Madsen machine gun: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 07:30, 2 February 2010
Madsen machine gun | |
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![]() A Madsen light machine gun with spare magazine. | |
Type | Light machine gun |
Place of origin | ![]() |
Service history | |
In service | 1902–2010 |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | Russo-Japanese War, World War I, World War II, various other conflicts around the world |
Production history | |
Designer | Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen |
Designed | 1896 |
Manufacturer | Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat A/S |
Specifications | |
Mass | Template:Kg to lb |
Length | Template:Mm to in |
Barrel length | 584 mm (23.0 in) |
Cartridge | 7x57mm Mauser 6.5x55mm 7.92x57mm Mauser 7.62x54mmR |
Action | Long recoil-operated |
Rate of fire | 450 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 870 m/s (2,854 ft/s) (6.5x55mm) |
Feed system | 25, 30, 40-round detachable box magazine |
Sights | Rear V-notch and front post |
The Madsen was a light machine gun developed by a Captain Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen of the Danish artillery in 1896 and adopted by the Danish Army in 1902. It was one of the first true light machine guns produced in quantity and sold to over 34 different countries worldwide, seeing extensive combat use in various conflicts around the globe for over 80 years.[1] The Madsen was produced by Compagnie Madsen A/S (later operating as Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat A/S and then Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S).
Design details
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Maxin_gun_drawing2.jpg/220px-Maxin_gun_drawing2.jpg)
The Madsen has a rather sophisticated and uncommon operating cycle not used in any other crew-served weapon. The machine gun uses a mixed recoil-operated locking system with a hinged bolt that is patterned after the lever-action Peabody Martini breechblock.[1] The recoil operation is part short and part long recoil. After firing a round, the initial recoil impulse drives the barrel, barrel extension, and bolt to the rear. A pin on the right side of the bolt moves backward in grooves in an operating cam plate mounted to the right side of the receiver. After 12.7 mm (0.5 in) of travel, the bolt is cammed upward, away from the breech (the "short" portion of the recoil system). The barrel and barrel extension continue to move rearward to a point slightly exceeding the combined overall length of the cartridge case and projectile (the long portion of the recoil system, responsible for the weapon's low rate of fire).
After the breech is exposed, an odd lever-type extractor/ejector, mounted under the barrel, is pivoted to the rear, extracting the empty case and ejecting it through the bottom of the receiver. The bolt's operating cam then forces the bolt face to pivot downward, aligning a cartridge feed groove in the left side of the bolt with the chamber. While the bolt and barrel are returning forward, a cartridge-rammer lever, mounted on the barrel extension, is pivoted forward, loading a fresh cartridge.
Operational use
Up to and including World War I
It was used extensively by the Imperial Russian Army, which bought 1,250 examples and deployed them during the Russo-Japanese war, and was deployed (arming infantry companies, mountain troops and later storm troopers) in 1914 by the German Army in 7.92 mm calibre. It saw service during World War I. It was considered expensive to produce, but was known for its reliability. It was sold to 34 nations in a dozen different calibres[2] before and after World War I, seeing service in China during the Warlord era.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Norwegian_soldiers_with_Krag-J%C3%B8rgensen_rifle_and_Madsen_LMG.jpg/220px-Norwegian_soldiers_with_Krag-J%C3%B8rgensen_rifle_and_Madsen_LMG.jpg)
Inter-war era
The gun was bought by the Paraguayans in the 1920s and early 1930s as that country quietly girded for war with Bolivia over mutual claims to the Gran Chaco region, and it served in the Paraguayan army in the Chaco War (1932-1935). Almost 400 were on hand when the war began, and more were bought as the war progressed.[3] When Brazil acquired some 23 CV-35 tankettes from Italy in the late 1930s, a majority of the vehicles were armed with twin-mounted 7 mm Madsens.[4]
World War II
Madsen machine guns were still in use as late as April-June 1940 as the Norwegian Army's standard light machine gun in the Norwegian Campaign, 3,500 M/22s in 6.5x55 Krag being available for the defence of Norway. By 1940 each Norwegian infantry squad was allocated one Madsen machine gun, the weapon having previously been grouped in separate machine gun squads.[5][6] Each Norwegian infantry battalion had a standard complement of 36 Madsens, in addition to nine M/29 heavy machine guns. The Madsen machine gun was however not well liked amongst Norwegian soldiers as it had a tendency to jam after only a few rounds, leading to it gaining the nick name Jomfru Madsen (English: Virgin Madsen).[7] Captured Madsens were used by the Germans for second line units throughout the war, and the Danish Army did not retire the last Madsens until 1955. It was standard equipment (in 6.5 mm) with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) during the inter-war period, some being captured and used by the Imperial Japanese Army after the fall of the East Indies.
Portuguese Colonial War
During the Portuguese Colonial War of the 1960s and 1970s the Portuguese Army used Madsen machine guns. One of the employments of the Madsen was as temporary armament for Auto-Metralhadora-Daimler 4 × 4 Mod.F/64 armoured cars; which were Daimler Dingos modified with the addition of a turret-like structure.[8]
Continued use in Brazil
The Madsen continued to be used by the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, in 7.62 calibre.[9] Although some of the Brazilian guns were captured from drug traffickers and pressed into service (mostly old weapons originating from the Argentine Army as well as some stolen from museums[10]), the majority of Madsens used by the Brazilian police were donated by the Brazilian Army. Those guns were .30 cal weapons converted to fit 7.62 mm NATO. Official sources state that the Brazilian army retired the Madsen machine gun in 1996. The Brazilian police guns are, as of 2008, being substituted by more modern guns with faster rates of fire.[11] It was reported that the last Madsen guns were finally retired in April 2008.[12] However, photos taken during clashes between Brazilian police and drug traffickers on October 19, 2009 clearly show the Madsen gun still in use by the Brazilian police.[13]
Users
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Denmark
El Salvador[1]
Estonia (Former Finnish weapons bought in 1937, 612 pieces, converted to .303 British.)
Finland (1921-1936 weapons in 7.62x54mmR, highest inventory count in 1929, 729 piece, most of remaining sold to Estonia in 1937 and rest, circa 60 to CIA front company Interarmco during 1959-1960.)
German Empire
Nazi Germany
Empire of Japan
Norway
Netherlands
Paraguay
Portugal
Russian Empire
Sweden
Thailand
Notes
- ^ a b c Kokalis, Peter. Weapons Tests And Evaluations: The Best Of Soldier Of Fortune. Paladin Press. 2001. pp15–16.
- ^ deactivated-guns.co.uk: Madsen machine gun
- ^ An Outline History of the Paraguayan Army [1]
- ^ Kirk Jr., William A. (2003-03-12). "Brazil". Tanks! Armoured Warfare Prior to 1946. Florida State University. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
- ^ Holm, Terje H. (1987). 1940 – igjen? (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norwegian Armed Forces Museum. p. 26. ISBN 82-991167-2-4.
- ^ View from the trenches ASL journal Issue 31 May-Jun 2000
- ^ Jaklin, Asbjørn (2006). Nordfronten - Hitlers skjebneområde (in Norwegian). Oslo: Gyldendal. p. 32. ISBN 978-82-05-34537-9.
- ^ Abbott, Peter (2005). Modern African Wars (2): Angola and Mozambique 1961–1974. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-85045-843-5.
- ^ Madsen Light Machine Gun website
- ^ News article about Argentine guns found with drug dealers Template:Pt icon
- ^ Brazilian Air Force news about Madsen guns Template:Pt icon
- ^ Strategy Page on Madsen guns.
- ^ Photo slideshow on clash between Brazilian police and drug traffickers.
References
- Machine Guns, retrieved Nov 10 2006
- Firstworldwar.com: Madsen gun, retrieved Nov 10 2006
- Danish Madsen Light Machine Gun, retrieved Feb 10 2007
- Deactivated Guns on the Madsen, retrieved Apr 20, 2007
- Madsen Light Machine Gun, retrieved Apr 20, 2007
- The Madsen Light Machine Gun on the Eastern and Western Front 1914-17, retrieved Apr 20, 2007
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)