Lewis/Revelli/Parabellum/WHATEVER

Billy_Bishop · 9 April 2001, 05:16 AM

I was wondering if ANYONE knew what the normal ammo load of drums was for Lewis guns, both as pilot armament and as a flexible observer's gun, as well as other flexible drum/magazine fed weapons that were used by the forces engaged in aerial combat during WWI.

Thanks,

Al Lowe

9 April 2001, 06:08 AM

I am not sure on these numbers, but I beleive the drums came in sizes of 47 and 98 (the latter more common), and usually 4 drums were carried aloft. Hope this helps.

Grant

Billy_Bishop · 9 April 2001, 06:17 AM

It does help some. I am familar with the magazine capacity of the Lewis, but I would like more info on the other machine gunes carried into the air.

Thanks Again,

Al Lowe

9 April 2001, 01:48 PM

97 rounds, Lewis double stacked (aviation)drum magazine carried 97 rounds!! That's 'niner seven'. Hehe!

Regards,
Steve

Billy_Bishop · 9 April 2001, 04:04 PM

Ok, now, can someone tell me what the magazine capacities of the OTHER aircraft FLEXIBLE machine guns were, AND, how many spare magazines, or TOTAL magazines did they carry???

Thank you,

Al Lowe

rammjaeger · 10 April 2001, 05:37 AM

Al,

the Parabellum had 100 rounds or - seldom - 200 rounds magazins (source: Roeder: Bombenflugzeuge und Aufklärer). I think the number of spare drums was depending on the latter and other factors. I guess the minimum for 100 rounds-mags was 4 but I could be wrong.

Billy_Bishop · 10 April 2001, 05:52 AM

Hi Hannes,

Thanks for the info! If you ever find out conclusively what the number of spare magazines was, let me know!

VBR,

Al Lowe

rammjaeger · 10 April 2001, 08:38 AM

My guess seems to be good because Chomton´s book "Soldat in den Wolken" (Soldier in the Clouds) has a sentence saying that four spare drums were stored in the machine.
Only a book by the Inspector of the Idflieg, Siegert, confuses me. He has a table with all items belonging to a standard C-aircraft.
It claims that 5500 (!!) rounds were on board. I could easier believe in 1500.