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MG-270 Heavy Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Keywork Engineering Systems
Affiliation: KES Security Forces, Rebellion & Allies, Independent Factions
Intent: To create a heavy support weapon capable of filling roles such as anti-infantry/crowd-control, light anti-vehicle, light anti-aircraft, and vehicle-mounted fire support.
Model: MG-270 HMG
Type: Heavy Machine-Gun/Heavy Support Weapon (Discarding Cartridge, Chemical Propellant)
Size: Heavy Machine-Gun
- Length: 1600mm (Barrel Length - 1000mm)
- Weight: 30kg (31.5kg w/ attached barrier-mount; tripod weighs 3kg)
- Weight: 30kg (31.5kg w/ attached barrier-mount; tripod weighs 3kg)
Composition:
- Barrel/Chamber: Durasteel Alloy, for sustained fire and muzzle velocity.
- External Components: Plastoid-Polymer casing, to reduce weight without sacrificing durability.
- External Components: Plastoid-Polymer casing, to reduce weight without sacrificing durability.
Ammunition Capacity: 12.7mm ; Belt-Fed Disintegrating-Link Ammunition (Box/Canister) ; 75-round Detachable Box-Magazine (disintegrating belt)
Performance:
- Rate of Fire: 500-650 rounds/min (Selective Fire also allows for fire rates under 100 rounds/minute as well as Semi-Automatic)
- Muzzle Velocity: 900 m/s
- Accurate up to: 1800 m
- Overheating Point: ~2500 rounds of sustained, non-stop fire before the weapon will malfunction.
Description:- Muzzle Velocity: 900 m/s
- Accurate up to: 1800 m
- Overheating Point: ~2500 rounds of sustained, non-stop fire before the weapon will malfunction.
When a weapon has been used as long as the MG-270 has been, people begin to ask why. The answer is extremely simply: Moar Bullets. This weapon has seen use everywhere (as in, EVERYWHERE) because of its versatility and reliability. This weapon has the ability to be the primary anti-infantry weapon on dedicated AFVs, or it can be bolted onto the back of a civilian speeder to create a technical for even rag-tag militias and rebels. Everyone from generals to anarchists love this weapon. Nicknames have been lovingly devised for the system, as well. “Pound-Town”, “Chug-Chug”, “Meat-Cleaver”, and “Imp-Mower” just to name a few.
One thing that makes the weapon instantly recognizable is its iconic and loud report. Often described as a ceaseless chugging, the weapon reminds you that there are no brakes on this one-way train to Pound Town (hence the nickname). Unlike other KES firearms, the MG-270 uses a firing mechanism based around chemical propellant. The rounds are of a large caliber and they are jacketed in a flimsiplast sleeve. When the trigger is pulled, the firing pin penetrates the sleeve and strikes the percussion cap at the base of the bullet, lighting the surrounding propellant and sending the projectile down the barrel at great velocity. This does, however, put great strain on the weapon's firing pin, so it and its constituent components are composed of heat-resistant and stress-tested titanium alloys. The benefits of this firing mechanism over other chemical propellant weapon is that this provides a much higher muzzle velocity than rounds with brass-jacket, self-contained cartridges where the percussion cap is further away from the projectile. The downside is the increased strain on the firing mechanism. Heavy Weapons Teams are trained to constantly maintain their MG-270s with great care outside of combat.
This weapon has been strapped to literally every possible type of combat platform, because of its relatively light* frame. Tripods are available for the weapon at sitting height, or a special mount has been manufactured specifically for affixing this weapon to walls and barriers (the frame is somewhat like an auto-adjusting vice grip, capable of holding onto surfaces up to 255mm across). The weapon’s light plasteel casing allows it to remain durable enough for combat environments, yet light enough that it only requires a crew of two to deploy, operate, and displace the weapon on the battlefield.
If one must remain mobile, the weapon also has a fold-out “hip-trigger” and “hip-grip” for carrying the weapon and firing on the move. While the fire is far more inaccurate, the weapon would only able to be carried by an exceptionally strong individual. Specialised troopers with powered armour or augmented strength might be outfitted with the necessary capability to believably handle the weapon in the manner, but there have been situations where strong soldiers have been forced into tight spots and are forced to use the weapon in this manner. This came at a great declination to its combat effectiveness, but allowed the soldier in question to survive their ordeal through their added mobility. The biggest difficulty is not necessarily firing the weapon in this manner, but loading and cycling fresh belts of ammunition. That is why some of the above-mentioned specialists will rack the weapon before combat and have an ammo feed-system that runs from a carried ammunition supply (typically a backpack).
The system chambers the especially large (for a machine gun) 12.7mm round, usable for many things. This round is capable of ripping off limbs and eviscerating almost any infantry target at ranges of up to 1,800 meters, as well as penetrate and damage light armoured vehicles. However, the standard rounds find themselves defeated by heavier armours on vehicles such as tanks or APCs. Several types of ammunition are made for it, including AP (armour-piercing, improving penetration by x2), API (armour-piercing, incendiary), Fragmentation, and HP (hollow-point).
One of the weapons important features is to alleviate the strain put on the system during sustained fire. Once the weapon cycles ~2500 rounds without stopping, the barrel begins to glow read and suffer catastrophic malfunctions. Therefore, common practice is to quickly switch barrels after about 2300 rounds. This is achieved through a quick-change mechanism in which a latch is pushed outward and the barrel can be pulled out at an angle and replaced with a fresh one. This process must be done with protective gear, like heat resistant gloves, so as not to cause injury to the user.
This weapon system has seen service for hundreds of years, and will be for hundreds more. Somethings will never, ever, go out of style, and overwhelming firepower is one of them.
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