O'RYAN'S ROUGHNECKS - THE VICKERS MACHINE GUN MARK I

WEAPONS OF THE 107th
VICKERS Mk. I 		107THNEWLOGO by Matthew A. Maringola Graphic Artist

The machine gun used by the 27th Division was the British "Gun, Machine, .303, Mark I" commonly known as the Vickers. The Vickers was a modified Maxim gun designed by American inventor Hiram Maxim. The Maxim underwent many design changes over the years and the product that emerged from the Vickers plant in 1912, the Mark I, was to become a major player in human conflict for the next 50 years. It remained in service until 1965 and had a reputation for reliability and durability that made it loved by all who used it.

The following orders were issued to the machine gun units of the 27th Division

ORDERS
  1. This position will be held, and the section will remain here until relieved.
  2. The enemy cannot be allowed to interfere with this program.
  3. If the gun-team cannot remain here alive, it will remain here dead, but in any case it will remain here.
  4. Should any man, through shell-shock or other cause, attempt to surrender, he will remain here dead.
  5. Should the gun be put out of action the team will use rifles, revolvers, grenades, and other novelties.
  6. Finally, the position, as stated, will be held.

                      Signed: O'Ryan


U.S. machinegunner sharpshooter badge

Specifications for the "GUN, MACHINE, VICKERS .303 inch, Mk. I"

Length:

    Gun, overall: 43 inches Barrel: 28.4 inches

Weight:

    Gun, without water: 33lb Gun, with water (approx): 40 lb Tripod mount: 51 lb

Sights:

    Backsight: folded tangent battle sight at 400 yards.Raised Tangent sight graduated to 2,900 yards. Sight Radius; 36 inches Foresight: Blade type with protecting ears. Offset to left.

Operation:

    Action method: Short recoil using muzzle gases, toggle link mechanism and fusee spring. Cyclic rate of fire: 450 to 550 rounds per minute Cooling: Water Feed: 250 round canvas ammunition belt

Cartridge:

    Calibre: .303 inches Mk. VI and Mk. VII Muzzle Velocity: 2,440 feet per second



Machinegun Company collar disk

training on the vickers gun
Doughboys training with British instructor on a Vickers

105th MG BN, 27th Division, in action with the vickers gun
105th MG Bn. gunners in action at Mazinghein, near St. Souplet

The Summit or Jersey Gunners, 1st platoon, 107th Machinegun Company, 27th Division, AEF
1st platoon of the 107th Machine Gun Company. Known as the "Summit Gunners" (many in the company were from the Summit, N.J. area) they distinguished themselves during the attack on the Hindenburg Line attack (Somme Offensive). Front row, 2nd from left is First Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Kenneth Gow. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions of September 29th, he was killed in action on October 17. Alan Eggers (middle row, first on left) and Thomas O’Shea (back row, fifth from left) were awarded The Medal of Honor for their actions on September 29th. O'Shea was killed in that action.

The Summit or Jersey Gunners, 2nd Platoon, 107th Machinegun Company, 27th Division, AEF
2nd Platoon of the 107th Machine Gun Company. In the front row, far right is Sergeant Paul Gadebusch. As a lieutenant he was twice cited in orders for action at the Hindenburg Line. In the second row, second from left is John Latham, one of three "Summit Gunners" awarded the Medal of Honor

107th MG Co., 27th Division, AEF, collar device><br>107th MG Company officer's collar device<p> <img src=
Our Vickers. It was made at the Vickers Works, Crayford, Kent in January 1918

details of vickers gun
Left side view showing fusee spring cover, crosspiece (firing grips) and Crosshead (cradle) with elevating mechanism

vickers belt loading tool
Device for loading cloth ammunition belts

M1917 cart for transporting vickers gun
A restored M-1917 Machinegun cart

spare parts box for the vickers gun

tool box for the vickers gun
"Box, Spare Parts & Tools, .303 inch Vickers Gun, Mark I"
The metal box strapped to the lid contains a waterjacket repair kit which was not developed until after WWI

a 1917 glass slide photo of a vickers gun and spare parts
This 1917 dated glass slide shows a vickers gun with all its spare parts laid out for inspection or display. This gun is configured for aircraft mounting (note the ring sight) so does not show the tripod and crosshead. Experts will tell you that the spare parts box and the leather case (behind the parts wallet) were not issued in WWI. Here's proof that the experts are not always right!

ORGANIZATION OF MACHINE GUN UNITS

As a general rule, each infantry division in the A.E.F. contained 260 machine guns. Thirty-six of these guns were assigned to the Artillery brigade as anti-aircraft defense. The remaining 224 guns were assigned to the 3 machine gun battalions and to the machine gun company that was an organic part of each of the 4 infantry regiments .

One machine gun battalion was assigned to each of the division's two infantry brigades. Under the command of a Major, the battalion consisted of four companies. Each battalion had an authorized strength of 28 officers and 748 enlisted men with 64 guns divided equally between the companies. Each company had 6 officers and 172 enlisted men and was assigned 16 guns, 4 of which were carried as spares. The company had 3 platoons and a headquarters section. Each platoon had two sections of 2 guns each. Each gun squad consisted of 9 men lead by a corporal. The machine gun companies attached to each regiment had the same composition as the companies assigned to the battalions.

The third machine gun battalion was a division unit, under command of the division commander. The battalion had a strength of 16 officers and 377 enlisted men and was motorized. It had only two companies, identical to the other machine gun companies in terms of personnel and weapons.

Machinegunner by Capt Harvey Dunn
"MACHINEGUNNER"
CAPT. HARVEY DUNN
OFFICIAL WAR ARTIST, AEF
1918

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