Madsen machine gun

Madsen machine gun
A Madsen light machine gun with spare magazine.
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	Denmark
Service history
In service	1902–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Russo-Japanese War Bambatha Rebellion World War I Russian Civil War Mexican Revolution Finnish Civil War Warlord Era Rif War Constitutionalist Revolution[1] Chaco War Spanish Civil War World War II Indonesian National Revolution Portuguese Colonial War Football War Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict[2] Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer	Julius A. Rasmussen Theodor Schouboe
Designed	1896–1902
Manufacturer	Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat A/S
Produced	1902–1955
Specifications
Mass	9.07 kg (20.00 lb)
Length	1,143 mm (45.0 in)
Barrel length	584 mm (23.0 in)
Cartridge	8×58mmR Danish Krag[3] 7×57mm Mauser 6.5×55mm 6.5×53mmR 6.5×52mm Carcano 7.92×57mm Mauser 7.65×53mm Argentine 7.62×54mmR 8×50mmR Lebel 8×50mmR Mannlicher Patrone 88 .303 British[4][page needed] .30-06 7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Mixed recoil-operated
Rate of fire	450 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	870 m/s (2,854 ft/s) (6.5×55mm)
Feed system	25, 30, and 40-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Rear V-notch and front post

The Madsen is a light machine gun that Julius A. Rasmussen and Theodor Schouboe designed and proposed for adoption by Colonel Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen, the Danish Minister of War, and that the Royal Danish Army adopted in 1902. It was the world's first true light machine gun produced in quantity and Madsen was able to sell it in 12 calibres to over 34 countries. The gun saw extensive combat usage for over 100 years, with continued use in limited quantities worldwide into the 2010s.^[5][6] The Madsen was produced by Compagnie Madsen A/S (later operating as Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat A/S and then Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S).