CODE – 04-132-916
NAME – Model 1916 Aircraft type
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1916
CALIBER – 7.7x56mmR (.303 British)
OVERALL LENGTH – 106.2 cm (41.8 in) with spade-grip
BARREL LENGTH –66.2 cm (26.05 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 4-Groove, Left-hand twist, 1 turn in 25.4 cm (1 turn in 10 in)
LOAD – Mk VII Composite Jacketed Spitzer
BULLET DIAMETER – 7.90 mm (0.311 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 11.34 g (175 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 747 m/s (2450 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 3163 j (2333 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 7.82 kg (17 lb 4 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 11.53 kg (25 lb 7 oz) loaded with 97 rounds Mk VII Ball
WEIGHT (MOUNTED) – 12.89 kg (28 lb 7 oz) with mounting yolk, ejection port deflector, loaded with 97 rounds Mk VII Ball
TYPE OF MOUNT – Mounting Yolk
WEIGHT OF MOUNT – 0.48 kg (1 lb 1 oz)
WEIGHT OF EJECTION PORT DEFLECTOR – 0.88 kg (1 lb 15 oz
SIGHTS – Open, iron, fixed, Front sight – Bead on post. Rear sight, Aperture on post, adjustable for zero
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 805 m (880 yards)
OPERATION – Gas, fires from open bolt
TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic
RATE OF FIRE – 200-250 rpm
CYCLIC ROF – 375-600 rpm using variable gas port
FEED DEVICE – 47 or 97 round pan-type drum magazine
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 47-round – 0.68 kg (1 lb 8 oz), 97-round – 1.30 kg (2 lb 14 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 47-round – 1.85 kg (4 lb 1 oz) with 47 rounds Mk VII Ball, 97-round– 3.71 kg (8 lb 3 oz) with 97 rounds Mk VII Ball
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – Six – 97-round magazines (582 rounds)
LOAD WEIGHT – 22.26 kg (49 lb 1 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Savage Arms Co., Utica, New York USA
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – British Royal Flying Corps, French Flying Corps
This is the US-manufactured version of the final British Mk II Aircraft Lewis gun, produced for the British forces. The ejection port deflector was a device that clipped onto the receiver over the ejection port and guided empty fired brass into a holding bag. The device helped keep ejected brass from jamming the cables to the aircraft’s controls. This weapon was also produced by the Savage Arms Co. chambered and adjusted for firing the US 7.62x63mm (30-06) round. This was considered by Savage to meet an upcoming market as the United States entered into active combat in World War I.
