https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Vickers%E2%80%93BerthierVickers–Berthier - Revision history2026-08-18T10:32:52ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vickers%E2%80%93Berthier&diff=368055&oldid=prevBot: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.2022-12-02T03:02:01Z<p>robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my <a href="/wiki/User_talk:Bot" title="User talk:Bot">talk page</a>.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=September 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox weapon<br />
| name = Vickers–Berthier<br />
| image = Vickers-Berthier-M1924-light-machine-gun-batey-haosef-1.jpg<br />
| image_size = 300<br />
| caption = <br />
| origin = France/United Kingdom<ref name="Gazette 85"/><br />
| type = Light machine gun<br />
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged = yes<br />
| is_UK = yes<br />
<!-- Service history -->| service = <br />
| used_by = See [[Vickers–Berthier#Use|users]]<br />
| wars = [[Chaco War]]<br>[[Spanish Civil War]]<br>[[World War II]]<br />
<!-- Production history -->| designer = André Virgile Paul Marie Berthier<br />
| design_date = 1910 <small>(first version)</small><br>1925 <small>(Vickers-Berthier)</small><br />
| manufacturer = [[Vickers-Armstrong]], [[Rifle Factory Ishapore]]<br />
| production_date = 1933-1942{{sfn|Grant|2013|page=22}}<br />
| number = <br />
| variants = <!-- General specifications --><br />
| weight = 24.4 lb (11.1 kg)<br />
| length = 45.5 in (1.156 m)<br />
| part_length = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications --><br />
| cartridge = <br />
| caliber = [[.303 British]], [[7.65×53mm Mauser]]<br />
| action = Gas-operated, tilting breech-block<br />
| rate = 450-600 round/min<br />
| velocity = 2,450 ft/s (745 m/s)<br />
| range = <br />
| max_range = <br />
| feed = 30 rounds box magazine<br />
| sights = Iron<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The '''Vickers–Berthier''' (VB) is a [[light machine gun]] that was produced by the British company [[Vickers-Armstrong]]. It was adopted by the [[British Indian Army]] and saw combat during [[World War II]].<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
=== Berthier machine gun ===<br />
The Vickers–Berthier was based on a [[France|French]] design of just before [[World War I]]. It was proposed for use with infantry as ''Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modèle 1910'', ''Modèle 1911'', ''Modèle 1912'', ''Modèle 1916'' and ''Modèle 1920''.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=La Gazette des armes|title= Le F.M. Berthier 1908-1922|language=fr|first=Pierre|last=Lorain|issue=84|date=July 1980|pages=34–38|url=http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-84-jui-aou-1980/page-34-35-texte-integral}}</ref> It was also proposed in 1918 to [[US Army]] which finally refused it.{{sfn|Willbanks|2004|p=96}} A later version, the ''Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modèle 1922'', competed for the replacement of the [[Chauchat]] LMG in the [[French army]] but the [[FM 24/29 light machine gun|''Fusil Mitrailleur MAC modèle 1924'']] was adopted.<ref name="Gazette 85"/><br />
<br />
=== Vickers-Berthier machine gun ===<br />
In 1925 Vickers in Britain purchased licence rights of the Berthier Model 1922<ref name="Gazette 85">{{cite magazine|magazine=La Gazette des armes|title= Le F.M. Berthier 1908-1922: II. L'arme de guerre|first= Pierre|last=Lorain |issue=85|language=fr|date=September 1980|url=http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-85-septembre-1980/page-16-17-texte-integral|pages=17–20}}</ref> for production in their Crayford factory, and as a replacement for the [[Lewis Gun]]. It was an alternative to the water-cooled [[Vickers machine gun]] made by the same company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vickers LMG |website=Forgotten Weapons.com |date=2 March 2011 |url=http://www.forgottenweapons.com/light-machine-guns/vickers-rifle/}}</ref> The weapon used a gas and tipping bolt mechanism similar to the Bren gun, was air-cooled like the Bren and also like the Bren had a removable barrel. It was adopted by the Indian Army in 1933.{{sfn|Grant|2013|p=12}}<br />
During the [[British Army]] trials of several light machine guns which began in 1932, the Vickers–Berthier was in direct competition with the [[ZB vz. 26]]. The British Army adopted the latter, modified and known as the [[Bren light machine gun]], and the Vickers–Berthier was adopted by the [[British Indian Army]].{{sfn|Grant|2013|page=10}} A production line for the Vickers–Berthier Light Machine-Gun Mk 3 was established at the [[Rifle Factory Ishapore]].{{sfn|Bishop|1998|p=245}}<br />
<br />
==Appearance and Design==<br />
The Vickers–Berthier Light Machine Gun has a 30-round box magazine and a bipod stand, and is sometimes mistaken for the Bren as both used a similar curved magazine to accommodate the rimmed [[.303 British]] cartridge.{{sfn|Bishop|1998|p=245}}<br />
<br />
It was slightly heavier, at {{convert|24|lb|kg}}, than the Bren at {{convert|22|lb|kg}}. It was also slightly longer, and harder to stow away. The Vickers–Berthier also had a slower cyclic rate of 500 rpm.{{sfn|Grant|2013|page=14}} The only major advantage the weapon had over the Bren was the far simpler design; it could be produced more efficiently.{{sfn|Grant|2013|page=10}}<br />
<br />
It existed in five versions : Mk I, Mk II, Mk II light, Mk III and Mk IIIB.<ref name ='VB acant'>{{cite web|title=Vickers-Berthier and VGO Machine Guns|first=Don|last=Davie|access-date=5 July 2018|website=acant.org.au|url=http://www.acant.org.au/Articles/VickersMGs.html}}</ref> Mark 1 was introduced in 1928, Mark 2 in 1931 and Mark 3 in 1933.<ref name='Modern Firearms'>{{cite web|title=Vickers-Berthier|first=Maxim |last=Popenker|website=modernfirearms.net|date=27 October 2010 |url=https://modernfirearms.net/en/machineguns/great-britain-machineguns/vickers-berthier-eng/|access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Use==<br />
Apart from India, it was only sold to [[Latvia]] and [[Bolivia]],{{sfn|Grant|2018|p=76}} but the design was modified into the [[Vickers K machine gun]], called the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO).{{sfn|Bishop|1998|p=245}}<br />
<br />
In Indian service, it was replaced from 1942 by Brens{{sfn|Grant|2013|page=45 & 48}} but continued to serve with reserve units of the [[Indian Army]] into the 1980s.<ref name="Gazette 85"/><br />
<br />
=== Users ===<br />
* {{flag|Bolivia}}<ref name ='Chaco'>{{cite book|author=Alejandro de Quesada|title=The Chaco War 1932-35: South America's greatest modern conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dTm3CwAAQBAJ|date=20 November 2011 |publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84908-901-2|page=24}}</ref><br />
* {{flag|British India}}{{sfn|Bishop|1998|p=245}}<br />
* {{flag|India}}{{sfn|Bishop|1998|p=245}}<br />
* {{flag|Latvia}}:<ref>{{cite web|first=Artis|last= Drēziņš|date=9 November 2012|language=lv|url=http://m.la.lv/latvijas-valsts-armija-gadu-griezos-2/|title=Latvijas valsts armija gadu griežos|work=la.lv|access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref> Vickers–Berthier Mk I, more than 800 by April 1936<ref name='More acant'/><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dambītis|first=Kārlis|date=2016|title=Latvijas armijas artilērija 1919.-1940.g.: Vieta bruņotajos spēkos, struktūra un uzdevumi|trans-title=Artillery of the Latvian Army (1918 - 1940): structure, tasks and place in the Armed forces|url=https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/31857?locale-attribute=en|journal=University of Latvia, PhD Thesis|pages=225}}</ref><br />
* {{flag|Paraguay|1842}}: Captured from Bolivia<ref name ='Chaco'/><br />
* {{flag|Portugal}}: small numbers bought,<ref name="Gazette 85"/> known as ''m/931''{{sfn|Smith|1969|p=[https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit/page/530 530]}}<br />
* {{flagicon|Spain|1785}} [[Restoration (Spain)|Kingdom of Spain]]: small numbers bought<ref name="Gazette 85"/><br />
* {{flag|Spanish Republic}}: 322 sold by Paraguay in 1936<ref name ='Chaco'/><br />
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}: limited use<ref name='More acant'>{{cite web|title=More on the Vickers-Berthier|first=Don|last=Davie|access-date=5 July 2018|website=acant.org.au|url=http://www.acant.org.au/Articles/MoreVickersBerthier.html}}</ref><br />
* {{flag|Afghanistan}}: Used by Taliban {{cn|date=December 2021}}<br />
<br />
=== Failed bids ===<br />
* {{flag|Romania}}: Vickers–Berthier gun was tested in 1927-1928, without success{{sfn|Grant|2018|p=90}}<br />
* {{flag|Greece}}: Tested by [[Greek Army]] in 1925, which chose [[Hotchkiss M1922 machine gun|Hotchkiss machine gun]] instead{{sfn|Grant|2018|p=62}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==Bibliography==<br />
<!-- --><br />
* {{cite book|last=Bishop|first=Chris|title=The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II|year=1998 |publisher=MetroBooks|location=New York|isbn=1-58663-762-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MuGsf0psjvcC&q=vicker+berthier+indian+army&pg=PA245}}<br />
* {{cite book|title=Between Depression and Disarmament: The International Armaments Business, 1919–1939 |first=Jonathan A|last=Grant|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=9781108428354 |date=2018 |doi=10.1017/9781108552721 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dLpQDwAAQBAJ&q=vickers+berthier+latvia&pg=PA76}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Grant|first= Neil |year=2013|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZWdAwAAQBAJ |title=The Bren Gun|publisher= Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1782000822|series=Weapon 22}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Smith|first=Joseph E.|year=1969|title=Small Arms of the World|edition=9th |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|publisher=The Stackpole Company|isbn=0-8117-1566-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit |url-access=registration}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Willbanks|first=James H.|year=2004 |title=Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWkYoAkoMHIC&pg=PA226 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-85109-480-6}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=qOIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA892&dq=Popular+Science+1930+plane+%22Popular+Mechanics%22&hl=en&ei=_7BlTsWeBYTWgQf9mIiLCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&sqi=2&ved=0CE8Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=true "Rifle-Machine Gun Increases Efficiency of Infantry" ''Popular Mechanics'', December 1930] early article with photos of first Vickers–Berthier<br />
* Berthier's patents for twin machine guns : {{patent|US|1446635}}, {{patent|FR|515677}}, {{patent|GB|143529}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vickers-Berthier}}<br />
[[Category:Light machine guns]]<br />
[[Category:World War II machine guns]]<br />
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons]]<br />
[[Category:Machine guns of India]]<br />
[[Category:Vickers]]<br />
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of the United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:Machine guns of the United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1930s]]</div>Bot