MG-11

     Notes: Also known as the “Swiss Maxim,” this is an improved version of the MG-00, which was simply a Maxim machinegun chambered for the 7.5mm Swiss cartridge.  As newer, lighter machineguns came on the market, the MG-00 became more and more obsolete, and since Maxim’s patents had expired, the Swiss redesigned the Maxim to be much lighter than the original Maxim.  On top of that, shipments from Germany of Maxim machineguns stopped during World War 2, and the Swiss were forced to make their own machineguns, finding no other suppliers.  The MG-11 started production in 1915 and did not stop until 1946.  Through the years, the MG-11 was steadily improved, with a metal non-disintegrating link belt replacing the cloth belt, new ammunition boxes made from metal instead of wood, a simplified flash suppressor incorporating a recoil booster added, a new trigger group requiring only one hand to operate, a mount for an antiaircraft sight added, and an aiming stripe added to the water jacket.  The tripod was the biggest improvement, which was very light (for the period) and one of the most stable machinegun tripods ever designed.

M-51

     Notes: This Swiss machinegun is based upon the World War 2 German MG-42.  It used machined parts instead of steel stampings, and is thus better made, but nearly 4kg heavier.  The M-51 also has a quick-change barrel.  The M-51 uses a tripod equal in weight to a NMT.  A version of this weapon, the MG-83, is the coaxial armament on Swiss tanks. 

SiG 710-3

     Notes: This weapon is a direct derivation of the STGW battle rifle (see Swiss Battle Rifles).  It is developed from the earlier 710-1 and 710-2 machineguns, and is used by Swiss forces, by Brunei, and by some South American nations.  Though less expensive to produce than the 710-1 and 710-2, the 710-3 is still a costly weapon to manufacture, and that has limited its service.  The quality of the weapon is high, though.