The US Army's first attempt at a light machine gun, based on the French Hotchkiss design. Infamously difficult to operate at night — the feed strips required correct orientation in darkness. During the punitive expedition against Pancho Villa (1916), US Army machine gun crews fumbled with the complex Benet-Mercie feed strips in darkness, allowing Villa's men to escape. Type: Machine Gun Action: Full-Auto Caliber: 8x50R Lebel Capacity: 30 Year introduced: 1897, France Weight: 320 oz Overall length: 47" Status: Discontinued Military use: Yes Intended use: military