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Lewis gun
light machine gun / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lewis gun (or Lewis automatic machine gun or Lewis automatic rifle) is a First World War–era light machine gun.
Quick Facts Type, Place of origin ...
Lewis gun | |
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Type | Light machine gun |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1914–1953 |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | First World War Easter Rising Pancho Villa Expedition[1] Emu War Banana Wars Irish War of Independence Irish Civil War Russian Civil War Latvian War of Independence Polish–Soviet War Chaco War Spanish Civil War Second World War Korean War Malayan Emergency 1948 Arab–Israeli War Vietnam War Algerian War The Troubles and other conflicts |
Production history | |
Designer | Samuel McClean Isaac Newton Lewis The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited |
Designed | 1911 |
Manufacturer | The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited or BSA Savage Arms Co. |
Produced | 1913–1942 |
No. built | At least 202,050 (50,000 in First World War and 152,050 in Second World War) |
Variants | Mks I–V Aircraft Pattern Anti-Aircraft configuration Light Infantry Pattern Savage M1917 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 28 pounds (13 kg) |
Length | 50.5 inches (1,280 mm) |
Barrel length | 26.5 inches (670 mm) |
Width | 4.5 inches (110 mm) |
Cartridge | .303 British .30-06 Springfield 7.92×57mm Mauser 7.62×54mmR |
Action | Gas-operated long stroke gas piston, rotating open bolt |
Rate of fire | 500–600 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 2,440 feet per second (740 m/s) |
Effective firing range | 880 yards (800 m) |
Maximum firing range | 3,500 yards (3,200 m) |
Feed system | 47- or 97-round pan magazine |
Sights | Blade and tangent leaf |
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