The expression LMG wasn't invented during WW2. It was MG, MMG or HMG. SAW's and LSW's are also LMG's. If the M14 with a bipod was served by one man it was a sniper. If its function was to serve the squad, with the extra paraphernalias, it was an LMG (MG).LWD wrote:NO. That's wiki's definition of what constitutes an LMG. The US Army and USMC considered them automatic rifels not LMGs and I'll go by their defintions just like I go with the German defintions of the twins as battleships rather than battle cruisers or the Alaskas as large cruisers. The M-14 had a bipod too I believe and it wasn't considered an LMG.
Forget about that. However the squad is organised in connection with the MG, if it is supposed to be served by a team - 2, 3 or 4 men - whatever - it is not per definition "an automatic rifle" - that is a personal weapon. The BAR is a squad weapon - an LMG. The expression "LMG" is really a definition of the weapon's role. MG, MMG, and HMG are along the same lines but specific American terms. MG = BAR or Browning 1919 with bipod, MMG = Browning 1919 (or 1918) on tripod, HMG = .50 Browning. The Germans called them MG - Maschinengewehr and SMG - Schweres (heavy) Maschinengewehr. The difference was bipod or tripod. After your definition the Bren gun could also be termed an automatic rifle but it goes a step further as it has an interchangeable barrel. Apart from that the British do not use that expression but rather automatic carbine. That is maybe a better definition of the M16, too.That wasn't the way the Marines operated from what I've read. Note in the following referency there is an "automatic rifleman" and an "assistant" but no section leader.
There you are. That's in practice how I described it. While the M14, H&K G3, FN FAL or M16 are automatic rifles they are not LMG's, SAW's or LSW's. They are personal weapons. The BAR was originally meant to be a personal weapon but was found unpractical in that role and therefore adapted as an LMG and a team to serve it.LWD wrote:From what I've read the main duty of the assistant was to carry more ammo with a secondary task of taking over the BAR if the BAR gunner was incapacitated. I think the army set up was similar.
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showt ... n-fireteam.
As for ammunition-carrying for the automatic weapons that is a job for the whole squad, not only the MG team (section). That is the same in all armies. If you had served you would have known that. As for carrying the ammunition of the dedicated support squad weapons that is usually the responsibility of the whole platoon. Also that the other members of the team (section) takes over the MG if the operator is incapacitated for some reason. For that matter, all squad infantry training includes the use of the support weapon (MG) for all members of the squad.
You shouldn't be fooled by the fact that I use Wikipedia as a definition source - apart from the fact that they are correct. I have many years experience as an infantry platoon commander at a time when the Norwegian army was organised after the US Army pattern. There may be differences in details but the principles are as I describe them.
Fred