A heavy machine gun (HMG) is significantly larger than light, medium or general-purpose machine guns. HMGs are typically too heavy to be man-portable and require mounting onto a weapons platform to be operably stable or tactically mobile, have more formidable firepower, and generally require a team of personnel for operation and maintenance.
The M2 Browning machine gun with a tripod weighs 58 kg (128 lb).
A Ukrainian Ground Forces soldier firing the DShKM in heavy role.
Wheel mounted DShK.
MG 08 system (7.92 mm) and crew circa 1931.
A light machine gun (LMG) is a light-weight machine gun designed to be operated by a single infantryman, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. LMGs firing cartridges of the same caliber as the other riflemen of the same combat unit are often referred to as squad automatic weapons.
The Belgian Minimi M249 light machine gun, one of the most widespread modern 5.56 mm light machine guns amongst NATO countries. This one is an M249E3 "Para" model.
IWI Negev of the Israeli Army
Bren light machine gun
.30-06 Browning Automatic Rifle Model 1918