Machine guns are efficient weapons, but extremely short-ranged. TME Industries has patented three new forms of machine gun (TME/BTSTS-GMG:3059, -GMG:3060, and GMG:3061) that blend sophisticated magnetic Gauss rifle technology with time-tested rotary barrel action. Only a little heat is produced by these weapons, which is their greatest advantage. However, like other Gauss weapons, critical hits against Gauss machine guns cause them to release the energy stored in their capacitors and explode.
The GMG:3059 is a six-barreled unit only slightly larger and about twice as massive as an ordinary machine gun. Each barrel has a dedicated electromagnetic coil and capacitor. The machine gun retains the standard striking power and 200rpm rate and but increases the range through the use of these electromagnetic coils. As only one barrel fires at a time, all the other barrels recharge their capacitors from a flat plate-connection with each revolution, only to be discharged at firing and recharged over and over again. Reliable semiconductor magnets can take this repeated abuse for extended periods of time without regular maintenance before needing replacement. The GMG:3059 uses standard .50-caliber machine gun ammunition and accelerates it to Gauss rifle speeds. This gives the GMG:3061 a maximum effective range of 270 meters, equal to a medium laser. Despite the ceramic nature of the barrels, it does produce a small amount of heat due to the kinetic energy of the barrels. It costs 10,000 C-Bills.
The GMG:3060 is also a six-barreled unit, but fires much more slowly. The same mass as the GMG:3059, the GMG:3060 only has a 60rpm rate but increases the striking power of each bullet twenty times and retains the extended range. This gives the GMG:3060, over a ten-second period, both the range and the damage potential of a medium laser. Its greater power usage creates a small amount of heat. It costs 15,000 C-Bills.
The GMG:3061 is a fusion of the two designs. Massing 1500 kilograms, it can fire in either rapid-fire mode (GMG:3059) or high-damage mode (GMG:3060). It costs 30,000 C-Bills.
GAME RULES
GMG:3059 Rapid Fire Gauss Machine Gun (RF Gauss MG)
"Raker"
Heat: 1 Damage: 2 Ranges: 1-3 / 4-6 / 7-9 Mass: 1t Critical: 1
Ammo/ton: 200
Special: As per standard machine gun rules of BMR or Maximum Tech; 5-point
critical-hit explosion
Cost: 10,000 C-Bills
GMG:3060 High Velocity Gauss Machine Gun (HV Gauss MG)
"Marksman"
Heat: 1 Damage: 5 Ranges: 1-3 / 4-6 / 7-9 Mass: 1t Critical:
1 Ammo/ton: 200
Special: Does not cause double damage against infantry, none of standard MG rules of
BMR or Max Tech; 5-point critical-hit explosion
Cost: 15,000 C-Bills
GMG:3061 Variable Use Gauss Machine Gun (VU Gauss MG)
"Ambidextrous Fighter"
Heat: 1 Ranges: 1-3 / 4-6 / 7-9 Mass: 1.5t Critical: 1
Ammo/ton: 200
Special: Has variable fire types; 7-point critical-hit explosion
Rapid-Fire Mode
Damage: 2 Special: As GMG:3059
High-Velocity Mode
Heat: 0 Damage: 5 Special: As GMG:3060
The Clan Versions of these weapons are identical except the masses are halved.