Also known as: マシンガン, 機関銃, MG, 机枪, 機槍, 汎用機関銃, GPMG
A firearm designed for sustained automatic fire. Machine guns are distinguished from Assault Rifles and Battle Rifles by size and Ammunition capacity. Machine guns are divided into three categories:
- Light Machine Gun: Fires intermediate-power cartridges (except earlier and World War II-era designs like the Bren). Light enough to be operated by one personnel. Are either belt-fed or magazine-fed.
- Medium and general-purpose machine gun: Fire full-power Rifle Cartridges and serve in both infantry and emplaced roles. It typically require a crew to operate, due to their bulk.
- Heavy Machine Gun: Fires large-caliber cartridges (at least 12 mm but less than 20 mm), dedicated for anti-materiel role. Because of their weight and large size, HMGs are typically restricted to stationary positions.