The world’s first self-powered machine gun, the Maxim gun became a potent symbol of Victorian colonialism in the closing years of the 19th century. It was the brainchild of Sir Hiram Maxim, the American-born firearms inventor who founded the company bearing his name with financing from Albert Vickers, who became the company’s chairman; Maxim’s company was absorbed by Vickers, Sons and Company. After purchasing the Maxim company outright in 1896, Vickers took the design of the Maxim gun and improved it, reducing its weight by lightening and simplifying the action and substituting components made with high strength alloys. A muzzle booster was also added. Subsequent variants in British, German and Russian service – the .303in Vickers (1912), 7.92mm MG 08 (1908) and 7.62mm PM M1910, respectively – dominated both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War I and soldiered on into World War II, while the Vickers remained in front-line British service essentially unchanged until 1968.
Contents
Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and written by a noted authority Peter Dennis. This is the engaging story of the Maxim and its descendants, the innovative rapid-fire weapons that saw combat with British, German, Russian and other forces in the late Victorian era and throughout the world wars up through Korea 1951 and into 1968.
Contents.
Author: Martin Pegler
Illustrator: Peter Dennis
Paperback
Published May 2013
80 pages
ISBN: 9781780963822
Chapters
Introduction P.4
Development P.8
Use P.50
Impact P.72
Conclusion P.76
Bibliography P.78
Index P.80
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SUMMARY
Highs: Excellent research and details are offered.Lows: More information on the aviation subject would have been a plus.Verdict: To understand the mechanics of and keep from installing kit items backward and upside down this is a very worthwhile book.
About Stephen T. Lawson (JackFlash) FROM: COLORADO, UNITED STATES
I was building Off topic jet age kits at the age of 7. I remember building my first WWI kit way back in 1964-5 at the age of 8-9. Hundreds of 1/72 scale Revell and Airfix kits later my eyes started to change and I wanted to do more detail. With the advent of DML / Dragon and Eduard I sold off my ...
Beginning on page 41 you will find information concerning installations on Aeroplanes, tanks and motorcycles in WWI. It is the one portion of the book I think could have been expanded. Osprey only allows for a certain amount of pages per book. I have seen average modelers put these items in reverse or upside down. This book give you a clear layout of the Vickers MG and the various designations.
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