* Machine gun crews were often seen as a high-priority target by the enemy. Machine guns were a devastatingly effective weapon, and the ability to capture an enemy machine gun was seen as a major victory. This made machine gun crews a prime target for enemy soldiers, who would often try to kill or capture them at any cost.
* Machine gun crews were often isolated and vulnerable. Machine guns were often used in defensive positions, which meant that they were often located away from the main body of friendly troops. This isolation made them more vulnerable to attack, as they could be more easily cut off and surrounded by the enemy.
* Machine gun crews were often outnumbered and outgunned. Machine gun crews were typically small, consisting of only a few men. They were also often outgunned by the enemy, who could bring a variety of weapons to bear against them, including rifles, machine guns, and artillery.
* Machine gun crews were often targeted by enemy snipers. Snipers were a major threat to machine gun crews, as they could pick off individual members of the crew from a distance. This could make it difficult for the crew to operate the machine gun effectively, and it could also demoralize the crew.
* Machine gun crews were often given no quarter. The capture of a machine gun was seen as a major victory, and enemy soldiers were often given instructions not to take machine gun crews prisoner. This meant that machine gun crews were often killed on the spot if they were captured.