Squad automatic weapon

A squad automatic weapon (SAW, also known as section automatic weapon or light support weapon) is a light or general purpose machine gun, usually equipped with a bipod and firing a rifle-caliber cartridge. A SAW is used to provide suppressive fire for an infantry squad or section, and typically uses the same ammunition as the assault rifles carried by other members of the unit, simplifying military logistics.

The basic use of this weapon is to force enemy troops to take cover and reduce the effectiveness of their return fire while friendly troops advance, increasing the likelihood of a successful attack against an enemy position. SAWs must therefore be light enough for an individual soldier to carry and fire. SAWs may also be used in defending friendly positions, but cannot provide a field of fire as effective as that of a tripod-mounted machine gun.

Many SAWs (such as the RPK-74 and L86) are modified assault rifles. The most common SAWs in use today are derived from two basic patterns: RPK or FN Minimi. One of the first weapons designed for this role was the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, which, though having a limited magazine capacity, was still higher than the typical infantry rifle, and it gave the infantry a base of fire weapon that was more suited to maneuver warfare than the bulkier machine guns of the period, such as the M1919 Browning machine gun.