The Redline Home Guard’s latest training evening saw the section turn its attention to two iconic water-cooled machine guns: the American Browning and the British Vickers.
With both weapons forming part of our display equipment, the evening provided a chance for members to take a closer look at their history, development and operation, while also comparing the different approaches taken to producing two weapons designed to perform a very similar role.
The Browning Water-Cooled Machine Gun
Sgt Quigley began the evening with an in-depth session on the Browning water-cooled machine gun, taking members through the history and development of the weapon, its operating system and its key characteristics and specifications.
The session gave members a better understanding of how the Browning worked, how it developed over its service life and the practical considerations involved in operating a heavy, water-cooled machine gun.
Particular attention was also given to the unusual wheeled mounting on which his Browning is displayed. Rather than being a standard military mounting, it is a home-made affair that allows the considerable weight of the gun and its equipment to be moved more easily.
It is exactly the sort of improvised solution that feels very appropriate for a Home Guard display. During the Second World War, Home Guard units frequently had to make use of whatever equipment, materials and local ingenuity were available to them, so his improvised wheeled mounting certainly looks the part!
Compare this original photograph with Sgt Quigley’s home-made wheeled Browning mount (some photo editing may have occurred!).
The Vickers Machine Gun
2/Lt Chambers then took over proceedings with a detailed look at the Vickers machine gun.
Members were taken through the weapon’s history and development, its operating principles, specifications and characteristics, along with the practicalities of using and maintaining such a weapon in service.
The Vickers is one of the most famous British machine guns of the 20th century and remained in British service for many decades. Looking at the weapon in detail provided an opportunity to appreciate both the engineering behind it and the considerable amount of equipment, ammunition and manpower required to keep a machine gun team operating effectively.
With both weapons available side-by-side, the evening concluded with a comparison between the Browning and Vickers. Although both are belt-fed, water-cooled machine guns intended to provide sustained fire, there are some fascinating differences in their design, operation and development.
Having the two weapons together made for a particularly useful training session, allowing members to move beyond simply learning about each gun individually and instead directly compare the different engineering solutions adopted by their designers.
Another Good Night’s Training
The original plan for the evening had also included some outdoor drill, but the inclement weather had other ideas. Rather than getting thoroughly soaked, the decision was made to keep the evening focused on indoor weapons training.
Despite the weather, it proved to be another enjoyable and informative training night, giving members plenty of useful knowledge that can be brought into our displays and conversations with the public at future events.
And, as has become something of a Redline training-night tradition, once the serious business was concluded the section retired to the pub for some well-earned refreshments.
Another successful evening of training for the Redline Home Guard.
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