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Lahti-Saloranta M/26
Light machine gun / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lahti-Saloranta M/26 (alternatively LS/26) is a light machine gun which was designed by Aimo Lahti and Arvo Saloranta in 1926. The weapon was able to fire in both full automatic and semi-automatic modes. Both 20-round box and 75-round drum magazines were produced, but the Finnish Army seems to have only used the smaller 20-round magazine.
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Quick Facts Type, Place of origin ...
Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG | |
---|---|
A Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG with a 20-round magazine | |
Type | Light machine gun |
Place of origin | Finland |
Service history | |
In service | 1930–1970s |
Wars | Winter War Second Sino-Japanese War Continuation War Lapland War |
Production history | |
Designer | Aimo Lahti & Arvo Saloranta |
Designed | 1925 |
Manufacturer | Valtion kivääritehdas |
No. built | > 6200 |
Variants | LS-26-31 (able to accommodate the 75-round drum magazine) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 9.3 kg (20.5 lbs) |
Length | 1,109 mm |
Barrel length | 500 mm |
Cartridge | 7.62×53mmR & 7.92×57mm |
Action | Short-recoil operation |
Rate of fire | 450 to 550 round/min |
Muzzle velocity | 800 m/s (2,624 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 400 m |
Feed system | 20-round box and 75-round drum magazine |
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In the Winter War, there were two squads in each platoon that provided covering fire for two ten-man rifle squads. In each squad, there was one M/26 gunner, one assistant and the rest of the men carrying rifles. Soldiers found it would jam when magazine was loaded to capacity. Often they would take a round out of the magazine and hope an officer did not inspect it.