Vickers Mk I, .303

The Vickers Mk I was a lighter, more reliable version of the Maxim Mk I, developed for the British Army. It saw extensive service in both World Wars and in many minor conflicts. It was often used for antiaircraft fire – a Vickers in the hands of the Australian Army was responsible for the death of Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron." The Vickers was also made in Australia, India, and the U.S., and was widely supplied from Abyssinia and Iraq to New Zealand and Pakistan. The British finally retired it in 1968, but it was still in use in Africa and other places into the 1980s.

The Vickers used 250-round non-disintegrating belts (16 lbs., or 22 lbs. in wooden box). Its water jacket held 9 pints. The gun mounted on a 51-lb. tripod ($2,700). In 1942, the British Army introduced an extra-powerful (p. 165) .303 British cartridge, with a fully streamlined bullet, for MG use: Dmg 7d-1 pi, Range 1,100/4,500.

The gun was exported as the Vickers Class C. The Dutch East Indies adopted it in 6.5×53mmR Mannlicher (Dmg 6d pi); Argentina and Bolivia, in 7.65×53mm Mauser (Dmg 6d+2 pi); and Russia, in 7.62×54mmR Mosin-Nagant (Dmg 7d pi).

The Vickers was soon adapted for service on fighter aircraft. The Vickers Mk II (1917-1927) was air-cooled and had a higher rate of fire: EWt. 22, RoF 14! (RoF 10! if synchronized). It was exported as the Vickers Class E. Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela acquired it in 7×57mm Mauser (Dmg 6d+2 pi); Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru, in 7.65×53mm Mauser (Dmg 6d+2 pi); Turkey, in 7.92×57mm Mauser (Dmg 7d pi); and Denmark, in 8×58mmR Krag (Dmg 7d pi). Japan copied it in .303 British.

See also: Vickers machine gun @ wikipedia.

GUNNER (MACHINE GUN) (DX-4 or other Gunner at -4)

TL	Weapon	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC
6	Vickers Mk I, .303	6d+2 pi	6	800/3,300	40/16	10!	250(5)	18M	-7	2	$5,500	1