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Title:	GUN, MACHINE -  U.S. MACHINE GUN VICKERS MODEL 1918 AIRCRAFT 11MM SN# A2630
Maker/Manufacturer:	VICKERS-MAXIM
Date of Manufacture:	C 1918
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 2986
Measurements:	OL:112.3CM 44 1/4" BL:

Object Description:

U.S. MACHINE GUN MODEL 1918 VICKERS AIRCRAFT 11MM SN# A2630
Manufactured by Colt, Hartford, Ct. -

Markings:
Barrel jacket: 11MM CALIBER/VICKERS AIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN/MODEL OF 1918/COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A./NO. A2680/1918 INSPR. Eagle/3-1 proof.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 31 August 1961.

Notes: "VICKERS 11-MM. AIRCRAFT GUN, MODEL 1918 - During World War I the development of larger caliber machine guns was initiated when a need arose for an efficient incendiary cartridge more effective than those of rifle caliber against ballons and aircraft gasoline tanks. By 1917 the French developed a tracer-incendiary bullet for their old Gras 11-mm cartridge, Model 1874. They modified Hotchkiss machine guns to handle this new ammunition. At about the same time the British changed their Vickers machine gun to handle their old caliber .45 Gatling cartridge. whcih gave the maximum permisible chamber pressure in the caliber .303 gun.
It was highly desireable to have the new guns interchangeable with existing synchronized types in order to avoid complicating the already serious airplane-production program. Hence, with this consideration in mind, the Signal Corps requested ealry in 1918 that 1,000 Marlin guns be adapted to use the 11-mm. French cartridge which was already being made in the United States for the French Government. As a major redesign appeared to be necessary for a satisfactory conversion of the Marlin gun, it was decided to try the Vickers caliber 7.62mm gun being made by Colt for Russia. This functioned well in the larger caliber, and some 800 of these guns, either completed or in process, were secured from Colt and modified for the 11-mm cartridge.
Colt was given orders first for 1,700, then for an additional 1,875 new Vickers guns to be made for the 11-mm. cartridge. This gun was desingated the Vickers 11-mm. Model 1918. It fired between 500 and 600 rounds a minute, with an effective incnediary range of 1,850 yards. It was a substitute standard until perfection of the caliber .50 gun. On March 28, 1929, 2,070 of the 11-mm guns with 1,500,000 rounds of tracer incendiary ammunition were declared obsolete." - Lewis

"During 1917 the Allied air command saw need for an aerial machine gun larger in caliber than the conventional rifle bore for use against observation ballons. The French were the first to modify the Vickers to take their 11-mm Desvignes cartridge in order to provide more of the trace and incendiary elements.
The Russians were using a larger caliber Vickers than the other Allies and this fact made it the easiest of the various Vickers to modify for the large French cartridge. An order was placed with Colt's Patent Fire Arms Co., Hartford, Conn., to alter a thousand Russian guns to shoot the 11-mm cartridge. When this was done, early firing tests showed the rifling pitch was too pronounced and threw the tracer element out of the bullet soon after leaving the muzzle. The difficulty was caused by the rifling which cut the bullet jacket too deep and made the rear of the bullet fan out. When the pitch was changed from one turn in ten to a complete revolution in 22 inches, the performance of the bullet was satisfactory.
The design of the weapons, except for the caliber, was identical with that of the smaller bore guns, and they were accepted with such enthusiasm that large orders were placed both in England and America. An additional order was placed with Colt for 1,700 guns after the company had filled the initial order. The weapon fired at a rate of 600 rounds a minute with an effective incendiary tracer range of 1,850 yards.
American ammunition factories were also ordered to make the new French incendiary bullet. This cartridge and the conventional gun made an excellent combination for attacking observation balloons and firing the gas tanks of fighter planes." - Chinn

"In June, 1918 the US government placed a new order with Colt's for 6,000 aircraft Vickers guns, 4,300 of them to be in calibre .30 and the remaining 1,700 in 11mm French. Work on this new "purpose buBy this time US orders for the Model 1915 .30 calibre Infantry Vickers totaled 12,125 guns. The last of these was completed on September 12, 1918, and the Colt production line the immediately swung over to the .30-06 Aircraft model of 1918, producing 2,476 of them by December, 1918. Partly due to fewer parts required in the aircooled model, the price was reduced to $467.04 per gun.
No further engineering work was done on the US ground gun, with the exception that during November and December, 1918 an effort was made by the Ordnance Office 'to bring the official drawings up to date in agreement with the final product.'
The following are excerpts from cablegrams received by the Ordnance Department from the American Expeditionary Forces abroad, in special reference to the use of Vickers machine guns for synchronized aircraft purposes:
'Two Vickers machine guns synchronized fire through propellers and one Lewis gun fire over propeller areas on each aeroplane. As many as six machine guns are used on some types. Proportion Vickers to Lewis is two to one.
At least two Vickers guns on every aeroplane synchronzied with engines and equal number Lewis guns unsynchronzied with engine. We should anticipate use of three Vickers synchronzied guns and three Lewis unsynchronized on every aeroplane.
We will have to produce all machine guns required for our aeroplanes both those purchased here and those built in United States. Allies also greatly in need of large number of Vickers.
Regarding machine guns we strongly recommend Vickers for firing through propellers. Accepted everywhere here and all desire more than can be produced. Only machine guns successfully synchronzied. Consider very unwise attempt to develop new type in United States. Lewis good where can be reloaded and does not fire through propellers.'
In December, 1918, the uncompleted part of the order for aircraft guns of both calibres, was cancelled." - Goldsmith

The US Vickers aircraft guns were declared obsolete in 1931. Approximately 1,000 or so surplus 11mm guns were bought by international firearms dealers, rebuilt into ground configuration with surplus parts, and sold commercially. Others were deactivated and sold as curios by several firms, mostly in the New York area.
Some of these guns were handed in to scrap metal drives during World War II, and of those remaining some were not registered in 1968 which made them illegal to own so they were subsequently destroyed. Only about 200-300 are estimated to still exist.
The remaining ammunition and links were virtually all destroyed after the war, with the consequence that the 11mm Vickers round is now a scarce collector's cartridge." - Goldsmith.

References:
Chinn, George M. THE MACHINE GUN. Vol. I. Department of the Navy. Washington, D.C. 1951.
Goldsmith, Dolf L. THE GRAND OLD LADY OF NO MAN'S LAND: THE VICKERS MACHINEGUN. Collector Grade Publications. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. 1994.
Lewis, Col. B.R. MACHINE GUNS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1895-1944. The American Ordnance Association. Washington, D.C.