A popular online encyclopaedia says that this weapon was adopted by the French Army. I can't find any evidence of it. It was taken up by GB, as we know, and the Belgian Cyclists and some Belgian cavalry regiments had small numbers of them, but I haven't seen any LMG in French hands until the Chauchat.
Can anyone throw any light on it?
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Do they mean the Hotchkiss M1909 machine gun/ M1909 Benét–Mercié 8mm, also manufactured in Great Britain as the Hotchkiss Mark I and adapted to take the 303 round.
-- Edited by chopsm1 on Monday 31st of October 2016 05:47:48 AM
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Ah. Here's a very interesting statement. Only 700 made and used only in the forts at Verdun and in some aircraft. Never issued to the infantry. Very convincing, although no references.
Not really relevant, but odd, is that one of the inventors was called Benét, with an accent on the second "e". That's unnecessary - it would be pronounced the same way without it. And it's not a misprint. Strange.
__________________
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.