What is the “combat effective range” of a machine gun?

The term "combat effective range" refers to the distance within which a machine gun can consistently hit a target with a high degree of accuracy, ensuring that the weapon is effective in engaging enemies and achieving its intended lethality. This range is crucial for tactical applications because it helps define the engagement zones for the gunner, allowing for effective planning in combat scenarios. It encompasses not only the weapon's accuracy and the capabilities of the ammunition but also factors like environmental conditions and the skill level of the operator.

In contrast to this, the maximum distance achievable by the weapon simply indicates how far a bullet can travel under ideal conditions, which does not guarantee the ability to effectively hit a target. Safety distances concern operational protocols rather than the weapon's effectiveness in combat scenarios. Lastly, the distance for operation without overheating relates to the sustained fire capabilities of the machine gun, which while important, does not define the effective range for combat engagements.