The Machine Gun

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Machine guns, heavy or light, are a quick fire weapon that gets the job done easily. It was rarely used in the Civil War and then World War I, but became a part of everyday life after that. With its ability to fire rapidly, battlefield tactics had to be changed in a serious way and to this day it is still one of the most important weapons in our military. Not only is it feared and admired in the battlefield or in the times of the Prohibition but it’s also a symbol in many Hollywood movies. One can often not picture a battle without an automatic weapon. This continually shoots bullets while the trigger is held down. The machine gun is operated by first loading a round of bullets, which means to put a belt of bullets into the guns chamber. Then you pull the trigger back and hold it back. This will fire the gun, and it won't stop until you let off the trigger or you run out of bullets. The earliest machine guns were created in the 19th century, powered by hand-cranking (Ellis 33). However it took a long time before it was widely used in battle. Eventually armies like Germany managed to...

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