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First used by the French in 1908 as the Hotchkiss Automatic Rifle, these guns were for use by the cavalry and infantry. The Mk I pattern is suitable for the strip feed only. This particular model may be strip or belt fed.
Weapon No 157
.30 inch MG Lewis Aircraft M1916
From 1915 onwards, the Allied Armies used the Lewis Model 15, which was also fitted in aircraft. This weapon was developed by Colonel I N Lewis, an American, and was officially tested by the Military Flying Service at College Park, Maryland in 1912. The Lewis was originally produced by the American Savage Arms Corporation and later in England, France, Russia, The Netherlands, Estonia and Japan.
Weapon No 158
.303 inch Bren MG Mk I
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The original Bren manufactured at Brno in Czechoslovakia. By the Arabic characters on the receiver it appears to have been made for a Middle East power.
Weapon No 159
7.92 mm ZB30 LMG
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It was from this gun that Weapon No 158 was developed. In 1932 Britain was looking for a suitable LMG. Several were tested and this was the one finally selected, hence the name 'Bren', BR for Brno and EN for Enfield. It was finally adopted in 1936 and manufactured at Enfield.
Weapon No 160
6.5 mm Breda LMG M1942
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The same model as Weapon No 126.
Weapon No 161
7.92 mm GEW Parabellum MG 1915
Basically this a highly refined version of the German Maxim, which still retains the basic principles of Waffen and Munitions Fabriken in Berlin. There were two different mountings produced, one for normal infantry use and the other for use in Zeppelins. This MG saw limited service in World War 2. The word 'Parabellum' in the designation is derived from the Latin 'for war' and denotes a Military type arm.
Weapon No 162
7.92 mm MG 42
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The most famous of all German World War 2 machine guns is this MG 42. This weapon is now chambered for the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge and is the standard machine gun of the West German Army. Like the MG 34 (Weapon No 123), this is a dual purpose machine gun and might be considered something of a pace setter in its method of manufacture. The weapon is composed mainly of "stampings", and its barrel change system and feed and locking mechanisms have had considerable influence on Post War machine gun design.
Weapon No 163
7.7 mm MG Scotti M38
One of a long series of machine guns designed by the Italian Engineer Luigi Scotti, who introduced his first machine gun in 1928. Like most of his guns, this weapon was made by the Isotta-Fraschini Company, Italy's great automobile and aircraft engine plant. It was designed for use in tanks and aircraft.
Weapon No 164
7.92 mm Maxim MG M08/15
A lightened version of the Model 08 (Weapon No 165). This model is fitted with a shoulder stock and a bipod. It has a modified receiver and barrel jacket and its ammunition belt is carried on a reel type drum magazine which is mounted on the receiver. Its operation is the same as that of the Model 08.
Weapon No 165
7.92 mm Maxim MG M'08
Produced in Germany about 1908, this is reputed to have killed more people than any other military instrument designed by man. It was certainly the most murderous weapon of World War 1. It was made in tremendous quantities and was the standard German heavy machine gun of that war. It operates essentially the same as the British Vickers.
Weapon No 166
6.5 mm Fiat - SAFAT LMG M26
This weapon is actually a modified Revelli. The Italian placed an order for 2000 of these machine guns and Fiat set up a new organisation under the name of Societe Anonina Fabrica Armi Torino (SAFAT) which manufactured the guns, known as Fiat Model 26. However, the name plate bore the initials of the Technical Manufacturer (SAFAT).
Weapon No 167
7.92 MG 81 (Flexible Aircraft) Dual
An aircraft version of the MG 34 (Weapon No 123)), which was developed and made in quantity. It differs from the MG 34 principally in its high rate of fire of 1000 to 2000 rpm and its lack of a semi-automatic capacity.
Weapon No 168
7.92 mm MG 13
Adopted as a standard machine gun by the German Army in about 1932, this is a modified Dreyse Model 18 water cooled machine gun. When Hitler came to power, action was taken to modify thousands of these Dreyse guns, converting them to the more practical and efficient air cooling. This work was carried out by Simson of Suhl. These guns were the standard gun of the German Army until 1935 when they was superseded by the MG 34. They were then apparently sold to Portugal and Spain also used them.
Weapon No 169
7.7 mm Type 99 LMG
This gun very much resembles the British LMG (Bren) and came into being because of the need for a light machine gun chambered for the 7.7 mm rimless Type 99 cartridge. It was also designed to obviate the necessity for lubricated cartridges. This was chosen from four different types of prototypes.
Weapon No 375
6.5 mm Colt/Browning Model 1895/1914
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The original Model 1895 of these weapons was designed to use the .30 inch (Krag Jorgenson) cartridges. In 1914 the barrel was somewhat modified and chambered for .30/60 cartridges and the model was designated the 1895/1914 Model. In World War 1, Italy purchased quantities of the Colt Model 1914 Browning in 6.5 mm calibre to supplement their machine gun supply. Both this model and Weapon No 124 are of this calibre, so were in fact made by Colt for the Italians.
Weapon No 376
7.92 mm MG BESA (Sectionised)
These BESA guns were developed by BSA from the Czech ZB 53 (Model 37) Machine Gun and used by the UK for tank armament. In 1936, BSA signed an agreement with 'Zbrojovka' Brno allowing them to make the 7.92 mm ZB 53. The War Office placed its first order in April 1938 and production began in 1939.
The BESA is no longer a standard weapon in Britain, having been replaced by the Browning calibre .30 inch. This model was sectionised by the armourer apprentices of the Army Apprentices College at Arborfield for the purpose of making an instructional film.
Weapon No 377
Vickers .303 Gas Operated (GO) Machine Gun
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Another gun that was sectionised for film making. This Vickers was designed as an aircraft gun, but was used in a limited way as a vehicle mounted gun.
Weapon No 436
Machine Gun 7.92 mm BESA Mk I
Developed by BSA from the Czech SB53 (Model 37) machine gun and used by the UK for tank armament. In 1936, BSA signed an agreement with 'Zbrojovka Brno' allowing them to make the 7.92 mm SB53. The War Office placed its first order in April 1938 and production began in 1939. The BESA is no longer in service with the British Forces.
Weapon No 465
Machine Gun BESA 15 mm Mk I with Spare Barrel
The BESA 15 mm Mk 1, introduced in June 1940, was also of Czech design. (See Weapon No 436). It was an enlargement of the 7.92 mm weapon and, like it, was destined solely for use in armoured vehicles. It had, however, one additional feature in that it was possible to fire single shots. The selector for Safe, Repetition or Auto is positioned at the rear.
The unloaded weight is
Weapons No 563 to 579
Rifle 7.62 mm FAL - Heavy Barrel
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This weapon is the heavy barrel version of the FAL. The original was probably the most successful of the many designs produced by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium. The FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger) has been sold to over 30 countries, including the Argentinians. Compared to the British SLR, the FAL has changes in the trigger mechanism which makes the rifle capable of automatic fire. The weapon is comparatively light and whilst firing auto, the rifle is extremely inaccurate due to the 'climbing' effect of the muzzle. This is one of the reasons why the British did not adopt fully automatic SLRs.
This version is fitted with a folding biped, for use as a light machine gun capable of sustained fire. The weapon was captured during the Falklands Conflict in 1982. This type of FAL was a common weapon with the Argentinians during the conflict.
Weapon No 581
Browning .30 M2 Machine Gun
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This was designed specifically as an aircraft weapon. The principle differences between the M2 and the earlier M1918 lie in the provision of a special retracting mechanism. A solenoid sear-release mechanism was supplied for fixed aircraft guns and spade grips could be fitted to the flexible guns. The weapon shown has a solenoid fitted on the right hand side of the body. The unloaded weight is 23 lbs, the magazine is a 250 round metallic link belt and the cyclic rate is 1200 rpm.
Weapon No A:2002.4439
7.62 mm CZ Type 52/59 LMG
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No details.
Serial Number - H7524N, Museum Number - A:2002.4439
Weapon No E:02.0157.14
Machine Gun Browning
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No details.
Serial Number - 175036, Museum Number - E:02.0157.14