The history of the Maxim machine gun - who is the creator and how the weapon works. Machine gun Maxim TTX. A photo. Video. Dimensions. Rate of fire. Bullet speed. Sighting range Maxim machine gun sample 1910
The Maxim machine gun is the first automatic weapon in history that uses the removal of powder gases for firing and reloading the cartridge. The developed machine gun Maxim, the device and principle of operation of which turned out to be so successful that from the second half of the 19th century to the present, this easel machine gun is still in service in the modern world. With all sorts of options for modifications and calibers, the principle of shooting is unchanged.
Brief performance characteristics of the machine gun Maxim
The history of the Maxim machine gun
- 1873– production of the first sample of the Maxim machine gun;
- Autumn 1882- final development of machine gun drawings;
- 1883 —1895 – many patents have been issued for this weapon;
- 1888– the first demonstration of the product in Russia;
- 1898- the first mass use of a machine gun by British troops in Sudan;
- 1899- the first successful version was made under the British cartridge 7.7 mm;
- May 1899- the first batch of machine guns made in Britain was delivered to St. Petersburg;
- 1901- Adoption into service in the Russian army;
- May 1904- start of production at the Tula Arms Plant;
- 1910– development of the Russian model;
- 1930- a new modernization of the Soviet machine gun;
- 1931- the beginning of the production of a quad anti-aircraft installation.
Who created
Hiram Stevens was a famous inventor. His inventions are known in various fields. The creation of a machine gun was his old dream.
The world's first Gatling gun, which had from 6 to 10 barrels, was effective at that time - however, it was heavy and was inconvenient to use. It was required to turn the barrel rotation knob with one hand, and direct the fire towards the enemy with the other.
The first Gatling gun Stevens came up with a more advanced weapon, in which he was the first to use recoil energy to automatically reload and fire a cartridge.
However, American gunsmiths refused to introduce the machine gun into production, citing complexity and high cost. The required high accuracy of processing machine gun parts required the involvement of many qualified specialists. The cost of one copy, at that time, was comparable to the cost of a steam locomotive.
Hiram Stevens emigrated to England, where he did a lot of marketing work among the leadership of countries and the military elite. He found interested entrepreneurs in the production of these weapons.
To draw more attention to his creation, he used such a trick - in the documents he corrected the rate of fire from 600 to 666 , - allegedly emphasizing that this is a "devil" weapon. Despite the indignation of churches and pacifists, the inventor ensured that the leading powers began to buy a machine gun.
Nathan Rothschild undertook to finance the project. Apparently, the world behind the scenes elite was already planning the massacre.
History of production development
The first customer of several copies was Kaiser Wilhelm, who personally tested the machine gun.
The inventor brought a machine gun to Russia, from which Tsar Alexander III fired. Russia ordered 12 units chambered for the Berdan rifle (10.67 mm). Subsequently, the barrels were converted to the caliber of the Mosin rifle (7.62 mm). In total, for the period 1897-1904, Russia purchased 291 units.
The manufacturing license was sold to Germany, America and Russia.
Since the machine gun received Russian citizenship, it has undergone a number of upgrades at the Tula Arms Plant.
In the history of the Maxim machine gun, who invented this type of weapon, many names are written.
Changes introduced in the Russian version of the combat product:
- sighting device changed;
- the receiver mechanism was redesigned for a new cartridge;
- the opening of the muzzle sleeve has been expanded;
- carriage replaced by Sokolov's wheel machine;
- reduced the size of the armor shield;
- ammo boxes changed;
- a folding butt plate is installed;
- the fuse was moved to the trigger area, which accelerated the process of firing;
- added return spring tension indicator;
- changed sight with an enlarged scale;
- a separate striker is introduced to the drummer;
- for shooting at long distances, a heavy bullet and an optical sight were introduced;
- the water casing is reinforced with longitudinal corrugation.
In order to provide the army with machine guns under the domestic cartridge, in the 20s of the last century, our designers tried to develop their own models of automatic weapons. On the basis of the Maxim machine gun, the Tula gunsmith F.V. Tokarev undertook to solve this problem. He was the first who invented the Maxim machine gun.
He created the MT prototype, the Maxim-Tokarev light machine gun, which had a wooden stock and air cooling. However, the weight remained high.
It had some advantages over foreign analogues, and was put into service in 1925.
In 1923, another inventor of the Maxim machine gun appeared. On the basic design, the gunsmith I.N. Kolesnikov created the Maxim-Kolesnikov machine gun. He was distinguished by the original pistol grip.
Both products were subjected to field tests, according to the results of which MT received the advantage. Since 1925, its serial production began, which stopped in 1927.
The new Dekhtyarev heavy machine gun, which was hastily put into service in those years, turned out to be unreliable. In order to provide the army with weapons, the industry is forced to return to the production of Maxim, which was manufactured in Izhevsk and Tula until the end of World War II.
Combat use
For the first time, a machine gun was used on the battlefield by the British during the battle against the outnumbered Mahdi army in Sudan. An army of many thousands, armed with muskets, was defeated in a short period. The results of this massacre showed that the tactics of field battles must change radically. This fact was confirmed by the events that took place on the battlefields of the 20th century.
Changes in the tactics of troops after the introduction of a machine gun:
- the infantry went deep into the trenches;
- ended the existence of the cavalry;
- ceased attacks "line";
- Gone is the gun salvo.
The first samples were equipped with heavy gun carriages, and resembled a cannon. They were attributed to artillery, and used to defend fortresses and fortified positions.
The first large-scale use of a machine gun in the 20th century occurred between Russia and Japan in May 1904 during the defense of Port Arthur. Both sides used them as miniature artillery, opening mounted fire from the rear, over the heads of their soldiers, at enemy positions. In the same version, the Maxim weapon was used during the 1st World War.
After a number of improvements, the sample acquired a well-known classic look on a bed with wheels. This option was more mobile, it was used not only for defense, but also for the offensive. Weapon weight changed from 244 to 65 kg.
The machine gun was mounted on spring wagons.
As well as armored cars, armored trains and ships. It was also used in anti-aircraft artillery.
During the Civil War, a cart was used effectively against infantry and cavalry. Nestor Makhno was the first to use the tactics of fighting on carts.
Maxim on a cart With the advent of armored vehicles and tanks in the army, carts lost their role, and the legendary machine gun continued its life.
Armored car with a Maximov machine gun 
The machine gun was widely used during the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars. The last large-scale use of these weapons was during the Sino-Soviet conflict on Damansky Island in 1969.
Currently, the machine gun is used by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the civil conflict in the South-East of Ukraine.
A Right Sector fighter and a Maxim machine gun at a firing position near Donetsk How the Maxim machine gun works - TTX
| Weight with machine, kg | 64,3 |
| Body weight with barrel, kg | 20,3 |
| Length, mm | 1067 |
| Barrel length, mm | 721 |
| Cartridge, mm | 7.62x54 |
| Combat rate of fire, rpm | 250-300 |
| Maximum rate of fire, rpm | 600 |
| Muzzle velocity, m/s | 855 |
| Number of shots | 200/250 in tape |
| Barrel diameter | 7.62x54 mm, 4 grooves |
| Sighting range, m | 2300 |
| Maximum aiming range, m | 3800 |
| Effective aiming range, m | 600 |
| Stroke width, mm | 505 |
| Type of ammunition: | 250 canvas or metal cartridge belt |
| Work principles: | exhaust gas return, crank locking |
| Machine gun crew | 3 people |
Maxim machine gun: device and principle of operation
Design
General design of the Maxim machine gun Atlas of drawings 1906
From the drawings presented above, we can conclude that the mechanisms of the machine gun are highly complex.
How the Maxim machine gun works
Loading
- Thread the tape with cartridges into the receiver;
- Move the handle to the front and rear positions. In this case, the belt with cartridges will move, and the first cartridge will stand opposite the lock (A). The lock moves forward and captures the cartridge (B);
- Again, vigorously move the handle back and forth. When the handle moves forward, the lock removes the cartridge from the tape (B). When the handle moves to its original position - the cartridge enters the bore, the tape moves one cartridge, which again captures the lock (D). The machine gun is ready to fire;
How the Maxim machine gun works Shooting
- The device of the Maxim machine gun is such that when you press the trigger, a shot is fired. Under the influence of powder gases, the lock with a new cartridge and a spent cartridge case moves back (A). Handle automatically - forward (B);
Maxim machine gun, shooting - The cartridge and case are moved downwards, and under the action of the return spring, the lock moves forward, the cartridge is inserted into the bore, and the spent cartridge case is inserted into the cartridge case ejection tube (B), which pushes the previous cartridge case out. Another shot is fired (D). The next cartridge is captured, the lock moves back, and the process repeats;
Maxim machine gun, shooting Maxim machine gun modifications
| Title / Image | Country - the creator of the machine gun Maxim | Brief performance characteristics |
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Finland |
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England |
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Germany |
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Switzerland |
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the USSR |
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China |
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MG08
MG 11
Advantages and disadvantages of the Maxim machine gun
Advantages
- high rate of fire;
- good accuracy of fire;
- high reliability and durability;
- the ability to fire in long bursts;
- large ammunition;
- the presence of armor protection;
- comfortable ergonomics when shooting.
disadvantages
- small effective firing range;
- how much does the Maxim machine gun weigh;
- low maneuverability;
- a high profile that makes camouflage difficult and makes the machine gunner an easy target;
- the complexity of the design, making it difficult to disassemble and assemble;
- high cost and complexity in production;
- low efficiency with water deficit;
- combat crew of 3 people.
Operating countries
| The country | Usage |
| Bulgaria | Austro-Hungarian and Russian designs |
| United Kingdom | Own production |
| German Empire | Own production |
| Greece | Purchase under your cartridge 6,5x54 mm |
| Kingdom of Italy | Purchase |
| Serbia | Manufactured in Germany chambered for 7x57 mm |
| Ottoman Empire | 220 pcs., purchase |
| Russian empire | Own production |
| Romania | Purchase chambered for 6.5x53 mm |
| the USSR | Own production |
| Montenegro | Purchase in Germany chambered for 7.62x54 |
| Finland | Own production |
| Switzerland | Own production |
| Ukraine | There are about 35,000 pieces in storage of the Moscow Region. |
Use in culture
This great invention of murder has become the hero of many folklore works of the world. Poems and songs were dedicated to him. His image was described in many works of literature and cinema. Films about the Civil War and the 2nd World War could not do without it.
Art films
- Chapaev;
- Officers;
- Brother 2.
Songs
- Two maxims;
- Maxim machine gun.
A lot of documentaries have been shot.
Documentary video
Video about Maxim machine gun - device
Today, civilian samples of the machine gun are available for open sale. Many layouts have been developed for collectors, designers and toys from different materials from metal to cardboard.
Conclusion
Despite the many existing types of modern machine guns, Maxim remains a relevant model of infantry weapons. Due to its reliability, strength and density of fire, it is still applicable in the organization of defensive emplacements. Tens of thousands of working copies are mothballed in warehouses, ready for use in the event of aggression by Russia's enemies.
Machine gun Maxim model 1910/1930(GAU index - 56-P-421) - easel machine gun, a variant of the British Maxim machine gun, widely used by the Russian and Soviet armies during the First World War and the Second World War. The machine gun was used to destroy open group targets and enemy fire weapons at a distance of up to 1000 m.
| PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model: | arr. 1910/30 | M/32-33 | PV-1 |
| Manufacturer: | Tula arms factory | n/a | Arms factory in Tambov |
| Cartridge: | |||
| Caliber: | 7.62 mm | ||
| Weight, machine gun body: | 23.8 kg | 24 kg | 14.5 kg |
| Weight, on the machine: | 64.3 kg | 54 kg | n/a |
| Length: | 1107 mm | 1180 mm | 1067 mm |
| Barrel length: | 721 mm | ||
| Number of grooves in the barrel: | 4 right hand | ||
| Trigger mechanism (USM): | Impact type | n/a | Impact type |
| Operating principle: | barrel recoil, crank locking | ||
| Rate of fire: | 550–600 rounds/min | 650-850 shots/min | 750 shots/min |
| Fuse: | The lever between the control handles next to the trigger lever. | n/a | |
| Aim: | Rack sight and front sight, optical sight can be installed | Anti-aircraft sight, rack sight and front sight on infantry variants | |
| Effective range: | 800 m | ||
| Target range: | 2700 m | 2000 m | |
| Muzzle velocity: | 740 m/s | n/a | 800 m/s |
| Type of ammunition: | Canvas or metal tape | metal tape | |
| Number of rounds: | 250 | 200–600 | |
| Years of production: | 1910–1939, 1941–1945 | 1933–1944 | 1927–1940 |
History of creation and production
After successfully demonstrating the machine gun in Switzerland, Italy and Austria-Hungary, Hiram Maksim arrived in Russia with a demonstrative example of a .45 caliber (11.43 mm) machine gun.
In 1887, the Maxim machine gun was tested under the 10.67-mm cartridge of the Berdan rifle with black powder.
On March 8, 1888, Emperor Alexander III fired from it. After testing, representatives of the Russian military department ordered Maxim 12 machine guns mod. 1895 chambered for 10.67 mm Berdan rifle cartridge.
Vickers, Sons & Maxim began to supply Maxim machine guns to Russia. The machine guns were delivered to St. Petersburg in May 1899. The Russian navy also became interested in the new weapon; it ordered two more machine guns for testing.
Subsequently, the Berdan rifle was withdrawn from service, and the Maxim machine guns were converted to the 7.62-mm cartridge of the Russian Mosin rifle. In 1891-1892. five machine guns chambered for 7.62x54 mm were purchased for testing.
To improve the reliability of the automation of the 7.62-mm machine gun, a “muzzle booster” was introduced into the design - a device designed to use the energy of powder gases in order to increase the recoil force. The front of the barrel was thickened to increase the area of the muzzle and then a muzzle cap was attached to the water casing. The pressure of the powder gases between the muzzle and the cap acted on the muzzle of the barrel, pushing it back and helping it roll back faster.
In 1901, the 7.62-mm Maxim machine gun on an English-style wheeled carriage was adopted by the ground forces, during this year the first 40 Maxim machine guns entered the Russian army. In general, during the years 1897-1904, 291 machine guns were purchased.
Machine gun "Maxim" model 1895 on a fortress gun carriage with a shield. The machine gun (whose mass on a heavy carriage with large wheels and a large armored shield was 244 kg) was assigned to the artillery. Machine guns were planned to be used for the defense of fortresses, for repelling massive enemy infantry attacks from pre-equipped and protected positions with fire.
In March 1904, a contract was signed for the production of Maxim machine guns at the Tula Arms Plant. The cost of producing a Tula machine gun (942 rubles + £80 commission to Vickers, about 1,700 rubles in total) was cheaper than the cost of purchasing from the British (2,288 rubles 20 kopecks per machine gun). In May 1904, mass production of machine guns began at the Tula Arms Plant.
At the beginning of 1909, the Main Artillery Directorate announced a competition for the modernization of the machine gun, as a result of which, in August 1910, a modified version of the machine gun was adopted: the 7.62-mm Maxim machine gun of the 1910 model, which was modernized at the Tula Arms Plant under the guidance of masters I. A. Pastukhov, I. A. Sudakov and P. P. Tretyakov. The body weight of the machine gun was reduced and some details were changed: a number of bronze parts were replaced with steel ones, the sights were changed to match the ballistics of the cartridge with a pointed bullet mod. 1908, the receiver was changed to fit the new cartridge, and the muzzle bushing was enlarged. The English wheeled carriage was replaced by a lightweight wheeled machine by A. A. Sokolov, the armored shield of the English sample was replaced by a reduced-sized armored shield. In addition, A. A. Sokolov designed cartridge boxes, a gig for carrying cartridges, sealed cylinders for boxes with cartridges. Machine gun Maxim arr. 1910 with the machine weighed 62.66 kg (and together with the liquid poured into the casing to cool the barrel - about 70 kg).
The Maxim machine gun was the only machine gun produced in the Russian Empire during the First World War. By the time the mobilization was announced, in July 1914, the Russian army had 4157 machine guns in service (833 machine guns were not enough to meet the planned needs of the troops). After the start of the war, the Ministry of War ordered to increase the production of machine guns, but it was very difficult to cope with the task of supplying the army with machine guns, since machine guns were produced in Russia in insufficient quantities, and all foreign machine gun factories were loaded to the limit. In general, during the war, Russian industry produced 27,571 machine guns for the army (828 in the second half of 1914, 4,251 in 1915, 11,072 in 1916, 11,420 in 1917) , but production volumes were insufficient and could not meet the needs of the army.
In 1915, they adopted and began production of a simplified machine gun of the Kolesnikov system, model 1915.
During the civil war, the Maxim machine gun arr. 1910 was the main type of machine gun of the Red Army. In addition to machine guns from the warehouses of the Russian army and trophies captured during the hostilities, in 1918-1920, 21 thousand new machine guns mod. 1910, several thousand more were repaired.
In the Civil War, a tachanka became widespread - a spring wagon with a machine gun pointed backwards, which was used both for movement and for firing directly on the battlefield. Carts were especially popular among the Makhnovists.
In the 1920s, based on the design of the machine gun, new types of weapons were developed in the USSR: the Maxim-Tokarev light machine gun and the PV-1 aircraft machine gun.
In 1928, an anti-aircraft tripod mod. 1928 of the system of M. N. Kondakov. In addition, in 1928, the development of Maxim's quadruple anti-aircraft machine guns began. In 1929, the anti-aircraft ring sight mod. 1929.
In 1935, new states of the Red Army rifle division were established, in accordance with which the number of Maxim heavy machine guns in the division was somewhat reduced (from 189 to 180 pieces), and the number of light machine guns was increased (from 81 pieces to 350 pieces)
The cost of one machine gun "Maxim" on the Sokolov machine (with a set of spare parts and accessories) in 1939 was 2635 rubles; the cost of the Maxim machine gun on a universal machine (with a set of spare parts and accessories) - 5960 rubles; the cost of a 250-cartridge belt is 19 rubles
In the spring of 1941, in accordance with the staff of the Red Army Rifle Division No. 04 / 400-416 of April 5, 1941, the regular number of Maxim heavy machine guns was reduced to 166 pieces, and the number of anti-aircraft machine guns was increased (to 24 pieces. 7 .62 mm integrated anti-aircraft machine guns and 9 pieces of 12.7 mm DShK machine guns).
During the combat use of the Maxim machine gun, it became clear that in most cases fire was fired at a distance of 800 to 1000 meters, and at such a range there was no noticeable difference in the trajectory of light and heavy bullets.
In 1930, the machine gun was again modernized. Modernization was carried out by P. P. Tretyakov, I. A. Pastukhov, K. N. Rudnev and A. A. Tronenkov. The following changes were made to the design:
- a folding butt plate was installed, in connection with which the right and left valves and the connection of the release lever and traction changed
- the fuse was moved to the trigger, which eliminated the need to operate with two hands when opening fire
- return spring tension indicator installed
- the sight has been changed, a stand and a clamp with a latch have been introduced, the scale on the rear sight of the side adjustments has been increased
- a buffer appeared - a holder for a shield attached to the casing of a machine gun
- introduced a separate striker to the drummer
- for shooting at long distances and from closed positions, a heavy bullet mod. 1930, optical sight and goniometer - quadrant
- for greater strength, the barrel casing is made with longitudinal corrugation
The upgraded machine gun was named "7.62 heavy machine gun of the Maxim system of the 1910/30 model of the year". In 1931, a more advanced universal machine gun machine model 1931 of the S.V. Vladimirov system and a PS-31 machine gun for long-term firing points were developed and put into service.
By the end of the 1930s, the design of the machine gun was obsolete, primarily due to its large weight and size.
On September 22, 1939, the Red Army adopted the “7.62-mm easel machine gun mod. 1939 DS-39, which was intended to replace the Maxim machine guns. However, the operation of the DS-39 in the army revealed design flaws, as well as the unreliability of the functioning of automation when using cartridges from a brass sleeve (for the reliable functioning of automation, the DS-39 required cartridges with a steel sleeve).
During the Finnish war of 1939-1940. not only designers and manufacturers tried to increase the combat capabilities of the Maxim machine gun, but also directly in the troops. In winter, the machine gun was mounted on skis, sleds or drag boats, on which the machine gun was moved across the snow and from which, if necessary, they fired. In addition, in the winter of 1939-1940, there were cases when machine gunners planted on the armor of tanks installed Maxim machine guns on the roofs of tank towers and fired at the enemy, supporting the advancing infantry.
In 1940, in the barrel water cooler for quick water changes, the small diameter water filling hole was replaced by a wide neck. This innovation was borrowed from the Finnish Maxim ( Maxim M32-33) and made it possible to solve the problem of the lack of access to the coolant in the winter, now the casing could now be filled with ice and snow.
After the start of the Great Patriotic War, in June 1941, the DS-39 was discontinued and enterprises were ordered to restore the curtailed production of Maxim machine guns.
Also, in June 1941, at the Tula Arms Plant, under the leadership of chief engineer A. A. Tronenkov, engineers I. E. Lubenets and Yu. A. Kazarin began the final modernization (in order to increase the manufacturability of production), during which Maxim was equipped simplified sighting device (with one aiming bar instead of two, which were previously replaced depending on the shooting with a light or heavy bullet), the mount for the optical sight was removed from the machine gun.
Based on the design of the machine gun, single, twin and quadruple anti-aircraft machine gun mounts were developed, which were the most common army air defense weapons.
- Thus, the M4 quad anti-aircraft machine gun mount of the 1931 model of the year differed from the usual Maxim machine gun by the presence of a forced water circulation device, a larger capacity of machine-gun belts (for 1000 rounds instead of the usual 250) and an anti-aircraft ring sight. The installation was intended for firing at enemy aircraft (at altitudes up to 1400 m at speeds up to 500 km / h). The M4 installation was widely used as a stationary, self-propelled, shipborne installation, installed in car bodies, armored trains, railway platforms, and on the roofs of buildings.
7.62-mm quad anti-aircraft machine gun M4 in the back of an abandoned truck. Major modifications
Design and principle of operation
The Maxim machine gun is an automatic weapon with a water-cooled barrel. The barrel casing is steel, most often corrugated, with a capacity of 4 liters. On machine guns manufactured after 1940, the neck for filling the casing with water was enlarged (similar to Finnish machine guns of the same system), which made it possible to fill the casing not only with water, but also with snow or crushed ice. Machine gun automation uses the recoil of the barrel during its short course. The barrel is locked by a cranked pair of levers located between the bolt and the receiver rigidly connected to the barrel. After the shot, the barrel with a movable system begins to roll back until the cocking handle mounted on the rear axle of the lever pair hits with its curly shank a roller located on the receiver. The interaction of the cocking handle with the roller causes it to turn down, which in turn causes the crankshaft pair to move out of the dead center and causes it to “fold” down. The return spring is located under a separate casing on the outside on the left side of the receiver, and is connected to an eccentric on the axis of the rear locking lever. The spring, unlike most systems, works in tension and not in compression. The barrel with the shank then stops, and the bolt (“lock”) connected to the lever pair continues to move back, while simultaneously removing a new cartridge from the tape and a spent cartridge case from the barrel. When the movable system rolls forward, the new cartridge is lowered to the barrel line and sent to the chamber, and the spent cartridge case is fed into the cartridge case outlet channel located below the barrel. Spent cartridges are ejected from the weapon forward, under the barrel. To implement such a feed scheme, the shutter mirror has a T-shaped vertical groove for the sleeve flanges, and in the process of rolling back and forth moves up and down, respectively.
Rack sight machine gun "Maxim" (click on the picture to enlarge it)
Cartridges are fed from canvas (later non-loose metal) tape, from right to left. The slide feed mechanism of the tape is driven by a movable barrel. The machine gun allows only automatic fire. Shooting is carried out from a closed shutter. To control fire, the machine gun has a pair of vertical grips located on the butt plate of the receiver, and a trigger located between the grips. The machine gun was equipped with a rack-mounted sight, which had markings for light and heavy bullets from 0 to 2200 and 2600 m, respectively. The rear sight also had a mechanism for introducing lateral corrections. Additionally, machine guns could be equipped with a 1932 model optical sight with a magnification of 2X, for which a special bracket was made on the receiver. On machine guns produced during the war years, a rack-mounted sight with one aiming bar, there is no mount for an optical sight.
The wheeled machine of the Sokolov system, equipped with a steel protective shield (weighing about 11 kg), and in the period before the First World War, also a pair of folding legs, which made it possible to raise the firing line if necessary, became the standard machine tool for the Russian Maxim machine gun. Sokolov's machine allowed firing only at ground targets. In 1939, Vladimirov's universal wheeled machine was additionally adopted for the Maxim machine gun, which allowed firing at both ground and air targets. At the Vladimirov machine, the U-shaped support of the machine was replaced by three tubular supports, in the stowed position or in the position for firing at ground targets, folding together. In the position for firing at air targets, these three supports were disconnected and unfolded into an anti-aircraft tripod, and the wheels and shield were detached. The soldiers often removed the armor shield from the machine gun, thereby trying to increase maneuverability and achieve less visibility.
Usage
Video
Machine guns of the First World War.
Maxim machine gun. Design and principle of operation.Machine gun "Maxim" model 1910 was a modernized version of the machine gun model 1905. Its serial production was carried out at the Imperial Tula Arms Plant (ITOZ) from May 1905 under a license from Maxim, Vickers & Sons (England). The main role in finalizing the systems of both Maxim models and putting machine guns into production belonged to Guards Colonel Tretyakov and senior class master Pastukhov, who served at ITOZ. The essence of the modernization, which was carried out in 1909, was to create a lighter machine gun. Some parts made of bronze (barrel shroud, receiver, handles, and others) were replaced with steel ones. The sight, the details of the casing and the box, the trigger pull, the butt plate also changed. The first two machine guns modernized by Tula gunsmiths were handed over for testing on June 15, 1909 (where they became competitors of the new Vickers machine gun). After appropriate modifications, the Tula “lightweight” machine gun was put into service, giving it the designation “Maxim’s easel machine gun of the 1910 model of the year” with a field wheel machine of Colonel Sokolov. Serial production of a new modification of "Maxim" and the machine began in 1911. The machine gun of the 1910 model was indeed significantly improved compared to the prototype, first of all, in terms of technology, but the statement that “Russian technicians created, in fact, a new machine gun” is hardly correct, which has been established in Russian literature.
The machine gun consisted of: barrel; a frame which included a locking mechanism, a drum, a handle and a chain; a shutter (lock) with a percussion mechanism, a combat larva, lifting and locking levers; trigger pull; box (riveted) with a hinged lid; recoil pad with fuse, trigger lever and control handles; return spring with casing (box); a receiver having a tape feed mechanism; barrel casing with a sleeve and steam outlet tube, drain and fill holes; sighting devices; muzzle.
In automation, a barrel recoil scheme was implemented with a short stroke. The bore was locked by a system consisting of two articulated levers. The connecting rod (front lever) was connected to the bolt with a flat hinge, and the bloodworm (rear lever) was also hinged at the rear of the frame, that is, the frame was a receiver. On the right end of the axis of the bloodworm, a swinging handle was put on, on the left - an eccentric (drum) with a Gall chain, which was connected to a return spring. The return spring was mounted in a separate box located on the left wall of the Maxim box. The lock was assembled drummer with lamellar two-pronged mainspring. The combat larva, which had grips to hold the cartridge case, slid vertically in the slots of the lock, had a hole for the striker to pass through, so the shot could only be fired if the larva was in a certain position. The drummer cocked his ankle. At the same time, the upper safety descent captured him. The ankle with its combat platoon got up on the lower descent.
The trigger lever, which has a key under the finger, was placed between the control handles, a fuse was used to hold it. The canvas cartridge belt was inserted into the transverse window of the receiver on the right. The tape sockets were separated by metal plates fastened with rivets. At the same time, the rivets were placed with a slight interference fit, which made it possible to firmly hold the cartridge in the socket. The cartridge box was installed separately from the machine gun. For reliable operation of the feed, the second number supported the tape with his hands in the correct position. The weight of the canvas tape was 1.1 kg. The wall of the cutout of the left frame of the receiver frame actuated the feed mechanism. On the first machine guns "Maxim" of the 1910 model, a coil was installed on the box, designed to direct the canvas tape to the receiver. Later, the coil was transferred to the shield.
The shot was fired from a closed bolt. It was necessary to raise the safety and press the trigger lever. At the same time, the trigger pull moved back, pulling the tail of the lower descent, releasing the ankle. The striker passed through the hole in the larva, broke the primer of the cartridge. The lock, under the action of recoil, sought to move back, transferring pressure to the bloodworm and connecting rod. The bloodworm and the connecting rod formed an angle, the top of which was turned upwards, and rested against the protrusions of the frame with their hinge. The barrel and frame with the lock moved back. After the movable system passed about 20 millimeters, the handle ran onto the fixed roller of the box and rose turning the bloodworm down. As a result, the lever system straightened out, the lock was more pressed against the bore. Powder gases after the departure of the bullet fell into the muzzle, pressing on the front section of the barrel, the mobile system received an additional impulse. The design of the Russian-style muzzle was developed by Zhukov and completed by Pastukhov. The barrel, moving back, opened transverse holes in the muzzle, through which excess powder gases were discharged. Turning, the handle caused the levers to fold down and move away from the lock barrel. At the same time, the handle was an accelerator of the lock, transferring the kinetic energy of the rollback to it and slowing down the frame and barrel. The larva of the lock, holding the spent cartridge case by the rim, removed it from the chamber. The tube of the lock levers, when lowering the connecting rod, pressed on the tail of the ankle, which, turning, cocked the drummer. The lifting levers raised the larva, capturing the next cartridge from the receiver window (the window was longitudinal). During the further movement of the system back, curved leaf springs located on the inside of the box cover lowered the larva. Simultaneously with this cranked lever, the slider of the feed mechanism was retracted to the right. The fingers of the crawler jumped for the next cartridge. The chain, when the handle was turned, was wound around the drum, stretching the return spring. The mass of the barrel was 2.105 kilograms, the mobile system - 4.368 kilograms. The length of the barrel stroke back was 26 millimeters, the lock relative to the barrel was up to 95 millimeters. Coordination of the movement of the lock and the barrel was achieved by adjusting the tension of the return spring.
The operation of the automation system of the machine gun "Maxim"
The handle at the end of the turn hit the roller with a short shoulder and started the reverse turn (early examples of the Maxim machine gun had a separate spring for this). The moving system, under the action of a return spring, went forward. The lock sent the cartridge into the chamber, and the spent cartridge case was sent to the sleeve tube, from where it was pushed out during the next cycle. The crank shifted the slider to the left, and he advanced the next cartridge to the receiver window. During the turn of the bloodworm and the connecting rod, the tail of the safety descent was raised by the tube of the lock levers. When the combat larva stood opposite the striker with its hole, the upper trigger released the drummer and if the trigger was pressed, a shot was fired.
The machine gun consisted of 368 parts. The maximum gas pressure in the bore was about 2850 kg / sq. cm, and the average was about 1276 kg / sq. cm. During training, a blank firing sleeve was used, which was screwed into the muzzle. When the mainspring broke, the fragments were removed through the bottom of the box.
Machine gun "Maxim" model 1910 had a rack-mounted sight, mounted on the cover of the box. The rack housed the aiming bar, which has divisions for aiming in range. On the transverse tube of the clamp, divisions were applied, along which the rear sight was installed. A triangular front sight was inserted into a groove on the casing. The length of the sighting line was 911 millimeters. The height of the front sight above the axis of the bore was equal to 102.5 millimeters, so the accuracy of fastening the casing had a great influence on accuracy. The sight was set to a range of up to 3.2 thousand steps (2270 meters), but the effective range did not exceed 1.5 thousand meters.
The capacity of the casing was about 4.5 liters. Some machine guns had casings with longitudinal fins, which increased rigidity and increased the cooling surface, but fins were abandoned in favor of simplifying production. The canvas or rubber hoses used in some armies for venting steam into the atmosphere or into a condenser canister were used in the Russian army only in armored mounts.
Armored trains were heavily armed with machine guns. Russian armored train of the "Hunhuz" type in Galicia, 1916. To arm such armored trains, both Maxim machine guns and captured Schwarzlose were used
With the help of a crank mechanism, smooth and almost shockless operation of the automation was ensured. The use of the power system drive from the frame was rational from the point of view of a uniform distribution of the recoil energy. The Maxim system had high survivability and reliability, which ensured its exceptional longevity. Despite the fact that the external position of the handle was dangerous for the calculation, it facilitated the assessment of the condition, as well as the identification and elimination of delay in firing. The production of a machine gun was quite complex and required not only high-quality steels and skilled workers, but also numerous special equipment. For the assembly and initial running-in of the nodes, some devices were also required.
The Sokolov machine, which he developed with the participation of the Platonov master of the St. Petersburg gun factory, consisted of a skeleton with a trunk, a wheel and a table. Wheel rims and spokes were made of oak, tires were made of steel, nuts and bushings were made of bronze. The table itself carried a clamp-type swivel with a clamp, fine and coarse vertical aiming mechanisms, and a shield. The machine gun was attached to the swivel for the front eyelets of the box. The lower eye connected the machine gun and the head of the lifting mechanism. Rough vertical aiming was carried out by moving the table along the arcs of the core. In the first version of the machine, the frame had two folding legs, a seat, and a roller at the end of the trunk. This design made it possible to fire from two positions and roll the machine gun over the strap. During carrying, the legs folded back, and the trunk forward. Later, the front legs, roller and seat were removed, and a small opener was fixed at the end of the trunk. These changes led to the fact that the maximum elevation angle decreased to 18 degrees (from 27), and declination - to 19 degrees (from 56), shooting was carried out only from a prone position. The mass of a 6.5 mm shield with a size of 505x400 mm was 8.0 kilograms (with a tape guide coil - 8.8 kilograms). It was believed that the shield would protect the machine-gun crew from rifle bullets at a distance of over 50 meters. Although the convenience of a wheeled machine, even on slightly rugged terrain, is doubtful, in our country the addiction to them lasted a long time.
Installation of machine guns "Maxim" in the towers of the armored car "Austin" built by the Putilov factory
Before the complete "victory" of Sokolov's machines in Russia, several installations were used with the Maxim machine gun. The field and fortress wheeled carriages were removed from service until 1914, but the Vickers tripods of the 1904, 1909 and 1910 models remained.
The Vickers tripod of the 1904 model had a mass of 21 kilograms, the height of the line of fire was 710 millimeters, the vertical guidance angle was from -20 to +15 degrees, the horizontal guidance was 45 degrees, its modification of the 1909 model, which had a new lifting mechanism, had a mass of 32 kilograms , vertical guidance angle - from 15 to +16 degrees, horizontal guidance - 52 degrees. The tripod of the 1910 model had a mass of 39 kilograms, the mass of the shield 534x400 millimeters was 7.4 kilograms, the vertical aiming angle was from -25 to +20 degrees, the horizontal one was 52 degrees, it occupied three fixed positions in position.
In 1915, a simpler and lighter machine tool of the Kolesnikov system was adopted for the Maxim machine gun. This machine was produced by the Petrograd gun factory, Kyiv, Bryansk and Petrograd arsenals. The production of shields was carried out by the Izhevsk and Sormovo plants. Kolesnikov's machine had a tubular arrow with an opener and rope loops instead of handles, 305 mm oak wheels with steel tires and hubs and bronze bushings, horizontal and vertical guidance mechanisms, and a shield mount. The disadvantage of the design was the too high location of the axis of the bore relative to the axes of the wheel travel and the vertical guidance mechanism. This increased dispersion during firing. The mass of the machine was 30.7 kilograms, 7 mm shield measuring 498x388 millimeters - 8.2 kilograms, vertical guidance angle - from -25 to +32 degrees, horizontal - 80 degrees. The machine consisted of 166 parts, including knitting needles. During the war, the machine gun and the machine were painted in a protective color.
To save money during the training of machine gunners, instead of live ammunition, they used manufactured cartridges with a reduced powder charge. A box with live ammunition intended for machine guns was marked with the letter "P" before being sent to the troops.
From foreign firms and domestic inventors, a large number of proposals were received regarding sights, as well as devices for commanding "hidden" firing from machine guns. The latter was a periscope sight mounted on the parapet of the trench and an additional trigger lever. Such sights were tested, but not a single sample was adopted for service.
The urgent problem of firing at air targets gave rise to many different options for improvised anti-aircraft installations in the troops. For the Sokolov machine, for example, they developed a rack with a clip for anti-aircraft fire. In the autumn of 1915, master Kolesnikov made a tripod "machine-gun machine for firing at air vehicles." The machine, recognized in the workshops of the Rifle Range, gave high elevation angles and circular fire, the aiming was free, a clip was used to fire “to the point”, a butt could be attached. The titular adviser Fedorov presented an anti-aircraft gun, easily made from improvised materials. The machine gun was placed on it with the Sokolov machine. Such an installation made it possible to fire at vertical guidance angles from +30 to +90 degrees. The 5th Division of the Artkom decided to send out descriptions of these installations to the troops, transferring them from "preparation" at their own discretion. The regular anti-aircraft machine-gun installation was never transferred to the Russian army.
Lieutenant General Kabakov, inspector of the rifle unit in the troops, on October 11, 1913, in a note to the Aeronautical Unit of the Main Directorate of General Staff, gave recommendations for converting the Maxim machine guns into aviation ones - although these recommendations were not implemented, however, five years later, similar changes were made by the Germans to the MG machine gun. 08/18.
The procedure for unloading the machine gun "Maxim" of the 1910 model: Press your fingers from the bottom of the receiver tray on the right side to remove the tape. Pull back twice, and then release the cocking handle located on the right side of the box. Using a pencil or other object suitable for this purpose, make sure that there is no cartridge or cartridge case in the underbarrel front tube. Raise the safety catch to press the trigger lever.
The procedure for partial disassembly of the Maxim machine gun of the 1910 model with the Sokolov machine:
1. Before disassembly, pour out the coolant from the casing. Separate the shield from the machine. To do this: loosen the nut of the connecting bolt; the tail of the bolt head is turned up to a horizontal position; the shield is pulled up.
2. The lid of the box opens by pushing the clasp forward with your thumbs.
3. The lock is removed. To do this: send the handle forward with your right hand to failure; the skeleton of the castle is taken with the left hand and rises slightly upwards; smoothly lowering the handle, the lock rises from the box; the lock turns and is removed from the connecting rod.
4. The drummer descends to release the mainspring. To do this, it is necessary: while holding the combat larva in the extreme upper position, press the tube of the lock levers to the platform; release the drummer from the upper descent; by pressing the tail of the lower descent, smoothly lower the firing pin.
5. The receiver is taken with both hands and removed upwards.
6. The box with the return spring is separated. To do this, the box is moved forward so that the hooks come off the spikes of the box, after which the drum chain is removed from the hook of the return spring.
7. The butt plate extends. To do this, it is necessary to squeeze the head of the split checks with your fingers, pulling it to the side; push the butt plate up by holding its handles with both hands (if it is difficult to extend the butt plate, you can use a special lever device).
8. Fold the handle forward, holding the roller and the valve, push the right valve to the right, grasping the left valve on both sides from the back, pull it out.
9. The frame with the barrel is removed. To do this: the connecting rod will rise and lie on the bloodworm; grab the handle with your right hand, fixing it (do not let it turn), grab the drum with your left hand, push the frame back; grab the barrel and the elongated end of the left bed with your left hand; remove the frame with the barrel from the box.
10. The barrel is separated from the frame. To do this: with the left hand, clasping the end of the left frame and the barrel, with the right hand, the right frame is retracted to the side and removed from the barrel trunnion; after that, the left frame is removed.
11. The trigger pull is removed. To do this, the thrust is applied to itself, rises up at the end and is removed from the box.
12. By turning to the right, the cap is removed from the muzzle; a sleeve is unscrewed from the muzzle with the help of two keys; the muzzle is unscrewed with a drill key.
Machine gun assembly order:
1. Traction is inserted into the box. Its hole is put on a spike in the bottom of the box, while the thrust spike is inserted into the hole in the bottom of the box; traction moves all the way forward.
2. The barrel and frame are connected: take the barrel with the rear gland wound on it in your left hand (the number should be turned up) and put the frame beds on the barrel trunnions - left, and then right.
3. Insert the barrel and frame: put the connecting rod on the bloodworm; carefully slide the barrel into the casing, and the frame into the box.
4. Raise the handle to insert the right valve; push left.
5. Insert the butt plate. To do this, holding the butt plate by the handles, slide it onto the slats of the box with grooves. In this case, it is necessary that the thrust be in the front extreme position. Insert a check on the right side.
6. Attach a box with a return spring. To do this, it is necessary to put the tension screw knob vertically; put the handle in place and put the drum chain on the hook of the spring (the spring is circled from below); while holding the machine gun, move the box forward and put the box hooks on the spikes of the box.
7. Insert receiver. To do this, the receiver is inserted with grooves into the upper cutouts of the box; the slider must be in the left position.
8. Screw in the muzzle. Wind the front gland on the muzzle end of the barrel, screw the sleeve into the muzzle, insert the muzzle into the opening of the casing, and then screw the muzzle.
9. Put a lock in the box. To do this, the connecting rod is raised, and the drummer is cocked to a combat platoon. After that, holding the lock with the horns forward and the combat larva up, put the tube of the lock levers on the connecting rod until it stops, turn the lock and put it in the box; while holding the lock, send the handle forward and release it. The lock should enter the grooves of the frame ribs with its platform.
10. Close the cover of the box.
11. Raise the fuse, press the trigger.
12. Put the cap on the muzzle.
Specifications machine gun "Maxim" sample 1905
Cartridge - 7.62 mm sample of 1891 (7.62x53);
The weight of the "body" of the machine gun (without coolant) - 28.25 kg;
The length of the "body" of the machine gun - 1086 mm;
Barrel length - 720 mm;
The initial speed of the bullet - 617 m / s;
Sighting range - 2000 steps (1422 m);
Rate of fire - 500-600 rounds / min;
Combat rate of fire - 250-300 suffering / min;
Belt capacity - 250 rounds.
Specifications machine gun "Maxim" sample 1910:
Cartridge - 62-mm sample of 1908 (7.62x53);
The weight of the "body" of the machine gun (without coolant) - 18.43 kg;
The length of the "body" of the machine gun - 1067 mm;
Barrel length - 720 mm;
The initial speed of the bullet - 665 m / s;
Rifling - 4 right-hand;
The length of the grooves - 240 mm;
The initial speed of the bullet - 865 m / s;
Sighting range - 3200 steps (2270 m);
The greatest firing range - 3900 m;
The maximum range of a bullet is 5000 m;
Direct shot range - 390 m;
Rate of fire - 600 rounds / min;
Combat rate of fire - 250-300 rounds / min;
Belt capacity - 250 rounds;
Curb tape weight - 7.29 kg;
Tape length - 6060 mm.
Technical characteristics of the Sokolov machine:
Weight with a shield - 43.5 kg;
Angle of vertical guidance - from -19 to +18 degrees;
Angle of horizontal guidance - 70 degrees;
The height of the line of fire is about 500 mm;
The greatest length of the machine gun with the machine - 1350 mm;
Stroke width - 505 mm;
The distance from the center of gravity to the coulter is 745 mm.
Based on materials: S. Fedoseev - Machine guns in the First World War
Machine guns "Maxim"
Machine gun system H. Maxim model 1910/30
The machine gun "Maxim" of the 1910 model of the year is a Russian version of the British machine gun, which was modernized at the Tula Arms Plant under the guidance of masters I. Pastukhov, I. Sudakov and P. Tretyakov. The body weight of the machine gun was reduced and some details were changed: the adoption of a cartridge with a pointed bullet of the 1908 model of the year made it necessary to change the sights in the machine gun and remake the receiver to fit the new cartridge. The English wheeled carriage was replaced by A.Sokolov's lightweight wheeled machine. In addition, A. Sokolov designed cartridge boxes, a gig for carrying cartridges, sealed cylinders for boxes with cartridges. Part of the machine guns had a casing with longitudinal ribs, which increased rigidity and increased the cooling surface, but the fins had to be abandoned in order to simplify production. ( S. Fedoseev. Machine gun "Maxim" model 1910)
Machine guns "Maxim" were used during the First World War and the Civil War, they were used as heavy machine guns, installed on armored cars, armored trains and carts. In 1929, an experimental batch with a corrugated casing was produced, according to some reports with a wide neck, but it was not accepted into production. ( S. L. Fedoseev. "Machine guns of Russia. Heavy fire"). In 1930, the Maxim was modernized in connection with the adoption of a new cartridge with a heavy bullet. A corrugated casing is also introduced to lighten the machine gun. The modernized machine gun was named "7.62 machine gun of the Maxim system, model 1910/30".
Main tactical and technical characteristics:
Body weight of the Maxim machine gun with coolant - 24.2 kg
The weight of the Sokolov machine with a shield is 43.4 kg
Machine gun body length - 1107 mm
The greatest width of the machine gun - 140 mm
Rate of fire - 500-600 rounds per minute
Maximum range of a bullet:
heavy model 1930 - up to 5000 m
light model 1908 - up to 3500 m
The Maxim easel machine gun of the 1910/30 model belongs to automatic weapons systems with barrel recoil (short stroke). Locking is carried out by a crank type mechanism (connecting rod and bloodworm). The trigger mechanism of the machine gun is designed for automatic fire only and has a fuse against accidental shots. The machine gun is fed with cartridges from a slide-type receiver with a metal or canvas tape for 250 rounds. The barrel during firing is cooled by a liquid placed in the casing. Rack-mounted machine gun sight, front sight with a rectangular top.
By the end of the 30s, the design of the machine gun was considered obsolete for rifle units. The time of carts has passed, and the machine gun was powerless against tanks. One of the drawbacks was its former advantage, which allowed continuous firing - water cooling of the barrel. It significantly increased the mass of the weapon, damage to the casing led to the outflow of water, a decrease in the speed and accuracy of fire, and after a while led to the failure of the machine gun. The machine gun became especially inconvenient during operations in the mountains and on the offensive. The machine gun with the machine had a mass of about 65 kg, the weight of the box with the cartridge belt - from 9.88 to 10.3 kilograms, the box with spare parts - 7.2 kilograms. Each heavy machine gun carried a combat set of cartridges, 12 boxes of machine-gun belts, two spare barrels, one box of spare parts, one box of accessories, three cans for water and grease, and an optical machine gun sight. ( From the manual for the infantryman. Chapter 12 1940). This weight significantly reduced the maneuverability of the machine gun during the battle, and the protruding shield made it difficult to disguise. On the march, the machine gun was served by a team consisting of 5-7 people (machine-gun compartment), during the battle - from 2-3 people.
The need for a link metal tape was recognized. Such a tape was used in the PV-1 aircraft machine gun, created on the basis of the Maxim. The fact that this tape was not accepted for ground machine guns is due to the lack of stamping and pressing equipment that allows its mass production.
To replace the "Maxim" on September 22, 1939, a new air-cooled machine gun "Degtyarev easel model of 1939" was adopted for service. But the Tula Arms Plant continued to produce "Maxims" of the 1910/30 model - in 1940, 4049 "Maxim" machine guns were produced, in terms of orders from the people's commissariats of defense for ground weapons, 3000 pieces were scheduled for 1941 ( S. L. Fedoseev. Machine guns of Russia. Heavy fire). Structurally, the DS-39 machine guns turned out to be underdeveloped, in June 1941 they were taken out of production, and the production of Maxims began to increase with the outbreak of war. But already in October 1941, the production of machine guns dropped sharply due to the evacuation of factories.
The main manufacturer of easel machine guns was the Tula Machine-Building Plant No. 66. In October 1941, in connection with the approach of the Nazi troops to Tula, the equipment of plant No. 66 was evacuated to the Urals. The production of machine guns dropped sharply. During the siege of Tula (November - December 1941), on the basis of the Tula Arms Plant and using equipment collected from other enterprises of the city, among other weapons, Degtyarev machine guns - 224, machine guns of the Maxim system - 71 were assembled. In the last quarter of 1941, instead of the planned 12,000 Maxim machine guns, the front received 867. For the whole of 1941, 9,691 Maxim machine guns and 3,717 DS machine guns were produced. S. L. Fedoseev. Machine guns of Russia. Heavy fire).
From 4 to 12 October 1941, engineers Yu.A. Kozarin and I.E. Lubenets under the leadership of the chief designer A.A. Tronenkov at the Tula Arms Plant undertook another modernization of the Maxim machine gun in accordance with the new combat and production and economic requirements. To fill the casing with ice and snow, it was equipped with a wide neck with a hinged lid - this solution was borrowed from the Finnish Maxim M32-33, which the Soviet army had to face in 1940. The machine gun was equipped with a simplified sight with one aiming bar instead of two, which were replaced earlier, depending on the shooting with a light or heavy bullet, the bracket for the optical sight was removed from the machine gun machine, since the latter was not attached to the machine gun.
For the use of metal and canvas tapes I.E. Lubenz developed a milled receiver, for the convenience of unloading it was equipped with a special switch for the upper fingers. But, in order to maximize the use of large stocks of canvas tapes, receivers only for them continued to be produced throughout the war. Then, in October, the People's Commissariat of Armaments and the GAU approved design changes, but the improvement continued. Receivers from 1942 began to be produced from silumin by injection molding or from steel by broach.
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In October 1941, engineers Lubenets and Kozarin, under the guidance of the chief designer of the N66 plant, Tronenkov, undertook another modernization of Maxim in accordance with the requirements for the production of machine guns in wartime conditions and the mobilization of the economy.
To fill the barrel casing with snow and ice, the machine gun was equipped with a wide neck with a hinged lid - the solution was borrowed from the Finnish Maxim of the 1932 model, which the Red Army had to deal with in the Finnish war.
Throughout the war, they tried to increase the combat capabilities of Maxim and directly in the troops, for example, they often removed the shield from the machine gun - speed of movement and less visibility were the best protection. For camouflage, in addition to coloring, they used covers for the casing and shield. In winter, Maxim was put on skis or sleds, on a drag boat (they were also useful in swampy areas), from which they fired.
And yet, modernization could not eliminate the main drawback of Maxim - a large weight, on average 20–24 kg higher than modern foreign models. The supply of machine guns with water caused great difficulties. It was difficult to operate with Maxim in the mountains, where the fighters had to use tripods made in army workshops instead of regular machines.
In 1943, the Pyotr Goryunov SG-43 heavy machine gun with an air-cooled barrel was adopted, which was superior to Maxim in many respects. The first serial samples entered the troops in the fall of 1943. But the old man - Maxim continued to be produced until 1945 at the machine-tool plant No. 535 in Tula and plant No. 524 in Izhevsk, retaining the role of the main heavy machine gun of the Soviet infantry in the Great Patriotic War.