The Vickers K gun known as the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO) in British service, was a rapid firing machine gun developed for use by observers in aircraft. The high rate of fire was needed for the short window of opportunity when the observer would be able to fire at an attacking aircraft. The word calibre (British English) or caliber (American English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod, also common for handguns. ... In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. ...
The Vickers K was a development of the Vickers-Berthier (VB) light machine gun. When the Browning Model 1919 machine gun was selected as the standard machine-gun armament for British aircraft, VBs became redundant. The Browning M1919 was a . ...
Combat use
The Vickers K was fitted to a number of 2 and 3 seater aircraft in British service such as the Fairey Swordfish. The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during World War II. Affectionately known as the Stringbag by its crews, it was outdated by 1939, but achieved some spectacular successes during the war. ...
The Vickers K was used in a limited way by British ground forces. The Special Air Service adopted it for their hit and run tactics, mounting it in pairs on their jeeps. In a similar manner, the Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron of the Reconnaissance Corps had VGO's on their 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 in an infantry support role briefly around D-Day. It has been suggested that SAS Troops be merged into this article or section. ... (Redirected from 1st Airborne Division) The British 1st Airborne Division was a military unit that fought in World War II. It suffered terrible casualties, especially in Operation Market Garden. ... Operation Market Garden was an Allied military operation in World War II, which took place in September 1944. ... The Corps of Royal Marines, usually just known as the Royal Marines (RM), are the United Kingdoms amphibious forces and a core component of the countrys Rapid Reaction Force. ... The French Navy commando Jaubert storm the Alcyon in a mock assault. ...
External links
Vickers machine gun site
See also
Lists ofAircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers This list of aircraft is sorted alphabetically, beginning with the name of the manufacturer (or, in certain cases, designer). ... This is a list of aircraft manufacturers (in alphabetic order). ... List of aircraft engines: // Piston engines Allison V-1710 Alvis Leonides Armstrong-Siddeley Puma Armstrong-Siddeley Cheetah Armstrong-Siddeley Nimbus Bentley BR1 Rotary BMW 132 BMW 139 BMW 801 Bristol Aquila Bristol Centaurus Bristol Hercules Bristol Jupiter Bristol Pegasus Bristol Perseus Bristol Phoenix Bristol Taurus Bristol Titan Bristol Hydra Bristol... This is a list of aircraft engine manufacturers both past and present. ...
Airports | Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation This is a list of airlines in operation (by continents and country). ... This is a list of Air Forces, sorted alphabetically by country. ... This is a list of aircraft weapons, past and present. ... Below is a list of (links to pages on) missiles, sorted alphabetically by name. ... This is a timeline of aviation history. ...
The gun barrel was in reality a casing for 25 rifle barrels disposed around a common axis (the idea of obtaining sweeping effect by disposing the barrels slightly fan-wise had been tried and abandoned).
Each gun was provided with four chambers, which were loaded with their 25 cartridges apiece by a charger, and fixed to the breech one after the other as quickly as the manipulation of the powerful retaining screw permitted.
The guns in use are the Puteaux and the Hotchkiss.
Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the steel manufacturer Edward Vickers and his father-in-law in 1828.
Vickers Sons and Maxim began work on a rigid airship for the British Admiralty in mid 1909 in Cavendish Dock, Cumbria, sadly it disintegrated upon its second trip out of a floating hangar on the evening of 23 September, 1911.
Vickers was a pioneer in producing airliners, early examples being converted from Vimy bombers, and went on to manufacture the piston-engined Vickers VC.1 Viking airliner and Varsity military crew trainer, the Viscount and Vanguard turboprop airliners, and the stylish though noisy VC-10 jet airliner, which remains in RAF service as an aerial refuelling tanker.
Feeds |
Contact