Vickers-Berthier Mk III
Vickers Limited · Machine Gun · Out Of Production · 1933
Also known as: VB Mk 3, Vickers-Berthier Mark III, Vickers-Berthier LMG
Overview
The Vickers-Berthier Mk III is the definitive service version of the British Vickers-Berthier light machine gun, a gas-operated, air-cooled weapon derived from a design by the French engineer Andre Berthier and manufactured by Vickers-Armstrong. Chambered in .303 British and fed from a top-mounted 30-round detachable box magazine, it fires from an open bolt using a long-stroke gas piston and a vertically tilting bolt. Introduced in 1933, the Mk III strengthened several parts of the earlier Light Mark 2, omitted the forend, and added a carrying handle to a quick-detachable barrel. It was adopted by the British Indian Army as its standard light machine gun and produced both by Vickers-Armstrong in the United Kingdom and at the Ishapore Rifle Factory in India.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 9400 g (331.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1180 mm (46.46") |
| Barrel Length | 607 mm (23.90") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 745 m/s (2444 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3120 J (2301 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 730 m (798 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303 Mk VII, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Top Mounted Magazine, Quick Detachable Barrel, Carrying Handle, Integral Bipod, Tilting Bolt, Air Cooled
Variants
- Vickers-Berthier Mk IIIB - Improved
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British Indian Army · adopted 1933 · as Vickers-Berthier Mk 3
- United Kingdom
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Production years: 1933-1945
Produced by Vickers-Armstrong in the UK and at the Ishapore Rifle Factory in India for the British Indian Army
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Andre Berthier
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
Sources disagree on empty weight, ranging from roughly 9.4 kg (modernfirearms.net) to about 11.1 kg for the series (militaryfactory.com); the Mk III was noted as slightly heavier than the original mark. Served alongside the Bren gun across the British Empire and remained in Indian service through World War II.
Background
When the British Army chose the Czech-derived Bren as its light machine gun, India went its own way and adopted the Vickers-Berthier Mk III - so the two rival guns ended up serving side by side across the Empire, the Bren with British troops and the Berthier with the Indian Army.