Read Ebook: Machine gun manual by Douglas H Composer

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Ebook has 639 lines and 49298 words, and 13 pages

The gun is supplied with cartridges from a belt which passes from right to left through the feed block. This belt is formed by two pieces of webbing connected together by eyelets and brass strips of two lengths, the projecting strips showing how far the cartridges should be inserted; the belt is made thick at the edge next the bullets by being folded over a piece of cord, so that the cartridges may be kept parallel in passing through the feed block, and lie evenly in the ammunition belt boxes.

Converted Guns.

Converted guns are the original ?45-in. guns made to take the ?303-in. cartridge.

The conversion consists in the substitution of ?303-in. barrels for the ?45-in. barrels and the adaption of the mechanism to the smaller calibre by the introduction of new parts or the alteration of existing parts.

The Mark II differs from the Mark I in being fitted with the service ?303-in. barrel and muzzle attachment for ball firing, whereas the Mark I has a special muzzle attachment and a heavy barrel. The difference in the barrels affects also certain other parts. In both Marks I and II converted guns the attachment for ball firing must always be on the guns, as, owing to the greater weight of the component parts, these guns will not work without it.

The tangent sight is graduated to 2,500 yards.

The weight is 64 lbs.

In other respects they resemble the ?303-in. gun except that the connecting rod is not above the horizontal and that there is a space of about ? of an inch between the projecting arm of the crank handle and the resistance piece.

Ammunition.

The mounting consists of a crosshead , elevating gear , and socket , mounted on three legs.

The crosshead , to which the gun is pivoted, is formed with a pivot to fit into the socket and an arm which carries the elevating gear .

The elevating gear, which is actuated by a hand wheel , consists of an inner and outer screw and a nut working within a tumbler . The tumbler is split and provided with a jamming bolt , by which the wear may be taken up. The inner part of the screw is attached to the crosshead by a chain. Chains also, for future manufacture and replacement, will secure the joint pins to the mounting.

The socket is bored to receive the crosshead and is provided with three lugs , to which the legs are hinged; a jamming block and screw with handle is attached to the front to secure the crosshead in any desired angle of traverse; the block works in a recess in the upper portion of the crosshead and prevents it from rising. Both faces of the rear lug and one face of each front lug are fitted with clutch plates having radial serrations to correspond with similar serrations on the faces of the leg joints. Joint studs with disc spring and jamming handle are

fixed to the front lugs, by which the legs are securely clamped to the socket in the required position.

The legs are of tubular steel, the lower ends being fitted with shoes to steady the mounting on the ground, and the upper ends having a joint with radial serrations mentioned above. The rear leg is provided with a joint pin with nut and jamming handle .

On a portion of the periphery of the leg joints, numbers are stamped at regular intervals so that when read in conjunction with a zero mark the relative position of the legs to their normal position may be readily seen.

A strap is fixed to the rear leg to secure the three legs during transport.

When firing, the ammunition box is placed on the ground on the right side of the gun.

Weight of mounting 48 lbs. variable.

TO MOUNT AND DISMOUNT GUN.

To Mount Gun.

Machine gunner No. 1 will carry tripod into position, elevating screws being equally exposed. Cross head upright. Legs clamped tight.

No. 2 will carry gun to right side of tripod, holding rear cross piece with left hand, gun muzzle to rear under right arm. Kneel on left knee, facing tripod, and supporting weight of gun on right knee, place it on tripod, pushing in and turning down the crosshead joint pin. Remove cork plug finally from steam escape hole, No. 1 fixing elevating joint pin.

To Dismount Gun.

No. 1 removes crosshead and elevating joint pins, No. 2 replaces cork plug and removes gun as in mounting, carrying it to its original position in rear, No. 1 following with the tripod. Joint pins will then be pushed home and turned down, legs folded and clamped.

TO LOAD AND UNLOAD GUN.

To Load.

Pass the tag of belt through feed block from right side, turning crank handle with right hand on to buffer spring, and pull belt through with left hand to left front as far as it will go, let go crank handle, the first cartridge will then be gripped by the extractor.

Again turn crank handle on to buffer spring, and pull belt to left front, letting go crank handle--the gun is then ready for firing.

Make each motion clear and distinct.

On pressing double button the gun will fire automatically until pressure is released.

To Unload.

Turn crank handle twice in succession on to buffer spring, letting it fly back to the check lever each time. Press up the bottom pawls and remove belt from feed block, then release the lock spring by pressing double button.

TO CLEAN GUN.

Mechanism.

Equal parts of G.S. lubricating oil and paraffin should be used, each part being thoroughly dried and slightly oiled with G.S. lubricating oil.

The various parts can easily be got at by "hanging" the lock as follows:--

Turn the crank handle on to buffer spring, raise lock slightly till clear of guides, allow handle to come back a little, and lock to rest on top of guides, when it will be fixed and easily accessible.

Barrel.

Turn crank handle over against buffer spring, open cover, raise lock, and as the crank handle is allowed to come slowly back raise it and let it rest upon the top of the rear crosspiece.

The cleaning rod may then be used from muzzle of barrel.

Daily cleaning is absolutely necessary for at least ten days after using ball ammunition and the bore should at all times be left coated with oil.

Treatment in Frosty Weather.

In frosty weather, when water is kept in the barrel casing, a blanket or some other thick covering should be kept wrapped round the barrel casing to prevent the water freezing. The working parts of the gun should only be slightly oiled with a lightly-oiled rag. In climates where the temperature is likely to fall much below freezing point, not more than about 5 pints of water should be put into the barrel casing .

MUZZLE ATTACHMENT.

The force of recoil is increased by the use of the muzzle attachment. Defects in the working of the gun are overcome by this means.

It consists of a steel cylinder with a hole bored longitudinally through it, the front end of cylinder being partially closed by a screw. Gases escaping from the muzzle of barrel are partially confined to the interior of attachment, the pressure of the gas acting on the muzzle of barrel giving additional recoil.

It is fitted by unscrewing the packing gland from the barrel casing, and screwing the attachment into the packing gland by means of the steam tube and packing gland key.

The attachment should be removed from the gun and cleaned immediately after firing, all metallic fouling being carefully scraped away.

THE FUSEE SPRING.

On the left of the breech casing, the rear end being connected by the fusee chain and fusee with the crank, the front end is attached to breech casing by means of fusee spring box and adjusting screw which passes through front end of fusee spring box and through the nut at front end of spring.

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