Editing General-purpose machine gun (section)

{{Short description|Machine gun adaptable for several light and medium roles}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Missing information|general development, date of use, non-military use etc|date=July 2011}}
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=March 2017}}
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[[File:MG42-Display.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[MG 42|MG-42]] type general-purpose machine guns in both bipod and tripod configurations. The tall tripod on the right is for anti-aircraft use.]]

A '''general-purpose machine gun''' ('''GPMG''') is an [[air-cooled]], usually [[ammunition belt|belt]]-fed [[machine gun]] that can be adapted flexibly to various tactical roles for [[light machine gun|light]] and [[medium machine gun]]s.<ref>{{cite book|author=James H. Willbanks|title=Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWkYoAkoMHIC&pg=PA226|year=2004|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-480-6|page=226}}</ref> A GPMG typically features a quick-change [[gun barrel|barrel]] design [[caliber]]ed for various [[fully powered cartridge]]s such as the [[7.62×51mm NATO]], [[7.62×54mmR]], [[7.5×54mm French]], [[7.5×55mm Swiss]] and [[8x57mm IS|7.92×57mm Mauser]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/support-weapons/1463.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110080630/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/support-weapons/1463.aspx |title=General Purpose Machine Gun|archive-date=January 10, 2013|website=UK Army}}</ref> and be configured for [[weapon mount|mounting]] to different [[weapons platform|stabilizing platforms]] from [[bipod]]s and [[tripod]]s to [[vehicle]]s, [[aircraft]], [[boat]]s and [[fortification]]s, usually as an [[infantry support weapon]] or [[squad automatic weapon]].