The M240 is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun featured in both ArmA: Armed Assault and ArmA 2.
ArmA: Armed Assault
« | The M240 is a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun. This very robust and reliable weapon, designed by Fabrique National (FN) of Belgium, is in use by a large number of militaries worldwide. The M240 is used as a coaxial machinegun in a wide array of US armored vehicles, and recently the infantry version replaced the long-serving M60 in US Army service. The M240 is belt-fed and has a selective rate of fire. Library Description
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M240 7.62 mm | |
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Faction | ![]() ![]() |
Type | General-Purpose Machine Gun |
Calibre | 7.62×51 mm NATO |
Magazine capacity |
100 |
Dispersion | 0.0008 rad |
Variants | None |
Games |
The M240 is used by both U.S. Army and RACS military forces in ArmA: Armed Assault.
Overview
The M240 is a gas operated medium machine gun with an open bolt design that is chambered to fire the 7.62×51 mm NATO round.
It feeds from 100-round belts stored in clothed boxes, and can attain a fire rate of up to 800 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 900 m/s. It features a (non-functional) integrated bipod fixed below the barrel.

U.S. Army machine gunner set up and ready to engage.
The M240 serves as a heavier counterpart to the 5.56 mm-chambered M249 SAW light machine gun. Unlike the M249 SAW, the M240 has a lower RPM, carries 100 less rounds per belt and is bulkier to wield.
However, it compensates by firing the more powerful 7.62 mm NATO round which retains energy better at long range, especially against targets located beyond 600 metres.
Its main drawback stems from its weight/size, as carrying the M240 will prevent the user from being able to wield a secondary AT/AA launcher and its long barrel length makes it difficult to wield in close quarters.
Ammunition

Base damage value | Initial velocity (m/s) |
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12 | 900 |
The M240 is limited to feeding from one type of "magazine" only. It requires two free inventory slots to carry:
100Rnd. M240
100-round linked belt stored in a clothed box.
Trivia
- The M240's ironsights were not properly aligned prior to Patch 1.04, and did not zero correctly against targets located beyond 400 metres.
Gallery
ArmA 2
« | The M240 is a belt-fed, gas-operated machine gun. This weapon is used extensively by US armed forces infantry, mounted on ground vehicles, boats and aircraft. It is highly prized for its reliability, good rate of fire, impact and durability. The M240 uses 7.62x51 mm ammunition. Armoury Description
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M240 7.62 mm | |
![]() | |
Faction | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Type | General-Purpose Machine Gun |
Calibre | 7.62×51 mm NATO |
Magazine capacity |
100 |
Dispersion | 0.0008 rad |
Variants | None |
Games |
The M240 is used by both the U.S. Marines/U.S. Army forces, and in limited numbers with the Takistani Army in ArmA 2.
Overview
Returning from Armed Assault, the M240 once again serves as the mainstay GPMG of U.S. military forces and as an auxiliary weapon on certain Takistani aircraft.
It still loads from 100-round belts stored in cloth boxes and has an identical muzzle velocity, but now has a slightly higher fire rate of up to 846 RPM instead.
The M240 is additionally available with an alternate variant fitted with an M145 telescopic sight (designated as the M240 Scope) but does not support either muzzle attachments or side rail accessories.
As before, it is designed to provide suppressive fire at distances of between 800-1,200 metres. Thanks to its 7.62 mm NATO round, the M240 retains exceptional stopping power against infantry and lightly-armoured vehicles.

A two-man U.S. Marine weapons team provide suppressive fire with the M240.
However just like the Mk 48 Mod 0 and the British Army's L7A2, wielding the M240 prevents the user from being able to carry a backpack. Likewise, the M240's long barrel and heavy weight makes it ungainly to wield in close quarters.
In addition, the M240's recoil is very difficult to control when it isn't fired from a prone position. However, if going prone is not an option then the shooter can still reduce its recoil by simply firing in short bursts of 2-4 rounds instead.
Lastly, it should also be noted that neither the ironsight or scoped variant of the M240 can be zeroed like the L7A2 by default. Shooting at its maximum range of 1,200 metres is solely dependent on the operator's skill and their current position.
Camouflage
- Black: Standard matte black/dark grey scheme.
Ammunition

Base damage value | Aerodynamic friction | Initial velocity (m/s) |
---|---|---|
12 | -0.0009324 | 900 |
The M240 is limited to feeding from one type of "magazine" only. It requires two free inventory slots to carry:
100Rnd. M240
100-round linked belt stored in a clothed box.
The fourth round fired will always be a visible red tracer, while the last four rounds are consistently tracers.
Trivia
- In-game U.S. Army machine gunners are erroneously depicted using the same "M240G" ("Golf") variant as the USMC. In reality, the Army exclusively utilises the "M240B" ("Bravo") and not the M240G.
- Strangely, Takistani Army UH-1H helicopters are also shown using the M240 despite the fact that their regular ground forces use the Russian-made PKM.
- The M240 incorrectly shares the same model with the L7A2 GPMG. Even though the real-world L7A2 is mechanically similar to the M240 (save for its 10-position gas regulator versus the M240's 3), it is differently furnished and would not be completely identical to the M240.
- Curiously, the icon for the M240 M145 variant depicts the M240 with an Elcan "SpectreDR" optical sight (which is actually used on the Mk17 EGLM) instead of the in-game "M145 MGO".
Gallery
External links
See also
Weapons of comparable role and configuration
- Mk 48 Mod 0 (USMC/U.S. Army special forces MMG counterpart)
- L7A2 GPMG (British Army counterpart, ArmA 2: BAF only)
- UK-59 (ACR counterpart, ArmA 2: ACR only)
- PKP (Modern Russian Armed Forces counterpart)
- PKM (Outdated ChDKZ/Takistani Army counterpart)
- SPMG (NATO successor, ArmA 3: Marksmen only)
Weapons of ArmA: Armed Assault | |
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Handguns | M9 9 mm • Makarov 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5A5 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm • M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 GL, M4, M4 GL) |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 + GP-25, AKS-74 PSO) • G36 series (G36, G36C, G36K) • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 + M203) • M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) |
Designated marksman rifles | Mk12 SPR 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • M107 .50 • M24 7.62 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machine guns | M240 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | 6G30 |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela • FIM-92F Stinger • Javelin Launcher • M136 • RPG-7V |
Static | AGS-30 • D-30 • DShKM • M2 • M119A1 • Mk. 19 • Searchlight |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Queen's Gambit |
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Handguns | M9 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5A5 9 mm |
Carbines | G36 series (G36C, G36K) • M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 GL, M4, M4 GL) |
Assault rifles | G36 5.56 mm • M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) |
Designated marksman rifles | Mk12 SPR 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | M107 .50 • M24 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | M240 7.62 mm |
Launchers | FIM-92F Stinger • Javelin Launcher • M136 |
Static | M2 • M119A1 • Mk. 19 • Searchlight |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | M9 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5A5 9 mm |
Carbines | G36 series (G36C, G36K) |
Assault rifles | G36 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 + M203) |
Machineguns | M240 7.62 mm |
Launchers | FIM-92F Stinger • M136 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | M1911 .45 • M9 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5 9 mm |
Shotguns | M1014 |
Carbines | M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 M203) |
Assault rifles | M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) |
Designated marksman rifles | DMR 7.62 mm • Mk12 SPR 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | M107 .50 • M24 7.62 mm (M40A3) |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | Mk 48 Mod 0 7.62 mm • M240 7.62 mm |
Launchers | FGM-148 Javelin • FIM-92F Stinger • M136 • SMAW |
Static | M2 • M252 • Mk19 • M119A1 • Searchlight • Stinger • TOW |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | G17 9 mm • M1911 .45 • M9 9 mm |
Submachine guns | PDW 9 mm |
Shotguns | M1014 |
Carbines | Mk16 CQC 5.56 mm |
Assault rifles | SCAR series (Mk16, Mk16 EGLM, Mk17, Mk17 EGLM) |
Designated marksman rifles | M14 7.62 mm • Mk17 Sniper 7.62 mm |
Sniper rifles | M107 .50 • M110 7.62 mm • M24 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | Mk 48 Mod 0 7.62 mm • M240 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | M32 • Mk13 |
Launchers | FGM-148 Javelin • FIM-92F Stinger • M136 • MAAWS |
Static | M2 • M252 • Mk19 • M119A1 • Searchlight • Stinger • TOW |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Operation Arrowhead |
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Handguns | Makarov 9 mm • Revolver .45 |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25, AKS-74) • FN-FAL 7.62 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 M203) |
Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | RPK-74 5.45 mm |
Machineguns | M240 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • Metis-M 9K115-2 • RPG-7V • RPG-18 |
Static | AGS-30 • D-30 • Igla AA Pod • KORD • Metis AT-13 • 2B14 Podnos • Searchlight • SPG-9 • ZU-23 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. | Operation Arrowhead |