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'''Mondragón''' was a [[Mexico|Mexican]] [[automatic rifle]].
{{Infobox Irish Place|
name = Downpatrick |
gaeilge = Dún Pádraig |
scots = Dounpatrick |
crest image = |
motto = |
map image = NorthernIrelandDownBorough.png |
pin coords = left: 174px; top: 117px |
north coord = 54.322 | west coord = 5.703 |
area = | elevation = |
province = [[Ulster]] |
county = [[County Down]] |
NI district = [[Down District Council|Down District]] |
UK constituency = [[South Down (UK Parliament constituency)|South Down]]|
EU constituency = [[Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency)|Northern Ireland]]|
stdcode = 028, +44 61|
posttown = Downpatrick|
postcode = BT30|
population = 10,316 |
census yr = 2001 |
web = |
|}}
[[Image:Down Cathedral.JPG|thumb|right|225px|[[Down Cathedral]]]]
[[Image:Saint Patrick's grave Downpatrick.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Reputed grave of St. Patrick]]
[[Image:Quoile Castle, geograph.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Quoile Castle, near Downpatrick]]
'''Downpatrick''' ({{derive|Irish|Dún Pádraig|[[Saint Patrick|Patrick's]] fort}}) is a town in [[County Down]] in [[Northern Ireland]], about 33 km south of [[Belfast]]. It is the [[County town]] of Down with a rich history and strong connection to [[Saint Patrick]]. It had 10,316 inhabitants in the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]. Downpatrick is where the local council, [[Down District Council]] has its headquarters.


{{Infobox Weapon
== Overview ==
|name= Fusil M-1908 "Mondragon"
|image= [[Image:FusilMondragon.jpg|300px]]
|caption=
|origin= {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico]]
|type= [[Automatic rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 1887-1921
|used_by=[[Mexico]]<br> [[Switzerland]] <br> [[Chile]] <br> [[Brazil]] <br> [[Peru]] <br> [[France]] <br> [[Republic of China]] <br> [[People's Republic of China]] <br> [[Imperial Japan]] <br> [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] <br> [[Imperial Germany]] <br> [[Nazi Germany]]
|wars= [[Mexican Civil War]]<br>[[Ecuadorian–Peruvian War]]<br>[[Chinese Civil War]]<br>[[Second Sino-Japanese War]]<br>[[Korean War]]<br>[[World War One]]<br>[[World War Two]]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= General Manuel Mondragon
|design_date= [[1884]]
|manufacturer=[[SEDENA|Dirección General de Industria Militar del Ejército]]
|production_date= [[1887]]
|number= 475,420{{Fact|date=January 2008}}
|variants= automatic rifle, carbine, sniper rifle, light machine gun.
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight= 4.18 kg (9 lb 3oz) empty
|length= 1105 mm (43.5 in)
|barrel_length= 577 mm (22.7 in)
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|caliber= 7x57mm Mauser
|cartridge= [[7 x 57 mm Mauser]]
|action= [[gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]]
|rate= 750 - 1400 rounds/min depending on variant
|velocity= 710 m/s (2300 fps)
|range= 200 m to 550 m sight marks
|max_range= 900m (984 yd)
|feed= 8 round box,<br/> 10 round box,<br/> 20 round box,<br/> 30 round drum,<br/> 100 round drum
|sights= Iron sights or Scope
}}
The Mondragón was the first automatic rifle{{Fact|date=November 2007}} and was designed by General Manuel Mondragón. He began work in 1882 and patented the weapon in 1887. It was [[gas operation|gas operated]] with a cylinder and piston arrangement, now very familiar but unusual at the time, and rotating bolt, locked by lugs in helical grooves in the [[receiver (firearms)|receiver]]; it was also possible to operate it as a simple straight-pull [[bolt action]]. The caliber was 7mm (.284in) [[Mauser]] with an 8-round box [[magazine (firearms)|magazine]]; a trial [[machinegun|LMG]] version had a 20 round box and provision for a [[bipod]], like the [[Browning Automatic Rifle|BAR]]; the [[Mexican Army]] also used a 100-round drum magazine for a light machine gun variant produced in 1910. It was known for it's extreme accuracy and stopping power but suffered from high recoil when fired on it's fully automatic setting. The Mondragon was so accurate that the German Army added a scope to it and used it in single shot mode as a sniper rifle during World War II. The Mondragon also had a light machine variant that when used with it's 100 round clip had similar fire power to the [[MG-42]] but with far more portability and much less recoil. For this reason the Mexican army used an improved light machine gun variant of the Mondragon up until 1943 when it was replaced with the Mendoza M-1943 general purpose infantry machine gun.


Because of the [[Mexican Revolution]], few facilities in Mexico were able to mass-produce it and those that could were not able to shut down their assembly plants for the required retooling time needed to initiate production on the new rifles. Mondragón attempted to interest a U.S. firm, without success as they thought that automatic rifles were not practical and could not be produced in the numbers that Mexico wanted . He then turned to [[Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft]] (SIG), of [[Neuhausen am Rheinfall]], who agreed to manufacture the rifle. In 1901 the first rifles were shipped to Mexico and issued to the army as the '''Fusil Mondragón Modelo 1900''' with an 8 round magazine. In 1908 During the Mexican revolution a complately Mexican manufactured version was again issued to the Mexican Imperial Army as the '''Fusil [[Porfirio Diaz]] Systema Mondragón Modelo 1908''' this time with the 20 round magazine. By 1910 however adequate facilities were completed in the Mexican cities of [[Veracruz]], [[Ciudad Juarez]], [[Guanajuato, Guanajuato|Guanajuato]], and [[Mexico City]] where they were produced until 1921.
As the largest town in the [[Lecale peninsula|Lecale]] area, Downpatrick is a commercial, recreational and administrative centre for the locality and serves as a hub for the nearby towns and villages. Within an hour drive of Belfast, the location serves as a [[commuter town]] for a large number of people. The town has a number of primary and post-primary schools educating students from all over the east Down area.In recent years Downpatrick has, unfortunately, suffered an epidemic of violence brought on by the notorious James McKendry III. However, many believe the town to have inherited such characters before. Between 1949 and 1953 it is believed Myra Hindley moved to Downpatrick and spent time working at the 'Mirabelle bar' and supporting local Gaelic team Ballykinlar. After a string of failed affairs, one of which was with a local Sinn Fien representative Edward Kevin McGrady, Myra decided to move back to England where she went on to commit several attrocaties. Other celebraties such as David Trimble, Ranolph Fiennes, Seb Coe, BB4's Allison and Joseph Fritzel have used Downpatrick as a hideaway from all the glitz and glam of fame. In 2006 Downpatrick welcomed its first Jewish family to the town, the Steinlens who have recently opened up the towns very first Jewish Sports bar, named 'the Downpatrick Sports Bar'. Altough Downpatricks most succesful son is by far businessman Seamie Horn, owner of Seamy Horn Independant Taxis (S.H.I.T), there have been many other stories such as the Bill Gates of the carpet world John Young and FIFA world Cup 2008 hopefull BJ McMennimen. In the future what does Downpatrick have to offer? Who knows, but the depadestrianisations of Market Street, a brand new Left handed Army parephenalia store set to open and Downpatrick fc riding high in the Downpatrick league,watch this space!
== Geography ==
Downpatrick is characterised by the rolling [[drumlin]]s that are a feature of the Lecale area. It also has the distinction of being the lowest place on the island of [[Ireland]], with the marsh surrounding the north east of the town recorded as being 1.3 ft (0.4m) below sea level. Downpatrick is approximately 21 miles from Belfast with a regular bus service.


With [[World War I]], Germany bought the remainder of SIG's stock that had not been sent to Mexico, issuing them to the [[infantry]], where they proved highly susceptible to mud and dirt in the trenches (a problem familiar even to less complex straight-pulls such as the [[Ross rifle|Ross]]). Although they did not function well in the thick moist mud and dirt of central europe they proved to work well in hot and arid climates such as the north of Mexico meaning that the Mondragon did not have a problem with dirt getting in it but, more of a problem with moisture as it would still work well when it would get dry sand and dust in it mechinism. Instead, they were withdrawn and reissued, with 30-round [[helix|helical]] magazines, to [[aircraft]] crews as the '''''Fliegerselbstlader Karabiner'' 1915''' (Flier's Selfloading [[Carbine]] model 1915), until sufficient numbers of machineguns were available.
== History ==
===Pre-history===
An early [[Bronze Age]] site was excavated in Downpatrick on the Meadowlands housing estate, revealing two round houses. One measured over four metres in diameter and contained a hearth in the centre, while the other round house was over seven metres across.<ref>{{cite book | last=Mallory, JP & McNeill, TE| year=1991 |title=The Archaeology of Ulster from Colonization to Plantation | publisher=Institute of Irish Studies, QUB | location=Belfast | pages=p95}}</ref>
===Early history===
Downpatrick is one of Ireland's most ancient and historic towns. It takes its name from a ''dún'' (fort), which once stood on the hill that dominates the town and on which [[Down Cathedral]] stands. [[Ptolemy]], about the year AD 130, includes it as ''Dunum'' in his list of towns of Ireland. The old name of the town was ''Rath Celtair''. It was superseded by the name ''Dun-leth-glas'' which in turn gave way, in the 13th century, to the present name of ''Dún Phádraig'' (anglicised as Downpatrick) - from the town's connection with the patron saint of Ireland.


In the early 1930's the Mexican government decided that they could make a profit trying to market the weapon on the international stage. At the time the Mondragon was still considerd a quite advanced weapon with it's only true rival being the [[M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle|BAR]] which wheighed more and had far less acurracy. It was sold to many Mexican allied nations including Chile, Brazil, Peru and Nationalist China. The Weimar Republic of Germany and later Nazi Germany purchased rights to licence manufacture the weapon along with Austria and Japan. Japan however manufactured less than five thousand as Japanese machining technologies at the time were not advanced enough to mass produce the delicate firing mechenism. When Mao Zedong's People's Liberation Army declared victory over nationalist forces in 1949 many of the nationalist's weapons were siezed by the communist forces and almost all of the Chinese Mondragon rifles were redistributed to the People's Liberation
[[Saint Patrick]] was reputedly buried here in 461 on Cathedral Hill, within the grounds of Down Cathedral. His grave is still a place of pilgrimage on [[St Patricks Day]] ([[17 March]] each year). The [[Saint Patrick Visitor Centre]] in Downpatrick is purpose-built to tell the story of St Patrick.
Army where they remained in active service as sniper rifles and support weapons up until the late 1980's although a small number of them still remain in service with auxilliary Peoples Liberation Army Reserve Force units.


During World War II there were still many of the Mexican rifles in German stocks left over from World War I these were given as auxillary weapons to the [[Waffen SS]] or somtimes as replacemets or complementery weapons to the [[Kar 98k]] in the early parts of the war. During the siege of Stalingrad some Wehrmacht troops used them instead of the Kar 98k as they were less suceptible to the frigid climate, and during the later part of the war they were issued to many [[Volkssturm]] groups. They also found their way into France when they were given as a donation by the Third Reich to the German allied Vichy French army, many would later be captured and used by the French resistance. Few of the German versions with the helical magazine survive, however the Mexican army still uses the Mexican version in parades and other military celebrations as a ceremonial rifle.<ref>Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. "Mondragón", ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare'', Volume 18, pp.1933-35. London: Phoebus Publishing Company, 1978.</ref>
In 1183, [[John de Courcy]] brought in some [[Benedictine]]s from [[Chester]] in [[England]] and built a cathedral friary for them at Downpatrick. This building was destroyed by an [[earthquake]] in 1245.<ref>{{cite book | last=DeBreffny, D & Mott, G| year=1976 |title=The Churches and Abbeys of Ireland | publisher=Thames & Hudson | location=London | pages=p60-61}}</ref>


===The Troubles===
==Users==
For more information see [[The Troubles in Downpatrick]], which includes a list of incidents in Downpatrick during [[The Troubles]] resulting in two or more fatalities.


*{{flag|Mexico}}
== Demographics ==
*{{flag|Switzerland}}
Downpatrick is classified as a Medium Town by the [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (ie with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people)<ref>[http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency</ref>. On Census day ([[29 April]] 2001) there were 10,316 people living in Downpatrick. Of these:
*{{flag|France}}
*26.6% were aged under 16 years and 16.0% were aged 60 and over
*{{flag|Chile}}
*48.5% of the population were male and 51.5% were female
*{{flag|Brazil}}
*86.8% were from a [[Roman Catholic]] background and 11.9% were from a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] background
*[[Image:Flag of Peru (1825 - 1950).svg|22px]][[Peru]]
*5.1% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed. <ref>[http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service]</ref>
*[[Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg|22px]] [[Republic of China]]
*{{flag|People's Republic of China}}
*[[Image:Flag of Japan - variant.svg|22px]] [[Imperial Japan]]
*[[Image:Flag of Austria-Hungary 1869-1918.svg|22px]] [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]
*[[Image:Flag of the German Empire.svg|22px]] [[Imperial Germany]]
*{{flag|Nazi Germany}}


== Education ==
==References==
<references />
'''Primary Schools'''
*St. Brigid's Primary school
*St. Colmcille's Primary school
*St. Patrick's Boys Primary school
*Bunscoil Naomh Pádraig
*Convent of Mercy Girls Primary school
*Downpatrick Primary School
*Down High School Prep Department


==See also==
'''Post-primary Schools'''
*[[M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle|BAR]]
*[[St. Patrick's Grammar School, Downpatrick|St.Patrick's Grammar School]] (known locally as "The Red High") - Boys [[grammar school]] (mixed in upper school)
*[[Huot automatic rifle|Huot]]
*De la Salle High school - Boys high school
*[[M1 Garand rifle|Garand]]
*St. Mary's High school - Girls high school
*[[Down High School]] - [[Grammar school]]
*[[Down Academy]] - High school


[[Category:World War I weapons]]
'''Further and Higher Education'''
[[Category:Aircraft weapons]]
*[[South Eastern Regional College]] ( Downpatrick Campus ) - the local campus of the regional further and higher education college
[[Category:Rifles]]
[[Category:Mexican Army weapons]]
[[Category:Mexican inventions]]


[[es:Fusil Mondragón]]
== Transport ==
[[it:Fucile Mondragòn]]
*Downpatrick is situated at the junction of the [[A7 road (Northern Ireland)|A7]] (Downpatrick to [[Saintfield]] and [[Belfast]]) road, the A25 (Downpatrick to [[Newry]] and [[Dublin]]) road and the [[A2 road (Northern Ireland)|A2 coast road]]. Whilst there are no rail services in Downpatrick, [[Ulsterbus]] provides bus services to and from the Downpatrick Bus Station.
[[ja:モンドラゴンM1908]]
*Downpatrick railway station on the [[Belfast and County Down Railway]], opened on [[23 March]] [[1859]] and Downpatrick Loop Platform opened on [[24 September]] [[1892]]. Both closed on [[16 January]] [[1950]]. Downpatrick Racecourse Platform had opened on [[8 March]] [[1893]], but closed in September 1949.<ref>{{cite web | title=Downpatrick station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref>

==Media==
The area is served by two weekly [[newspaper]]s:
* ''[[Down Democrat]]''
* ''[[Down Recorder]]'' - established 1836

[[Down FM]] is the local community [[radio station]] broadcasting on 105.0 MHz. The station's RDS [[programme identification]] (PI) tag is "Down FM". The station's parent organisation is [[South Eastern Regional College]].

== People ==
* Ann Breen, a country singer, is from Downpatrick. She is often referred to as "The Star Of The County Down".
* [[Lynn Doyle]], the pseudonym of the humorist & playwright Leslie Alexander Montgomery, was born in Downpatrick on [[5 October]] [[1873]] (d.[[18 August]] [[1961]]). He was part of the Ulster Literary Theatre movement and is most famous for his ''Ballygullion'' series of 20 books which fondly caricatured Northern Ireland village life. Interestingly he chose his pseudonym after seeing a large tin of linseed oil in a paint shop, initially signing "Lynn C. Doyle" but later dropping the "C.".
* Dr. [[Maurice Hayes]], the former [[Northern Ireland Ombudsman]], Chairman of the Ireland Funds and Taoiseach-appointed Senator in [[Seanad Éireann]], was born and still lives in Downpatrick. He has written a memoir about growing up in the town titled ''Black Puddings with Slim''. He served as town clerk of Downpatrick in the 1960s, succeeding his father in the role.
* The rock band [[Ash (band)|Ash]] are from Downpatrick.
* [[Paul Mahon]], guitarist of rock band [[The Answer (band)|The Answer]] is from Downpatrick.
* [[James Heatley]], drummer for rock band [[The Answer (band)|The Answer]] lives in Downpatrick.
* [[Ian Mitchell (musician)|Ian Mitchell]] from the band [[Bay City Rollers]] was born in Downpatrick.
* [[David Healy (footballer)|David Healy]], the [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] striker was born in Downpatrick.
* The comedian [[Colin Murphy (comedian)|Colin Murphy]] hails from Downpatrick.
* [[Patrick Kielty]] attended (St. Patrick's Grammar) school in Downpatrick.
* [[Miles Kington]] journalist, musician and broadcaster born in Downpatrick.
* [[Thomas Russell]] the [[United Irishman]] co-founder who took part in the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]] and [[Robert Emmet]]'s failed rebellion of 1803 was gaoled and executed at Down County Gaol by hanging on [[October 21]], [[1803]]. His memory is honoured by the local GAA club being named after him.
* [[Padraig Pearse|Ciarán de Galway]], the well-known [[Fenian]] was born in the town at the age of 16. In later life he led the 'Glorious Fenian Revolution' of 2009 as "Ciarán, gayer of the English" and went on to retire to the capital city of [[Éire]], [[Saintfield|Saintfield Town]].

===GAA===
Downpatrick is home to RGU Dún Phádraig GAC. The Russell Gaelic Union was formed by Willie Byrne & Willie McDowell in the County town in the early 20th century. The team traditionally wears green & white hoops and are the only GAA team in Ireland registered under these colours. Downpatrick have had mixed fortunes over the years but have still managed to produce excellent county footballers such as [[Ray McConville]], [[Conor Deegan]], [[Barry Breen]] & [[Ben Collins]] All of which won All-Ireland Football Titles. The Club is built on tradition and this is very apparent even today as great grandchildren of the original founders can be found lining out for the various men & ladies teams.

===Football===
Downpatrick's senior amateur football team is [[Downpatrick F.C.]], who compete in the [[Amateur Section A]] of the Northern Irish football league. However, there are numerous other clubs associated with the town, and others from surrounding areas. These include Rossglass County Football Club, and Ballyvange F.C. There are also many youth football teams such as the Celtic Bhoys, the Shamrocks, Rossglass and Patrician, who, along with many other teams in the area, participate in the Downpatrick Youth League. Downpatrick has a large following of [[Glasgow Celtic Football Club]], Their main Supporters Club "[[Joe Miller Celtic Supporters Club]]" was founded in 1984 and was named after a striker of team at that time. Downpatrick is home to one of the biggest Irish branches of the [[Manchester United]]'s supporters club, Downpatrick Manchester United Supporters Club, which was founded in 1993.

== Other Sport ==
Downpatrick Cricket Club and Downpatrick Golf Club, which have their own club grounds. Downpatrick has several other clubs that use the facilities of the Down Leisure Centre (run by Down District Council) such as the Lecale Amateur Swimming Club and the East Down Athletics Club.
===Snooker and billiards===
Downpatrick is also the home of the Downpatrick and District Snooker and Billiards League. Many of the local towns compete in the highly successful leagues. Teams from Downpatrick, [[Newcastle, County Down|Newcastle]], [[Castlewellan]], [[Ballynahinch, County Down|Ballynahinch]], [[Killyleagh]], [[Crossgar]], [[Drumaness]] and Ballyalton strive to be the best in the local district.

==Places of interest==
*[[Ballyalton Court Cairn]] is a [[Court cairn|single court grave]] situated on a rock outcrop by the roadside 0.5 miles from Ballyalton village, which is 2.25 miles east of Downpatrick, at grid ref 531 448.<ref name="EE">{{cite book | last=Evans, E| year=1966 |title=Prehistoric and Early Christian Ireland. A Guide | publisher=BT Batsford | location=London | pages=p93-94}}</ref>
*[[Ballynoe Stone Circle]], a large circle of over 50 closely-spaced upright stones, surrounding a mound which, when excavated, was found to contain two [[cist]]s in which cremated bones were found, is only 2.5 miles (4km) south in the hamlet of [[Ballynoe]]. The site is near the disused railway station, reached by a long footpath off the main road, at grid ref: J481404.<ref>{{cite book | last=Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland| year=1983 |title=Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland | publisher=HMSO | location= Belfast | pages=p88}}</ref>
*[[Inch Abbey]], a large, ruined monastic site featuring early [[Gothic architecture]] is 0.75 miles (1.2km) north-west of Downpatrick on the north bank of the [[River Quoile]] off the main road to Belfast, at grid ref: J477455.
*The [[Lecale peninsula]] covers an area of some 78 square miles between Downpatrick and [[Dundrum, County Down|Dundrum]]. It is an area of historical and geographic significance.
*[[Quoile Castle]] is a ruined 16th century [[Tower house]], just off the main road from Downpatrick to [[Strangford]], at grid ref: J4963 4701.
*[[Struell Wells]] is a set of four [[holy well]]s 1.5 miles (2.4km) east of Downpatrick (grid ref: J513442).<ref>{{cite book | last=Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland| year=1983 |title=Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland | publisher=HMSO | location=Belfast | pages=p113-114}}</ref> The wells date from before the time of [[Saint Patrick]], and even today are used for people seeking cures.<ref>{{cite book | last=Donnelly, JP & Donnelly, MM| year=1980 |title=Downpatrick and Lecale. A Short Historical Guide | pages=p42-43}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Brian Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick]]
* [[Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick]]
* [[List of towns in Northern Ireland]]
* [[List of villages in Northern Ireland]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.armaghanddown.com/ Armagh and Down Tourism]
*[http://www.downrail.co.uk Downpatrick & County Down Railway]
*[http://www.downcountymuseum.com Down County Museum]
*[http://www.downartscentre.com Down Arts Centre]

[[Category:Downpatrick| ]]
[[Category:County towns in Northern Ireland]]

[[de:Downpatrick]]
[[ga:Dún Pádraig]]
[[nl:Downpatrick]]
[[no:Downpatrick]]
[[sv:Downpatrick]]

Revision as of 10:27, 11 October 2008

Mondragón was a Mexican automatic rifle.

Fusil M-1908 "Mondragon"
File:FusilMondragon.jpg
TypeAutomatic rifle
Place of originMexico Mexico
Service history
In service1887-1921
Used byMexico
Switzerland
Chile
Brazil
Peru
France
Republic of China
People's Republic of China
Imperial Japan
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Imperial Germany
Nazi Germany
WarsMexican Civil War
Ecuadorian–Peruvian War
Chinese Civil War
Second Sino-Japanese War
Korean War
World War One
World War Two
Production history
DesignerGeneral Manuel Mondragon
Designed1884
ManufacturerDirección General de Industria Militar del Ejército
Produced1887
No. built475,420[citation needed]
Variantsautomatic rifle, carbine, sniper rifle, light machine gun.
Specifications
Mass4.18 kg (9 lb 3oz) empty
Length1105 mm (43.5 in)
Cartridge7 x 57 mm Mauser
Caliber7x57mm Mauser
Actiongas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire750 - 1400 rounds/min depending on variant
Muzzle velocity710 m/s (2300 fps)
Effective firing range200 m to 550 m sight marks
Maximum firing range900m (984 yd)
Feed system8 round box,
10 round box,
20 round box,
30 round drum,
100 round drum
SightsIron sights or Scope

The Mondragón was the first automatic rifle[citation needed] and was designed by General Manuel Mondragón. He began work in 1882 and patented the weapon in 1887. It was gas operated with a cylinder and piston arrangement, now very familiar but unusual at the time, and rotating bolt, locked by lugs in helical grooves in the receiver; it was also possible to operate it as a simple straight-pull bolt action. The caliber was 7mm (.284in) Mauser with an 8-round box magazine; a trial LMG version had a 20 round box and provision for a bipod, like the BAR; the Mexican Army also used a 100-round drum magazine for a light machine gun variant produced in 1910. It was known for it's extreme accuracy and stopping power but suffered from high recoil when fired on it's fully automatic setting. The Mondragon was so accurate that the German Army added a scope to it and used it in single shot mode as a sniper rifle during World War II. The Mondragon also had a light machine variant that when used with it's 100 round clip had similar fire power to the MG-42 but with far more portability and much less recoil. For this reason the Mexican army used an improved light machine gun variant of the Mondragon up until 1943 when it was replaced with the Mendoza M-1943 general purpose infantry machine gun.

Because of the Mexican Revolution, few facilities in Mexico were able to mass-produce it and those that could were not able to shut down their assembly plants for the required retooling time needed to initiate production on the new rifles. Mondragón attempted to interest a U.S. firm, without success as they thought that automatic rifles were not practical and could not be produced in the numbers that Mexico wanted . He then turned to Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG), of Neuhausen am Rheinfall, who agreed to manufacture the rifle. In 1901 the first rifles were shipped to Mexico and issued to the army as the Fusil Mondragón Modelo 1900 with an 8 round magazine. In 1908 During the Mexican revolution a complately Mexican manufactured version was again issued to the Mexican Imperial Army as the Fusil Porfirio Diaz Systema Mondragón Modelo 1908 this time with the 20 round magazine. By 1910 however adequate facilities were completed in the Mexican cities of Veracruz, Ciudad Juarez, Guanajuato, and Mexico City where they were produced until 1921.

With World War I, Germany bought the remainder of SIG's stock that had not been sent to Mexico, issuing them to the infantry, where they proved highly susceptible to mud and dirt in the trenches (a problem familiar even to less complex straight-pulls such as the Ross). Although they did not function well in the thick moist mud and dirt of central europe they proved to work well in hot and arid climates such as the north of Mexico meaning that the Mondragon did not have a problem with dirt getting in it but, more of a problem with moisture as it would still work well when it would get dry sand and dust in it mechinism. Instead, they were withdrawn and reissued, with 30-round helical magazines, to aircraft crews as the Fliegerselbstlader Karabiner 1915 (Flier's Selfloading Carbine model 1915), until sufficient numbers of machineguns were available.

In the early 1930's the Mexican government decided that they could make a profit trying to market the weapon on the international stage. At the time the Mondragon was still considerd a quite advanced weapon with it's only true rival being the BAR which wheighed more and had far less acurracy. It was sold to many Mexican allied nations including Chile, Brazil, Peru and Nationalist China. The Weimar Republic of Germany and later Nazi Germany purchased rights to licence manufacture the weapon along with Austria and Japan. Japan however manufactured less than five thousand as Japanese machining technologies at the time were not advanced enough to mass produce the delicate firing mechenism. When Mao Zedong's People's Liberation Army declared victory over nationalist forces in 1949 many of the nationalist's weapons were siezed by the communist forces and almost all of the Chinese Mondragon rifles were redistributed to the People's Liberation Army where they remained in active service as sniper rifles and support weapons up until the late 1980's although a small number of them still remain in service with auxilliary Peoples Liberation Army Reserve Force units.

During World War II there were still many of the Mexican rifles in German stocks left over from World War I these were given as auxillary weapons to the Waffen SS or somtimes as replacemets or complementery weapons to the Kar 98k in the early parts of the war. During the siege of Stalingrad some Wehrmacht troops used them instead of the Kar 98k as they were less suceptible to the frigid climate, and during the later part of the war they were issued to many Volkssturm groups. They also found their way into France when they were given as a donation by the Third Reich to the German allied Vichy French army, many would later be captured and used by the French resistance. Few of the German versions with the helical magazine survive, however the Mexican army still uses the Mexican version in parades and other military celebrations as a ceremonial rifle.[1]

Users

References

  1. ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. "Mondragón", Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 18, pp.1933-35. London: Phoebus Publishing Company, 1978.

See also

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