Vickers Machine Gun
Vickers Limited · Machine Gun · Discontinued · 1912
Also known as: Vickers Mk I, Vickers MMG, Vickers .303
Overview
The Vickers Machine Gun is a water-cooled, belt-fed medium machine gun developed by Vickers Limited as an improvement of the Maxim gun. Adopted by the British Army on 26 November 1912 as the Gun, Machine, Mark I, Vickers, .303-inch, it became the standard medium machine gun of the British Empire and Commonwealth forces for over half a century. The design inverted the Maxim's toggle-lock mechanism, breaking upward rather than downward, while using high-strength alloys to reduce overall weight. Fed by 250-round canvas belts, the gun's water-cooling system held approximately 4.3 litres and allowed sustained fire rates of 10,000 rounds per hour with barrel changes every hour - a two-minute job for a trained crew. Manufactured in Britain by Vickers and in Australia by the Lithgow Small Arms Factory, the gun served with distinction from World War I through the Korean War and Malayan Emergency, finally being retired from most Commonwealth service by 1968.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 11340 g (400.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1155 mm (45.47") |
| Barrel Length | 723 mm (28.46") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 250 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 744 m/s (2441 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3120 J (2301 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 4500 m (4921 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303 Mk VII, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Fabric Belt
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Water Cooled Barrel, Belt Fed, Tripod Mounted, Indirect Fire Capable, Sustained Fire Capable, Interchangeable Barrel
Variants
- Vickers Mk I — Original
- Vickers Mk I* — Improved
- Vickers Aircraft Machine Gun — Aircraft
- Vickers Class K — Aircraft Observer
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1912 · as Vickers Gun Mk I
- Australian Army · adopted 1915
- Canadian Armed Forces · adopted 1915
- New Zealand Army · adopted 1915
- Indian Army · adopted 1915
- South African Armed Forces · adopted 1915
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)
Production
Production years: 1912-1968
Manufactured in Britain by Vickers, in Australia by Lithgow Small Arms Factory, and in several other Commonwealth countries. Exact total production unknown but numbered in the hundreds of thousands. During WWI alone, 12,125 were produced in Britain with 7,653 issued to units. By 1916, Vickers' two plants were producing 1,000 guns per month.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Discontinued: 1968
Notes
The gun weighed approximately 11.3 kg (25 lbs) without water or tripod. With water in the cooling jacket it weighed roughly 18 kg, and the Mk IV tripod added another 23 kg, bringing the total combat weight to approximately 40 kg (88 lbs). A standard crew of three operated the gun - one firing, one feeding ammunition, and one carrying spare parts and water - though moving the weapon and its ammunition typically required six or more men. The Vickers was also produced in numerous other calibers for export, including 7.62x51mm NATO, .30-06 Springfield, 7.62x54mmR, 7.65x53mm Argentine, 7x57mm Mauser, and 8mm Lebel. The American firm Colt manufactured the gun during World War I for both American and Russian armies.
Background
During the Battle of High Wood in August 1916, ten Vickers guns of the 100th Company fired nearly one million rounds over a 12-hour period in sustained indirect fire - each gun consuming 100 barrels, with no stoppages despite the relentless pace. The Vickers earned a reputation as the most reliable machine gun ever made.