Machine Guns

Definition

A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm designed to fire bullets in rapid succession from an ammunition belt or magazine. It was notably utilized during World War I and II.

Related terms

Automatic Weaponry: Firearms that continuously fire rounds as long as the trigger is pressed or held and there are still rounds left in the magazine or belt.

World War I & II: The two global wars where machine guns played significant roles in changing warfare tactics.

Gatling Gun: An early form of machine gun with multiple barrels rotating around central axis by manual crank mechanism.