Machine guns in WWII
US Army
A machine gun is an automatic weapon using small arms ammunition for rapid, continuous
firing.
Two .30 caliber light machine guns were part of each weapons platoon. Eight heavy
machine guns were part of each heavy weapons platoon.
On Combat!, the squad carries the .30 caliber machine gun into battle in a few
episodes ("Point of View",
"Hills are for Heroes"). Machine guns are operated by a crew of soldiers.
Types of Machine Guns:
Light machine guns are usually used as offensive weapons against
personnel. They are mobile and can be carried by a squad during an attack. The come
equipped with bipods and were generally magazine fed and are air cooled.
Heavy machine guns were support weapons that had great range and
penetration but were difficult to move and unwieldy. Heavy machine guns are primarily used
for anti-aircraft.
