard to be used by a single person, though it is possible
With the weapons of the GFL Rifle Squad completely revamped and redesigned the armorers of the Legion began work on the other units. The first unit that popped into their mind were the heavy hitters of the GFL Weapons Squad, the machine gunners. Like all the weapons they had designed so far the started the process with interviewing these members of the Legion to get their opinion on the weapon they were currently using, the GPMG-01.
The first thing that the Legionnaires complained about was the weight of the weapon as there were various components on it that they deemed unnecessary. Another thing they found underwhelming was the cartridge that the GPMG-01, the 7.62x51mm catridge, wasn't suitable for the role the machine gun was made for, primarily defensive use.
With these complaints in mind the armorers at the GFL began work on improving the weapon to what the Legionnaires wanted. The first thing they looked at was lightening the weapon as much as possible. They first did this by removing the parts that some of the Legionnaires had mentioned in their interviews, the biggest was the heat shield over the barrel that weighed a few kilos. With these parts removed they began to make lightening cuts into the weapon that would shave, quite literally, weight off the weapon without compromising structural integrity.
With the weight problems resolved they began working on what cartridge they would use in the weapon. After several bouts of testing they decided on using the 8.58x69 as it provide enough stopping power without having to turn the machine gun into a heavy emplaced weapon, though it could still be employed as such. With this done they began working the materials to use in the guns construction.
They looked at all the materials available and the ones they had previously used and decided to stick with the materials they had used for the LSAW. Titanium-Alusteel Alloy for the receiver and inner mechanisms to save on weight without sacrificing durability. The barrel was constructed from Dallorian Alloy to prevent overheating as much as possible. Said barrel was also lined with Chromium to reduce wear and tear on it. The grip, stock and carrying handle were made from Plastoid to reduce weight. Lastly the weapon was plated in CeramiCoat to reduce external wear and tear as well.
With the materials chosen they moved onto the final step if choosing the features that the weapon would utilize. Like all Legion weapons they implemented fully reversible controls so it's comfortable to be used by any shooter. An advanced recoil buffer was installed in the stock to better mitigate recoil with the bigger round being used. The solid, non-adjustable buttstock of the GPMG-01 was replaced with a telescoping buttstock. The barrel of weapon was made heavier to reduce recoil and threaded to allow the use of muzzle attachments.
The barrel is also quick change allowing it to be swapped with a new one in the case of overheating. An adjustable gas system to help the weapon better cycle in all types of environments. A top optic rail allows for the mounting of a wide variety of optics, a pair of side accessory rails allow for a wide variety of accessories and lastly a bottom grip rail lets the user mount grips if they wish to use the weapon from the shoulder. A carrying handle facilitates easy carrying, a bipod allows more stable firing from the prone position or against lower cover and lastly a tripod/pintle attachment allows it to be mounted on a tripod for more stability or on a vehicle pintle for on the move.
With the weapon finally finished with the design phase the armorers cranked out a test run of them and deployed them to the weapons squads within the Legion's 1st Regiment for testing. After some non-combat and combat testing the machine gunners fell in love with the weapon, especially its relatively light recoil considering the cartridge it used. With this tacit approval from the 1st Regiment the weapon was designated the Legion Platoon Support Weapon Mk I, or LPSW Mk I for short, and was rolled out to the legion as a whole.
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