Machine Gun Maintenance

stephen · 6 August 2006, 05:19 PM

I've run across a 1st Pursuit Group reference to "overhauling" the machine guns on a SPAD. The armorers sited the guns in a gun pit and reloaded them for each mission, but what else did they do? Can anyone provide some detailed specifics as to what, precisely, the armorers did when they "overhauled" a set of Vickers or Marlins? Thank you very much for any help you can post.

Doc · 6 August 2006, 10:35 PM

I can't talk about Vickers and Marlins specifically, but in today's terminology, when a unit armorer overhauls a MG, he checks/sets the timing, on some gun types adjusts headspace, and repairs/adjusts/replaces any worn parts. Doc

Barrett · 7 August 2006, 06:57 PM

Generally concur w/Doc though there may be semantic problems. "Overhaul" sounds like depot-level work rather than unit-level maintenance. Depot presumably would involve heavy work beyond the ability of the squadron "gun dogs" who would check headspace, replace parts, align guns, etc.

stephen · 7 August 2006, 08:12 PM

Nope, the reference I found was to work being performed at an airfield by armorers. What would that consist of?

GWRCo · 10 August 2006, 04:19 PM

Unit/Station armourers then & now would be doing the same thing, and that is to generally service the weapon, carry out any maintenance on it, and to also replace worn/broken parts to a certain level/depth (such as 1st line/2nd line servicing) that they had been taught too. If a weapon was beyond this, or needed much more work done, then it would normally be sent back to a depot for the necessary work to be completed.

Hope this helps,

tim

stephen · 10 August 2006, 06:46 PM

That does help, thank you. Does anyone know what is done during the general servicing that Tim speaks of, and what normal parts must be replaced during standard wear and tear? Thanks.

Barrett · 12 August 2006, 10:56 AM

Items usually subject to repair-replacement include bolts, firing pins, and of course barrels. Also, I'd imagine assorted springs, cams, etc.

I'm not certain whether depot-level work (beyond the foregoing) would be very common, just because of the effort involved. Transporting the weapon back & forth alone would be tedious. Dunno fershure but unless the receiver and/or jacket were badly damaged, it's prob'ly not worthwhile. In that case, junk the receiver/jacket and use the innards for spares.

Break-break

In analyzing the causes of malfunctions it's helpful to recite the eight-part armorer's mantra for semi- and automatic weapons:

feed
chamber
lock
fire
recoil
unlock
extract
eject