Paean to the Vickers Gun

[pardus]

In 1963 in Yorkshire, a class of British Army armorers put one Vickers gun through probably the most strenuous test ever given to an individual gun. The base had a stockpile of approximately 5 million rounds of Mk VII ammunition which was no longer approved for military use. They took a newly rebuilt Vickers gun, and proceeded to fire the entire stock of ammo through it over the course of seven days. They worked in pairs, switching off at 30 minute intervals, with a third man shoveling away spent brass. The gun was fired in 250-round solid bursts, and the worn out barrels were changed every hour and a half. At the end of the five million rounds, the gun was taken back into the shop for inspection. It was found to be within service spec in every dimension.

During its service life, the Vickers was made in .303 British, .30-06, 0.50 Vickers, .50 High Velocity, 7×57 Mauser, 7.65×53, 8mm Mauser, 8mm Lebel, 7.7 Japanese, 6.5×54 Dutch, 7.9x57R Dutch, 7.62 NATO, 7.62x54R, 8x52R Siamese, 11mm Vickers, and three different 40mm cartridges.

The Vickers was retired from British military service in 1968, having finally become obsolete. Its GPMG role was taken over by the FN MAG, and its long range indirect fire role performed by 3″ mortars.

http://www.forgottenweapons.com/paean-to-the-vickers-gun/

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

That is pretty badass, 5 million rounds, in 250 rd burst for 7 days... I do not think the FN MAG/240B could ever do that.

 

[pardus]

That is pretty badass, 5 million rounds, in 250 rd burst for 7 days... I do not think the FN MAG/240B could ever do that.

I don't think there's another gun on the planet that could do that. It's really amazing. I want to shoot one!

 

[digrar]

We had one as a door stop at BHQ 6RAR.

I wonder if they were 24hr days and what 112 Vickers Barrels are worth?

 

[pardus]

We had one as a door stop at BHQ 6RAR.

I wonder if they were 24hr days and what 112 Vickers Barrels are worth?

At 500 rds per minute it would take 6.94 ish days to fire off 5 million rds, so yes that gun was firing 24hrs a day for 7 days.

 

[SpitfireV]

What a terrible job to do. All that shooting.

 

[RackMaster]

I think the brass shoveling would be the shit job.


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[pardus]

 

[AWP]

Your SGM or Warrant or whoever walks in and says "Lads, we have to shoot up 5 million rounds of ammo through this gazillion year old machine gun. Who's with me?"

Tell me that you don't start looking for Candid Camera.

 

[SpitfireV]

What's he adjusting after each of those single shots? Elevation?

 

[pardus]

Your SGM or Warrant or whoever walks in and says "Lads, we have to shoot up 5 million rounds of ammo through this gazillion year old machine gun. Who's with me?"

Tell me that you don't start looking for Candid Camera.

I'd be looking for the porn camera because I'd be so turned on. The greatest machine test of all time!? Holy Fuck!!!

What's he adjusting after each of those single shots? Elevation?

Yes, elevation, the wheel moves it up and down.

 

[AWP]

I'd be looking for the porn camera because I'd be so turned on. The greatest machine test of all time!? Holy Fuck!!!

More like "Yeah Sarn't Major, I'll go draw those rounds along with a box of grid squares and batteries for the chem sticks."

 

[pardus]

More like "Yeah Sarn't Major, I'll go draw those rounds along with a box of grid squares and batteries for the chem sticks."

That's "Sar Major" you damn Colonial!

 

[pardus]

More like "Yeah Sarn't Major, I'll go draw those rounds along with a box of grid squares and batteries for the chem sticks."

That's "Sar Major" you damn Colonial!

Actually this reminds me of a funny story, when we went to OZ for an FTX/boozefest, in OZ. The CSM's (Company Sergeant Major/First Sergeant) are addressed as Sir, in New Zealand we say "Sar Major".

So our convos went something like this... "Yes, Sar Major!"

"What?"

"YES SAR MAJOR!!"

"What did you call me!?"

"Umm... Sar Major...." :-/

"WHY!?"

"Ummm because you're a Sar Major?" :-/:-/

"You address me as Sir!"

"Umm... Why?"

"WHAT!?"

"I thought you were a Sar Major?" :-/:-/:-/

"I AM, and you address me as Sir!"

"Why?"

"Because thats my rank!"

"I thought you said you were a Sar Major?"

"Kiwi arseholes!"

"Catch you later Sar Major!"

Lots of fun.

 

[Mac_NZ]

BTDT, only the Aussies could take the Queen's enlisted ranks and make them gay.

 

[pardus]

 

[Mac_NZ]

Love that sound, I used to turn the gas down on my GPMG to get it firing nice and slow like that.

 

[AWP]

Not everyday that you can live the "Who's on First?" routine.

 

[digrar]

They always told us that Sergeant Major is a job, not a rank, fucking Kiwis, upsetting the apple cart.

 

[RackMaster]

They always told us that Sergeant Major is a job, not a rank, fucking Kiwis, upsetting the apple cart.

Same deal here and MWO and CWO were called Sir; unless they were in a SGM job. And WO's could be SGM's.