Reloading Guns

54thAIB · 10 April 2009, 05:56 PM

Hello and many thanks for the input and advice on this matter. I appreciate the welcome and feedback. My question centered around whether or how a SPAD pilot cocked his Vickers in flight. Cocking a machine gun involves a quick, sharp pull on the loading lever to chamber the first round.The presumption was that the weapons were already loaded and the belts fed into the receivers on the ground. I thank Nacho for pointing out that the pilot would then cock the weapons before take off. That would be easier than in the air. So back to my question about the position of these levers- any thoughts about whether they pointed up or down into the cockpit? And once in flight, if the gun(s) jammed, SPADs had mallets onboard to smack the gun or levers to clear a jam. Then they would need to re-cock the weapon to resume firing. Did they try to reach over the windscreen to bang these guns or pound away on the levers inside the cockpit? Thanks for the advice about the Sopwiths having a similar set up. I'll check that out since I'm not yet familiar with that aircraft. Much obliged.

tcrean7828 · 10 April 2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54thAIB

Hello and many thanks for the input and advice on this matter. I appreciate the welcome and feedback. My question centered around whether or how a SPAD pilot cocked his Vickers in flight. Cocking a machine gun involves a quick, sharp pull on the loading lever to chamber the first round.The presumption was that the weapons were already loaded and the belts fed into the receivers on the ground. I thank Nacho for pointing out that the pilot would then cock the weapons before take off. That would be easier than in the air. So back to my question about the position of these levers- any thoughts about whether they pointed up or down into the cockpit? And once in flight, if the gun(s) jammed, SPADs had mallets onboard to smack the gun or levers to clear a jam. Then they would need to re-cock the weapon to resume firing. Did they try to reach over the windscreen to bang these guns or pound away on the levers inside the cockpit? Thanks for the advice about the Sopwiths having a similar set up. I'll check that out since I'm not yet familiar with that aircraft. Much obliged.

Mate,
Welcome to the flagship of the Aerodrome - where the greatest minds on the planet get together and talk about their favorite subject - WW1.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

P.S.

Werner Voss fan here.

Tim West · 10 April 2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54thAIB

Hello and many thanks for the input and advice on this matter. I appreciate the welcome and feedback. My question centered around whether or how a SPAD pilot cocked his Vickers in flight. Cocking a machine gun involves a quick, sharp pull on the loading lever to chamber the first round.The presumption was that the weapons were already loaded and the belts fed into the receivers on the ground. I thank Nacho for pointing out that the pilot would then cock the weapons before take off. That would be easier than in the air. So back to my question about the position of these levers- any thoughts about whether they pointed up or down into the cockpit? And once in flight, if the gun(s) jammed, SPADs had mallets onboard to smack the gun or levers to clear a jam. Then they would need to re-cock the weapon to resume firing. Did they try to reach over the windscreen to bang these guns or pound away on the levers inside the cockpit? Thanks for the advice about the Sopwiths having a similar set up. I'll check that out since I'm not yet familiar with that aircraft. Much obliged.

I still think the instrument panel would have not allowed for the handles to be modified to point into the cockpit. Also the pilot wasnt that far away from the handles..so it wasnt that far of a reach. imho..of course

54thAIB · 12 April 2009, 07:12 PM

Tim: Thanks for the pic. Is that a SPAD cockpit? Your suggestion about the Sopwiths has led to some very good information. There are some really clear pics of Sopwith cockpits where the Vickers levers are shown in the downward positon. I've even found some good pictures of aircraft vickers up close that show the same thing. So it looks like the levers could positioned either way. If I'm adept enough at this I'll insert some pics into this thread. Your original question about whether the downward levers would work on a SPAD though is still a valid one.
Your pic with the cocking levers with the extra pull handle might work. Thanks again.
Regrettably, I can't yet paste over the pictures I wanted to share.

Tim West · 12 April 2009, 07:19 PM

Yes, that's a SPAD 13. There are SPAD 7 photos around that show the same thing. I am rather surprised someone smarter than me hasnt chimed in. You might try posting your questions in the replica builders area.

I hope you are able to post your photos soon

54thAIB · 17 April 2009, 06:39 PM

Sory for the delayed return. I work some crazy hours

. But inspite of that, what research I've been able to do has turned up very little images that are clear enough to see the weapons in a SPAD-- enough on Camels. You mentioned some SPAD 7 images. Can you tell me where than be seen? Thanks again.

John McKenzie · 19 April 2009, 10:51 AM

Vickers Repro. Sopwith Kauper interupter gear & cocking lever

t.com/albums/vv196/mckenziejohnny/---_0225.jpg[/IMG]Repro.Spandau 08/15

John McKenzie · 19 April 2009, 10:53 AM

John McKenzie · 19 April 2009, 10:57 AM

54thAIB · 19 April 2009, 06:42 PM

Thanks for the views particularly of the Vickers. Now my curiosity is up about the functions of the parts on the rear of the Vickers. Ihaven't seen those on on other images. If I did it right there will be several views of Vickers that I've collected. One with the cocking levers upwards; one with them down; and one of the Memorial Flight SPAD which doesn't really show much.