Here's another contender for the "Worst Machine Gun" title. Dates back to World War One, but still...
The US M1915 and M1918 Chauchat Automatic Rifle.
Prior to the US entry into WWI, there were less than 2,000 machine guns in service with the Army, Marine Corps and Navy. In the hast to get automatic weapons in large numbers to equip the rapidly expanding military, the decision was made to purchase the French Chauchat Fusil-Mitrailleur. This weapon was designed from the beginning for simplicity and low-cost construction and featured extensive usage of sheet metal and stamped components.
The M1915 was chambered for the French 8mm Lebel cartridge. Due to the use of this rimmed cartridge, a semicircular detachable box magazine holding 20 rounds was developed. To make the magazine even cheaper, two large cuts were made, allowing the gunner to see how many rounds remained with a quick glance (and also allowing mud and battlefield debris to easily enter the firing mechanism).
Perhaps the best illustration of how the US soldier felt is found in the book "The Doughboys":
"Their automatic rifles were Chauchats, said to have been made of battlefield scrap but believed by the Doughboys to have been fashioned from rusty sardine cans."
As bad as the M1915 was, there was worse to come. Since it didn't make sense to issue 30.06 rifle ammunition and 8mm Lebel automatic rifle ammunition, the decision was made to convert the Chauchat from 8mm to the .30-06, leading to the M1918. The semicircular 20rd magazine was replaced with a 16rd magazine, the sights were modified and there were several other minor changes. But the Chauchat had never been developed for the higher stress that the .30-06 round put on the mechanism. Jamming problems were widespread, including such odd jams as inserting the cartridge, primer end first!
Needless to say, many Chauchats were "combat lost".
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