VICKERS LIGHT MACHINE GUN.
The principal features are as in Maxim with the following exceptions:—
Total weight, ready for firing, is 38½ lbs. (Maxim, 67 lbs.).
Length, width and depth slightly less than Maxim.
Barrel casing is of corrugated steel (affording greater cooling surface).
Rear end of barrel—i.e., chamber—goes back into barrel casing, thus greatly assisting cooling of barrel where it is most essential.
Foresight is blade pattern, with protector.
No ejector tube or spring, there being an opening at bottom of breech casing through which empty cases fall. (Shutter requires to be opened before commencing firing.)
Tangent sight is 2½ in. nearer rear end of breech casing and is U pattern.
There is no buffer spring or resistance piece.
An elevating stop on outside of left-hand plate, this preventing the bracket head of the mounting damaging the fusee spring box.
No stud for the shoulder piece.
Connecting rod has an adjusting nut and washers.
Crank handle revolves in the opposite direction to Maxim.
Lock is inverted and joined to connecting rod by an interrupted flange.
Lock has no extractor spring, as cases fall off extractor when clear of barrel.
Lock can be easily stripped with the hand screw which forms the axis pin of the trigger bar lever.
Top pawls are made with finger pieces, and can be pressed down by hand to allow belt to be released, having only one spring, which is removable.
Fusee spring can be adjusted without removing box, as the vice pin of screw is loose.
Fusee has a clutch fixture, and is easily removable.
No tools required to strip lock or change barrel.
Gun cannot be fired unless cover is down.
Greater general strength, especially in recoiling portions.
Sighted to 2,900 yards.