Abandon squad/section levels of organization?

[JMA]

Have handled but not trialed and fired the MAG-58. Found it overlong and poorly balanced with the belt-feed too far forward of the trigger grip. But durability/functioning and robustness/ruggedness count for a lot everywhere. In general the MAG-58 is thoroughly proven as suitable – though not ideal – for squad/section, and better as a GPMG/MMG for use above that level.

With the greatest respect ... before you can pronounce on the MAG-58 you would need to have more than fired it but carried it, fired it and employed it in combat on a number of occasions.

Having done a Sustained Fire course (back in the day) - where we used the MAG on tripods - I am not sold on its ability in the sustained fire role.

So we find ourselves with diametrically opposite opinions. Feel free to respond.

[Compost]

With the greatest respect ... before you can pronounce on the MAG-58 you would need to have more than fired it but carried it, fired it and employed it in combat on a number of occasions.

Having done a Sustained Fire course (back in the day) - where we used the MAG on tripods - I am not sold on its ability in the sustained fire role.

So we find ourselves with diametrically opposite opinions. Feel free to respond.

My opinion not based on combat experience is that a squad/section patrolling or otherwise on the move should currently have a compact 7.62mm LMG. That would be the NG7 or Mark 48 with a barrel of about 500mm and preferably none of the 350 to 400mm flash-bang variety. A squad/section in and around a location should have a more robust even though cumbersome 7.62mm GPMG/MMG. ('"currently" because 7.62 and also 5.56mm are going to be eventually succeeded by new calibres).

Hence, believe a company ‘arms room’ should enable a modern version of the Bren-M60 combination as previously used by AusArmy. That was one LMG plus one GPMG/MMG for each squad/section in an infantry platoon. So issue of all its NG7s and MAG58s to a modern platoon would put one in each 4-man team.

If location of the ‘arms room’ - or ‘arms rooms’ spread across several company or platoon vehicles – were remote or lacking then some reduced number of one type of MG or mix of both types would be on issue for portable use. Decision on the number and type(s) of MG on issue should always be made by PL CMDR subject to overrule by COY CMDR. See also post 117 on Trigger thread Size of the Platoon and Company. Some CMDRs might routinely prefer a 50/50 split.

Understand your apparent preference for the MAG58, probably supported by something like a slow-firing L3 Browning with fixed headspace and QCBs. Further back there is the water-cooled version and also the remarkable but hard-to-manoeuvre Vickers. Makes one wonder if/when the water-cooled SFMG might reappear as a vehicle weapon.