Light machine guns and heavy machine guns are two common types of modern warfare, and they have significant differences in types, meanings, functions, principles, and cases. This article will explain the difference between a light machine gun and a heavy machine gun in detail.
Types and definitions of light machine guns and heavy machine guns
Light machine gun: A light machine gun is a machine gun that uses a light barrel, usually operated by a single person, and is lightweight, making it easy to carry and transport. Light machine guns are usually used for the support fire of infantry detachments and are one of the important equipment of infantry squads.
Heavy machine gun: A heavy machine gun is a machine gun that uses a heavy barrel, usually operated by several people, and is heavy and difficult to carry. Heavy machine guns are usually used for fire support on stationary positions or vehicles, and are one of the important equipment of units above the infantry battalion.
The role and principle of light machine guns and heavy machine guns
Light Machine Gun: The main role of the light machine gun is to provide rapid and continuous fire support to suppress the offensive and defense of enemy infantry. Light machine guns usually use intermediate-power ammunition to ensure accuracy and range. The principle of a light machine gun is to push bullets out of the barrel one by one through rotational or reciprocating motion, achieving continuous fire.
Heavy Machine Gun: The main role of the heavy machine gun is to provide strong fire support and suppress important enemy targets. Heavy machine guns usually use high-power ammunition to ensure the destruction of enemy armor, fortifications and other hard targets. The principle of a heavy machine gun is the same as that of a light machine gun, which is also a continuous fire by rotating or reciprocating motion to push the bullets out of the barrel one by one.
Case studies of light machine guns and heavy machine guns.
For example, the weight of a light machine gun is usually between 5 and 10 kilograms, while the weight of a heavy machine gun can reach tens of kilograms or more. In one battle, an infantry squad used light machine guns for fire support, quickly suppressed the enemy infantry attack, and laid the foundation for victory in the battle. And a tank unit used heavy machine guns to fire heavily at enemy positions, destroying enemy fortifications and defenses, creating favorable conditions for a tank offensive.
From the above analysis, we can draw the following conclusions: there are significant differences between light machine guns and heavy machine guns in terms of type, definition, role, principle and case. Light machine guns are lightweight, easy to carry and transport, and are one of the important equipment of infantry squads;Heavy machine guns, on the other hand, are heavier and difficult to carry, and are often used for fire support in stationary positions or vehicles. In combat, both light and heavy machine guns can play an important role, but they are used in slightly different situations and with slightly different effects.