Which weapon provides 7.62mm automatic fire support in the Ground Combat Element (GCE)?

• A. M249 SAW
• B. M240G
• C. M2 .50 cal
• D. M60

Answer: (B)

The weapon chosen for 7.62mm automatic fire support in the Ground Combat Element is the M240G. This belt-fed, crew-served machine gun provides sustained, suppressive fire at longer ranges than the 5.56mm squad automatic weapon, making it ideal for supporting infantry advances, laying down covering fire, and beating back threats at medium distances. In the Marine Corps, the M240G is the standard 7.62mm system used by infantry units for this role because it offers reliable performance, easier maintenance, and effective firepower compared with lighter 5.56mm or heavier .50 caliber options. The other choices either fire a smaller cartridge (5.56mm), are a heavier caliber (.50 cal) for different targets, or are older 7.62mm designs that have largely been replaced by the M240G for typical GCE fire support.