LMG

LMG stands for light machine gun, a class of infantry firearm designed to provide portable automatic fire at squad level. LMGs are lighter and more maneuverable than medium or heavy machine guns, though they typically fire the same calibers as standard infantry rifles and feed from belts or magazines. They are commonly used with a bipod and are intended to be carried and deployed by a single soldier or by a small crew as part of a fire team.

The concept emerged in the early 20th century to give squads sustained fire without resorting to heavier weapons. Through World War II and the Cold War, designers pursued lighter, reliable, and controllable automatic firearms. The general-purpose machine gun concept later allowed a single weapon to function as both a light squad weapon and a medium/vehicle weapon.

Common calibers include 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO, with many modern LMGs offering quick-change barrels, semi-automatic and fully automatic modes, and options for belt or magazine feeds. Modern designs emphasize weight reduction, reliability, and integration with optics and accessory rails.

Notable examples include the British Bren gun, the Belgian FN Minimi (also marketed as the M249 SAW in the United States), the Soviet/Russian RPK and PKM family, and other 5.56–7.62mm light machine guns derived from these lines. In contemporary armed forces, LMGs remain a core element of infantry squads, providing suppressive fire to enable movement and maneuver.