Were machine guns used a lot in World War 1?

Answer 1

Machine guns were mainly used for mowing down large groups of enimies at a fast rate of fire.

In modern armies, machineguns have several uses, depending on the size and user of the machinegun.

Lightweight machineguns (e.g. M249 SAW, Minimi, and RPK) and almost exclusively hand-held, and are the main fire support weapon of an infantry squad. Most armies distribute these weapons on about a 4:1 ratio of assault rifle:LWMG. At the squad level, the LWMG provides surpressive fire - fire intended primarily to prevent the enemy from moving or returning fire - though it also is intended to break up large infantry charges.

Medium machineguns (e.g. MAG, PK, and M60) are sometimes deployed at the platoon level for infantry, and generally are the primary anti-infantry weapon on vehicles. While infantry often use them in the same manner as LWMGs, they also tend to be less used for supression, and more for anti-assault and light anti-vehicle (e.g. against unarmored civilian vehicles). Mounted on vehicles, the MGM is used against any infantry target (as the primary weapon will most likely be completely unsuitable for such a purpose), and also against unarmored vehicles.

Heavy machineguns (e.g. M2HB and the DShK) are primarily vehicle mounted or used for fixed defenses. They are almost exclusively used against light or unarmored vehicles (civilian vehicles up through armored cars and APCs), and as "anti-material" weapons (e.g. for punching through brick or cement block walls). They also can be used against helicopters or other slow-flying aircraft (such as RPVs). They have too slow a rate of fire to be useful against jet aircraft, and are generally unsuitable for anti-infantry work (though they can serve there in a pinch).

Answer 2

Machine Guns were used in world war one, but they were sort of still in the development stage. Basically they were used as often as possible but since they weren't "perfected" they weren't always as reliable as some people would have liked back in the day, thats not saying they weren't effective, because when used and they were working they unleashed a devastating impact on whoever went up against them.

Answer 3

The machine gun provided covering fire for troops who where going to take an enemy trench. They would also mow down enemy troops trying to take their trench.