Chauchat Country France Type Light machine gun Introduction 1915 Specifications Weight 9.07 kilograms (20 lb) Length 1,143 millimeters (45 in) Barrel length 470 millimeters (18.5 in) Cartridge 8x50mmR Lebel, others Action Long recoil with gas assist Rate of fire ~240 rounds/min Muzzle velocity 630 m/s Effective range 200 m Maximum range 2000 m Feed system 20-round magazine

The Chauchat (pronounced \'show-shah\') was a light machine gun used mainly by the French Army but also by seven other nations, including the USA, during and after World War I. Its formal designation in the French Army was Fusil-Mitrailleur Mle 1915 CSRG. It was also known as the CSRG or Gladiator. Over 260,000 were produced, making it the most widely manufactured automatic weapon of World War I. The Chauchat was among the first light machine gun designs of the early 1900s and it set a precedent for 20th century firearm projects: a light automatic weapon built inexpensively in very large numbers. It was the first design to combine together in a full-power light automatic weapon : manageable weight (20 lbs) permitting firing from the hip or while walking , a pistol grip, an in-line stock, a large capacity detachable magazine and selective-fire capability. Like later military weapons that sacrified quality for quantity (such as the World War II Sten submachine gun), the firearm itself had noted performance and reliability issues.