Ajay Kumar at 13:13, 19 September 2023

2023-09-19T13:13:41Z

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{{short description|Machine gun for an individual soldier}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2018}}
[[File:PEO M249 Para ACOG.jpg|thumb|right|The Belgian [[FN Minimi|Minimi]] [[M249 light machine gun]], one of the most widespread modern [[5.56×45mm NATO|5.56 mm]] light machine guns amongst [[NATO]] countries. This one is an M249E3 "Para" model.]]
[[File:IWI-Negev-Zachi-Evenor-01-white.jpg|right|thumb|[[IWI Negev]] of the [[Israeli Army]]]]
[[Image:Bren1.jpg|right|thumb|[[Bren light machine gun]]]]
[[Image:Army Heritage Museum B.A.R..jpg|right|thumb|[[.30-06]] [[Browning Automatic Rifle]] Model 1918]]

A '''light machine gun''' ('''LMG''') is a light-weight [[machine gun]] designed to be operated by a single [[infantry]]man, with or without an assistant, as an [[infantry support weapon]]. LMGs firing [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]]s of the same [[caliber]] as the other [[riflemen]] of the same [[combat unit]] are often referred to as [[squad automatic weapon]]s.

==Characteristics ==
While early light machine guns fired [[full-powered rifle cartridge]]s, modern light machine guns often fire smaller-caliber [[rifle cartridge]]s than [[medium machine gun]]s – generally the same [[intermediate cartridge]] fired by a service's standard [[assault rifle]] – and are usually lighter and more compact. Some LMGs, such as the Russian [[RPK]], are modifications of existing designs and designed to share the same ammunition. Adaptations to the original rifle generally include a larger magazine, a heavier barrel to resist overheating, a more robust mechanism to support sustained fire and a bipod.

A light machine gun is also defined by its usage as well as its specifications: some machine guns – notably [[general-purpose machine gun]]s – may be deployed either as a light machine gun or a medium machine gun. Deployed on a tripod and used for sustained fire, it is a medium machine gun; if deployed with a [[bipod]] with the operator in a prone position and firing short bursts, it is a light machine gun.

Light machine guns are also designed to be fired from the hip or on the move as a form of [[suppressive fire]] intended to [[pinned down|pin down]] the enemy. [[Marching fire]] is a specific tactic that relies on this capability.

Lighter modern LMGs have enabled them to be issued down at the [[fireteam]] level, with two or three at the section/squad level.

===Ammunition feed===
Many light machine guns (such as the [[Bren light machine gun|Bren gun]] or the [[M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle]]) were [[magazine (firearm)|magazine]]-fed. Others, such as the [[Hotchkiss M1922]], could be fed either from a [[belt (firearms)|belt]]/[[belt (firearms)#Feed Strip|strip]] or from a [[box magazine]]. Modern light machine guns are designed to fire smaller caliber rounds and, as such, tend to be belt-fed (from a [[belt (firearm)#Container device|container]] attached to the gun) or from a detachable high-capacity [[drum magazine]], but some, such as the [[FN Minimi]], will also accept standard rifle magazine feeding as an auxiliary measure when belted ammunition has been exhausted.

==History==
In 1903, French military theorists noticed that the [[heavy machine gun]]s of the day were of little use in infantry assaults. They determined that "the machine gun must learn to walk".<ref name=Chauchat>{{cite web |url=http://www.mitrailleuse.fr/France/Chauchat/Chauchat.htm |language=fr |title=Fusil mitrailleur Chauchat. FM modèle 1915 C.S.R.G. |work=Les mitrailleuses du premier conflit mondial |publisher=mitrailleuse.fr |year=2003 |access-date=December 18, 2011}}</ref> They researched the possibility of a light machine gun which could be carried by troops. A [[marching fire]] tactic was theorised, using incidental suppressive fire, with the advancing troops considered a deadlier threat than the un-aimed bullets, causing the enemy to fall back. The prototype guns were not approved for production, and none were in service when [[World War I]] began.<ref name=Chauchat/> The French quickly brought the prototypes to mass production to boost the firepower of advancing infantry.

By the end of [[World War II]], light machine guns were usually being issued on a scale of one per [[Section (military unit)|fire team]] or [[squad]], and the modern infantry squad had emerged with tactics that were built around the use of the LMG to provide [[suppressive fire]].{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==Selected examples==
[[Image:Battle of Changsha.jpg|right|thumb|A Chinese soldier with a [[ZB vz.26]] light machine gun.]]
[[File:INSAS LMG.JPG|thumb|right|The early [[INSAS]] LMG, a weapon of Indian origin.]]
[[Image:Familiarization with a RPK during Exercise Rescue Eagle 2000.jpg|thumb|right|A Romanian soldier instructing a [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine]] in clearing a [[RPK]]]]

The following were either exclusively light machine guns, had a light machine gun variant or were employed in the light machine gun role with certain adaptations.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
! Model
! Country of origin
! Design date
! Caliber(s)
! Weight (base model)
! Feed system
! Rate of fire (rounds/min)
! Model variants
|-

|-
|[[Madsen machine gun]]
|{{flagcountry|Denmark}}
|1883
|Various
|{{convert|9.07|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|450
|
|-

|-
|[[Chauchat]] (Fusil-Mitrailleur Mle 1915 'CSRG')
|{{flagcountry|France}}
|1907
|8mm Lebel
|{{convert|9.07|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Magazine
|240/360
|
|-

|[[Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié machine gun|Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié]]
|{{flagcountry|United States}} {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|1909
|8mm Lebel .303 British .30-06 Springfield
|{{convert|12|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Feed/belt
|400–600
|
|-

|[[Bergmann MG15 nA Gun]]
|{{flagcountry|Germany}}
|1910
|7.92×57mm Mauser
|{{convert|12.9|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Belt
|500–600
|
|-

|[[Vickers-Berthier]]
|{{flagcountry|France}} {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|1910
|.303 British
|{{convert|11.07|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box
|450–600
|
|-

|[[Lewis Gun]]
|{{flagcountry|United States}} {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|1911
|.303 British .30-06 Springfield 7.92×57mm Mauser
|{{convert|13|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Drum magazine
|600 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Huot automatic rifle]]
|{{flagcountry|Canada}}
|1916
|.303 British
|{{convert|5.9|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Drum magazine
|155/475
|
|-

|[[M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle]]
|{{flagcountry|United States}}
|1917
|.30-06 Springfield 6.5×55mm 7.92×57mm Mauser
|{{convert|8.8|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|650 (cyclic)
|[[Wz. 1928]] (Poland)
|-

|[[Hotchkiss M1922]]
|{{flagcountry|France}}
|1922
|Various
|
|Feed/magazine
|450
|
|-

|[[Type 11 light machine gun]]
|{{flagcountry|Japan}}
|1922
|6.5×50mm Arisaka
|{{convert|10.2|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Hopper magazine, 30 rounds
|500 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[ZB vz. 26]]
|{{flagcountry|Czechoslovakia}}
|1923
|7.92×57mm Mauser
|{{convert|10.5|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|500
|
|-

|[[FM-24/29]]
|{{flagcountry|France}}
|1924
|7.5×54mm French
|{{convert|9.1|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|450 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Maxim-Tokarev]]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|1924
|7.62×54mmR
|{{convert|12.9|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Belt
|
|
|-

|[[Lmg 25]]
|{{flagcountry|Switzerland}}
|1925
|7.5×55mm Swiss
|{{convert|8.65|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|≈500
|
|-

|[[Lahti-Saloranta M/26]]
|{{flagcountry|Finland}}
|1925
|7.62×53mmR
|{{convert|9.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Magazine
|450–550
|
|-

|[[Degtyaryov machine gun]]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|1927
|7.62×54mmR
|{{convert|9.12|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Various
|550
|
|-

|[[Mendoza RM2]]
|{{flagcountry|Mexico}}
|1928
|7×57mm Mauser .30-06 Springfield
|{{convert|6.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|450–650
|
|-

|[[Breda 30]]
|{{flagcountry|Italy}}
|1930
|6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano
|{{convert|10.6|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Stripper clip fed, internal magazine
|500 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[ZB vz. 30]]
|{{flagcountry|Czechoslovakia}}
|1930
|7.92×57mm
|{{convert|9.1|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|550–650
|
|-

|[[Bren]]
|{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|1935
|.303 British
|{{convert|10.35|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Various
|500–520
|
|-

|[[Type 96 light machine gun]]
|{{flagcountry|Japan}}
|1936
|6.5×50mm Arisaka
|{{convert|9|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|450 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Type 99 light machine gun]]
|{{flagcountry|Japan}}
|1939
|7.7×58mm Arisaka
|{{convert|10.4|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|800
|
|-
|[[RPK]]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|1960
|7.62×39mm
|4.8 kg (10.6 lb)
|Drum or box magazine
|600
|RPK-74
RPK-16
|-

|[[Stoner 63]]
|{{flagcountry|United States}}
|1960s
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|5.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Drum or box magazine
|1000 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Colt Automatic Rifle]]
|{{flagcountry|United States}}
|1970s
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|5.78|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Drum or box magazine
|750 (cyclic)
|Diemaco LSW (CAN)
|-

|[[L86|L86 LSW]]
|{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|1970s
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|6.58|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|775 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[FN Minimi]]
|{{flagcountry|Belgium}}
|1974
|5.56×45mm NATO (standard) *7.62×51mm NATO
|{{convert|6.85|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Belt fed or box magazine
|1150 (cyclic)
|[[M249 Squad Automatic Weapon]] (USA) [[MK 46 machine gun]] (USA)
|-

|[[CETME Ameli]]
|{{flagcountry|Spain}}
|1974
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|5.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Belt fed
|1200 (cyclic)
|MG82 (Spain)
|-

|[[Ultimax 100]]
|{{flagcountry|Singapore}}
|1977
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|4.75|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Drum or box magazine
|600 (cyclic)
|
|-
|[[Steyr AUG|Steyr AUG H-BAR]]
|{{flagcountry|Austria}}
|1977
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|3.9|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|750 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[IMI Negev|Negev]]
|{{flagcountry|Israel}}
|1985
|5.56×45mm NATO (standard) 7.62×51mm NATO
|{{convert|7.4|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Belt fed or magazine
|1150 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Heckler & Koch MG4]]
|{{flagcountry|Germany}}
|1990s
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|8.55|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Belt fed
|885 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Heckler & Koch MG36#Variants|Heckler & Koch MG36]]
|{{flagcountry|Germany}}
|1990s
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|3.83|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Drum or box magazine
|750 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[INSAS rifle#Variant .26 Developments|INSAS LMG]]
|{{flagcountry|India}}
|1990s
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|6.7|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|650 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[SAR-21|SAR-21 LMG]]
|{{flagcountry|Singapore}}
|1996
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|3.82|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Box magazine
|650 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Ares Shrike 5.56]]
|{{flagcountry|United States}}
|2000s
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|3.4|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Belt fed or magazine
|800 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[Type 81 assault rifle|Type-81 LMG]]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|2008
|7.62×39mm
|{{convert|5.15|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|100-round drum or 30-round STANAG
|750 (cyclic)
|BD-08 LMG (Bangladesh)
|-

|[[M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle|M27 IAR]]
|{{flagcountry|Germany}}
|2008
|5.56×45mm NATO
|{{convert|3.6|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|Drum or box magazine
|640 (cyclic)
|
|-

|[[QBZ-95|QJB-95]]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|1997
|5.8x42mm
|{{convert|3.25|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
|60
|900 (cyclic)
|
|}

==See also==
* [[Medium machine gun]]
* [[Heavy machine gun]]
*[[Automatic rifle]]
* [[Squad automatic weapon]]
* [[General-purpose machine gun]]
* [[Assault rifle]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Light machine guns|*]]
[[Category:Danish inventions]]

Light machine gun - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 13:13, 19 September 2023