| Vickers-Berthier | |
|---|---|
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by | British Empire |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Vickers-Armstrong, |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 24.4 lb (11.1 kg) |
| Length | 45.5 in (1.156 m) |
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| Cartridge | .303 British |
| Calibre | 0.303 in (7.7 mm) |
| Action | gas |
| Rate of fire | 450-600 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,450 ft/s (745 m/s) |
| Feed system | box 30 rounds |
| Sights | Iron |
The Vickers-Berthier (VB) light machine gun manufactured by Vickers-Armstrong was based on a French design of just before World War I. In 1925 Vickers in Britain purchased licence rights for production in their Crayford factory, and as a replacement for the Lewis Gun.
History
During the 1932 British Army trials of several Light machine guns, the Vickers-Berthier was in direct competition with the Bren gun. The British army adopted the Bren, and the Vickers-Berthier was adopted instead by the British Indian Army. A production line for the Vickers-Berthier Light Machine-Gun Mk 3 was established at the Ishapore Rifle Factory, India, and the weapon still remains in reserve use in India. Although it wasn't as reliable as the Bren and it has a slower firing rate, it was a more portable weapon.
The Vickers-Berthier Light Machine Gun has a 30-round box magazine and a bipod stand, and is sometimes mistaken for the Bren for their recognisable standard curved magazine. Apart from India, it was only sold to a few Baltic and South American states. But the design was modified into the Vickers K machine gun, called the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO).
External links
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