Light Machine Guns

The Light Machine Gun - yet another product of the First World War - was saddled with a bit of a misnomer; the Bren LMG, for example, weighed in excess of twenty pounds when loaded. The "light" designation actually refers to its intended role - as automatic firepower in the hands of an Infantry Section or (as was the case in the First World War) grouped within an infantry platoon. The LMG provided firepower for the assault troops of the infantry, with the ability to be moved forward quickly and redeployed in a matter of moments.

The LMG was thus distinct from the MMG (Medium Machine Gun), HMG (Heavy Machine Gun) or GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun), all of which were designed to fire from a heavy tripod mount, with a large supply of ammunition, optical sights, and other accessories, to provide long range firepower in support of an infantry company or battalion.

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