Lahti-Saloranta M/26
< Lahti-Saloranta M
| Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG | |
|---|---|
A Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG with a 20-round magazine | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Finland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1930–1970s |
| Wars | Winter War Second Sino-Japanese War Continuation War Lapland War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Aimo Lahti & Arvo Saloranta |
| Designed | 1925 |
| Manufacturer | Valtion kivääritehdas |
| No. built | > 6200 |
| Variants | LS-26-31 (able to accommodate the 75-round drum magazine) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9.3 kg (20.5 lbs) |
| Length | 1,109 mm |
| Barrel length | 500 mm |
| Cartridge | 7.62×53mmR & 7.92×57mm |
| Action | Short-recoil operation |
| Rate of fire | 450 to 550 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 800 m/s (2,624 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 400 m |
| Feed system | 20-round box and 75-round drum magazine |
The Lahti-Saloranta M/26 (alternatively LS/26) is a light machine gun which was designed by Aimo Lahti and Arvo Saloranta in 1926. The weapon was able to fire in both full automatic and semi-automatic modes. Both 20-round box and 75-round drum magazines were produced, but the Finnish Army seems to have only used the smaller 20-round magazine.
In the Winter War, there were two squads in each platoon that provided covering fire for two ten-man rifle squads. In each squad, there was one M/26 gunner, one assistant and the rest of the men carrying rifles. Soldiers found it would jam when magazine was loaded to capacity. Often they would take a round out of the magazine and hope an officer did not inspect it.