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Vickers–Berthier

August 29, 2023

The Vickers–Berthier (VB) is a light machine gun that was produced by the British company Vickers-Armstrong. It was adopted by the British Indian Army and saw combat during World War II.

Vickers–Berthier
TypeLight machine gun
Place of originFrance/United Kingdom[1]
Service history
Used bySee users
WarsChaco War
Spanish Civil War
World War II
Production history
DesignerAndré Virgile Paul Marie Berthier
Designed1910 (first version)
1925 (Vickers-Berthier)
ManufacturerVickers-Armstrong, Rifle Factory Ishapore
Produced1933-1942[2]
Specifications
Mass24.4 lb (11.1 kg)
Length45.5 in (1.156 m)
Calibre.303 British, 7.65×53mm Mauser
ActionGas-operated, tilting breech-block
Rate of fire450-600 round/min
Muzzle velocity2,450 ft/s (745 m/s)
Feed system30 rounds box magazine
SightsIron

History Edit

Berthier machine gun Edit

The Vickers–Berthier was based on a French design of just before World War I. It was proposed for use with infantry as Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modèle 1910, Modèle 1911, Modèle 1912, Modèle 1916 and Modèle 1920.[3] It was also proposed in 1918 to US Army which finally refused it.[4] A later version, the Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modèle 1922, competed for the replacement of the Chauchat LMG in the French army but the Fusil Mitrailleur MAC modèle 1924 was adopted.[1]

Vickers–Berthier machine gun Edit

In 1925 Vickers in Britain purchased licence rights of the Berthier Model 1922[1] for production in their Crayford factory, and as a replacement for the Lewis gun. It was an alternative to the water-cooled Vickers machine gun made by the same company.[5] The weapon used a gas and tipping bolt mechanism similar to the Bren gun, was air-cooled like the Bren and also like the Bren had a removable barrel. It was adopted by the Indian Army in 1933.[6] During the British Army trials of several light machine guns which began in 1932, the Vickers–Berthier was in direct competition with the ZB vz. 26. The British Army adopted the latter, modified and known as the Bren light machine gun, and the Vickers–Berthier was adopted by the British Indian Army.[7] A production line for the Vickers–Berthier Light Machine-Gun Mk 3 was established at the Rifle Factory Ishapore.[8]

Appearance and design Edit

The Vickers–Berthier Light Machine Gun has a 30-round box magazine and a bipod stand, and is sometimes mistaken for the Bren as both used a similar curved magazine to accommodate the rimmed .303 British cartridge.[8]

It was slightly heavier, at 24 pounds (11 kg), than the Bren at 22 pounds (10.0 kg). It was also slightly longer, and harder to stow away. The Vickers–Berthier also had a slower cyclic rate of 500 rpm.[9] The only major advantage the weapon had over the Bren was the far simpler design; it could be produced more efficiently.[7]

It existed in five versions : Mk I, Mk II, Mk II light, Mk III and Mk IIIB.[10] Mark 1 was introduced in 1928, Mark 2 in 1931 and Mark 3 in 1933.[11]

Use Edit

Apart from India, it was sold only to Latvia and Bolivia,[12] but the design was modified into the Vickers K machine gun, called the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO).[8]

In Indian service, it was replaced from 1942 by Brens[13] but continued to serve with reserve units of the Indian Army into the 1980s.[1]

Users Edit

Failed bids Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Lorain, Pierre (September 1980). "Le F. M. Berthier 1908–1922: II. L'arme de guerre". La Gazette des armes (in French). No. 85. pp. 17–20.
  2. ^ Grant 2013, p. 22.
  3. ^ Lorain, Pierre (July 1980). "Le F.M. Berthier 1908-1922". La Gazette des armes (in French). No. 84. pp. 34–38.
  4. ^ Willbanks 2004, p. 96.
  5. ^ "Vickers LMG". Forgotten Weapons.com. 2 March 2011.
  6. ^ Grant 2013, p. 12.
  7. ^ a b Grant 2013, p. 10.
  8. ^ a b c d e Bishop 1998, p. 245.
  9. ^ Grant 2013, p. 14.
  10. ^ Davie, Don. "Vickers-Berthier and VGO Machine Guns". acant.org.au. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  11. ^ Popenker, Maxim (27 October 2010). "Vickers-Berthier". modernfirearms.net. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  12. ^ Grant 2018, p. 76.
  13. ^ Grant 2013, pp. 45, 48.
  14. ^ a b c Alejandro de Quesada (20 November 2011). The Chaco War 1932-35: South America's greatest modern conflict. Osprey Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-84908-901-2.
  15. ^ Drēziņš, Artis (9 November 2012). "Latvijas valsts armija gadu griežos". la.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  16. ^ a b Davie, Don. "More on the Vickers-Berthier". acant.org.au. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  17. ^ Dambītis, Kārlis (2016). Latvijas armijas artilērija 1919.-1940.g.: Vieta bruņotajos spēkos, struktūra un uzdevumi [Artillery of the Latvian Army (1918–1940): structure, tasks and place in the Armed forces] (PhD thesis). University of Latvia. p. 225.
  18. ^ Smith 1969, p. 530.
  19. ^ Grant 2018, p. 90.
  20. ^ Grant 2018, p. 62.

Bibliography Edit

  • Bishop, Chris (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. New York: MetroBooks. ISBN 1-58663-762-2.
  • Grant, Jonathan A (2018). Between Depression and Disarmament: The International Armaments Business, 1919–1939. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108552721. ISBN 9781108428354.
  • Grant, Neil (2013). The Bren Gun. Weapon 22. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1782000822.
  • Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (9th ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company. ISBN 0-8117-1566-3.
  • Willbanks, James H. (2004). Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-480-6.

External links Edit

  • "Rifle-Machine Gun Increases Efficiency of Infantry" Popular Mechanics, December 1930 early article with photos of first Vickers–Berthier
  • Berthier's patents for twin machine guns : US 1446635 , FR 515677 , GB 143529 

August 29, 2023
vickers, berthier, light, machine, that, produced, british, company, vickers, armstrong, adopted, british, indian, army, combat, during, world, typelight, machine, gunplace, originfrance, united, kingdom, service, historyused, bysee, userswarschaco, warspanish. The Vickers Berthier VB is a light machine gun that was produced by the British company Vickers Armstrong It was adopted by the British Indian Army and saw combat during World War II Vickers BerthierTypeLight machine gunPlace of originFrance United Kingdom 1 Service historyUsed bySee usersWarsChaco WarSpanish Civil WarWorld War IIProduction historyDesignerAndre Virgile Paul Marie BerthierDesigned1910 first version 1925 Vickers Berthier ManufacturerVickers Armstrong Rifle Factory IshaporeProduced1933 1942 2 SpecificationsMass24 4 lb 11 1 kg Length45 5 in 1 156 m Calibre 303 British 7 65 53mm MauserActionGas operated tilting breech blockRate of fire450 600 round minMuzzle velocity2 450 ft s 745 m s Feed system30 rounds box magazineSightsIron Contents 1 History 1 1 Berthier machine gun 1 2 Vickers Berthier machine gun 2 Appearance and design 3 Use 3 1 Users 3 2 Failed bids 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory EditBerthier machine gun Edit The Vickers Berthier was based on a French design of just before World War I It was proposed for use with infantry as Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modele 1910 Modele 1911 Modele 1912 Modele 1916 and Modele 1920 3 It was also proposed in 1918 to US Army which finally refused it 4 A later version the Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modele 1922 competed for the replacement of the Chauchat LMG in the French army but the Fusil Mitrailleur MAC modele 1924 was adopted 1 Vickers Berthier machine gun Edit In 1925 Vickers in Britain purchased licence rights of the Berthier Model 1922 1 for production in their Crayford factory and as a replacement for the Lewis gun It was an alternative to the water cooled Vickers machine gun made by the same company 5 The weapon used a gas and tipping bolt mechanism similar to the Bren gun was air cooled like the Bren and also like the Bren had a removable barrel It was adopted by the Indian Army in 1933 6 During the British Army trials of several light machine guns which began in 1932 the Vickers Berthier was in direct competition with the ZB vz 26 The British Army adopted the latter modified and known as the Bren light machine gun and the Vickers Berthier was adopted by the British Indian Army 7 A production line for the Vickers Berthier Light Machine Gun Mk 3 was established at the Rifle Factory Ishapore 8 Appearance and design EditThe Vickers Berthier Light Machine Gun has a 30 round box magazine and a bipod stand and is sometimes mistaken for the Bren as both used a similar curved magazine to accommodate the rimmed 303 British cartridge 8 It was slightly heavier at 24 pounds 11 kg than the Bren at 22 pounds 10 0 kg It was also slightly longer and harder to stow away The Vickers Berthier also had a slower cyclic rate of 500 rpm 9 The only major advantage the weapon had over the Bren was the far simpler design it could be produced more efficiently 7 It existed in five versions Mk I Mk II Mk II light Mk III and Mk IIIB 10 Mark 1 was introduced in 1928 Mark 2 in 1931 and Mark 3 in 1933 11 Use EditApart from India it was sold only to Latvia and Bolivia 12 but the design was modified into the Vickers K machine gun called the Vickers Gas Operated VGO 8 In Indian service it was replaced from 1942 by Brens 13 but continued to serve with reserve units of the Indian Army into the 1980s 1 Users Edit Bolivia 14 British India 8 India 8 Latvia 15 Vickers Berthier Mk I more than 800 by April 1936 16 17 Paraguay Captured from Bolivia 14 Portugal small numbers bought 1 known as m 931 18 Kingdom of Spain small numbers bought 1 Spanish Republic 322 sold by Paraguay in 1936 14 United Kingdom limited use 16 Afghanistan Used by Taliban citation needed Failed bids Edit Romania Vickers Berthier gun was tested in 1927 1928 without success 19 Greece Tested by Greek Army in 1925 which chose Hotchkiss machine gun instead 20 References Edit a b c d e f Lorain Pierre September 1980 Le F M Berthier 1908 1922 II L arme de guerre La Gazette des armes in French No 85 pp 17 20 Grant 2013 p 22 Lorain Pierre July 1980 Le F M Berthier 1908 1922 La Gazette des armes in French No 84 pp 34 38 Willbanks 2004 p 96 Vickers LMG Forgotten Weapons com 2 March 2011 Grant 2013 p 12 a b Grant 2013 p 10 a b c d e Bishop 1998 p 245 Grant 2013 p 14 Davie Don Vickers Berthier and VGO Machine Guns acant org au Retrieved 5 July 2018 Popenker Maxim 27 October 2010 Vickers Berthier modernfirearms net Retrieved 5 July 2018 Grant 2018 p 76 Grant 2013 pp 45 48 a b c Alejandro de Quesada 20 November 2011 The Chaco War 1932 35 South America s greatest modern conflict Osprey Publishing p 24 ISBN 978 1 84908 901 2 Drezins Artis 9 November 2012 Latvijas valsts armija gadu griezos la lv in Latvian Retrieved 7 August 2016 a b Davie Don More on the Vickers Berthier acant org au Retrieved 5 July 2018 Dambitis Karlis 2016 Latvijas armijas artilerija 1919 1940 g Vieta brunotajos spekos struktura un uzdevumi Artillery of the Latvian Army 1918 1940 structure tasks and place in the Armed forces PhD thesis University of Latvia p 225 Smith 1969 p 530 Grant 2018 p 90 Grant 2018 p 62 Bibliography EditBishop Chris 1998 The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II New York MetroBooks ISBN 1 58663 762 2 Grant Jonathan A 2018 Between Depression and Disarmament The International Armaments Business 1919 1939 Cambridge University Press doi 10 1017 9781108552721 ISBN 9781108428354 Grant Neil 2013 The Bren Gun Weapon 22 Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1782000822 Smith Joseph E 1969 Small Arms of the World 9th ed Harrisburg Pennsylvania The Stackpole Company ISBN 0 8117 1566 3 Willbanks James H 2004 Machine Guns An Illustrated History of Their Impact ABC CLIO ISBN 978 1 85109 480 6 External links Edit Rifle Machine Gun Increases Efficiency of Infantry Popular Mechanics December 1930 early article with photos of first Vickers Berthier Berthier s patents for twin machine guns US 1446635 FR 515677 GB 143529 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vickers Berthier amp oldid 1152328921, 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