Every time I come here, which, according to my wife, is far too often, I read about how this weapon or that weapon is the best ever fielded. Well, I decided that it was time to have some fun at the expense of those poor sots who had to deal with pieces of kit or weapons that turned out to be total POC! (pieces of crap). What I would like to do is to start a thread wherein we will discuss the worst stuff out there and try to come to a decision as to which was the worst ever in the category that we are discussing. In order to make the contest useful, I would also like it if everyone followed a few simple rules.
1. The POC in question must have been issued as standard in at least one army.
2. Note the word "standard". The POC in question cannot have been experimental, either in designation or in nature.
3. You must give a good explanation why the weapon in question is truly a POC.
4. I can't think of anything else at the moment.
Now, to decide the worst, seeing as I started the thread, I have decided that I will be the judge, but if this works out even half decently, I would like to invite some of the regulars as a sort of ad-hoc jury, particularly with regards to weapons categories that I know next to nothing about.

Todays subject Machine Guns: I'll accept only light, medium and heavy machine guns, not SMGs or machine cannon. I already have my opinion on which was the worst, try to prove me wrong.

Dean.

This is without a doubt the worst machine gun in the history of warfare.

The Chauchat. Issued in WWI. Just read the article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chauchat

chauchat pretty much is the gold standard in terms of crap.

I'd also include the MG 35/36 Knorr-Bremse light machine gun used by the SS. The gun would fire sometimes when the safety was released and the buttstock often would fall off during firing.

It seems like the Japanese type 11 Nambu used a hopper system instead of a magazine or belt. That would be very inconvenient to reload inside an armored vehicle. If I'm not mistaken, the 6.5 mm cartridge it used was too small to make an effective tracer round with the technology of the times.

To qoute myself from another post.

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

Well, the worst ever issued weapon in my opinion was the French Chauchat. WORST PIECE OF HUMAN FILTH EVER ISSUED.

The Chauchat was bad design, but as the article stated it did introduce features that would become standard such as select fire and a pistole grip. Therefore it does have a minor redeeming value, as it inspired future innovation.

2dold4this already mentioned it so I will give a 2nd nomination the Original Japanese nambu 11 (not the 2nd edition). Like most Japanese small arms it was unreliable due to its 'hopper' magazine, it fired a low power rifle cartridge and was designed to carry a Bayonet. Not exactly redeeming qualities for a LMG.

Japanese infantry weapons were among the worst in WWII, some were actually dangerous to use (i.e type 11 pistol). Its a mystery when they had such genius designers in the Imperial Navy and Imperial Air Forces and the army got all the washouts.

If I'm not mistaken, the type 11 had to be fed cartridges that were loaded at a lower pressure than the standard 6.5mm rifle ammo.

I would have to agree with you guys, the Chauchat and the Type-11. They both pretty much suck.

I am not aware of anything that can truly compare with the Chauchat as being such an unholy piece of feces.

The M60 was pretty bad, though the new version seem to work well.

http://shock.military.com/Shock/vide...yContent=86313