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Squad automatic weapon facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A squad automatic weapon (often called a SAW) is a special type of gun. It gives a group of soldiers, called a squad or section, lots of automatic firepower. This means it can shoot many bullets very quickly. SAWs are also easy to move around.

These weapons are usually rifles that can shoot in different ways, like single shots or fully automatic. They often have a bipod (a two-legged stand) to help aim steadily. They also have a heavier barrel so they don't get too hot when shooting a lot. This lets them work like a light machine gun.

SAWs usually use the same type of bullets as the other rifles in the squad. This makes it easier for the army to supply ammunition. Soldiers only need to carry one kind of bullet for many different guns. SAWs are light enough for one soldier to carry and use alone. Bigger guns, like heavy machine guns such as the M2 Browning, are more powerful. But these bigger guns usually need a team of soldiers to use them best.

What is a SAW?

Bren1
The Bren is an example of a British Army squad automatic weapon from World War II.

Many squad automatic weapons are just assault rifles or battle rifles that have been changed. They might be able to hold more bullets in their magazine. They will almost always have a bipod to help the shooter.

For some rifles, like the Heckler & Koch G36 or Steyr AUG, the SAW version is simply the regular rifle with a few parts changed. However, the Austrian Army, which uses many Steyr AUGs, does not use the heavy barrel version of that rifle. Instead, they use the MG 74. This gun was made from the design of the German World War II machine gun called the MG 42.

One of the first guns made for this role was the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. Even though it could not hold many bullets in its magazine, it was still better than the regular rifles soldiers used at the time.

Examples of SAWs

Assault Rifles that are SAWs

  • HK 13E
  • QBB-95
  • RPK
  • INSAS LMG

Battle Rifles that are SAWs

  • FN FALO 50.41
  • HK 11E
  • M1941 Johnson machine gun
  • Model 45A
  • M1946 Sieg automatic rifle

Related pages

Images for kids

  • 111-SC-33930 - NARA - 55227044 (cropped)

    Madsen machine gun

  • MG-74 of Austrian Army

    Austrian MG74

  • H&KMG4

    HK MG4

  • PEO M249 Para ACOG

    M249 Para

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