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▼ DMW LMG08/15 (LUFTGEKÜHLT Though it was also used by
MASCHINENGEWEHR) infantrymen, fitted with a buttstock
Barrel shroud and Date 1915 and pistol grip, the LMG08/15 LIGHT MA
heat dissipator was developed as a fixed gun for
Bipod Origin Germany use in aircraft. In this form, it had
attachment clamp Weight 26 ⁄2lb (12kg) a synchronizer cable linked to an
1
▼ BERGMANN LMG15NA Barrel 28 ⁄4in (71.9cm) interrupter gear, which allowed it
1
Date 1916 Caliber 7.92mm Mauser to fire through the propeller’s arc.
Origin Germany
1
Weight 28 ⁄2lb (12.9kg)
1
Barrel 28 ⁄2in (72.6cm) CHINE-GUNS
Caliber 7.92mm Mauser
Bergmann’s LMG was adopted in
1910, but it was not until the appearance Perforated barrel shroud
of a modified version in 1916 that it
found favour. Its ammunition was
contained in a metal link belt, fed
from a drum-like container. Fore sight
Air-cooled barrel in Synchronizer cable AND MA
perforated shroud

Carrying handle CHINE-PIST

▲ MG08/18 OLS
Pistol grip Bipod head Date 1918
Butt stock incorporates pivot Origin Germany
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Weight 28 ⁄4lb (13kg)
1
Barrel 28 ⁄4in (71.9cm)
Caliber 7.92mm Mauser
The MG08/15 was never entirely
suitable for use as an assault weapon.
Just before the war ended, this revised
▲ PARABELLUM LMG14/17 Arguably the best of the German Maxims, air-cooled version with a slimmed-
Date 1917 the Parabellum LMG was produced in down perforated barrel shroud was
response to a specification for a weapon for introduced. It was almost 8 ⁄4lb (4kg)
3
Origin Germany flexible mounting in aircraft and airships. Its lighter than the MG08/15, but came
Weight 21 ⁄2lb (9.8kg) barrel shroud was later slimmed down, and too late to see widespread use.
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Barrel 27 ⁄4in (70.5cm) it was issued to selected infantry units in this
3
form toward the end of the war.
Caliber 7.92mm Mauser Graduated rear sight

32-round “snail”
drum magazine

Cocking handle ▲ BERGMANN MP18/1 The strong, sturdy MP18/1 was the
Date 1918 first effective machine-pistol. It was
chambered for the Parabellum round
Origin Germany Luger had developed for the P08
1
Butt Weight 9 ⁄4lb (4.2kg) pistol, although that resulted
3
Barrel 7 ⁄4in (19.6cm) in feed problems until a simpler
box magazine was designed.
Caliber 9mm Parabellum