The L7 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) - sometimes called 'Gimpy' or 'Jimpy') was the hugely successful Belgian FN MAG (detailed elsewhere on this site) in British Army service. Largely faithful to the original design, the L7 incorporated only minor changes (this accomplished by the Royal Small Arms Factory - Enfield Lock) to better suit British production standards. The British Army adopted the L7 as its standard GPMG for light infantry support duties in 1963 after trials in 1956 between the Belgian weapon and the American M60 GPMG. Some dozen variants of the line then followed with improved feeds and differing in battlefield roles.
The L7 retained its proven gas-operated, open bolt design and was a "true machine gun" in that it fed from an ammunition belt. It was chambered for the ubiquitous 7.62x51mm NATO rifle cartridge and could produce suppression firepower up to 1,000 rounds-per-minute. Muzzle velocity was rated at 2,755 feet-per-second and range was out to 1,800 meters (sighting aided by iron sights - folding rear leaf and notched front blade).
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Original models were the L7A1 and there were followed by the L7A2 with improved feed and support of a 50-round belt-box ammunition supply. The L8A1 was a vehicle (namely tank such as the Chieftain MBT) machine gun lacking the shoulder stock and fitting with a fume evacuator / extractor and gas regulator to better operate in confined spaces. The pistol grip was also made to fold away. The L8A2 was its improved-feed version.
An optional heavy-duty tripod assembly could be affixed to the weapon to have it operate as a standard defensive machine gun.
Additional marks included the L19A1 as a heavy-barreled model and the L20A1 as a "podded" machine gun (for use as fixed weapons on attack aircraft / helicopters). The L20A2 was its improved-feed version. The L37A1 was installed on Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV) pintle mounts and had a traditional pistol grip while also having the capability to be dismounted for use as a squad level support weapon. The improved-feed model was the L37A2. The L43A1 was a ranging machine gun and used on the "Scorpion Light Tank" series (detailed elsewhere on this site) and the L44A1 was a version taken on by the British Royal Navy for use aboard warships and assault craft. The Westland "Lynx" transport helicopter was fitted with a pintle-mounted version of the L7 designated as the L112A1.
While originally produced for the British Army by Royal Ordnance, the L7 is now manufactured by the German concern of Heckler & Koch.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Fire Support
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.
Overall Length
1,232 mm 48.50 in
Barrel Length
630 mm 24.80 in
Empty Wgt
24.03 lb 10.90 kg
Sights
Folding Leaf Rear w Aperture and Notch; Front Blade
Action
Gas-Operated; Tipping-Bolt; Full-Automatic Fire
Full-Automatic
Rounds are automatically ejected from the breech, a new cartridge stripped from the feed and set in the chamber, and rounds are continuously fired so long as the trigger is pulled and an ammunition supply exists.
Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)
Caliber(s)*
7.62x51mm NATO
Sample Visuals**
Rounds / Feed
250-round metal-link belt
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources. **Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
Max Eff.Range
2,624 ft (800 m | 875 yd)
Rate-of-Fire
750 rds/min
Muzzle Velocity
2,756 ft/sec (840 m/sec)
L7 GPMG - Base Series Designation
L7A1 - Original production models
L7A2 - Improved feed; support for 50-round belt-box
L8A1 - Vehicle-mounted (tank) coaxial machine gun; sans buttstock; fume extractor; solenoid trigger; folding pistol grip.
L8A2 - Improved feed version of L8A1
L19A1 - Heavy-duty barrel version
L20A1 - Remote-fire gun pod machine gun for aircraft.
L20A2 - Improved feed version of L20A1
L37A1 - Vehicle-mounted (AFV) variant; L8A1 breech system mated with L7 barrel; pistol grip equipped.
L37A2 - Improved feed version of L37A1
L43A1 - Ranging (tracer) machine gun for Scorpion Light Tank series.
L44A1 - British Royal Navy variant based on the L20A1.
L112A1 - Helicopter pintle-mounted variant based on L7A2 model.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.
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Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
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