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Post Info TOPIC: Mark V Hotchkiss machine gun question
MooreTanks


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Mark V Hotchkiss machine gun question
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Question - The Mark V Male tanks 0.303in (7.62mm) Lewis air cooled guns were replaced with the 0.303in (7.62mm) Hotchkiss air-cooled machine guns. Where these the same machine guns fitted to the Mark I and Mark II tanks?



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Craig Moore


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Gwyn Evans


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I believe so but then I have never claimed to be even remotely knowledgeable about small arms.

Gwyn

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James H


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What do you mean by "the same"?

Hotchkiss 1909s were made at 90 - 94 Gosford Street, Coventry, in a factory built in 1917. It seems likely that they would be fitted to the Mk V etc. Where the earlier rhomboids got their 1909s, I'm checking - they might have been of French manufacture, but they're the same model. Not to be confused with the M1914, which was fitted to French tanks.

See your earlier, similar post for more info.



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Tanker


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Bonjour,

The Mark V star, received by French Army in Bourron, in September 1918, was without machine-gun.

It was impossible to use the Hotchkiss M 1914. This machinegun was too long.

The British hotchkiss M 1909, already used in French Air Forces, was chosed for the French Mark V star

These tanks was never used in fight, by the Artillery Spéciale.

Bonne soirée - Michel



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tanks3


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James

Am I correct in saying that the Hotchkiss was produced under license by Enfield at Coventry? Also an articulated strip feed was made for use in the hotchkiss that were fitted in the tanks

Tanks3

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Ned


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are there any pictures of the French Mk V* somewhere ?



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Willem Visser


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Hi Ned,
See here ...
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/topic/216753-british-tanks-in-french-use/
Best regards,
Willem

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Ned


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Thank you Willem, not much seems to change with the markings on those tanks. Even though they are used by a  different country (except for the beutepanzers)..

 



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firsttankcrews


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Let's not forget that the Hotchkiss had been part of the British Army's capability since at least 1915 to support the cavalry

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James H


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Ned wrote:

are there any pictures of the French Mk V* somewhere ?

Plenty here:

http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php/liste-chronologique/des-origines-a-1930?task=view&id=11



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tanks3


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tanks3 wrote:

James

Am I correct in saying that the Hotchkiss was produced under license by Enfield at Coventry? Also an articulated strip feed was made for use in the hotchkiss that were fitted in the tanks

Tanks3

James

Did you miss my post?

 

Tanks3



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James H


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tanks3 wrote:
James

Did you miss my post?

 Tanks3

 One thing at a time, dear boy.

The answers are: A) No B) Yes.

 

From Coventry Chamber of Commerce Year Book, 1920:

Soon after the outbreak of war, in 1914, the French military authorities ordered the removal of the Hotchkiss machine gun plant from St. Denis, and this was accomplished in the early days of September, when the German armies were almost at the gates of Paris. Overcoming seemingly insurmountable difficulties, the plant and personnel were transferred to Lyons, and in twelve days the plant was again in operation. From a relatively small beginning, two extensive plants were developed at Lyon-Monplaiser and at Lyon-Vaise, and the enormous requirements of the French and Belgian armies were not only satisfied, but it was also possible to equip with Hotchkiss guns the first American divisions to arrive in France.

In the spring of 1915, at the request of the British Government, a machine gun plant was organized at Coventry. Extensive building operations were undertaken, a vast equipment in machine tools provided, and, before the armistice brought work to an end, over 40,000 machine guns, with spare parts and accessories, had been supplied from the Coventry works alone.

There are plenty of sources that support the above. If you're sufficiently intereste, you'll find stuff about Hotchkiss in Cov here:

https://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/file/e7fac4cd-1dbe-c86e-4df0-608d09016ad3/1/batchelorcomb.pdf

Page 157 in particular has details of loans to Hotchkiss to increase capacity and production.



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Tanker


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French Mark V étoile n° 9918 in Lunéville (507° RCC), with Hotchkiss machinegun.

https://images-02.delcampe-static.net/img_large/auction/000/450/997/442_001_france-54-cpa-ecrite-luneville-garnison-char-de-combat-franchissant-un-obstacle-superbe-animation.jpg



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tanks3


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James

That is very interesting thank you so much. Just to be clear, as I read it Hotchkiss et Cie actually set up their own factory to produce the machine gun in Coventry and also outsourced work to local factories too ie to produce the machine gun bodies and the articulated feed strips used in tanks. As they supplied other Allies from Coventry I assume they produced varying chambered models to suit ie .303 for Britain and so on

Really grateful to you for this

Tanks3

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James H


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That's about it. In fact, I think you've read more of that PhD than I have. It's a bit dry in parts . . .

The photos appear to be the original building before and during the War. It seems there was a car maker by the name of Arno housed in it before Hotchkiss moved in. IIRC, the area was demolished to make way for a purpose-built factory as Hotchkiss expanded. It was taken over after the War by William Morris, and still survives as part of Coventry University. I think I read something about complaints about the old buildings being demolished, but I can't remember exactly what it was, and can't find it now. Here's the building as it now is. As you can see, nothing like 1914: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2130767

 



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