Was the Vickers machine gun any good?

Using 100 barrels, they fired a million rounds without breakdowns. “It was this absolute foolproof reliability which endeared the Vickers to every British soldier who ever fired one. It never broke down; it just kept on firing and came back for more.”

Why is Vickers machine gun worthless?

Unfortunately, what should have been a slam dunk return on his £1,000 investment, firearms expert Tilney told him it was worthless because it was “not up to the current deactivation standard.” Moreover, “you can’t even give it to somebody.” That’s because the Police and Crime Act of 2017 forbids the sale, swap, gifting …

What caliber was a Vickers machine gun?

Vickers .50 machine gun
Calibre 0.5 inches (12.7 mm)
Rate of fire 500–600 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity 2,540 feet per second (770 m/s)
Maximum firing range Altitude: 9,500 feet (2,900 m) Range: 4,265 yards (3,900 m)

Was the Vickers machine gun used in WW2?

In 1916, both British and French air forces were using the Vickers medium machine guns as their standard aircraft weapons. In addition to being used by the infantry, some British tanks, particularly early WW2 models, mounted them as secondary weapons. Some of these weapons were also used as anti-aircraft machine guns.

What happened to the Vickers company?

Vickers remained independent until 1999 when the then Vickers plc was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc who sold the defence arm to Alvis plc, which became Alvis Vickers. Vickers plc and the subsidiaries retained by Rolls-Royce were renamed Vinters in March 2003.

Who used the Vickers machine gun?

the British Army
In 1912 the British Army adopted the Vickers as its standard machine gun. Produced by the Vickers Company, it was a modified version of the Maxim Machine-Gun. The Vickers Gun used a 250 round fabric-belt magazine and had the reputation as a highly reliable weapon. The .

What machine gun was used in ww2?

The MG-42 Machine Gun. A close look at Hitler’s Buzz Saw, a fearsome weapon for the German army. American soldiers had a nickname for everything, even the enemy weapons on the battlefield that killed them.

Did the British have machine guns in ww1?

The British however did not create their Machine Gun Corps until October 1915; until this time the few machine guns available were attached in sections to individual battalions. A mere two guns were allocated to each infantry battalion in 1914.

Did Vickers own Rolls-Royce?

It produced luxury cars under the Rolls-Royce and Bentley brands. Vickers acquired the company in 1980 and sold it to Volkswagen in 1998….Rolls-Royce Motors.

The Rolls-Royce logo
Type Private
Owner Vickers plc

Who owns Vickers engineering?

Matt Tyler –
Matt Tyler – President/CEO – Vickers Engineering, Inc. LinkedIn.

How does a Vickers gun work?

The Vickers machine gun action itself revolved around a recoil operation with gas boosting capable of a sustained rate-of-fire of 450 to 500 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity was rated at 2,450 feet per second with an effective range out to 2,190 yards – maximum ranges out to 4,500 yards though with less accuracy.

What was the reliability of the Vickers machine gun?

The weapon had a reputation for great solidity and reliability. Ian V. Hogg, in Weapons & War Machines, describes an action that took place in August 1916, during which the British 100th Company of the Machine Gun Corps fired their ten Vickers guns continuously for twelve hours. Using 100 barrels, they fired a million rounds without a failure.

Why was the water holding system removed from the Vickers machine gun?

In the air, the weighty water cooling system was rendered redundant by the chilly temperatures at high altitude and the constant stream of air passing over the gun as the plane flew; but because the weapon relied on barrel recoil, the (empty) water-holding barrel jacket or casing needed to be retained.

What was the last RAF fighter to have a Vickers machine gun?

The Gloster Gladiator was the last RAF fighter to be armed with the Vickers, although they were later replaced by Brownings. The Fairey Swordfish continued to be fitted with the weapon until production ended in August 1944.

What was the maximum rate of Fire of a Vickers Mark III?

Maximum rate of fire for the Mark III was about 700 rpm from a 200-round belt carried in a drum. They were fitted from the 1920s onwards, but in practical terms, proved of little use.