L7 (machine gun)
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The L7 machine gun general purpose machine gun is used by the British Army. It and the related L8 are a licence-built derivative of the Belgian FN MAG (Fabrique Nationale Mitrailleuse d'Appui Generale 1958) machine gun firing the standard 7.62 mm NATO cartridge.
The official British Army designation of the current version is the L7A2 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun), but it is affectionately nicknamed "Gimpy" by British soldiers. The L7 was adopted by the British forces as a replacement for the long-serving Vickers machine gun (in the medium role) and the Bren (in the light role), following trials in 1957. Built under licence by Enfield, it serves in the British Army, the Royal Marines and other services. There have been two main variants, the L7A1 and L7A2, developed for infantry use, with the L7A2 having superseded the earlier variant. Several other variants have been developed, notably the L8 (A1 and A2), modified for mounting in armoured vehicles (the L37 variant was developed for mounting on armoured vehicles). Although intended to replace the Bren entirely, that light machine gun (re-titled the L4) continued in use in jungle terrain (especially in the Far East), where there was no requirement for the medium machine gun role, and with secondary units, until the adoption of the L86 Light Support Weapon (LSW). The LSW was intended to replace both the L7 and the L4 in the light machinegun role, but dissatisfaction with the L86's firepower and reliability have resulted in combat units continuing to utilise the L7 whenever possible (although neither it, nor its 7.62mm NATO ammunition is supposed to be issued to infantry platoons any longer).
[edit] History
The FN MAG was one of several weapons considered for use as the Army's suppressive fire weapon. Over a period of a year it was tested alongside the US M60, two designs by the Swiss firm SIG (MG 710), and a design by RSAF Enfield (a conversion of the Bren gun to belt feed known as the Taden gun). Alongside the other candidates, the MAG was considered in the top two alongside the Enfield design, work on which was dropped when the MAG was selected. Modifications to the basic FN design were incorporated and it entered service as the L7A1. Subsequent modifications led to the L7A2. Because one of the requirements was for heavy suppressive fire, something the Vickers machine gun excelled at, a heavy barrel was designed for the gun for this role. A number of these were supplied at company level and could be issued to the platoons as necessary.
The nature of the MAG design made it inherently unsuitable in an unmodified form for mounting in armoured vehicles. The major changes required were a means to take the vented gas outide the vehicle and to enable belt feed from either side in possibly cramped conditions. The former was solved by a modification to the muzzle - a simple tube drew the gas exhaust from the regulator area forward.
[edit] Variants in British Service
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| L7A1 | 7.62x51 mm NATO FN MAG-58 machine gun |
| L7A2 | L7A1 variant; improved feed mechanism and provision for 50 round belt-box |
| L8A1 | L7A1 variant; For mounting in AFVs. No buttstock. Barrel fitted with fume extractor. Solenoid-triggered, but with folding pistol grip for emergengy use. |
| L8A2 | L8A1 variant; improved feed mechanism |
| L19A1 | L7A1 variant; extra-heavy barrel |
| L20A1 | L7A1 variant; for remote firing in gun pods and external mountings |
| L20A2 | L20A1 variant; improved feed mechanism |
| L37A1 | L8A1 variant; L8A1 breech & L7 barrel for mounting on AFVs. Conventional pistol grip & trigger, plus kit allowing dismounted use |
| L37A2 | L37A1 variant; L8A2 based. As above. |
| L43A1 | L7A1 variant; for use as a ranging gun on the Scorpion light tank |
| L44A1 | L20A1 variant; for Royal Navy |
[edit] See also
| Modern (post Korean War) UK infantry weapons |
|---|
| Side-arms (Self-loading Pistols) |
| Browning L9A1 | L105A1 | L107A1 | L102A1 (Compact) |
| Rifles, Carbines, & LSWs |
| L1A1 SLR | SA80 series (L85 IW, L86 LSW, L22A1) L108A1, L110A1 (Para) | L101A1 | M16/A1/A2 | L119A1 (Diemaco SFW) | L100A1 |
| Sniper Rifles |
| L42/A1 | L96/A1 | L115A1 | L82A1 | AW50F |
| Submachine guns |
| L2A1 to L2A3, L34A1 | L80A1, L90A1 L91A1, L92A1 |
| Shotguns |
| L32A1 | L74A1 (Remington 870 Wingmaster) |
| Machine-guns & other larger weapons |
| L4 | L7 "GPMG" | L1A1 Heavy Machine Gun | L17A1/A2 | LAW 80 | L14/A1 L2A1 (ILAW) | L9A1 51 mm Mortar | L16/A1 81mm Mortar | MILAN | Javelin |
