The Vickers Machine Gun and the Development of Machine Gunnery in the Great War

The Vickers Machine Gun and the development of machine gunnery in the Great War

Gun, Machine, Vickers .303-inch, Mk. I • Water-cooled: Approx. 7 pints. ‘Normal’ rate of fire (one belt every two minutes) boils after 600 rounds then loses 1½ pints for every 1,000 rounds fired. • Recoil-operated: Cyclic rate of fire of 450 to 550 rounds per minute. Toggle mechanism. • Feed: 250-round ammunition belt. .303- inch Mk. VII (later Mk. VIIz) ammunition. Effective up to 2,900 yards. • Weighs up to 40lb (with water). Length 3ft 7½ ins. Mounting, Tripod, .303-inch M.G., Mk. IV • Originally introduced for the Maxim in 1906. • Weighs 48lb.

© Vickers MG Collection & Research Association – www.vickersmg.org.uk The Vickers Machine Gun – Development Vickers manufacturing: • Erith factory • 1912 onwards • ‘L’ (light) series guns initially • Crayford factory • 1916 onwards

Minor changes following trials, but otherwise as the ‘1908’ Light Pattern Vickers Machine Gun

Same design of gun throughout the war, with minor exceptions, mostly for speed of manufacture.

1915 gun: • ‘five-arch’ top cover • Fluted jacket • Milled side plates • Milled small components • Complex tangent sight slide

1918 gun: • Single-arch top cover • Smooth jacket • Smooth ‘slab’ side plates • Mass-produced components

Increased to four guns per Section in February, 1915.

Gunners No. 1: • Armed with: • Revolver • Main duties: • The firer • Carries the tripod into action. • Ensure the mechanism is working correctly. • Place tripod in secure position. • Repeats all orders. • Observes his own fire. 3 • Makes necessary alterations 1 of elevation and direction. • Most proficient at laying and 2 holding MG fire.

Gunners No. 2: • Armed with: • Revolver • Main duties: • Carries the gun into action. • Assists No. 1 at the gun. • Mounts the gun on the tripod. • Attend to feeding the gun. • Watch for signals from section or Brigade MG Officer. • Generally assist No. 1. • Second most proficient at laying and holding MG fire.

© Vickers MG Collection & Research Association – www.vickersmg.org.uk The Vickers Machine Gun – Machine Gunners Nos. 3 and 4: • Armed with: • Rifles • Main duties: • Ammunition carriers. • No. 3 takes first supply to the gun. • No. 4 takes ammunition from limber (or dugout) to gun. • Arrange for spare parts to be brought up from Box. • No. 3 responsible for ensuring condenser is at gun before water boils. • No. 4 administrates spare equipment. • No. 3 is third most proficient at laying and holding MG fire. • No. 4 is most proficient at belt-filling.

© Vickers MG Collection & Research Association – www.vickersmg.org.uk The Vickers Machine Gun – Machine Gunners Nos. 6: Nos. 5: • Armed with: • Armed with: • Rifles • Rifles • Main duties: • Main duties: • One No. 6 is a Range-Taker • Scout • The other is a spare man • Duties as ordered by Section Note: Later, the Range-Taker was a Officer specific post in the Section so both Nos. 6 were spare men.

© Vickers MG Collection & Research Association – www.vickersmg.org.uk The Vickers Machine Gun – Machine Gunners Direct Fire Indirect Fire • Target can be seen • Target obscured (e.g. fog, • Minimum of two guns (Sub- landscape, smoke) section) • Minimum of four guns (Section) Rates of fire: • Rapid: 1 belt per minute (250 rpm) • Normal: 1 belt per 2 minutes (125 rpm) • Slow: 1 belt per 4 minutes (c60 rpm) Machine gun fire creates a ‘beaten zone’

Traditional view of machine gun use:

‘Swinging traverse’ ‘Traversing fire’

Neutralising fire Harassing fire Barrage fire (creeping, standing and to cover raids)

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