England is one of the first states whose military appreciated all the advantages of such automatic weapons as a machine gun. From 1912 to the 1960s, the main model used by the British infantry was the Vickers machine gun. Information about its device and characteristics is presented in the article.
Introduction
In 1883, the British weapons designer Hiram Stevenson Maxim designed the first automatic machine gun. The weapon was used in the Anglo-Boer, First and Second World Wars. The model was named after its creator and entered the history of weapons as "Maxim". The Vickers Mk. I machine gun is an analogue of Hiram Stevenson's easel automatic product. This explains their external similarity. However, according to weapons experts, the models made at the Vickers factories and the Maxim machine guns have design differences.
About device
The differences between the machine guns "Maxim" and "Vickers" are as follows:
- For easel weapons from Vickersan inverted lever locking system is provided, as a result of which the machine guns are characterized by the presence of a reduced height and weight of the box. This was achieved by turning the lock 180 degrees.
- Boxes machine guns "Vickers" are equipped with covers, consisting of two halves. With the help of the front half, the receiver is closed, and the box itself is closed with the back. The place of their fixation is the axis.
- The Vickers machine gun is equipped with a folding butt plate. Its attachment to the box is made using the upper and lower bolts.
Photo of Vickers machine guns is presented in the article.
About the system
The Vickers Mk. I machine gun is an automatic recoil weapon with a short stroke. The weapon is equipped with special water cooling. For anti-aircraft and aircraft versions of the machine gun, a muzzle is used, which acts as a barrel booster - it increases the rate of fire. It works under the influence of powder gases. The barrel is locked with two toggles. Immediately after the shot, under the influence of the resulting powder gases, it begins to move backward. Thus, due to the short stroke of the barrel, the reloading mechanism is turned on: the ammunition is removed from a special tape and sent to the breech. At the same time, the shutter is cocked. This sequence is repeated after each shot. The Vickers machine gun has an average rate of fire. Within one minute, no more than 450 shots can be fired. Shooting is possible only when the shutter is closed. The trigger system allows the machine gun to be used only in automatic mode. The trigger is equipped with a special fuse, the task of which is to prevent accidental firing.
About ammunition supply
Ammunition for the heavy machine gun is contained in special tapes that are inserted into the receiver of the weapon. Vickers machine guns are equipped with slide-type receivers. Initially, the tapes were made of cloth. Over time, British gunsmiths have created a metal band with a capacity of 250 rounds.
About sights
The Vickers easel machine gun is equipped with a rack-mounted sight and a front sight with a rectangular top. Some samples are equipped with optical sights.
About the performance characteristics of the Vickers machine gun
They are:
- The weapon is a heavy machine gun.
- Producing country - England.
- Manufacturer - concern "Vickers-Armstrong".
- The length of the entire weapon is 110 cm.
- Barrel length - 72 cm.
- Ammunition - cartridge British 303 caliber 7, 69 or 7, 71 mm.
- Weapon weight without machine is 18.1 kg, with machine – 35.4 kg.
- The machine gun has a rate of fire of 450 rounds per minute.
- Indicator of muzzle velocity of 745 m/s.
- Shooting is effective at a distance of no more than 2190 m.
- Maximum range - up to 4100 m.
- Ammunition - tape.
- The machine gun works on the principle of barrel recoil with crank locking.
- The machine gun entered service in 1912.
- Serial production was carried out from 1912 to 1945.
Modifications
The following models were created based on the Vickers MK. I:
- Machine gun «Vickers MK. II». Entered service in 1917. It is a standard fixed offensive weapon that was installed on British military aircraft. Unlike the Vickers MK. I, this model is air-cooled. The designers equipped the easel machine gun with a special finned radiator with a perforated casing. As a result of this replacement, the weight of the weapon was reduced from 13.6 to 11.4 kg. The method of feeding the tape was also subject to modernization. Ammunition in the Vickers MK. II could come from both the left and right sides, making it possible to put two machine guns next to each other. Also, the gunsmiths added a special handle to the design of the model to adjust the tension of the return spring. An easel machine gun was used by British aviation during the First World War.
- "Vickers MK. III". This model was created in 1920. This modernized heavy machine gun, equipped with a special muzzle booster, was used as an anti-aircraft weapon. The place of its installation was warships and coastal facilities.
- "Vickers MK. IV". The machine gun was mounted on all types of tanks.
- "Vickers MK. V". It is an improved modelVickers MK III. Shooting is carried out with large-caliber cartridges 12.7x81 mm. The muzzle energy indicator is 19330 J.
Machine gun classes
Easel weapons class "K", or "Vickers G. O", was created in 1928. It is an aircraft turret machine gun. He entered service with the British Army in 1934. Since that time, mass production of machine guns of this class has begun.
The Vickers modifications belonged to the "E" class: "Mk II", "Mk III" and "Mk V". Machine guns were made for export. In addition, licensed serial production has been established in other countries. From 1920 to 1930, the weapon was used as the main synchronized offensive weapon. The machine gun was made by British designers for sale in the Netherlands, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Since 1929, E-class heavy machine guns have been listed as "fixed type". This class was presented in two versions. One (Type 82) was fired with an English cartridge or its slightly modified Japanese counterpart 7.7x58 mm. For the second model, which is listed as Type 92, new "semi-flange" ammunition 7, 7x58SR was developed.
Class "F" - export model of the machine gun. The weapon is equipped with a disc magazine with a capacity of 97 rounds. Installed on combat aircraft.
About combat use
The easel machine gun entered service with the British Army in November 1912. The weapon was used by English infantrymen. OfficiallyThe Vickers was withdrawn from service in 1968. However, according to military experts, this model was still in operation for several years.
Before the start of the First World War, the Russian Empire ordered several batches of machine guns from British designers. In January 1917, 128 Vickers were sent to Russia. This weapon was used in the civil war.
The heavy machine gun was used by the infantry of Britain and friendly countries in the First and Second World Wars.
