A type of machine gun designed to be operated by a single person, with or without an assistant.
Early LMG designs were typically magazine-fed and they fire full-powered rifle cartridge, such as the .303 British Bren. Modern post-World War II designs fire intermediate round, and they can be either belt-fed or magazine-fed (e.g. the 5.56×45mm NATO M249 saw). They are also known as the squad automatic weapon.
Some LMGs are based on the existing service (assault) rifle, such as the RPK.
