"In preparation of the great spring offensive of 1918 the Germans looked at upgrading their infantry's assault capabilities. One of many innovations undertaken was modifying the heavy and cumbersome MG08/15 (which itself was a lighter version of the MG08 HMG) The water cooled barrel was replaced by an air cooled variant and a carrying handle was fitted, making the weapons much lighter and easier to handle. Very few eventually saw action on the front, with most being used to counter the Allied 100-day offensive in 1918."