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About the Lewis Gun |
| Designed in 1912 by Lt. Col. Issac N. Lewis, an American
military officer, the gas operated, light weight, air cooled, drum fed gun was an
excellent ground based light machine gun, and was destined to become one of the premier
aerial weapons of the world I era. Because the gun was not readily accepted by the
American military establishment of the time, Lt. Col. Lewis took it to Europe, where
the rising pressure of an impending war had created a great need for machine guns
which could be adapted to fill the newly created needs of aerial warfare. Although
in short supply during the early part of W.W.I, large numbers of the gun were eventually
produced by BSA in Britain, Savage in the U.S.A., and on a smaller scale in Darne
in France. Original MKI versions of the aerial weapons were little more than stripped down ground guns with minor modifications to reduce weight and facilitate operation in the cockpit. The radiator and its casing were removed, the chore of cooling the gun being to the 100+ mph slip stream in flight. The original shoulder stock was discarded, being replaced by a more compact spade type grip. It wasn't until the spring of 1916 that the model MKII appeared, it being the first model specifically designed for aerial use. The MKII retained the rump of the finned radiator and the rear most end of the old casing, to which a 2 1/2 inch light metal tube, referred to as the barrel casing, was attached for the purpose of protecting the vulnerable gas cylinder. In July of 1916 the larger 97 round magazine appeared,its use being limited to the air guns only. However the 47 round was not discontinued, and indeed remained in use until the end of the war. The final version, the MKIII, was introduced in May 1918. On this gun the last vestige of the radiator and casing were removed and a new yoke design was employed. Also a smaller gas cylinder protector sleeve was fitted. The rate of fire was increased to 700 rounds per minute and although only a few of the guns saw service before the war ended, it remained in RAF service for over 20 more years. As a testament to the success of the design all Lewis guns were highly prized by German air crews, and quite a few captured Lewis guns found their way onto German aircraft. All in all the Lewis was a light weight, reliable, and highly adaptable machine gun that played a vital role in the Allied air victory of World War I. |
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Mail: Repligun.com, Landis Whitsel,
7286 Mentzer Gap Road, Waynesoro, PA 17268 |
