MACHINE GUNS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 47, 18 June 1915, Page 8

MACHINE GUNS.

AND THEIR STORY

While the idea of a rapid lire gun is old, its practical realisation had to await the coming of the metallic cartridge. The machine has now become one of the most deadly weapons, for it has proved invaluable for repelling a charge, in defending trenches, either bydirect or enfilade lire, and when mounted on a motor vehicle it is indispensable in a foray or a reconnaissance in force within the hostile territory. These machine guns, of which there are many different makes, each country having developed some special style, all have » single barrel, which is in some cases kept cool by a water jacket, in others by air radiation. In many cases the ammuntion is fed to the gun by means of a belt which carries the cartridges separately in loops, like an ordinary cartridge belt. This band usually carries two hundred and fifty cartridges, which are automatically fed into the gun barrel, one at a time, as the belt passes through the breech of the gun. In some machines the cartridges art: led from a magazine placed upon the breech of the gun, and which can be quickly replaced as fast as its contents are exhausted. . Among the prominent British automatic machine guns now being used in the war are the Maxim, Lewis, and Vickers, while the American Colt is also extensively used. When in use machine guns are generally mounted <>" a light metal tripod, which can be readily folded up for transportation; and the entire outfit can be carried on the backs of horses, or even of men, for even the heaviest weigh only about sixtjeight pounds complete.

PROGENITORS OF THE MAXIM

The basic idea of a multiple, or rapidfire gun, of tho class now generally known as machine guns is probably as old as the history of guns themselves. There is an old Chinese double-barrell-ed gun in existence which, according u> the inscription, was made in 1607, each barrel of which is provided with tnree vent holes so spaced that there is room for a charge of powder and a bullet between each vent. By this arrangement three shots could be rapidly discharged from each barrel, thus constituting ti true rapid fire gun. Since the time of this weapon many devices having the same object have been designed; but the first weapon that proved actunirv practical was the multi-barrelled gun invented in America during the Civil ftr by Dr. Gatling. This gun was operate'u by hand power and was capable, in its improved form, of firing over a thousand .shots a minute. It may be remarked that the original French mitrailleuse, so often referred to, was nev--31 very successful. The "modern machine gun has but a single barrel, and is. in its most improved form, entirely automatic in ii.-> action—that is. after the shot nas been fired it will continue to fire at a very rapid rate, all of the necessary >t> orations of loading and firing oemg worked by either the recoil or by pressure of the exploding gases with o the barrel. While guns of the semi-au-tomatic type have been made in lairi/ large sizes, the true machine gun is an automatic gun built to take only J1.2 regular service ritie cartridge used i>y the troops; and these guns operate it speeds of from 100 to about 1000 nhois a minute, depending largely on the size of the charge of explosive in the r.-u----trulge. A MODERN DEVELOPMENT.

Although the modern machine gun is a most valuable and efficient weapon, it still falls short of present military ... quirements, for Army experts are <l<. manding an arm that shall have il. tl;e characteristics of the machine gun, a.ul the portability and simplicity in handling of an ordinary rifle. As an approximation to this demand, and a forecast of what the gun of the future will be we have the Lewis gun—a weapon that '<;n he fired from the shoulder, like a service rifle, although it would require a- strong man to use it in this way. Hus gun is supplied with ammunition from a tating drum magazine that holds abo.it fiftv cartridges which can be discharged in 'four seconds, a fresh magazine >oino- substituted in two .seconds ; and tue speed of lire can be regulated as deshed between 350 and 750 shots a ml nr. a. Underneath the rifle barrel is located a cvlinder that contains a piston connect e'd with the operating mechanism o* the arm: and near the forward end ol the barrel there is an opening into Lite operating cvlinder, in front of tlu> piston. When the gun is tired the gases of the explosion, under high pressure, are admitted to the cylinder when the bullet passes the gas port in the barrel, and tliis pressure continues until the bullet leaves the muzzle, when the gas pressure is released. The gas pressure drives the piston in the operating cylinder backward, to perform the operations of ejecting the empty caitiidge, inserting a fresh cartridg". and setting the liring pin ready to tire another shot. The piston also partly winds a coiled spring, which acts to do-e the breech nnd return the various parts to the fuin.r position after the operating piston has completed its action. By means of a valve at the gas port the speed ot liring call be easily regulated. An important feature of the gun itiie cooling device, which consists ot a series of deep, longitudinal ribs ot aluminium fixed to the barrel. These aie inclosed by a light sheet metal case, open at the rear, and projecting beyond the muzzle of the barrel by a contracted sleeve. The bullet jmssing through this sleeve when tired induces a drauglit of air which carries otl the heat generated by the burning powder. When tiring this gun, it the trigger is pressed once, and then quickly released only a single shot is delivered; but it the trigger is held back the mechanism will continue to operate until the magazine is empty, when it will stop, in die firing position, ready to resume as soon as a filled magazine is put on, and the trigger pulled again, ror general us- a light portable support is recommended, but, as iia> been said, it is possible for a strong man to use it like an ordinary rifle. Although the Lewis gull is largeh manufactured in Kngland. and belore the war in Belgium, the inventor is an Vmerican, and an officer in the I nit en States Army. When a weapon ot th:s kind is used it would be necessary to have one mail to handle the S mi and or mor • men to carry ammunition ; but this would tar -urpass individual rifle live.