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A Czech ZB30 LMG manufactured for a Mid-Eastern power, indicated by the Arabic characters on the body. Apart from one or two changes in design of minor components, this is identical to Weapon No 159.
Weapon No 140
7.92 mm MG 17 (Fixed Aircraft)
Solothurn developed a gun called the MG 29, which was rejected by Germany but adopted by Austria in an improved form and known as the 8 mm Model 30. Rheinmetall developed two 7.92 mm aircraft guns using the basic operating system of the MG 30, known as the MG 17 fixed, and the MG 15 flexible guns. This gun was fitted to many marks of Messerschmitt BF 109 and Fock-Wulf FW 190.
Weapon No 141
8 mm Breda M38 Tank Gun
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A tank gun version of the 8 mm Breda Model 37 heavy machine gun (Weapon No 125), which was introduced and adopted in 1938. Unlike the M37 which is strip fed, this model is fed by a top mounted box magazine.
Weapon No 142
7.5 mm M 1913A Tank MG and Fortress Gun
This machine gun is the tank and fortress version of the French 7.5 mm M29 light machine gun (Weapon No 135), commonly known as the Chatelleraut. It was adapted for use on the US .30 calibre M2 tripod because of a French post-war shortage of machine guns. It was only after World War 2 that it was adapted, but it is only likely to be encountered on French armoured vehicles these days. This gun has a very heavy barrel as it is designed for a high rate of sustained fire and does not have a quick change barrel. Two magazines can be used with the gun, either a box type or a large drum which fastens to the side of the gun.
Weapon No 143
30 inch Marlin 1917 Aircraft and Tank MG
A modification of the gas operated Colt Browning Machine Gun (Weapon No 124), this was designed by Swedish born Carl Gustave Swebilius, who started work for Marlin at the age of 16 years. This Marlin Model 1918 was gas operated, belt fed and had a cyclic rate of fire of 650 rpm. A tank version was also produced and it had a skeletonised radial finned cooling jacket and tripod mount.
Weapon No 144
7.92 mm M 37 MG (ZB 53)
This Model 37 made in Czechoslovakia while under German occupation is the forerunner of the British made Besa gun. Technical data, except for the backsight graduations, are the same. This model has a rear sight graduated to 2500 metres. The British developed Besa was used by the UK as a tank armament and no sights were fitted, with a telescope sight being used on vehicles.
Weapon No 145
8 mm St Etienne Heavy MG and Fortress Gun M 1907
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A complicated version of what was originally a simple action, designed and produced by the French arsenal at St Etienne in 1907. It is basically a Hotchkiss. It was first used in World War 1, but was still being used at the start of the Second World War.
Weapon No 148
8 mm Madsen (Hambroe Designed Aircraft Conversion)
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A modified version of Weapon No 136, but for use in aircraft.
Weapon No 149
6.5 mm Breda M30 LMG
The Model 1930 Breda was the standard light machine gun of the Italian Army in World War 2. An unusual feature of this gun is the magazine being permanently attached to the gun and swung forward to be loaded with a 20 round horseshoe type charger of brass or cardboard.
Weapon No 150
7.92 mm MG 15 (Flexible Aircraft Gun)
This is the other Rheinmetall-Forsie development produced along with Weapon No 140. This model was one of the less common versions which was adapted for ground use. Without its light butt it is essentially an aircraft gun. These models were produced by Waffen Fabrik Solothurn AG in Switzerland, which enabled the Germans to bypass the restrictions placed on them by the Allies on gun manufacture and development after World War 1.
Weapon No 153
.303 inch Gun Machine Vickers Mk I
This gun, originally known as the Vickers-Maxim, was adopted by Great Britain in 1912. It was our principal heavy rifle-calibre machine gun in both World Wars and was a standard weapon until the adoption of the L7A1 (GPMG) in the early sixties. The Vickers, which is a modified Maxim, has the reputation of being the most reliable and rugged machine gun ever built. The weapons used by the UK were made by Vickers at Crayford in Kent, in both ground and aircraft versions. The UK also made all the .303 inch Vickers ground guns required by the US Forces in both World Wars.
Weapon No 154
8 mm Schwartzlose MG M07/12
Invented by Andreas Wilhelm Schwartzlose of Charlottenberg Germany in 1902, this gun was first produced by Steyr in Austria three years later. The Austro-Hungarian Empire used them in several models. In addition to being used in Austria it was used in 6.5 mm calibre in Sweden as the Model 14 and in the Netherlands as the Models 08, 08/13 and 08/15. Czechoslovakia used it in 7.92 mm calibre and the Italians made great use of it, having large stocks they had taken from the Austrians after World War 1. This gun is not in active use in any country and it is doubtful if it will ever see active service again. This example was made in Steyr in 1917.