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 Vickers machine gun became the main model used by the British infantry. Information on its device and characteristics is presented in the article.
Acquaintance
In 1883, the British arms designer Hiram Stevenson Maxim designed the first automatic machine gun. The weapon was used in the Boer, First and Second World Wars. The model was named after its creator and went down in the history of weapons as “Maxim”. The Vickers Mk.I machine gun is an analogue of Hiram Stevenson’s easel automatic machine. This explains their external similarity. However, according to weapons experts, models made at Vickers factories and Maxim machine guns have design differences.
About device
The differences between the Maxim and Vickers machine guns are as follows:
- For the easel weapon from the Vickers company, an inverted lever locking system is provided, as a result of which machine guns are characterized by the presence of reduced height and weight of the box. This was achieved by turning the lock 180 degrees.
- Vickers machine gun boxes are equipped with two-part covers. With the help of the front half, the receiver is closed, and the back is the box itself. The place of their fixation is the axis.
- The Vickers machine gun is equipped with a folding recoil pad. Its fastening with the box is made using the upper and lower bolts.
Photo machine guns "Vickers" presented in the article.
About system
The Vickers Mk.I machine gun is an automatic weapon that uses the recoil of the barrel, for which a short stroke is provided. The weapon is equipped with special water cooling. For the anti-aircraft and aviation versions of the machine gun, a muzzle is used, which acts as a barrel accelerator - increases the rate of fire. It works under the influence of powder gases. The barrel is locked by two cranked levers. Immediately after the shot, he begins to move back under the influence of the formed powder gases. 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 only possible with the shutter closed. The trigger system allows you to use the machine gun only in automatic mode. The trigger is equipped with a special fuse, the task of which is to prevent accidental shooting.
About ammunition
Ammunition for an easel machine gun is contained in special tapes that are inserted into the receiver of the weapon. Vickers machine guns are equipped with slider type receivers. Initially, the tapes were fabric. Over time, the British gunsmiths created a metal tape with a capacity of 250 rounds.
About Sights
The Vickers machine gun is equipped with a rack mount sight and a front sight with a rectangular top. Some samples are equipped with optical sights.
On the performance characteristics of the machine gun "Vickers"
They are as follows:
- The weapon is an easel machine gun.
- Country of origin - England.
- The manufacturer is Vickers-Armstrong.
- The length of all weapons is 110 cm.
- Barrel length - 72 cm.
- Ammunition - a cartridge of British 303 caliber 7.69 or 7.71 mm.
- The mass of the weapon without a machine is 18.1 kg, with a machine - 35.4 kg.
- The machine gun has a rate of 450 rounds per minute.
- The indicator of the initial velocity of the bullet 745 m / s.
- Shooting is effective at a distance of no more than 2190 m.
- Maximum range - up to 4100 m.
- Ammunition - tape.
- A machine gun works on the principle of recoil with a crank locking rod.
- The machine gun entered service in 1912.
- Serial production was carried out from 1912 to 1945.
Modifications
The following models were created on the basis of Vickers MK.I:
- Machine gun "Vickers MK.II". He entered service in 1917. It is a standard stationary offensive weapon that was installed on British military aircraft. Unlike the Vickers MK.I, air cooling is provided for this model. The designers equipped the machine gun with a special finned radiator with a perforated casing. As a result of such a 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 in the design of the model, gunsmiths added a special handle to adjust the tension of the return spring. Used easel machine gun aviation in England during the First World War.
- "Vickers MK.III." This model was created in 1920. This modernized machine gun, equipped with a special muzzle accelerator, was used as anti-aircraft weapons. The place of its installation were warships and coastal structures.
- "Vickers MK.IV". The machine gun was installed on all types of tanks.
- "Vickers MK.V". It is an advanced model of "Vickers MK.III". Shooting is carried out by large-caliber cartridges of 12.7x81 mm. The muzzle energy index is 19330 J.
Machine gun classes
The class “easel” weapon, or “Vickers GO”, was created in 1928. It is an aviation turret machine gun. He entered service with the British Army in 1934. Since that time, mass production of machine guns of this class began.
To the class "E" belonged the modification of "Vickers": "Mk II", "Mk III" and "Mk V". Machine guns were produced for export. In addition, licensed serial production was established in other countries. From 1920 to 1930, weapons were used as the main synchronous offensive weapons. The machine gun was made by British designers for sale in the Netherlands, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Since 1929, machine guns of the class "E" appear as a "fixed type". This class was presented in two ways. In one (Type 82), firing was carried out by 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” munitions 7.7x58SR were developed.
Class "F" - export model of a machine gun. The weapon is equipped with a disk magazine with a capacity of 97 ammunition. Mounted on military aircraft.
