Okay, so you may have realised that there hasn't been any updates on this blog for a while and the weapons & the first world war series suddenly came to an end. This was due to a suddenly very busy period in my life and I felt unable to spend the time needed to continue with the blog, so I took a break, just until I felt I could resume writing. I am now at the point that I feel I can start again, but of course, I am now very behind on my schedule. For those of you that don't know, I have all of my posts already scheduled in right up until Christmas so I have a lot of making up to do. Therefore I have decided to change the format of the current series slightly, whereby, on some posts there will be numerous weapons discussed, in order to try to catch up. There may also be the extra added post during the week so make sure you are following the blog to be notified when this happens.
Enough from me, on to today's post...
So today we are talking about machine guns and in particular two of them. The first is the Hotchkiss machine gun, which was invented by Benjamin Hotchkiss. It was gas operated as well as being naturally air cooled, which consisted of five circular rings inside the gun barrel, that design of which helped prevent overheating. It could fire 8mm Lebel ammunition, with a firing rate of 450 rounders per minute. The Hotchkiss machine gun had a maximum firing range of 3800m and weighed in at 100 pounds, meaning that it wasn't a popular thing to have to move far.
The Hotchkiss machine gun was first widely used by the French infantry in the later part of 1917, but was then also used by the American Expeditionary Force during the years of 1917 & 1918, when they arrived on the Western Front.
Moving on to the second machine gun and that is the Lewis gun. It was developed in America just before the outbreak of the first world war and was designed to be much lighter than any other guns in production at that time, weighing in at just 12KG. When war broke out in 1914, the Lewis gun was mainly used fitted onto armoured cars which could then be fired at German patrols. By 1915, it had been modified to be used both on land and in the air and was also bought in huge numbers by the British Army as their main infantry gun. The Mark IV tanks also carried the Lewis gun as their main weapon.
The Lewis gun was gas operated but the same as the Hotchkiss gun and also had a natural cooling process in the form of the aluminium barrel-shroud drawing in air and thus aiding the cooling process. It could fire at a rate of 500-600 rounds a minute and due to it being so lightweight, could be transported by just one soldier, freeing up men for other duties.
As you can see there were similarities between both guns. Make sure you check back next week to see what we are talking about next in our Weapons & The First World War series.
Showing posts with label 1914. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1914. Show all posts
Sunday, 7 May 2017
Thursday, 19 February 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
19th February 1915
A British fleet have been firing along the Dardanelle coast.
A British fleet have been firing along the Dardanelle coast.
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
18th February 1915
Germany has begun a blockade of Britain in an attempt to stop supplies and soldiers reaches both Britain and the Front Line.
Germany has begun a blockade of Britain in an attempt to stop supplies and soldiers reaches both Britain and the Front Line.
Friday, 13 February 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
13th February 1915
The French have tried to drive German forces back into the Champagne region.
The French have tried to drive German forces back into the Champagne region.
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
10th February 1915
US president Wilson has protested an idea made by Britain to used US flags on British merchant ships to deceive the Germans, in the hope of allowing supplies to get to Britain. US president Wilson has also warned Germany that the US will hold it accountable for any property endangered or lives lost.
US president Wilson has protested an idea made by Britain to used US flags on British merchant ships to deceive the Germans, in the hope of allowing supplies to get to Britain. US president Wilson has also warned Germany that the US will hold it accountable for any property endangered or lives lost.
Saturday, 7 February 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
7th February 1915
At the second battle of Masurian Lakes, German armies have surrounded and cut of part of the Russian army.
At the second battle of Masurian Lakes, German armies have surrounded and cut of part of the Russian army.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
1st February 1915
German soldiers have a new tactic by using poison gas against Russian troops on the Front Line. A gas attack has taken place today.
Gas attacks were used right from the start of the war. Tear gas was used, which would cause sore eyes but wouldn't be deadly. However at the start of 1915, Chlorine gas was instead used. This sent a yellow cloud over to the enemy lines and within minutes soldiers would be struggling to put their masks on, or even for some, struggling to breath. Chlorine gas caused damage to internal organs such as the lungs and nose and was even accountable for many premature deaths. The Chlorine gas isn't to be confused with the Mustard gas that was to be used from 1917. This caused blistered both inside and outside as well as causing blindness, severe bleeding and even death.
German soldiers have a new tactic by using poison gas against Russian troops on the Front Line. A gas attack has taken place today.
Gas attacks were used right from the start of the war. Tear gas was used, which would cause sore eyes but wouldn't be deadly. However at the start of 1915, Chlorine gas was instead used. This sent a yellow cloud over to the enemy lines and within minutes soldiers would be struggling to put their masks on, or even for some, struggling to breath. Chlorine gas caused damage to internal organs such as the lungs and nose and was even accountable for many premature deaths. The Chlorine gas isn't to be confused with the Mustard gas that was to be used from 1917. This caused blistered both inside and outside as well as causing blindness, severe bleeding and even death.
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
28th January 1915
A United States ship carrying wheat to Britain has been sunk at sea. This is the first American ship to be lost since war began.
A United States ship carrying wheat to Britain has been sunk at sea. This is the first American ship to be lost since war began.
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
24th January 1915
A sea battle has taken place at Dogger Bank & Helgoland between German and British ships.
A sea battle has taken place at Dogger Bank & Helgoland between German and British ships.
Monday, 19 January 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
19th January 1915
A attack from a Zeppelin has taken place over Britain.
This was the first of many Zeppelin raids to take place during the course of the war.
A attack from a Zeppelin has taken place over Britain.
This was the first of many Zeppelin raids to take place during the course of the war.
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Life AT War - Day by Day
13th January 1915
Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty has presented a plan for assault on Dardanelles.
Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty has presented a plan for assault on Dardanelles.
Friday, 9 January 2015
It will be over by Christmas... The reality sets in
At the outbreak of war, many people thought it would be over by Christmas. However as Christmas neared, people began to realise that a quick victory wasn't going to happen. Enough people in Britain had had or been witness to telegrams arriving telling the fate of relatives fighting on the front line. The people of Britain has a long fight ahead of them and were only just realising it.
On the Front Line, a stalemate had occurred. Many of you will have now heard about the Christmas Truce of 1914, where enemies became friends for just one day over singing carols and playing football. That was the true Christmas miracle. However high powers on both sides had heard what had gone on and were determined to fight harder to win the war. The soldiers that day had realised something...that the enemy were human as well. They weren't the horrible alien-like things the propaganda posters had made them out to be. They had families and lives back home and would prefer for the war to be over and them able to get on with their lives without having to witness the horrors of war.
For the high powers of the war, they didn't want the Christmas truce news to get back to the home front in case it spoilt the morale and work hard spirit currently felt. This was the story so far and the feelings felt as they entered 1915. For anyone that doesn't know about the Christmas Truce 1914 have a look at the Sainsbury's Christmas advert 2014. This tells the story in such a moving way and is the best possible way of understanding what really happened.
So join me in 2015 as we look back at the events of 1915... Happy New Year!
On the Front Line, a stalemate had occurred. Many of you will have now heard about the Christmas Truce of 1914, where enemies became friends for just one day over singing carols and playing football. That was the true Christmas miracle. However high powers on both sides had heard what had gone on and were determined to fight harder to win the war. The soldiers that day had realised something...that the enemy were human as well. They weren't the horrible alien-like things the propaganda posters had made them out to be. They had families and lives back home and would prefer for the war to be over and them able to get on with their lives without having to witness the horrors of war.
For the high powers of the war, they didn't want the Christmas truce news to get back to the home front in case it spoilt the morale and work hard spirit currently felt. This was the story so far and the feelings felt as they entered 1915. For anyone that doesn't know about the Christmas Truce 1914 have a look at the Sainsbury's Christmas advert 2014. This tells the story in such a moving way and is the best possible way of understanding what really happened.
So join me in 2015 as we look back at the events of 1915... Happy New Year!
Life AT War - Day by Day
1st January 1915
Jewish people residing in Laibach in Austria have been expelled by German soldiers.
Jewish people residing in Laibach in Austria have been expelled by German soldiers.
Life AT War - Day by Day
31st December 1914
As the year comes to an end, the people of Britain are starting to realised that 'It will be over by Christmas' is all but a dream. In fact, unknown to people around the world, one of the longest and bloodied wars to date was just beginning. Some of the soldiers in the trenches in December 1914 wouldn't be alive to see the new year in. Many more wouldn't see victory and the end of the war. The reality of war was beginning to hit home...
As the year comes to an end, the people of Britain are starting to realised that 'It will be over by Christmas' is all but a dream. In fact, unknown to people around the world, one of the longest and bloodied wars to date was just beginning. Some of the soldiers in the trenches in December 1914 wouldn't be alive to see the new year in. Many more wouldn't see victory and the end of the war. The reality of war was beginning to hit home...
Life AT War - Day by Day
28th December 1914
Turkish soldiers are repulsed by Russian troops after fighting in Armenia for the last few weeks.
Turkish soldiers are repulsed by Russian troops after fighting in Armenia for the last few weeks.
Friday, 21 November 2014
Monday, 17 November 2014
Life AT War - Day by Day
17th November 1914
The United States of America have declared the Panama Canal Zone neutral.
The United States of America have declared the Panama Canal Zone neutral.
Sunday, 16 November 2014
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