Mg 11
| 7.5 mm machine gun model 1911 (Mg 11) | |
|---|---|
|
|
| general information | |
| Military designation: | Mg 11 |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Hiram Maxim / DWM, Berlin, from 1915 arms factory in Bern |
| Development year: | 1885 |
| Manufacturer country: | Switzerland |
| Production time: | 1911 to 1946 |
| Weapon Category: | Machine gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 1100 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 18.7 kg |
| Barrel length : | 721 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 7.5 mm (7.5 × 55 Swiss / GP 11 ) |
| Ammunition supply : | Ammunition belt made of fabric or metal 250 rounds |
| Cadence : | 435-485 rounds / min |
| Fire types: | Series fire |
| Number of trains : | 4th |
| Twist : | right |
| Closure : | Knee joint |
| Charging principle: | Recoil loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Mg 11 is a Swiss machine gun that was introduced before and during the First World War . There is a close constructive relationship with the German MG 08 .
History and models
The development was based on the Maxim concept , which had been developed by Hiram Maxim in 1885. The resulting German MG was given the designation MG 01, was further developed to MG 03 and finally to MG 08 in 1908, which was manufactured in Berlin .
Between 1891 and 1894, Switzerland procured 72 Maxim machine guns, the MG 94, from Maxim & Nordenfelt in London and from DWM (German Arms and Munitions Factory ) in Berlin . These weapons were intended for the fortress and mountain troops and were used in the Second World War until 1944. Bat. left as additional weapons. The front end of the Mg 94 was attached to the reefing carriage so that it could pivot freely. The two leather-covered rings on the left and right of the gun lock case were placed on the knees of the shooter sitting behind and allowed scattered fire.
The 69 Mg 00 were procured from Vickers & Maxim in London from 1899 and later from DWM in Berlin. The last deliveries were made in 1906. The MG 94 and MG 00 machine guns were equipped for the old GP 1890 and were later converted to the more powerful GP 11 , along with minor structural adjustments . At six 94 mg the water cooling jacket was perforated; these weapons were used to arm aircraft. Both models were retired in the course of the Second World War.
The Mg 11 was first obtained from DWM Berlin. When these deliveries did not materialize due to the war, production was continued in the weapons factory in Bern from 1915 . 10,269 units were built there.
The Mg 11 is water-cooled and was shot exclusively from the gun carriage . The maximum operational range was 2600 m, the aiming device was the stationary sight (adjustment range 400 m to 2600 m) or the attachable periscope telescope. Attempts were made with an aiming attachment for indirect shooting, but it was not used. The Mg 11 was used by the mitrailleurs of the infantry, the cavalry, in fortresses, tanks and aircraft of the Swiss Army. 2000 copies of the weapon were manufactured in the weapons factory in Bern for export to Persia.
Based on experiences from the First World War, the following improvements were made in 1934/35: Introduction of the metal belts, which required the adjustment of the feed mechanism. Attachment of a fire damper. Change of the trigger device, this allowed the triggering with one hand, the other could be used to operate the spreading device of the carriage. In addition, there was an attachable ring front sight, a white longitudinal line on the water jacket and a shoulder rest that could be mounted on the anti-aircraft mount that can also be used with the Lmg 25 .
A telescope and a spherical screen were attached to the fortress. A longer fire damper, which protruded over the notch, reduced the amount of smoke in the fortress. In addition, a seal was attached to the opening to prevent flamethrower oil from entering the fortress or bunker. The gun's water cooling system was connected to a tank.
In the early 1950s Mg 11 was replaced by Mg 51 ; While this process was quick in the infantry, it lasted in the fortress troops until the 1980s.
Versions
- Mg 94: On a reefing carriage, between 1891 and 1894 72 Mg 94 were purchased for the mountain and fortress troops. 6 of these weapons were converted to air cooling for use in aircraft DH-1 , the barrel jacket was slit for this purpose.
- Mg 00: On a tripod, simple spreading device, a total of 69 Mg 00 were purchased, they were last used on Flablafetten in the Second World War.
- Mg 11: standard version, First World War
- Mg 11 (revisions 1934/35): Introduction of the metal cartridge belts to replace the fabric belts; these did not satisfy in wet weather. Attachment of a flash hider. A new trigger system enabled one-handed shooting and thus enabled the handwheel of the gun mount's spreading device to be operated. Anti-aircraft equipment. These Mg can be recognized by the black cooling jacket with a white line in the longitudinal direction.
Machine gun model 1894 on a reefing carriage, location Vaudois Military Museum Morges , Switzerland
Machine gun model 1900, location Vaudois Military Museum Morges , Switzerland
The telescopic sight is mounted on the machine gun, 1914–1918 Mitrailleur Unteroffiziersschule / Division 3
School shooting of the Infantry Mitrailleur Company 4, 2nd platoon, 1914–1918
Mg 11 with open lock box ( Swiss Military Museum Full )
Mg 11 on the fortress carriage, location Villa Rose, Tobleroneweg
Lock Mg 11, kinked: front part of the knee joint
literature
- Swiss Army (Ed.): Technical Regulations No. 3. The heavy machine gun (Mg. 11), provisional edition 1939. Bern 1939.
- Report from the Chief of the Army General Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army on active service 1939–45.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Am Rhyn, Michael and Reinhart, Christian: Armament and equipment of the Swiss army since 1817. Volume 14: Automatwaffen II, machine guns, assault rifles, mine throwers. Zurich 1983, p. 228.