Lewis Gun
«Lewis Automatic Machine Gun»
Light machine gunUnited Kingdom1914Historic
Air-cooled light machine gun with aluminum radiator shroud and pan magazine of 47 or 97 rounds; Commonwealth standard in WWI and secondary armament on Allied aircraft.
Light machine gun//United Kingdom
ID — LEWIS-GUN
Designation
Lewis Gun
Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) / Savage
Caliber
.303 British
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Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- Lewis Gun
- Alias
- Lewis Automatic Machine Gun
- Manufacturer
- Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) / Savage
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Year
- 1914
- Category
- Light machine gun
- Status
- Historic
Ballistics
- Caliber
- .303 British
- Muzzle velocity
- 740 m/s
- Rate of fire
- ~550 rpm
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 3200 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 670 mm
- Overall length
- 1283 mm
- Empty weight
- 13 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Gas-operated, long-stroke piston
- Bolt / action
- Rotating bolt
Feed
- System
- Tamburo pan-shaped
- Standard capacity
- 47 rounds
Fire modes
SafeAuto
Historical profile
Designed by Samuel McLean and refined by Isaac Newton Lewis, it was rejected by the US Army and instead adopted by Belgium in 1913 and the UK in 1914.
Became the British squad automatic weapon par excellence in WWI, fielded one per infantry platoon.
Also adopted as flexible armament on Sopwith, SE.5 fighters and Allied bombers; remained in service through WWII with colonial forces and the Home Guard.
Variants
Mark I (fanteria)Mark II/III (aviazione, senza radiatore)Savage M1917 (.30-06)
Main users
United Kingdom · Belgium · United States · France · Italia · Giappone (Type 92)
Key components
- ●Stock — Shoulder rest.
- ●Receiver — Weapon body with internal mechanisms.
- ●Grip — Primary grip.
- ●Magazine — Cartridge feed.
- ●Barrel — Guides the projectile.
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