Primary weapon
A primary weapon (formed to originally from the Latin borrowed primary ) or main weapon (also primary armament is called) mainly used weapon of a weapon support, the weapon support a person, a multi-armed vehicle or a complex weapon system may be. Another weapon that is also carried along is then referred to as a secondary weapon . The primary weapon of a weapon carrier thus also defines the area of responsibility of the respective weapon carrier (e.g. police officers / soldiers , armored vehicle or weapon system).
For example, foot soldiers usually carry an assault rifle or a machine gun , depending on their task, as a primary weapon, in battle tanks the primary weapon is usually an ( armor-piercing ) gun .
Usually the strongest armament is also referred to as the main weapon - this becomes clear from the example of a police officer. Most police officers carry a small handgun ( pistol ) as their main weapon , if a submachine gun is also carried, this becomes the main weapon.