Жеңіл машиналық мылтық: жаяу әскері үшін қолданылатын қару

Machine gun for an individual soldier

A light machine gun (LMG) is a light weight machine gun designed to be operated by a single infantryman, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. LMGs firing cartridges of the same caliber as the other riflemen of the same combat unit are often referred to as squad automatic weapons.

While early light machine guns fired full powered rifle cartridges, modern light machine guns often fire smaller caliber rifle cartridges than medium machine guns – 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 guns – 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 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.

Many light machine guns (such as the Bren gun or the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle) were magazine fed. Others, such as the Hotchkiss M1922, could be fed either from a belt/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 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.

In 1903, French military theorists noticed that the heavy machine guns of the day were of little use in infantry assaults. They determined that "the machine gun must learn to walk". 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. 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 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.

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. Model Country of origin Design date Caliber(s) Weight (base model) Feed system Rate of fire (rounds/min) Model variantsMadsen machine gunDenmark1883Various Box magazine450Chauchat (Fusil Mitrailleur Mle 1915 'CSRG')France19078mm Lebel Magazine240/360Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié United States United Kingdom19098mm Lebel .303 British .30 06 Springfield Feed/belt 400–600Bergmann MG15 nA Gun Germany19107.92×57mm Mauser Belt 500–600Vickers BerthierFrance United Kingdom 1910.303 British Box 450–600Lewis GunUnited States United Kingdom1911.303 British .30 06 Springfield 7.92×57mm Mauser Drum magazine 600 (cyclic)Huot automatic rifleCanada1916.303 British Drum magazine 155/475M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle United States1917.30 06 Springfield 6.5×55mm 7.92×57mm Mauser Box magazine 650 (cyclic)Wz. 1928 (Poland)Hotchkiss M1922France1922Various8.5 kg (18.7 lb)Feed/magazine450Type 11 light machine gun Japan19226.5×50mm Arisaka Hopper magazine, 30 rounds 500 (cyclic)ZB vz. 26 Czechoslovakia19237.92×57mm Mauser Box magazine 500FM 24/29 France19247.5×54mm French Box magazine450 (cyclic)Maxim TokarevSoviet Union19247.62×54mmR BeltLmg 25Switzerland19257.5×55mm Swiss Box magazine ≈500Lahti Saloranta M/26Finland19257.62×53mmR Magazine450–550Degtyaryov machine gunSoviet Union19277.62×54mmR Various 550Mendoza RM2Mexico19287×57mm Mauser .30 06 Springfield Box magazine450–650Breda 30 Italy19306.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano Stripper clip fed, internal magazine 500 (cyclic)ZB vz. 30Czechoslovakia19307.92×57mm Box magazine 550–650BrenUnited Kingdom1935.303 British Various 500–520Type 96 light machine gun Japan19366.5×50mm Arisaka Box magazine 450 (cyclic)Type 99 light machine gun Japan19397.7×58mm Arisaka Box magazine 800RPKSoviet Union19607.62×39mm4.8 kg (10.6 lb)Drum or box magazine600RPK 74
RPK 16Stoner 63United States1960s5.56×45mm NATO Drum or box magazine1000 (cyclic)Colt Automatic RifleUnited States1970s5.56×45mm NATO Drum or box magazine750 (cyclic)Diemaco LSW (CAN)L86 LSWUnited Kingdom1970s5.56×45mm NATO Box magazine775 (cyclic)FN MinimiBelgium19745.56×45mm NATO (standard) *7.62×51mm NATO Belt fed or box magazine1150 (cyclic)M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (USA) MK 46 machine gun (USA)CETME AmeliSpain19745.56×45mm NATO Belt fed1200 (cyclic)MG82 (Spain)Ultimax 100Singapore19775.56×45mm NATO Drum or box magazine600 (cyclic)Steyr AUG H BARAustria19775.56×45mm NATO Box magazine750 (cyclic)NegevIsrael19855.56×45mm NATO (standard) 7.62×51mm NATO Belt fed or magazine1150 (cyclic)Heckler & Koch MG4Germany1990s5.56×45mm NATO Belt fed885 (cyclic)Heckler & Koch MG36Germany1990s5.56×45mm NATO Drum or box magazine750 (cyclic)INSAS LMGIndia1990s5.56×45mm NATO Box magazine650 (cyclic)SAR 21 LMGSingapore19965.56×45mm NATO Box magazine650 (cyclic)Ares Shrike 5.56United States2000s5.56×45mm NATO Belt fed or magazine800 (cyclic)Type 81 LMGChina20087.62×39mm100 round drum or 30 round STANAG 750 (cyclic)BD 08 LMG (Bangladesh)M27 IARGermany20085.56×45mm NATO Drum or box magazine640 (cyclic)QJB 95China19975.8x42mm60900 (cyclic)