Zeppelin machinegun armaments

JFL · 24 January 2009, 10:07 AM

Hello,

Here is an aluminum belt box displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.
This box was recovered from the wreckage of the L 31 Zeppelin which was shot down at Potters Bar in Ocober 1916.
The impact of the crash caused the projectiles to impress their shape on the side of the box.
This type of box seems to have been exclusively used in airships.

I can't determine yet whether the belt used is of the 250-round Navy MG08 type (only compatible with Maxims) or of the 200-round Parabellum type (compatible with both Parabellum and Maxims).
I have not been able to determine whether the L31 was also armed with 2 Parabellum guns on the roof gondola.

I am also wondering how the belt box is attached to the Navy MG08 guns ?

Has anyone any picture showing the Zeppelin MGs with their feed system (drum or belt box) attached to it ?

Any help would be extremely welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers,

JFL

Greybeard · 24 January 2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFL

... the 250-round Navy MG08 type (only compatible with Maxims)...

Sorry, not an answer but a side question: Lagorgette in his well known "Avions Allemandes" mentions a standard belt for Spandau of 550 rounds. I wonder if it was typical of aerial installations, only scouts or simply Lagorgette was wrong.

GB