Vickers K machine gun
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the Vickers light machine gun
The Vickers K machine gun, known as the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO) in British
service, was a rapid-firing machine gun
developed and manufactured for use in aircraft by Vickers-Armstrongs. The high rate of fire was needed for the short window of opportunity when the gunner would be able to fire at an attacking aircraft.
(VB) light machine gun
, adopted in 1932 by the Indian Army
. The VB, like the Bren gun, used a tilting locking breechblock. However, unlike the Bren, the VB locked its breech only at the last moment of forward travel and this fact enabled the development of the Vickers K or Vickers Gas Operated (VGO). With lighter moving parts and the VB locking design, the Vickers K had an adjustable rate of fire between 950 and 1,200 rounds per minute, faster than the German MG34. The weapon was adopted for British service as the VGO. When the Browning Model 1919 machine gun was selected as the standard machine-gun armament for RAF aircraft, the VGO became redundant for the RAF. It continued to be used by the Fleet Air Arm
until the end of the war.
Vickers class K / Vickers G.O. machine gun is gas operated weapon, firing from open bolt in full automatic mode only. Its gas cylinder is located below the barrel, and long stroke gas piston operates a vertically tilting bolt. Feed is from top-mounted flat pan magazines with nominal capacity of 100 rounds, although it was customary to load only 96 or 97 rounds to ensure most reliable feeding. Gun is fitted with a single spade grip at the rear of receiver, with trigger to control fire. In ground applications, it was normally mounted on single or twin pintle mounts on various jeeps and trucks.
The Vickers K was fitted to a number of two- and three-seater aircraft in RAF service such as the Fairey Battle
and Handley Page Hampden
. It was also used in gun turret
s, such as the dorsal turret in the Bristol Blenheim
, the nose turret in the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
and the rear turret of the Fairey Battle
(see photo at top). It was the standard Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm
"Telegraphist Air Gunner" machine gun, on British built carrier (Torpedo Strike Reconnaissance) aircraft - the Fairey Swordfish
, the Fairey Albacore
and the Fairey Barracuda
.
As supplies of air-cooled .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns increased the Vickers VGO was phased out of use with the RAF. These machine guns were then reallocated from RAF stocks to units of the British and Commonwealth armies. The gun continued in service with the Fleet Air Arm, and its last recorded use by the navy was by 812 Squadron RNAS Barracudas in anti piracy patrols off Hong Kong in October 1945.
The Long Range Desert Group
was supplied with large numbers of the Vickers VGO for use on its vehicles. They were used in single or custom built twin mountings. The Special Air Service
adopted it for their hit and run tactics, mounting it in pairs on their jeeps. Over the years, it was assumed by some that the latter services took the phased-out VGO because they could obtain no other suitable machine guns but with its high rate of fire and low-friction locking design (which proved resistant to jams from sand), the LRDG and SAS found the VGO markedly superior to either the .303 in (7.7 mm) water-cooled Vickers
or the Bren gun. In a similar manner, the Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron of the Reconnaissance Corps
mounted the VGO on jeeps when they were attached to the 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. Royal Marine and Army Commandos
used the VGO for infantry support/squad automatic weapon
briefly around D-Day. In military terminology, it was known as Gun, Machine, Vickers G.O. .303-inch.
Vickers light machine gun
The Vickers LMG was a light machine gun alternative to the water-cooled machine gun of same manufacture. The weapon used the same recoil operation calibre but was air-cooled....
The Vickers K machine gun, known as the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO) in British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
service, was a rapid-firing machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
developed and manufactured for use in aircraft by Vickers-Armstrongs. The high rate of fire was needed for the short window of opportunity when the gunner would be able to fire at an attacking aircraft.
Development
The Vickers K was a development of the Vickers-BerthierVickers-Berthier
The Vickers-Berthier light machine gun manufactured by Vickers-Armstrong was based on a French design of just before World War I. In 1925 Vickers in Britain purchased licence rights for production in their Crayford factory, and as a replacement for the Lewis Gun.-History:During the 1932 British...
(VB) light machine gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
, adopted in 1932 by the Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. The VB, like the Bren gun, used a tilting locking breechblock. However, unlike the Bren, the VB locked its breech only at the last moment of forward travel and this fact enabled the development of the Vickers K or Vickers Gas Operated (VGO). With lighter moving parts and the VB locking design, the Vickers K had an adjustable rate of fire between 950 and 1,200 rounds per minute, faster than the German MG34. The weapon was adopted for British service as the VGO. When the Browning Model 1919 machine gun was selected as the standard machine-gun armament for RAF aircraft, the VGO became redundant for the RAF. It continued to be used by the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
until the end of the war.
VGO No.2 Mk.1.
Originally intended for RAF airfield defense units, these guns were remanufactured from original VGO No.1 Mk.1 aircraft guns. A number of these ‘Vickers GO Land Service’ machine guns found their way to a variety of British Commando and Recon units which operated in Europe during 1944 and 1945. Once the war was over, all Vickers GO machine guns were declared obsolete and subsequently removed from service.Vickers class K / Vickers G.O. machine gun is gas operated weapon, firing from open bolt in full automatic mode only. Its gas cylinder is located below the barrel, and long stroke gas piston operates a vertically tilting bolt. Feed is from top-mounted flat pan magazines with nominal capacity of 100 rounds, although it was customary to load only 96 or 97 rounds to ensure most reliable feeding. Gun is fitted with a single spade grip at the rear of receiver, with trigger to control fire. In ground applications, it was normally mounted on single or twin pintle mounts on various jeeps and trucks.
Vickers GO No.2 Mk.1 Land Service
The Land variant has the spade grip replaced with a short stock at the rear and a pistol grip with trigger below the receiver. A short forend or a folding carrying handle are added below the gas cylinder, and folding bipod is attached to the gas block. New iron sights are provided on folding bases.Combat use
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
and Handley Page Hampden
Handley Page Hampden
The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force serving in the Second World War. With the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane...
. It was also used in gun turret
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
s, such as the dorsal turret in the Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
, the nose turret in the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War...
and the rear turret of the Fairey Battle
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
(see photo at top). It was the standard Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
"Telegraphist Air Gunner" machine gun, on British built carrier (Torpedo Strike Reconnaissance) aircraft - the Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
, the Fairey Albacore
Fairey Albacore
The Fairey Albacore was a British single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and used during the Second World War. It had a three-man crew and was designed for spotting and reconnaissance as well as delivering...
and the Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Barracuda
The Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive bomber used during the Second World War, the first of its type used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes...
.
As supplies of air-cooled .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns increased the Vickers VGO was phased out of use with the RAF. These machine guns were then reallocated from RAF stocks to units of the British and Commonwealth armies. The gun continued in service with the Fleet Air Arm, and its last recorded use by the navy was by 812 Squadron RNAS Barracudas in anti piracy patrols off Hong Kong in October 1945.
The Long Range Desert Group
Long Range Desert Group
The Long Range Desert Group was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War. The commander of the German Afrika Corps, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, admitted that the LRDG "caused us more damage than any other British unit of equal strength".Originally called...
was supplied with large numbers of the Vickers VGO for use on its vehicles. They were used in single or custom built twin mountings. The Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
adopted it for their hit and run tactics, mounting it in pairs on their jeeps. Over the years, it was assumed by some that the latter services took the phased-out VGO because they could obtain no other suitable machine guns but with its high rate of fire and low-friction locking design (which proved resistant to jams from sand), the LRDG and SAS found the VGO markedly superior to either the .303 in (7.7 mm) water-cooled Vickers
Vickers machine gun
Not to be confused with the Vickers light machine gunThe Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army...
or the Bren gun. In a similar manner, the Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron of the Reconnaissance Corps
Reconnaissance Corps
The Reconnaissance Corps or simply Recce Corps was a short-lived elite corps of the British Army whose units provided the mobile spearhead of infantry divisions from the Far East to Europe during the Second World War. It was formed from Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Groups on 14 January 1941...
mounted the VGO on jeeps when they were attached to the 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. Royal Marine and Army Commandos
British Commandos
The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
used the VGO for infantry support/squad automatic weapon
Squad automatic weapon
A squad automatic weapon is a weapon used to give infantry squads or sections a portable source of automatic firepower. Weapons used in this role are selective-fire rifles, usually fitted with a bipod and heavier barrel to perform as Light machine guns...
briefly around D-Day. In military terminology, it was known as Gun, Machine, Vickers G.O. .303-inch.