Hotchkiss Machine Guns

The air-cooled Hotchkiss machine gun was the first to function effectively by tapping propellant gas from the bore as the gun fired. Although the Hotchkiss would be overshadowed by the water-cooled Maxim and Vickers Guns, it proved successful enough to develop the Modèle Portative: a man-portable version which, it was hoped, could move with infantrymen as they advanced. Later mounted on tanks and aircraft, it became the first automatic weapon to obtain a 'kill' in aerial combat. This is an illustrated overview of the Odkolek-Hotchkiss system, from World War I to Japan and the Pacific island landings. Here, a succession of derivatives found favour in theatres of operations in which water-cooling could be more of a liability than an asset, such as the 'Woodpecker' - the Type 92 Hotchkiss, with its characteristically slow rate of fire - which cut swathes through the US ranks. Supported by contemporary photographs and full-colour illustrations, this title explores the exciting and eventful history of the first successful gas-operated machine gun.

John Walter is among the world's most prolific writers on small arms - author of 70 books, translated into more than a dozen languages. Adam Hook began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions and has illustrated numerous Osprey titles on diverse subjects. Alan Gilliland spent 18 years as the award-winning graphics editor of the Daily Telegraph. He now writes, illustrates and publishes fiction (www.ravensquill.com), as well as illustrating for a variety of publishers (alangillilandillustration.blogspot.com).

Introduction Development Use Impact Conclusion Bibliography Index