A new day, a new Photo. This is TFB’s Photo Of The Day, where we do our best to find great photos to enjoy.

Today we take a look at the L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), which is a 7.62 x 51mm belt-fed general purpose machine gun. As this is for the Royal Navy, it is probably the L20A1 variant.

You can see a Minigun in the back.

Caption:

Pictured are HMS Albion’s Upper deck weapon crew covering the threat from the FIAC.

As part of Exercise BALTOPS 2019, HMS Albion came under simulated attack today (19th June 2019) from FIAC (Fast Inshore Attack Craft), made up of two Royal Navy P2000 patrol boats. Upper deck weapons crews were closed up on the General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), with Phalanx weapon system also covering the threat.

HMS Albion is currently deployed on Baltic Protector 19. Baltic Protector is the inaugural deployment of Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).

The UK Amphibious Task Group will form the nucleus of Baltic Protector forces, and will incorporate Force Elements from JEF partner nations, NATO and the USA at various stages.

The deployment ran from May – Jul 19 in the Baltic Sea region, and formed a key part of the UK, NATO and JEF forward deployed contingent capability. For planning purposes, the deployment is split into three phases, each one of which incorporates specific exercise activity.

Photo Credit: UK Ministry of Defence 2019  / Paul Hall.