in the 1980s, the term was used for troops in tight, confined environments. they needed a compact automatic weapon that could defeat body armor. it was designed for troops in tanks, military trucks and those operating from aircraft including pilots. the majority of soldiers do not take part in an infantry battle. their jobs are usually to support the infantry. their main role is not winning a fight, but often to escape an ambush. in other situations they may assist the infantry. pdws are also used by bodyguards as they can be hidden under a jacket but still allowed good firepower. pdws tend to be shorter range weapons.