Hi All,
In his book on German Aircraft Armament, Harry Woodman says simply that: "In 1917 the Germans were seeking a gun with a greater rate of fire but a new type of machine gun takes time to develop...The Siemens Works had started to experiment with a powered machine gun (that is, a machine gun in the true sense of the term, where the gun is fired mechanically and does not rely on blowback and recoil) but did not proceed beyond this stage."
Yet, it certainly seems that Siemens DID produce some working examples which were tested in the field. There is the famous photo of
Josef Mai, Siemens Engineer Kaendler and
Fritz Rumey, posing with their two Albatros D.Va's armed with the Siemens "Motor" M.G.'s. According to the caption in C & C Volume 18 No. 3, pp. 280-281, "The two aircraft were experimentally fitted with Siemens machine guns capable of firing 1400 shots per minute. The flyers were cautioned to keep the aircraft within German lines during combat in order to prevent them from falliing into Allied hands. Several Pfalz D.XII aircraft were similarly equipped." There is another photo showing Engineer Kaendler with Jasta 5 guys in their Kasino, and the caption says he was checking out the installation of the experimental machine guns. I presume that historian Bill Puglisi provided these captions, and he was very well-informed and meticulous in his research.
In addition, the Ferko archives contain a photo of a Jasta 58 Albatros D.Va (D.5675/17) also equipped with the Siemens guns.Sadly, none of the photos provide many clear details of the guns. However, Pete Grosz told me he has seen reports from pilots in the Siemens Archives, telling about their successes using the "motor" machine guns. Yes, I've tried to get Pete to publish these reports but he's been too busy before now.Hopefully, someday more info and illustrations may emerge from the Siemens archives.
Greg VanWyngarden