Heavy machine gun

<p>A heavy machine gun (HMG) is significantly larger than <a href="/facts/Light_machine_gun/151xtamS">light</a>, <a href="/facts/Medium_machine_gun/jDj1MFnB">medium</a> or <a href="/facts/General-purpose_machine_gun/khzaNX1P">general-purpose machine guns</a>. HMGs are typically too heavy to be man-portable (carried by one person) and require <a href="/facts/Weapon_mount/zh349yT5">mounting</a> onto a <a href="/facts/Weapons_platform/5Qfc4nYk">weapons platform</a> to be operably stable or tactically <a href="/facts/Mobility_(military)/LlDAck0a">mobile</a>, have more formidable <a href="/facts/Firepower/zm9jJ0tC">firepower</a>, and generally <a href="/facts/Crew-served_weapon/7vMQBJxL">require a team of personnel</a> for operation and maintenance.
</p><p>There are two classes of weapons generally defined as HMGs:
</p>
<ul><li>The historical definition refers to machine guns, typically chambered in standard <a href="/facts/Full-power_cartridge/r0xgL1wW">full-power cartridges</a>, that are identified as being "heavy" due to their weight and cumbersomeness, which prevents infantrymen from transporting them on foot. Examples include the <a href="/facts/Maxim_machine_gun/AxEg4LHp">Maxim machine gun</a> and <a href="/facts/M1917_Browning_machine_gun/Stb4XSTg">M1917 Browning machine gun</a>.</li>
<li>The modern definition refers to "heavy caliber" machine guns, pioneered by the <a href="/facts/German_Empire/lwQutJyN">German Empire</a>'s <a href="/facts/MG_18_TuF/343gljd6">MG 18 TuF</a> which was a Maxim derivative chambered in <a href="/facts/13.2%25C3%259792mmSR/A4yAKW3r">13.2×92mmSR</a> fielded near the end of <a href="/facts/World_War_I/vITTUanQ">World War I</a>. They are designed to provide increased <a href="/facts/Effective_range/3bCKFJQS">effective range</a>, <a href="/facts/Penetration_(weapons)/Sq19m5oF">penetration</a> and <a href="/facts/Stopping_power/3K4V58lJ">stopping power</a> against <a href="/facts/Vehicle/jSIEqANL">vehicles</a>, <a href="/facts/Aircraft/EhC4mBep">aircraft</a> and light <a href="/facts/Fortification/pyH0FXhH">fortifications</a> beyond the full-power cartridges used in <a href="/facts/Battle_rifle/E9EEJGBM">battle rifles</a> and <a href="/facts/Medium_machine_gun/jDj1MFnB">medium</a> or <a href="/facts/General-purpose_machine_gun/khzaNX1P">general-purpose machine guns</a>, and far beyond the <a href="/facts/Intermediate_cartridge/G1q9Ig7d">intermediate cartridges</a> used in <a href="/facts/Assault_rifle/H2DXHauQ">assault rifles</a>, <a href="/facts/Light_machine_gun/151xtamS">light machine guns</a> and <a href="/facts/Squad_automatic_weapon/95dP8aFY">squad automatic weapons</a>. HMGs also have more felt <a href="/facts/Recoil/wGukfupU">recoil</a> than its lighter counterparts. Popular HMG rounds today are the <a href="/facts/12.7%25C3%259799mm/oADnDkyC">12.7×99mm</a>, <a href="/facts/12.7%25C3%2597108mm/6otfNpoR">12.7×108mm</a> and <a href="/facts/14.5%25C3%2597114mm/8QE3J5Q2">14.5×114mm</a> cartridges.</li></ul>

Heavy machine gun open-in-new

Heavy machine gun