Rigid feed-strips

The improvements and new features of the Hotchkiss machine gun were thoroughly described in US patent No. 564-043 granted on July 14 1896 to L. V. Benét and H. A. Mercié, assignors to the Hotchkiss Ordnance Company Limited, London. Among many other features, this patent fully describes the original designs of both rigid feed strips and articulated belt. All relevant features incorporated into the rigid feed-strip design are described in the patent. The following paragraph is fully excerpted from the patent:

“The feed strip S, figs 64 to 66, consists of a narrow sheet of brass, tin, or other elastic material and may be of any convenient length, containing in general from twenty to fifty cartridges. Longitudinal ribs s are formed to give it stiffness. Three rows of clips s’ s² s3 are formed, as shown, to hold the cartridges. The front row of clips s’ embraces the cartridges at the neck from the right, the middle row s² holds the body of the cartridges from the left, and the rear row s3 holds the cartridges near the heads from the right. Small projections s4 are thrown up in line with the cartridge-heads and prevent withdrawal of the cartridges to the rear. The opening S’, formed in the strip when the clips s² are thrown up, are so formed that the front sides are spaced to the pitch of the feed-wheel P5, the teeth of which engage therein, as shown in figure 60. Also the rear edges of the clips s² are rounded, as shown at s5, to aid in raising the head of the cartridge to the level of the chamber. To the rear, the strip is cut away at s6 to permit the lever arm r of the lock R, Fig. 15, to rise when the last cartridge in the strip is in the loading position. The abutment s7 is formed on the front of each strip to engage the feed-wheel on the introduction of the strip into the feed-table and the tail s8 on the rear to accomplish its ejection.”

The first Hotchkiss machine guns chambered for the French 8x50R Lebel cartridge were acquired by the French Army in 1899. By 1904, around 400 Hotchkiss machine guns, officially referenced to as Mitrailleuse Hotchkiss Model 1900, were fielded for testing within several Cavalry Regiments, Alpine Mountain Troops and Saharan Desert Units.

Hotchkiss machine guns contemporarily offered for export in various calibers (6.5×55 Swedish, 7×57 Mauser, 7.65×54 Mauser, .303 British, etc.) for many different customers were usually fed with 30-round rigid strips and sometimes with articulated belts. The standard pitch between 2 adjacent cartridges was chosen at ~13.5mm, which corresponds to the rim diameter of .303 British cartridges. Accordingly, the .303 cartridges can be seated with the rims exactly in contact with each other while any other rimless cartridges would then also be able to fit the same strip since they have a smaller cartridge base. The total length of the standard 30-round strips is ~418mm (16.46 in.). The ammunition chests intended to carry the feed-strips were designed accordingly with regards to the total length of the strip.

The French Hotchkiss Model 1900 was chambered for the rimmed 8x50R Lebel cartridges. The rim diameter of that cartridge is 16mm which, accordingly, is larger than the pitch of the standard 30-round feed strips and therefore cannot be accommodated in these. This feature necessitated the design of a dedicated strip for 8mm Lebel rounds with increased pitch. The pitch chosen for the new strip was 16mm that corresponds exactly to the rim diameter of the 8mm Lebel cartridges and therefore the rims are exactly in contact with each other when the strip is properly filled. Since the standard ammunition wrappers contained 8 rounds, the total capacity of the strip was set at 24 rounds so as to expend exactly three ammunition wrappers to fill one strip. These 24-round feed strips are ~395mm (15.55 in.) long. As they are slightly shorter than the standard 30-round strips they can also fit into the same standard ammunition chests. The 24-round Model 1900 strips are made of brass and bear a very tiny marking representing a shield with a letter inside. So far, no definitive identification of the meaning of this marking has been discovered though it is suspected that this might probably be an inspector’s mark rather than a manufacturer’s logo. Thus, a brass strip with a capacity of 24 rounds only can be clearly identified as for the Hotchkiss Model1900 in caliber 8mm Lebel.

After several important improvements, a modernized version of the Hotchkiss Model 1900 was subsequently adopted by the French Army as the Model 1914. It remained fed with 24-round rigid feed strips. However, in order to enable repetitive reloading and increase durability, the feed strips were made of steel with an improved design of the stamping pattern of the base of the clips holding the cartridge cases. The design of these strips remained unchanged until the very end of service life of the Hotchkiss Model 1914. The early strips were blued (dark black color) whereas those produced since the end of the mid 1930s were phosphated. The strips usually bear stamped manufacturer’s initials although some productions are unmarked.

During WW2, the Hotchkiss Model 1914 remained in service being used by the German Army to equip second line troops and units installed all along the French coast on the Atlantic wall. Whereas 8mm Lebel ammunition specifically intended for Hotchkiss machine guns were still produced for the use and under control of the German occupation forces, it remains unknown whether production of Hotchkiss feed strips was also resumed during the German occupation. So far, no original 24-round feed strips with German WaA inspection stamp or any out-of-pattern markings have been observed by the author.

The rigid feed-strips were carried in different types of ammunition field chests mainly made of wood with some steel reinforcing parts. These field chests accommodate 12 rigid strips, which represents a total of 288 rounds. The chests are divided into 6 compartments with each containing 2 strips arranged tail-to-toe. Three different models of chest are used: Model Puteaux, Model Hotchkiss and Model 1915. The same chests were also used simultaneously to accommodate 12 strips for the St-Etienne Model 1907 machine gun. The Hotchkiss and St-Etienne strips are totally different and cannot be used interchangeably.

The total number of cartridges contained in the chest is the clue to readily take apart the type of strips contained in the chests. The chests for the Hotchkiss guns are marked with paint “12 bandes 288 cartouches” (12 strips 288 cartridges) and sometimes also a large letter “H”. For the chests containing St-Etienne 1907 feed strips, the markings with paint is “12 bandes 300 cartouches” according to the capacity of the feed strips of 25 rounds.

When first issued to the troops, rigid feed strips were usually supplied pre-loaded from the ammunition depots or directly from the ammunition factories. After the original ammunition content was fired, the strips were repeatedly reloaded by the troops in the units. A total of 1,872 rounds fitted on 78 strips were shipped in wood ammunition crates “N°6 mle. 1908” and later “N°6 mle. 1908-1923” with zinc inner liner. Loaded strips were wrapped with paper either individually or by pair arranged tail-to-toe. Paper wrappers were sometimes printed with the content designation. Usually, standard practice was to provide in each ammunition shipping crate a stack of small loose labels describing all the details of the ammunition. When the strips were taken out of the ammunition shipping crate to be loaded into the field chests containing 12 strips, one of these labels was inserted in the field chest to keep track of the details of the ammunition content. Such small labels are today very scarce collector’s items.

Articulated Feed Belts

The design of articulated feed belts for Hotchkiss machine guns appeared as early as 1896 together with the rigid feed-strips as shown in the US patent No. 564-043 already described at the beginning of this article.

The most accurate description of the features of the articulated belt is excerpted from the patent as follows:

“In place of the elastic cartridge-strip S (shown in Figs 64 to 66,) we may employ a flexible band, as shown in Fig. 67 to 69, which consists in a series of links T, jointed together by hooks and eyes t and t’, formed in the links. Each link has formed upon it the clips t² and t3, which hold the cartridge at the neck and near the head, respectively, and the bearing t4, which prevents the cartridge from being withdrawn to the rear. The clip t3 is rounded at t5 to raise the head of the cartridge when it is forced into the chamber by the breech-block. The bearings T’ are formed to engage with the teeth of the feed-wheel P5 and are spaced to the pitch of this latter. The tongue t6 is formed on the first clip of each band to facilitate the introduction of the latter into the feed.”

It readily appears that rigid strips and articulated belts exhibit very different patterns of the clips holding the cartridges. Articulated belts were commercially offered for sale all around the world and a few customers (at least Belgium in caliber 7.65×54 or Sweden for caliber 6.5×55) adopted this accessory, sometimes for use in static positions like fortress mounts or in armored vehicles. So far, the author has not found any reference to a French Hotchkiss Model 1900 being fed with an articulated belt prior to WW1.

The first Hotchkiss articulated belt for 8mm Lebel ammunition identified so far was designed for the Model 1909 Light Machine Gun (Mitrailleuse Portative). A 100-round articulated belt was developed at the beginning of 1915 to feed this lightweight machine gun installed aboard early military aircraft. The belt was rolled around a spool attached to the weapon. The design of the individual links are similar to the commercial models exported to Belgium and Sweden for example but are only enlarged to cope with the wider 8mm Lebel cartridge. Extremely scarce surviving specimens of this articulated belt for airborne Hotchkiss Portatives show evidence of manual fittings rather than large scale industrial manufacture.

Soon after the outbreak of WW1, the need for articulated belts for sustained fire with the modernized Hotchkiss Model 1914 weapons in ground use also arose. The key requirement was for the weapon to be able to use either the rigid feed strip or the articulated belt. This was an issue since the force required to extract the cartridge out of the strip was very different between the rigid strip and the articulated belt. This comes from the pattern of the cartridges holding clips which are different between the two types of feed devices. For the articulated belt, the cartridges are retained by means of two pairs of clips whereas for the rigid strip the cartridges are retained by one clip on one side and two clips on the other. Adjusting the feed system of the gun to cope with a particular type of feed device was not a problem but readjusting in the field during combat was just not acceptable. This is why a new articulated belt for 8mm Lebel cartridge was developed in 1915 to deal with this requirement. A French patent for the corresponding design was applied for by the Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss & Cie on July 15, 1915 and published in May 1920 with reference No. 502-393.

This patent describes the belt as composed of rigid sections containing three or more cartridges being hinged together. The design of the short rigid sections is similar to that of the rigid strips, in particular with regards to the cartridge holding clips. Therefore, extraction force required to push the ammunition out of the strip into the gun chamber is the same as that needed with the rigid strip. Furthermore, the patent also claims a better guiding of the belt into the feed tray than could be achieved with the former 1-round articulated belt. Finally, the patent also describes a starter tang used to facilitate the introduction of the belt into the feed system. The new articulated belt adopted for the Hotchkiss Model 1914 was based on a variable number of 3-round sections hinged together.

Up to four different total lengths of belts are officially reported depending on the number of 3-round sections involved. These different lengths were meant to deal with all different uses, namely infantry, fortress, vehicle, aircraft and even boats.

The most common length can accommodate up to 252 rounds and is composed of 84 sections of 3 rounds each. Although an official 1918 regulation prescribed an allowance of three 252-round articulated belts per field machine gun, these belts saw only limited use in the trenches during WW1. In the latter situations, those long belts were mostly used for anti-aircraft sustained fire. After WW1, although the articulated belt remained standard equipment for field guns, the great majority of the weapons remained fed with rigid strips. WW1 and Interwar photographs showing field guns fed with articulated belts are seldom encountered.

Another important potential use of the articulated belt in 1915 was for aircraft guns. In the 1915-dated patent, such possible use for aircraft installation was described with a capacity of 102 rounds (34 sections of three rounds). These belts were intended to replace the 100-round belt articulated every single link. However, when this new articulated belt became an item of standard issue, the Hotchkiss Portative weapon had almost completely disappeared from air service and replaced with Colt and Vickers machine guns. It is therefore doubtful that the 102-round version of the articulated belt saw extensive airborne service.

Articulated belts were especially used since WW1 in tanks and armored vehicles where space was so limited that it was sometimes impossible to feed the rigid strips. Depending on the space available in the various vehicles, three lengths are reported. For heavy tanks, the longer belt for 252 rounds was standard, whereas for smaller vehicles both 96-round (32 sections of three rounds) and even 48-round (16 sections of three rounds) were used. The use of the articulated belts in armored vehicles continued until the middle of the 1930s when the Hotchkiss machine gun began to be progressively replaced by the drum-fed Chatellerault MAC Model 31 as vehicle armament.

After WW1, the 252-round articulated belt was fielded in fortress positions like in some Maginot Line installations. After the invasion of France in 1940, large quantities of Hotchkiss Model 1914 weapons were captured by the German Army and many were subsequently fielded for coastal defense along the Atlantic Wall. Whereas the use of the articulated belts by the French Army is only rarely observed, pictures are more common showing the Hotchkiss Model 1914 fed with the 252-round articulated belt in the hands of the German Army.

Since the mid 1920s, the Hotchkiss Model 1914 were also installed on ship decks for self-defense and anti-aircraft protection. The 252-round belts were used as standard for both single weapon mounts (CA mod. 1925) and twin weapons mounts (CAD mod. 1926). For some installations, the belts were fed from a spool attached to the side of the gun.

A complete 252-round articulated belt remains today a scarce collector’s item. WW1 and early post-war productions are blued (dark black color), whereas later productions are phosphated mat gray. The flat starter tang is marked with the manufacturer’s initials.

The chest to accommodate the 252-round belt is made of wood with steel reinforced corners and steel lid. The chest contains in its middle a triangular wooden axis around which the belt is reeled by means of a collapsible crank. This triangular wood axis is fitted with a prominent steel plug which is engaged into the very last cartridge pocket of the belt. This is the reason why, although the total capacity of the belt is theoretically 252-round (84 sections of three rounds), only 251 cartridges can be inserted in the belt since the last pocket must remain empty to engage the triangular reel axis.

Strip loaders

Among the numerous accessories provided with the early Model 1900 Hotchkiss, there was a very complex and cumbersome device intended to both load the strips with cartridges and resize the strips to their original shape. This latter operation was particularly important for the fragile brass strips were easily deformed or bent. This accessory was provided with every Model 1900 Hotchkiss machine gun acquired by the French Army. So far, the author has unfortunately not come across of any surviving specimen of such an early Hotchkiss loader.

The Hotchkiss Company also offered for export a much simpler and very effective strip loader specifically intended for rimless cartridges only where the loose cartridges were fed from an inclined ramp.

A variant of this machine was also designed for the rimmed .303 British cartridge by using a hopper to feed the loose cartridges. However, when the modernized Hotchkiss Model 1914 chambered for the 8mm Lebel cartridge was fielded by the French Army during WW1, no such strip loader for the 8mm Lebel caliber was either available nor even asked for by French Ordnance. Only the small roller tool used to recalibrate the strips was adopted as standard accessory with the French Hotchkiss Model 1914.

During WWI, filling the Hotchkiss strips was carried out by hand. Instructions were specifically issued to require very careful filling so as to ensure cartridges were evenly and properly seated otherwise feed jams would doubtlessly occur.

It is only after WWI that a new device was designed and officially adopted. This strip loader is referenced as Machine modèle 1924 à charger les bandes pour mitrailleuse Hotchkiss. This simple device was intended to be constructed directly within the regiment workshops and only the manufacturing plans were provided by the Ordnance Department.

This loader is simply composed of separate pieces of wood assembled together with screws and fitted with very few simple steel sheets and filed spacers. The assembly basically provides a tray on which the strip is laid and a lengthwise groove in which a wood lever-arm takes its support. Once the strip is laid on the tray and held in position by three V-shaped spacers, the operator inserts by hand as far as easily possible the cartridges into the strip. The wood lever arm with its lower part protected with a thick brass sheet is inserted into the groove and is simply rocked to push a little bit forward the cartridge base so that to overtake the cartridge stop on the strip. According to the width of this lever, two cartridges can be pushed at once. The lengthwise groove is covered with a protective steel sheet on the side where the lever-arm takes support. Both 24-round rigid strips and articulated belts can be loaded with this device. For the latter articulated belts, the small wood positioning wedge at the far right end is simply removed.

This rugged device is really very effective and strips can be easily evenly loaded. This loader is however seldom mentioned in very few official instruction manuals only and it is most probable that it did not see wide use during the interwar years.

Ammunition

Standard ammunition issued for the Hotchkiss Model 1914 were solid bronze ball Model 1886 D and later the jacketed heavy ball Model 1932 N. Armour-piercing Model P and tracer Model T saw only limited issue. The heavy jacketed ball Model 1932 N with a slightly larger projectile diameter required the chamber to be slightly reamed. The barrels, either reworked to the standard 1932 N or newly manufactured to those new dimensions, were marked with a large N.

It should be emphasized that special purpose ammunition like armour-piercing and tracer did not have their trajectories matching with that of the ordinary ball. Accordingly, no instruction for belting sequence was ever officially issued to fill strips or belts by mixing standard balls with armour-piercing or tracers. On the contrary, instructions clearly indicate that only cartridges of the same type should be filled in the same strip, even when using special purpose ammunition. Therefore, when action against vehicles was expected, homogeneous strips filled with armor-piercing cartridges only were to be used. For anti-aircraft operation, instructions were given that some of the weapons in the group should fire strips loaded with tracers only in an attempt to deter the enemy pilot from flying too low rather than really expecting to hit him.

Short-range ammunition is based on a standard Model 1886 D solid bronze projectile with two flat surfaces milled on the side in order to increase the projectile drag in air and thereby reducing the maximum range. Blank cartridges were originally of Model 1905 with uncolored wood projectile which design was slightly modified in 1927 and was subsequently adopted as model 1905-27 identified by a wood projectile dyed blue. Dummy cartridges for machine gun are of the model 1907 with nickeled case and projectile.

Every other year, the Ministry of Defence of Thailand sponsors an excellent four-day Defense & Security trade show at the Impact Exhibition & Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand. Defense & Security is one of the most important shows in the Pacific Rim area, and it draws important exhibitors and buyers as well as direct end users from many countries. The emphasis is on Asian countries, but it is fertile ground for American, European, and African manufacturers to display at as well.

The show promoters promise a very important crowd of defense related attendees, and they have always delivered on this. Seen at this show were high-ranking officials from the Thai Defence Ministries and Departments, and the Army, Navy and Air Forces of various Asian countries; Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, India, Pakistan, Korea, China, Sri Lanka, Japan, U.A.E. and Australia. Many other uniforms or business cards were noted- chiefs of police, coast guards and private security firms throughout the region.

Like many international shows, there are “country pavilions” set up so that it is easier for exhibitors from like countries to work together on setting up and presentations. Companies with competing products are certainly in these pavilions, but competition breeds excellence and tends to help each company work on their “best foot forward” presentation.

Almost every attendee that SAR spoke with was upbeat about the networking opportunities that were at this show. Innovation is also alive and well in the small arms industries of many countries. We noted a very nice drop-in bullpup stock that fits the HK33 and HK53 rifles, which the Thai inventor did not want photographed, as well as numerous other accessories that were being put out in front of the end users to get their opinions.

The next Defense & Security Thailand is in 2009, and the theme is “The Art of Defense”. Date is 4-7 November, 2009 at the Impact Exhibition & Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand. Exhibitors and attendees should start making arrangements now. Bear in mind that the Impact Center is not near downtown Bangkok, so staying in the town center cluster of hotels will lead to long travel times to and from the convention center, but it might be worth it for location. Attendance is free for qualified persons- they must be government or defense business related. It is recommended to start the process of signing up as soon as possible.

www.asiandefense.com
IMPACT Exhibition Center,
Muang Thong Thani
99 Popular Road, Pakkred,
Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2504 5050 Fax: +66 (0) 2504 5050 ext. 5107

In a recent USMC Iraq incident after action report, there was a table listing all of the Class V (ordnance) items carried on the Cougar vehicle used during the incident. The one unfamiliar item was a listing for an M72A5.

First fired in October 1959, the Lightweight Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) was a U.S. Army project based on a design by the Hesse-Eastern Division of Flightex Fabrics, Inc. Type classified in March 1961 as the M72 High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rocket, the original LAW had a 2.6 inch (66 mm) diameter shaped charge warhead that was designed to penetrate 11.8 inches (300 mm) of mild steel and light field fortifications at ranges from 11-219 yards (10-200 meters). Propelled by a solid fuel propellant, the rocket utilized six folding fins for stabilization and reached a velocity of 500 feet (152 meters) per second. The disposable launcher was comprised of two interconnected tubes, with the forward (outer) tube being constructed of a fiber glass composite and the rear (inner) tube being constructed of aluminum. Immediately prior to firing, the operator was required to remove the covers from the forward end of the front (outer) tube and the rear of the rear (inner) tube and pull the rear (inner) tube to the rear, fully extending the launcher to approximately 35 inches (900 mm). Extending the rear (inner) tube simultaneously cocked the launcher’s firing pin, released the safety interlocks, and caused the integral sights to move via springs into firing position. Due to the open tube design, recoil was minimal to non-existent; however, back blast from the rocket firing could damage equipment or personnel up to 39 yards (36 meters) away from the launcher’s rear tube. Weight of the launcher with the rocket was 5.1 pounds (2.3 kg).

The M72A1 and M72A2 LAWs offered improved sights and a more powerful rocket motor over the M72, while the M72A3 provided safety upgrades to the rocket’s fuzing system. The more powerful rocket motor increased the effective and operational ranges to approximately 186 yards (170 meters) and 273 yards (250 meters), respectively, and increased the back blast danger area to 43.7 yards (40 meters). Weight of the system (rocket and launcher) increased to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg).

In the mid 1980s, Talley Defense Systems began work on the improved LAW system, specifically the M72A4, M72A5, and M72A6 models. All share an improved rocket motor that increases rocket velocity to 650 feet (198 meters) per second and increases the effective and operational ranges to 241 yards (220 meters) and 383 yards (350 meters), respectively. However, back blast danger area increased to 76.5 yards (70 meters). Weight of the new systems is 7.9 pounds (3.6 kg), and the extended launcher length is 38.6 inches (980 mm). The primary difference in the newer models is the type of warhead utilized.

The M72A4 incorporates an improved shaped charge warhead explosively-filled with Octol that when coupled with the improved rocket motor, increases penetration capability against rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) to 14 inches (355 mm).

The M72A5 is the same shaped charge warhead utilized in the M72A3 model (differing only by utilizing Octol as the explosive fill) coupled to the new rocket motor. While the RHA penetration is the same as that achieved with the M72A3, the newer rocket motor increases the effective and operational range of the weapon.

A copper shaped charge warhead works well against solid steel targets. Against layered steel targets with air gaps or against masonry, it is far less efficient. For these types of targets, the M72A6 was developed. Utilizing an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) warhead that is explosively-filled with Octol, the M72A6 can penetrate 5.9 inches (150 mm) of RHA or can blast a man-sized hole in bricks, concrete, and masonry in urban environments when expedient breeching is required. The M72A7 contains the same EFP warhead, only the insensitive high explosive PBXN-9 is utilized as the explosive filler.

Models currently under development include a model that will allow firing from an enclosure (no damage to operator from back blast), an increased (to 17.7 inches or 450 mm) RHA penetration capability, and an anti-personnel model.

The concept of a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) is to provide personal firepower in between that of a pistol and a carbine. Several attempts have been made: the 5.7x28mm caliber by FN, the 4.6x30mm by Heckler & Koch as well as the 6x35mm by Knight’s Armament Company. The U.S. military has asked from time to time for lighter and more compact versions of the M4/M16. Colt was involved with one in particular, showed up with it and then told it was nice but they really do not have a requirement for it.

Around 1997, Colt’s Manufacturing Company, Inc. went to work on a new project. Colt was approached by Michael Harris of Special Analytical Services (SAS) with a concept of a mini-assault rifle that would have the purpose of being a personal defense weapon as well as have law enforcement and military applications. By design, the intent of the MARS was to replace the 9mm pistol as well as numerous variations of submachine guns. A Colt development team, headed by Engineer James Taylor, set out to bring Harris’ concept to life. The MARS was designed with the concept of having a smaller and lighter weapon that could win a fight against an AK47. The MARS was, and still is, different from the FN and the H&K cartridges. The 5.7×28 and 4.6x30mm cartridges primary purpose was to defeat body armor. Unfortunately after they defeat the armor, they have very poor terminal performance. They are ballistically very similar to the .22 Winchester Magnum cartridges. Harris believed the MARS could replace 80% of all pistols and submachine guns as well as up to 20% of rifles and carbines.

The 5.56x30mm Cartridge

The MARS fired a newly developed 5.56x30mm cartridge. Ballistically, the 5.56x30mm MARS cartridge is very similar to the .221 Fireball. The new cartridge was developed to enhance accuracy and range over current cartridges such as the 9mm NATO and 5.7x28mm. The MARS cartridge exploits the high energy densities of modern ball powders. The 5.56x30mm cartridge would be effective out to 300+ meters. Another goal was to enhance lethality over existing small submachine guns. The 5.56x30mm cartridge would have the penetration capabilities of the 5.7x28mm cartridge but have increased lethality over that as well as 9mm NATO ammunition. The MARS cartridge was a wildcat cartridge that was never made in quantity. All 5.56x30mm ammunition was hand loaded by Michael Harris. The cartridge began with the standard 5.56x45mm cartridge case. It was trimmed down and formed in a custom die to the proper dimensions of the 5.56x30mm cartridge. It was loaded with a 55gr full metal jacket boat tail (M193 Ball bullet), 62gr full metal jacket boat tail with penetrator core (M855/SS109 bullet) as well as a tracer bullet. Using the 55-grain bullet, the MARS rifle would fire it at a muzzle velocity of 2,620 fps out of its 10-inch barrel with muzzle energy of 838 ft/lbs. There was a problem found with the pressure levels within the 5.56x30mm MARS cartridge as the case was prone to bulge or rupture.

The MARS cartridge can be loaded to any mission specific configuration which could include hollow and soft point bullets as well as ball and armor-piercing. It is loaded up with magnum pistol-type ball propellant, which is burned at rifle pressures to achieve higher velocity in its short 10.5 inch barrel. The MARS is battlesight zeroed in at 200 meters and the path of the bullet stays within approximately 3 inches of the line of sight. The 5.56x30mm bullet will penetrate a Kevlar helmet and vest at 300 meters. The MARS was also chambered for the 9x30mm MARS cartridge which was a necked down 10mm magnum cartridge case.

There were three prototypes made during the course of development. The upper and lower receiver, bolt and stock assembly were all shortened. According to Colt’s MARS Project Manager Jim Taylor, every component was basically walked through the manufacturing process. The components nearly all started out life as standard M4 components and were modified to MARS specifications. Due to the shorter 5.56x30mm cartridge, a new magazine was created. This enabled the magazine well to be shorter contributing to the shorter upper and lower receiver. The magazine was made from a standard GI 30-round magazine. Material was removed from the middle and welded together. The follower was cut down as well. The magazine was merely a prototype and very clumsy but worked well for the testing and proof of concept.

The overall length of the collapsible stock was shorter than the standard carbine. The front portion of the stock just ahead of the locking latch was removed of an inch. Due to the shorter buffer tube a modified buffer was designed. It was similar in design to the standard buffer, just shorter. Due to the decrease in length, two tungsten weights were used and with the use of tungsten, the smaller buffer was nearly identical in weight to the standard H buffer.

The bolt carrier was shortened overall, particularly the rear behind the bolt carrier key and used a modified firing pin. The carrier key was shortened and only has one carrier key screw. The firing pin was shortened and the rear head was removed. The rear of the firing pin is visible from the top of the bolt carrier. The bolt is the standard rifle bolt assembly.

The lower receiver was modified to make it more compact and to accept the shorter magazine. The magazine well was cut in the middle, material removed and electron beam welded back together to accept the shorter magazine. This is easily seen in the prototype due to the bottom of the magazine well not being straight. The new process of electron beam welding allowed the fabrication of prototypes for a relatively modest cost. According to Colt project leader Jim Taylor, the MARS rifle may have been the first extensive use of electron beam welding for firearms prototyping. Due to the desire to maintain the bolt design and existing cam path in the bolt carrier, the MARS rifle had to modify the location of the hammer/trigger pins, selector lever and the automatic sear had to be moved slightly rearward. On the prototype MARS lower receivers, the fire control holes were drilled as per mil-spec for the M4 carbine. The original holes had to be plugged and new ones drilled in the proper location. Due to the hammer being moved rearward, a large steel roll pin was installed to prevent damage to the lower receiver if the trigger was pulled without the upper receiver installed. If the hammer was to fall on the aluminum receiver it would damage the receiver because it would hit the inside of the receiver on an angle rather than square. Due to the firing pin head being shortened, a pocket was cut into the hammer where it will strike the firing pin. This pocket allows the hammer to strike the firing pin square rather than on an angle. Also, if the disconnector was to fail, the firing pin could not protrude through the breech face to detonate the primer unless the bolt was locked. Additionally, if the hammer was to ride the bolt, there would not be sufficient energy to fire the cartridge. The MARS was designed to make use of as many existing machines and fixtures as possible to minimize the potential cost of going into production.

The upper receiver was made shorter as well. The upper receiver was cut right in front of the fired cartridge case deflector, material removed and electron beam welded back together. Additionally the ejection port dust cover was shortened. Standard handguards were used as well as the gas tube. The bayonet lug was removed from the front sight assembly. The 10-inch barrel uses the standard 1/7 inch twist and has the standard A2 compensator. The top of the barrel is stamped “MARS” to denote the caliber.

Preliminary Colt testing of the MARS indicated some highly desirable characteristics. Although relatively small, the weapon pointed like a rifle. The MARS equipped with a 1.5x optical sight firing low impulse 5.56x30mm cartridges at a relatively low cyclic rate appeared to many who fired it to be one of the easiest weapons to learn how to shoot. In hindsight, it appeared the use of the proprietary 5.56x30mm cartridge was an impediment to selling the weapon. Colt wanted to have a proprietary cartridge. Perhaps a more suitable solution would have been to go with the already currently available .221 Remington cartridge. With modern propellants, the .221 Remington cartridge may have been loaded to achieve the goals set out by Harris and Taylor for this proof of concept, and to do it without chamber pressure problems.

MARS was patented on October 27, 1998 (U.S. Patent Number 5,827,992) by Colt engineer James Taylor and Michael Harris (founder of Specialized Analytical Services). Unfortunately the MARS never found acceptance and never entered production. The main interest in the MARS was by the Israelis as a possible replacement for their police Uzi SMG. This was exactly the type of market the MARS was designed for. The production numbers that were discussed would have been 2,000 guns per year for a term of 10 years. Due to this low number of units versus the cost to tool up for the MARS, Colt decided against going into production. Colt had also felt that introducing a new compact firearm would hinder sales of their M16A2/M4 carbine variations.

I would like to thank Project Leader Mr. Jim Taylor for his assistance with this article by providing first hand knowledge of this program. I would also like to thank Colt Defense for providing access to photograph this interesting prototype weapon.

(Small Arms Review contributing editor Christopher Bartocci works as a Technical Specialist for Colt Defense LLC. The articles written by this author are of his own research and evaluation and in no way represent those of Colt Defense LLC.)

The Hotchkiss Model 1914 was the standard French Army heavy machine gun during World War I. It was also the primary heavy machine gun of the United States A.E.F. (American Expeditionary Force). Heavy but rugged and dependable, the Hotchkiss Model 1914 saw continuous service along the entire line of the Western Front for the full duration of the war (1914-1918). It continued in French service after the war in France’s Colonial endeavors and as a secondary armament role within Europe up to and including the Second World War.

History

Upon Hiram Maxim’s success in harnessing the energy of the recoiling forces in producing the world’s first truly automatic machine gun, inventors everywhere attempted to design firing mechanisms that replicated the full automatic function without infringing on Maxim’s patents.

One such inventor was a young Viennese nobleman and officer in the Austrian Army. Captain Baron Adolph von Odkolek had successfully designed and constructed a prototype gas-operated machine gun and sought to market his invention. In 1893, he traveled to the world famous Hotchkiss manufacturing facility in St. Denis, France, just outside the city limits of Paris, to see if they would be interested in building his gun.

Laurence Benét, head engineer and promotion manager, and his assistant Henri Mercié, were actively trying to come up with a new machine gun when Odkolek came to them in 1893. They tested Odkolek’s prototype and were generally unimpressed with it due to overheating problems. They did, however, recognize that there were certain mechanical features; particularly the simple operation of a gas piston housed underneath the barrel that they saw as extremely promising. Benét refused to manufacture Odkolek’s gun on a royalty basis, but instead offered to buy the patent rights outright so as to pursue and refine the development of the operating system. Odkolek agreed and a lump sum payment was negotiated in return for assigning all manufacturing rights to Hotchkiss.

Benét then started work on designing a new gun using Odkolek’s operating principles. His new gun was chambered in 8mm Lebel and was gas-operated employing a simple reciprocating piston that did not infringe upon John Browning’s patent on a gas-operated gun that used a swinging lever as used on the Colt Automatic Gun.

The first model of the new gun was tested at the St. Denis factory by Laurence Benét in 1895. In honor of Benjamin Hotchkiss, the founder of the company, the gun was named “the Hotchkiss.” Instead of feeding ammunition from fabric belts, the new gun used metal strips, each containing 30 rounds. Shunning the use of a water jacket for cooling, the new gun was air cooled. A brass shoulder piece, or stock, was permanently attached to the frame. While mechanically the new gun performed better than they had hoped, they found that the heavy barrel they used overheated too quickly destroying the rifling after a relatively small number of rounds had been fired.

Hotchkiss Model 1897

The solution to overheating that Benét came up with is a design feature that to this day defines the Hotchkiss machine gun – the large doughnut rings around the breech area. Benét knew that more metal mass was needed around the breech area to absorb the heat generated at this point, but just adding solid metal would add tremendous weight to the gun. Instead, he introduced brass circular doughnut-shaped fins at the critical area around the breech. This provided ten times the surface area around the breech area and added little weight. This was incorporated into a new model: the Hotchkiss Model 1897. The French Army adopted this weapon and purchased a limited number of the Model 1897 as they were particularly keen on it being air-cooled and lighter in weight than the water-cooled Maxim. Water source was a problem in the desert environment of the French colonies in Africa and the Hotchkiss solved a logistics problem. The gun proved to be fairly reliable, but was still prone to overheating even with the massive brass cooling fins. Though there were minor improvements in the next two models, the basic gun remained the same as a gas-operated, air-cooled, strip-fed machine gun.

Hotchkiss Model 1900

The refinements that occurred in 1900 mostly centered on making adjustments to the original mount. Since overheating was still a problem, the brass doughnut cooling rings were replaced with steel ones and the barrel was redesigned with a lower carbon content to help extend barrel life in a sustained fire mode.

The Hotchkiss Model 1900 achieved a great amount of success and was sold world wide with many going to Mexico and Japan. The first conflict between major powers in which machine guns were employed by each participant was the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 and ’05. The Russians were equipped with Maxims and Madsens, while the Japanese had the Hotchkiss. The Japanese were very impressed with the Hotchkiss design and after the war obtained a license to produce them in Japan – ultimately adding some design features of their own resulting in the Type 3 and Type 92 heavy machine guns.

During the Russo-Japanese War new and old tactics were tried in the use and deployment of machine guns and thus began the learning curve of the capabilities of machine guns in actual warfare. The French, British and Germans had observers taking notes during the war noting the use, deployment and tactics for use in their own applications. The Germans learned quickly. The British and French did not.

While the French Army had a few of the Hotchkiss Model 1900s, they embarked on a program to develop their own machine gun produced in their own government arsenals. They felt they could do it better and did not like paying royalties to a commercial firm such as Hotchkiss for the use of a gun. The result of their effort was the ignominious Puteaux Model 1905 and the St. Etienne Model 1907. (See SAR Vol. 6, No. 11, August 2003 Mitrailleuse Saint Etienne Mle 1907.)

When World War I broke out across Europe in 1914, France found itself at a serious disadvantage due to a small stock of automatic arms consisting of the already outdated and complicated St. Etienne Model of 1907 and some Hotchkiss Model 1900s. But France was fortunate in the sense that it had a domestic company with a proven machine gun that could tool up for large mass scale production in a very short period of time. With a few more minor tweaks in production methods and materials, and the removal of the shoulder stock and replacing with a simple D-grip, the new weapon of war was the Hotchkiss Model 1914. The reliable qualities of the Hotchkiss were quickly recognized by the entire army, and were issued as front-line equipment with a large number of brigade companies having been formed and equipped with this weapon.

The best instance, among many, demonstrating the efficiency of the Hotchkiss was in the spring of 1916, during the heroic defense of Verdun, when a section armed with two Hotchkiss machine guns held its position near Hill 304 for ten consecutive days and nights. Entrenched 150 yards behind the crest, which the Germans were endeavoring to seize, this unit repulsed unaided all assaults, mowing down the succeeding waves of attack as they reached the summit. During these ten days, the section, cut off from all supplies and communication expended over 150,000 rounds of ammunition. The original and normal supply of a section was 5,000 rounds. Fortunately, a dump of infantry cartridges was near at hand and all hands, including officers, set about reloading the feed strips, thus enabling the section to carry on to the end. When it was realized that each gun fired upwards of 75,000 rounds and still were serviceable, one must admire the robust nature of the Hotchkiss and its reliability.

The U.S Army Arrives

When the American Expeditionary Force arrived in France in 1917 with no machine guns, the French provided enough Hotchkiss Model 1914s to equip the first 12 Divisions. Ultimately, 5,255 Model 1914s were delivered to the U.S. troops with 224 per Infantry Division, with 16 per Infantry Regiment and 16 per Machine Gun Company. Later Divisions were additionally equipped with Colt Vickers Model 1915 and lastly the Browning Model 1917, which saw only limited service.

The Hotchkiss proved as reliable and robust in the hands of the Americans as it was with the French; filling the role as an offensive, defensive and anti-aircraft weapon. The hard learned lessons of use and tactics by the French were taught to the newly arrived US forces during 1917 and 1918. When US troops finally entered combat in 1918, their use was employed with efficiency.

Description of the Hotchkiss M1914

The description of the Hotchkiss M1914 is best related in the Handbook of the Hotchkiss Machine Gun Model of 1914, No. 1932, as printed in the Ordnance Manual of January, 1918. “The Hotchkiss machine gun, Model of 1914 (Mitrailleuse Automatique Hotchkiss), caliber 8mm, is chambered for the standard French rifle ammunition. The gun is classified as heavy, air-cooled, gas operated, and fed from metallic strips or linked bands.

“In order to eliminate artificial cooling devices, air is utilized as a cooling agent. The barrel is heavily made, which tends to retard overheating. To assist in the natural cooling of the gun, a radiator having five large annular ribs is shrunk over the rear end of the barrel.

“Expanding gases furnish the energy for the operation of the gun. After the gun is fired and the bullet has passed the gas port in the barrel, the live powder gases expand through the gas port into the cylinder and impinge against the head of the piston. This throws the piston to the rear, compressing the recoil spring which furnishes energy for the counter-recoil. The various lugs and cams of the piston actuate the feeding, firing, extracting and ejecting, and control the operation of the gun.

“The feed strips or bands are metallic stampings on which are formed three parallel rows of teeth for holding the cartridges in place. The feed strips are flat and hold 24 cartridges in a single row.

“The feed is entirely mechanical, and is independent of the inclination of the gun. The feed strip is ejected automatically. By the employment of strips the consumption of ammunition is easily controlled, and a much better economy is feasible than with a long band.

“The gun is composed of only 30 pieces that are easily dismounted. There are very few springs and screws, and only a few of the main parts are indispensable for the proper functioning of the gun.

“All parts of the gun are constructed in such a manner that it is impossible to assemble them improperly. The ordinary dismounting and assembling of the gun can be accomplished without the aid of a single tool. The dismounting of the barrel or gas cylinder necessitates a wrench which forms a part of the accessories of the arm.

“On account of its weight the Hotchkiss is fired from a tripod or other suitable mount. The arm is especially adapted to defense work and to barrage fire or indirect fire. When used for night firing it is fitted with a flash screen.”

Operation

A loaded feed strip with the cartridges facing up is inserted into the feed block until its movement is stopped. Pull the cocking handle to the rear locking the moving parts in the rear cocked position, and then push the cocking handle forward. The cocking handle does not reciprocate during firing. Again, the 1918 edition of the Handbook of the Hotchkiss Machine Gun Model of 1914 best relates the operation of the gun. “Pulling the trigger releases the trigger from the sear notch on the underside of the piston allowing the recoil spring to drive the piston forward. The lug of the firing pin resting between the firing pin tang and the breech block tang of the piston carries the firing pin forward. The nose of the locking cam of the piston, bearing against the breech block lock, carries the breech block forward.

“The breech block forces the front end of the ejector out of the path of the breech block. The lower part of the breech block face strikes the base of the cartridge, stripping it from the feed strip and driving it forward into the chamber. The feed wheel is now advanced over the first half of the feeding movement by the action of the large feed cam of the piston against the operating lug on the operating wheel of the feed wheel. The feed wheel pawl engages the feed wheel ratchet and prevents rebound. As the breech block closes against the cartridge in the chamber, the extractor springs over and engages the rim of the cartridge. The breech block has now reached the end of its forward movement and the breech block lock is in position above the recoil blocks in the receiver and is free to lock. This movement is accomplished by the locking cam of the piston working against the cam surface of the breech block lock, causing the rear end of the latter to tilt down in front of the recoil blocks.

“The piston continues forward, carrying the firing pin and primes the cartridge. The recoil spring abutment of the piston, striking against the counter-recoil buffer in the front end of the receiver limits the forward motion.

“After the explosion has taken place and the bullet has passed the gas port in the barrel, the live powder gases expand through the gas orifice into the gas chamber and impinge against the head of the piston, forcing it to the rear. This action compresses the recoil spring and stores up energy for the counter-recoil.

“The piston withdraws the firing pin from the primer. The lower cam of the breech block lock riding on the upper cam surface of the piston raises the breech block lock clear of the recoil blocks.

“The breech block tang on the piston striking the rear shoulder of the breech block carries the breech block to the rear. The extractor withdraws the empty shell from the chamber. The rear end of the ejector rides out of its groove in the breech block, which pivots the front end of the ejector into the path of the cartridge. The cartridge base strikes the ejector, which throws the shell out to the right. The small feed cam on the piston now completes the rotation of the feed wheel and places the next cartridge in position above the stripping finger. The feed wheel pawl engages the feed wheel ratchet and prevents rebound.

“The backward motion is limited by the rear end of the piston striking the breech cover. If the trigger is held back by the finger, the mechanism starts immediately on its forward motion. If the trigger has been released, it springs up and engages the sear notch of the piston holding the gun in the cocked position.

“When the feed strip has been fired through, it allows the upper lug of the arrestor to spring up and the arrestor catch engages the arrestor lug on the piston. This holds the piston back so as to allow the loading of the next strip.”

Basic Field Stripping

To field strip the gun, make certain that there is no feed strip in the feed tray and pull the cocking handle back far enough to visually inspect the chamber to make sure it is clear.

Pull out the feed block key and remove the feed block. Press in the recoil spring guide located within the D grip and pull out the breech cover pin located on the left side of the receiver just in front of the D grip. Remove the breech cover and recoil spring to the rear. Slide the trigger guard to the rear and remove. This can be accomplished by tilting the trigger a little toward the rear and removing it downward.

Draw the cocking handle to the rear until it comes out of the guides on the receiver. Then pull the piston and breech block the remainder of the way out of the receiver. Rotate the front end of the ejector out until it is at right angles to the receiver, and then remove the ejector. To rotate the ejector, grip the top lug with the finger nails or place a finger over the axis of the ejector along the side of the receiver and give it a quick draw to the rear.

To remove the barrel, move the barrel lock completely to the rear and place the barrel wrench over the gas cylinder support with the handle to the right horizontal to the ground. Push down on the barrel wrench until the barrel stop pin strikes the top of the receiver. Pull the barrel out toward the front. Unscrew the gas regulator, which can easily be turned by hand if it has been kept clean and well oiled.

This completes the basic field stripping of the weapon. Reassembly is in the reverse order.

Mounts

The Hotchkiss Model 1914 used two primary mounts. The first was the Omnibus Model 1915 mount produced at Puteaux that was originally intended for use with the St. Etienne Model 1907. The Omnibus Model 1915 tripod was the last iteration of tripods designed for the St. Etienne Model 1907 and could be, and was, used to a great extent with the Hotchkiss M1914. It consists of two essential parts: the traversing group and the tripod. The upper part of the traversing head is fork-shaped and has two recesses on which the trunnions on the machine gun are locked in place. The traversing head also carries the telescoping elevating mechanism and the traversing clamp. The distinguishing feature of the Omnibus Model 1915 tripod that makes it instantly recognizable is the large elevating wheel located on the left side of the traversing head. The tripod consists of three groupings: the pivot body, the trail, and the legs. The pivot body serves as a bearing for the traversing head. The trail consists of an arm and an inner tube. The arm is joined to the pivot body and the inner tube within the arm may be extended to lengthen the trailing leg. The trail terminates in a shoe provided with a trail spike. The trail also carries the gunner’s seat which can be fixed at any convenient position by means of a hand bolt. The two front legs are jointed at their upper ends to the same trunnion at the body of the pivot. They are joined together by a separator which keeps them apart when the tripod is set up. The right leg is provided with a leveling screw to vary the length of this leg for uneven terrain. Additionally, each front leg has a knee joint making it possible to bring the mount to a kneeling position by folding the lower part of both legs under the trail. An anti-aircraft extension that attached to the pivot head was also available.

The second type of tripod used was the Hotchkiss Tripod Model 1916. Manufactured by Hotchkiss for the M1914, it was similar to, but simpler and slightly lighter than, the Omnibus Model 1915 tripod with some obvious differences. It, too, consisted of two essential parts: the traversing group and the tripod. It also had a forked-shaped traversing head with two recesses on which the trunnions on the machine gun are locked in place. But instead of the large elevating wheel, elevation was controlled by a simple wheel located directly beneath the telescoping elevating mechanism. The tripod also consisted of three groups: the pivot body, trail and legs. As with the Omnibus 1915 tripod, the pivot body accepted the traversing head, and the trail consisted of an inner tube that could be extended out and the gunner’s seat could be adjusted. The two front legs, however, did away with the separator cross bar and the knee joints and the right leg leveling mechanism.

There was actually a third tripod that saw very limited use with the Hotchkiss M1914, also named the Hotchkiss Tripod Model 1916, which was made in the United States. Commonly called the “Cleveland Mount,” it was manufactured by the Standard Parts Company of Cleveland, Ohio. In October, 1918, 2,500 were reported as completed. This was the only work performed in connection with this gun in the United States. For all intent, it was a copy of the French manufactured Hotchkiss Tripod Model 1916 except that it had a distinguishing feature that consisted of a large 360 degree traversing head above the pivot head that allowed a full 360 degree traversing movement for anti-aircraft fire.

Anti-Aircraft Sights

The auxiliary sight for anti-aircraft firing comprises four essential parts: the mire, the guidon, the support bracket for the mire, and the support clamp for the guidon.

The mire (rear anti-aircraft sight) is made with a moveable scale ended by a bead. It is mounted in a trunnion case supported by a shank inserted into the mire support that is then fitted into the mire support bracket. The mire support bracket is affixed by four screws to the right side of the receiver between the pistol grip and the D grip.

The guidon (front anti-aircraft sight) is made of a laying frame supported by a shank inserted in the hole of the guidon support clamp. The frame is made of two fork-shaped branches connected by three horizontal parallel threads. The center thread is provided with a bead. An illuminating disk set on each branch level with the central thread facilitates night firing. The guidon clamp is made of two semicollars with a bored block to receive the guidon. It is set on the front end of the barrel against the front sight band. Essential with the anti-aircraft sights is the hand-held stadia for range finding.

Accessories

As the premier front line heavy machine gun for two armies, there were a number of accessories associated with the Hotchkiss Model 1914 that included: strip loaders, strip resizing tool, clinometer, anti-aircraft sights and stadia, barrel and gas regulator wrench, hand extractor hook, defective cartridge extractor, flash hider, leather mittens with chain mail and asbestos pads for handling hot barrels during barrel changes, a leather with chain mail and asbestos pad shoulder epaulette to carry a hot barrel on one’s shoulder when advancing, canvass gun case and a metal armorer’s box containing cleaning rod, jags and brushes, oil bottle, spare recoil spring, screwdriver, hammer, pins and punches, chamber gauge, gas cylinder scraper, spare firing pins, extractors, ejectors, small springs and pins, etc.

Conclusion

The Hotchkiss Model 1914 was the right gun at the right time serving the French Army admirably as well as the US Army. It was reliable and robust and could be counted on regardless of the situation, climate or terrain. The only complaint, and generally considered the weak point of the weapon, was its feed strip design that was clumsy to handle requiring constant feeding of the gun and strips easily deformed or bent. The other chief drawbacks consisted in its excessive weight in comparison to the Vickers and Browning, and the length of time required for cooling – four minutes and six seconds of time and a sponging with water being required between each burst of 1,000 rounds. However, the simplicity and ruggedness of the gun enabled it to be dismounted and reassembled in less than a minute without the aid of a single tool. Nevertheless, the Hotchkiss remained in service with the French both at home and in their colonies up to World War II. The United States did not keep the Hotchkiss in their inventory after the war and discarded them in favor of the superior Browning guns. But their contribution to the allied war effort was immense being the most widely used heavy machine gun of the allied forces and they played a pivotal role in the ultimate victory in World War I.

Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss, 1826 – 1885

Born in Watertown, Connecticut in 1826 and then moving to Sharon, Connecticut in his early youth, Benjamin Hotchkiss began his mechanical experiments in his father’s hardware factory. In the 1850s, he served as an apprentice at Colt’s Patent Firearms Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Becoming a master mechanic, he is credited with designing and perfecting various models of the Colt revolver and Winchester rifles. In 1860, he developed an improved system of rifling and a new kind of percussion fuze for projectiles. As with so many American firearms inventers of the time, Hotchkiss moved to France in 1867 where his firearms inventiveness was given better consideration. In France, he demonstrated an improved metallic cartridge case that was immediately ordered for manufacture in St. Etienne and the French placed an advance order for a machine gun Hotchkiss had in mind by using the destructive forces of an explosive shell in a rapidly firing gun. With this backing from the French government, Hotchkiss remained in France and four years later in 1871 established his own company, Société Anonyme des Anciens Établissements Hotchkiss et Cie (Hotchkiss and Company) in Saint Denis, just outside Paris.

There, with a background in designing artillery projectiles and systems of firing, Hotchkiss formulated what he considered to be the best caliber to produce the most destructive force capable from a rapid firing weapon. The result of his calculations was a bursting charge cavity of correct dimensions and a balanced fuzed nose with a 37mm projectile. The gun he built around the 37mm round was intended for flank defense and he introduced a new and unique feature: each of the five barrels was rifled with a different pitch ensuring a sweep of the target area with shrapnel.

While the Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon, on first impression, resembles a Gatling gun, it is operationally markedly different. The five barrels are mounted parallel to each other around a central shaft and are rotated and controlled by means of a hand crank that also controls the loading, firing and extracting operation. Unique to the Hotchkiss internally is that the barrels are rotated intermittently without turning the breech mechanism. Thus, the barrels are stationary at the moment of firing negating any centrifugal force normally imparted to projectiles at the start of their flight when fired from a continuously rotating barrel. Additionally, there was just one firing pin and spring instead of five and a single loading piston.

The impressive 37mm round contained 3-1/2 ounces of powder. The cartridge case measured 3.66 inches without projectile, 6.68 inches long with projectile, and a complete round weighed 2.42 pounds.

There were six models of the manually operated Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon depending on their specialized purpose: the light 37mm for field use; a high velocity 37mm for flank defense and fortifications; the 37mm designed for shipboard use only; a 40mm for fortifications; a 47mm gun for naval use; and a 57mm gun, also for naval use.

At one time or another, the Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon was used by just about every navy in the world including Germany, England, Holland, Italy Austria, Turkey, Denmark, Russia and the United States. The French Navy alone used over 10,000 revolving cannon and four million rounds of ammunition.

It was the Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon and his fuzed rounds that earned Hotchkiss his fame and fortune and his name known around the world.

Laurence Vincent Benét, 1863 – 1948

Born at West Point, New York in 1863, Laurence Benét was the son of General Stephen Benét who was at one time the Chief of Ordnance of the Untied States Army. During his father’s tour of duty at the War Department, Laurence prepared for college at Emerson Institute and was graduated in mechanical engineering from Yale in 1884. The following year in 1885, he went to France to work for Benjamin Hotchkiss at the Hotchkiss Company where he began a fifty year career with that famous firm.

Showing great mechanical skill and managerial talent, he rose through the ranks while at Hotchkiss. Upon the death of Benjamin Hotchkiss in 1885, Benét was well situated within the company and was appointed in 1887 by the Hotchkiss stockholders to be the head engineer and promotions manager whereupon he made as his assistant the very talented Henri Mercié. It was this dynamic team of Benét and Mercié that then orchestrated the next successful phase of the Hotchkiss Company. With the company well established in the arms field by the success of Benjamin Hotchkiss’ revolving cannons, Benét and Mercié were at the right place at the right time for the new invention of the age: the machine gun.

Benét took two brief leave of absences during his tenure at Hotchkiss. During the Spanish-American War he served as an Ensign in the United States Navy, and during World War I, he served with the American Ambulance and Hospital Corps in France and for the last two years of the war was a member of the advisory staff of the American Expeditionary Force Purchasing Board.

For these and other services he was honored by various Governments; his decorations included the Grand Officer of the French Legion of Honor, French Medal of Honor, Commander of the Military Order of Christ (Portugal), Commander of the Order of the Crown (Romania) and Officer of Osmania (Turkey).

After his retirement as Vice President and Director of the Hotchkiss Company, Mr. Benét was made honorary President of the Company. He returned to the United States in 1937 living in Washington D.C. until his death in 1948. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

In an interview after his retirement, Benét said, “I believe I have been called a ‘merchant of death.’ Do I look it?” “I’m sorry,” he added, “that my fingers are not dripping blood this morning.” His profession, he said, did not fill him with horror. “One of the great satisfactions of my life is that the Hotchkiss machine guns saved Paris from the Germans. Most of the liberties we enjoy were won by the sword. If people have nothing else to fight with they will fight with their hands.”

By the end of World War I it became apparent that automatic firepower was needed for mobile warfare to improve combat efficiency. The solution was a new type of military weapon firing a pistol cartridge; a weapon between a pistol and a rifle that could be fired from the hip or shoulder. The result was the submachine gun, a hand-held, light automatic, magazine-fed weapon for short range combat.

In south-eastern Europe on the Black Sea, Romania was well aware at the beginning of World War II of the importance of developing their armament industry. The main Romanian manufacturer of infantry weapons and small arms ammunition was the Cugir factory that had emerged as a metallurgic center in 1799. During World War II, the Cugir factory from Transylvania was part of the military-industrial complex C.M.C. (Copsa-Mica Cugir). Due to a high technical potential, in early the 1940s, the Cugir factory made the first submachine gun of Romanian conception: the Orita model. Romanian Captain Marin Orita was responsible for a few military designs, but his crowning achievement is the 9mm Orita M1941 submachine gun that bears his name. In 1949, at the age of 52, Marin Orita ended his 25 years of military service.

The 9mm Orita M1941 submachine gun was first issued in 1943 to Romanian troops fighting on the Eastern Front, at a time when the foot soldier’s weapon was the Czech made 7.92mm Model 24 (vz.24) rifle called by the Romanians Pusca ZB. This new automatic weapon greatly improved the firepower of Romanian troops who had been at a disadvantage facing the fast-firing Russian submachine guns. During the campaign of 1944-45 when the Romanian troops were fighting the Wehrmacht liberating Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the 9mm Orita M1941 submachine gun was issued on a larger scale proving its worth.

Chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge, the Orita M1941 submachine gun is blowback operated and fires from an open bolt. There is no mechanical locking of the bolt. The weapon will fire if the bolt moves forward with a loaded box magazine in place. The massive bolt used by the Orita M1941 has an incorporated firing pin and inside hammer. Since the firing pin does not stay permanently to the front of the bolt, there is no risk of detonation before the bolt is completely closed. As the bolt closes, the hammer hits against an outside projection in the bolt-way and a pivoting movement starts. The hammer rotates in the bolt and the other end of it strikes the firing pin that moves forward to hit the cartridge primer. This unusual system as used by the Orita M1941 is very safe since the hammer cannot hit the firing pin before the action is closed. There is a good balance between the bolt and the recoil spring. A heavier stiff recoil spring brings up the cyclic rate of fire but a heavier bolt will decrease it.

The Orita M1941 submachine gun has a vertical fire selector switch located on the right side of the receiver about 3 inches (77mm) behind the rear sight. There are two marked positions: “A” for full automatic with the selector pushed down and “1” for semiautomatic with the selector pushed up.

A horizontal button safety in front of the trigger guard could be moved from side to side. To fire the weapon, the safety had to be pushed from right to left. The left end of the safety button had an L-shaped device that blocked the firing mechanism when the safety was pushed from left to right and the weapon could not fire. This safety button proved to be unreliable and was later removed. An empty hole is visible in front of the trigger guard if the spot was not filled and repaired. A new vertical switch safety was installed parallel to the rear sight on the right side of the receiver. This manual safety is pushed up for FIRE, down for SAFE.

The foresight is a sturdy blade with perforated guard wings on either side and is located at the very end of the barrel. The foresight blade is adjustable for windage. The weapon has a well protected open V rear sight calibrated up to 500 meters (548 yards), which is adjustable only for elevation. This maximum range seems to be overly optimistic, but it was in keeping with some other 9mm submachine guns of the time that had rear sights graduated up to 500 meters or more; such as the German MP28, Finnish M31 Suomi, Italian Beretta M1938A, British Lanchester Mark I and Czech ZK383.

The 9mm Orita M1941 submachine gun is fed by a dependable 32-round detachable box magazine inserted vertically from below the receiver. The weapon has an excellent magazine housing which is well projected from the receiver wall and serves as a forward grip for the shooter’s hand. A box magazine must be inserted 2.5 inches (65mm) into the magazine housing to be locked right. A serrated magazine catch-release is safely located on the rear of the magazine housing, making an accidental manipulation less possible. The Orita magazine holds cartridges staggered in two columns, with single-position feed. It has no indicator holes for the loaded ammunition and it can be identified very easy because of the two long deep ribs indented into each side of the magazine body from top to the very bottom. These four ribs give more strength to the magazine body and at the same time reduce the internal friction. Having an unusual shape, the magazine follower is machined from solid steel, which is highly polished. The 32-round Orita box magazine uses a 24 by 25 turns conventional compression spring in elliptical shape. A depression is stamped into the back edge of the removable floorplate to help it to lock into the right position. Some 25-round Orita box magazines were manufactured too.

In 1943, Captain Orita patented a magazine loading tool that has a length of 9.1 inches (232mm) and weighs unloaded 13.7 ounces (0.388 kg). This unusual device has four interior prongs and at the top there is a vertical steel cartridge guide that can be loaded with a maximum of 15 cartridges. It locks into the Orita box magazine and, rotating the handle clockwise, the cartridges are loaded rapidly by a tangential motion.

The 9mm Orita M1941 has a fixed semi-pistol grip style wooden stock with a metal buttplate. The forearm extends up to the magazine housing. The steep angle cut into the stock provides a diagonal angle for the trigger hand. The shape of the one piece long wooden stock differs slightly depending on the Orita submachine gun variant. There are sling swivels mounted by the front end of the receiver and on the right side of the wooden stock. The cocking handle is located on the left side of the receiver. This arrangement helps the shooter to change the box magazine and to retract the cocking handle using the left hand while the right hand is kept near the trigger. The cocking lever folds down.

The disassembly procedure for routine cleaning and maintenance is simple. After removing the box magazine and making sure the weapon is clear, the serrated cap from the end of the receiver is unscrewed to release the return spring which is compressed. The circular receiver cap differs slightly in length depending on the Orita variant and it is secured in place by a simple device. The bolt is taken out and the Orita submachine gun is field stripped.

Very well constructed, the Romanian 9mm Orita M1941 submachine gun is made from 78 different parts and is polished blue finished. The trigger group components and the sear are made of heat-treated steel. The receiver is machined from a high-quality steel forging and very few stamped sheet metal parts were used. The manufacturing process was expensive and time consuming: but such is the case for quality.

Although the Orita M1941 was highly regarded and performed well in combat, actual service revealed two shortcomings: the pistol grip was prone to breakage and the weapon could accidentally discharge if dropped or mishandled while it was cocked. A fault very common to all open bolt submachine gun designs.

Shortly after 1945, the surviving wartime Orita M1941s were modified at the Cugir factory. It was a large operation directly conducted by Marin Orita. The result was a simplified model known as 9mm Orita M1941/48 or Model 48. Today, the original unmodified 9mm Orita M1941 submachine gun is an ultra rare weapon that would be prized in any collection.

The Orita M1941/48 has no fire selector: it fires only full automatic. The initial fire selector switch from the right side of the receiver was removed. The previous vertical safety switch located parallel to the rear sight on the right side of the receiver was removed as well. The modified weapon was fit with a grip safety at the rear of the trigger guard. This new safety may sometimes be found in various shapes. The unrealistic rear sight calibrated up to 500 meters was replaced with dual flip-up apertures set for 100 and 200 meters. Damaged pistol grips were repaired and reinforced with metal or steel pins and some M1941/48s were fit with new wooden stocks. The position of the swivel fixed on the wooden stock was moved on the left side. Many old trigger guards with the hole at the front from the horizontal button safety were replaced. Some modified Orita M1941/48s use the same old receivers and some rebuilt weapons have new made receivers. An older receiver used by the M1941 can be recognized by the markings stamped on top of it and by the repaired spot where the vertical safety switch was located parallel to the rear sight on the right.

A scarce variant of the Orita submachine gun having a folding metal stock was manufactured at the Cugir factory after 1945. The new sturdy weapon has a large grip safety to prevent accidental discharge. A horizontally grooved wooden side plate is fixed on each side of the weapon. The cocking lever is knurled and it is directed upward at a 45 degree angle. A rear swivel is located near the mechanism that folds the steel stock. This was the first automatic weapon with a folding stock ever manufactured in Romania.

The top of the receiver used by the 9mm Orita M1941 submachine guns is marked: “UZINELE CMC CUGIR” over “P.U.A. ‘ORITA’ Md.1941 Cal 9mm” followed by a six digit serial number. The new receiver used by some M1941/48s is marked on top: “AUTOMATUL UMC 49” also followed by a six digit serial number. The total number of both models of the Orita M1941 and M1941/48 submachine guns made and modified at Cugir factory remains unknown today but the serial numbers may give us a clue. Some modified Orita M1941/48 submachine guns have old receivers stamped “Modificat 48” or “Model 48”. A triangle stamp with the letters “AA” inside means “Arsenalul Armatei” (Army Arsenal). Small quality control markings can be stamped as well.

The 9mm Orita M1941/48 submachine gun remained in Romanian army service up until the late 1950s. In the mid-1970s the weapon was still used for training by the so called Garzile Patriotice (Patriotic Guards), a kind of civilian national guard and territorial defense that had been created in Romania during the autumn of 1968 as a direct response to the soviet military invasion of Czechoslovakia in August the same year. By 1980, the remaining Orita M1941/48 submachine guns used by Garzile Patriotice were replaced with Romanian made 7.62mm Kalashnikovs.

While in Romania, the author had the rare opportunity to shoot the 9mm Orita M1941/48 submachine gun. It is well designed, easy to handle and accurate weapon. The box magazine is easy to insert and remove. Short two and three shot bursts can be fired through trigger manipulation. A large ejection port is located above the magazine housing on the right side of the receiver. The empty cases fly with good forceful ejection, landing about five feet away to the right. When fired from the shoulder the weapon has the tendency to climb fast if bursts are not controlled. This reliable Romanian burp gun is very comfortable fired from the hip with the magazine housing firmly gripped and the muzzle blast is moderate and not disturbing to the shooter.

(Editor’s note: Small Arms Review takes special pride in telling the “story behind the story,” bringing our readers background information that won’t be found in ordinary gun magazines. In this case it’s the fascinating saga of the Kriss Super V Vector submachine gun and semiautomatic carbine, a pair of radically new weapons. These are genuinely innovative weapons created by a pair of European visionaries who have been indispensably aided by Americans skilled in business, engineering, manufacturing, and more. In next month’s issue of SAR we will have a report on the weapons themselves.)

“Doing design development on this project while putting the infrastructure in place and building the company has sort of been like laying railroad track while the train is barreling down on you at 60 miles an hour.” Tim Lindsay, TDI VP for Programs and Engineering.

It is useful to note that America’s Army has recently begun fielding its new M26 shotgun. Despite being a decidedly simple single shot 12 gauge with manually operated straight pull operation, it still took ten years to get from concept to combat. Mostly because the “Big Green Machine” is serviced by a big gray bureaucracy.

By way of contrast, TDI’s radically unusual KRISS submachine gun has made the trip from first patent application by inventor Renaud Kerbrat to mass production in six years.

Unimpressed? Same for us, until we considered the very necessary and practical steps that had to be taken behind the scenes in that six year lag. When you have something really, really new that shakes up the status quo, it is far more likely to achieve success when vested interests are players in the process.

The right ones can make or break public perception. Thus, the seal of approval from established and respected authorities is essential.

Kerbrat and his very savvy business partners apparently know this quite well. Gamma Group has fully sufficient resources to bankroll the project, so Transformational Defense Industries could have fast-tracked it to completion.

But the resulting weapon, like many before, was likely to be handicapped by the opinion that it was just another interesting novelty.

So it was necessary to get the Army involved.

(Editor’s Note: TDI points out that actual design to production time of the KRISS Super V Vector SMG and CRB/SO was a little over two years; starting from a “clean sheet” after engineering baseline studies in December 2005, to first sales in January 2008. The circumstances between patent and production are detailed in the following Developmental Timeline)

Developmental Timeline

What follows here is based primarily on an extensive interview and subsequent email exchanges with retired Army Colonel Timothy C. Lindsay, TDI’s Vice President for Programs and Engineering. Lindsay has been there nearly from the start and has been intimately involved in all aspects of the KRISS Super V system’s journey from patent drawings to production. SAR is grateful for his unique perspective and his help in getting the facts straight.

• September 11, 2001. In a well planned and carefully coordinated suicide mission, nineteen radical Islamic terrorists hijack four US commercial airliners. Two are crashed into the World Trade Center and a third hits the Pentagon. A handful of courageous passengers overcome their captors on the fourth plane but all aboard are killed when it plummets into a field in rural Pennsylvania. 3,000 die in the space of a few hours. Soon afterward, President George W. Bush declares a Global War on Terror (GWOT).
• Early 2002. International entrepreneur Jan Henrik Jebsen, deeply affected by the horrific terrorist attacks and determined to provide essential support to the GWOT, founds Gamma Applied Visions Group in Switzerland. Gamma AVG brings together several companies specializing in defense and security, anti-terrorism, communications, civil protection, and other disciplines. One of these is Gamma KDG, formed to develop innovative weaponry including designs envisioned by Renaud Kerbrat, formerly an armaments engineer for FN Herstal and reportedly an ex-field operative for France’s intelligence apparatus.
• June 2002. Jebsen begins a series of patent filings for Kerbrat’s radically new “Recoil Control Device,” applicable in various configurations to a wide variety of firearms from handguns to cannon. Kerbrat, perhaps invoking the mystical powers attributed to the fearsome, wavy bladed kris swords that originated in 13th century Indonesia, bestows the exotic name KRISS to his unique system. It will eventually receive international and US patents, clearing the way for commercial development.
• November 2002. Jebsen travels to the US to promote Gamma’s diverse offerings – notably including Kerbrat’s KRISS weapons – to industry, government, military and law enforcement. In a chance meeting in Washington, DC, Jebsen encounters Timothy C. Lindsay of the consulting firm Whitney, Bradley and Brown (WBB). It’s Jebsen’s good luck that Lindsay is a retired Army Colonel with years of experience at the US Army’s Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC).
• January 2003. Jebsen hires WBB for its expertise in the US Department of Defense’s notoriously complex acquisition structure. Lindsay proves central to this effort.
• March 2003. Gamma AVG forms the US firm Transformational Defense Industries (TDI), headquartered in Washington, DC. Its name is based on Jebsen’s determination to “transform” traditionally slow bureaucratic processes so that the newest and most effective weaponry can be put into the hands of troops much more quickly. TDI’s first employee is Andrew Finn, a former Marine Corps officer who went on to distinguish himself in the financial world. Finn, Senior Vice President for Business Development, collaborates with Lindsay in a successful effort to obtain government funding for further development of one of Kerbrat’s weapon designs.
• September 2004. Francis J. Dougherty, a 28 year veteran US Navy officer and defense industry executive, takes the helm as TDI’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
• July to August 2004. TDI is awarded $250,000 under a sole-source contract from ARDEC’s Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP) for a Technology Feasibility Study of the Super V recoil technology at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. Lindsay heads up this effort, as Project Manager for TDI, hiring former ARDEC engineers Curtis Johnson and Michael Clune to support the effort. Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) at the Small Arms Division of the Weapons Technology Branch at Picatinny, they collaborate with ARDEC’s Mike Daniti, Team Leader, and Steve Liss. ARDEC engineers, notably Adam Jacob and Eric Binter, are also key to the project that soon includes Jim Ronkainen of Remington R&D facility in Elizabeth Town, KY. Their work begins with analysis of a firing prototype machine pistol fabricated in Switzerland by Kerbrat and assistant Antoine Robert. The decision at Gamma to chamber the weapon in powerful and hard-hitting .45 ACP provides a baseline performance standard that can be readily appreciated by all knowledgeable observers. Reminiscent of a science fiction ray gun, it is designated by Kerbrat as the “MK5 NRA” (National Rifle Assn.). The prototype is reverse-engineered at ARDEC using highly sophisticated computer aided design and engineering tools. The resulting “virtual prototype” is minutely analyzed in form and function. Computer aided dynamic and finite element analysis demonstrates the dramatic reduction in felt recoil and muzzle climb. This analysis is confirmed in instrumented testing of the KRISS Super V prototype and compared with other common pistol caliber weapons.

• August 2004 to June 2005. Kerbrat’s design is validated in data resulting from the work at Picatinny and small refinements are incorporated in fabrication of an optimized firing prototype machine pistol. This is built by TDI and – not to be confused with the one Kerbrat built – is also designated as Mk5 NRA. Subsequent test firings at Picatinny in carefully instrumented fixtures prove the mechanism’s unique properties in dramatically reducing felt recoil and muzzle climb in comparison to several representative firearms in its class.
• November 2004. Military trade magazine Armed Forces Journal ignites curiosity in the international gun community with an exclusive live fire feature in its December issue on TDI’s never-before-seen “Kriss Gun.” Fabricated for TDI by Remington R&D, it is nearly identical to the one Kerbrat built for ARDEC’s initial study and is capable of spraying .45 ACP cartridges at an astonishing rate of 20 rounds per second. Noting sporadic feed problems and citing cautions from some canny military observers on site, AFJ prudently takes a wait-and-see attitude in anticipation of further development.

• December 2004. Convinced of the technological validity and commercial potential for Kerbrat’s machine pistol and related designs, Lindsay accepts the position of Vice President for Programs and Engineering, joining TDI full-time in February 2005.
• June 2005 to May 2006. Encouraged by the positive outcome of the testing at ARDEC, Jebsen’s Gamma Group provides funding for what TDI calls Phase 2. Lessons learned at Picatinny, as well as ongoing research and development at TDI’s first facility in Virginia Beach, VA, are combined in a distinctively configured new submachine gun version with a detachable vertical foregrip and folding stock.
• September 2005. Established and funded by its namesake, the Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies is formally opened at Tufts University. The center is a “think tank,” providing wide spectrum research on evolving terrorist threats as well as recommendations on means of dealing with them.
• December 2005 to May 2006. Following Computer Assisted Design and Engineering (CAD/CAE), as well as Design of Experiments (DOE) studies to determine and confirm the critical design parameters of a “demonstration and proof-of concept platform,” the team begins work to conceptualize and then develop a detailed design. Starting with a “clean sheet” – moving beyond conventional thinking – they are guided by a set of operational “requirements” and their engineering results. This is largely the result of a collaborative effort between the TDI/Viking Works design team, ARDEC (through the existing CRADA), Applied Marine Technology, Inc. (AMTI), and MagPul Industries. TDI fabricates the serial number 1 Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) weapon, which they call the TRL6 KRISS XSMG. MagPul is lead designer of the outer polymer housings and folding stock which are prototyped at this stage of development using 3D selective laser sintering (SLS) process. The heart of the gun is a further refined version of Kerbrat’s original re-vectored sliding mass operating system, now operating in a much more shooter-friendly housing with critical design parameters in the operating action and receiver reworked for reliability, rate of fire and human factors. By slightly varying the angle of the slider’s camming channel, its rate of fire has been reduced to a more efficient 1,000 rpm. Detailed design is completed in March 2006 and fabrication of the SN#1 prototype begins. This takes about one month.
• February 2006. Mr. Quan Le joins the TDI team as Director, Engineering Viking Works, and immediately takes on the role of Project Lead for the TDI KRISS project. TDI begins to hire additional staff to support weapons development efforts.
• 9 May 2006. The new KRISS XSMG fires its first rounds at TDI’s Viking Works Design and Development center in Virginia Beach, VA. By the end of July 2006, field and marketing demonstrations and evaluation have begun using SN#1 and, soon thereafter SN#2, TRL6 KRISS XSMG prototypes.
• October 2006 to December 2007. The Super V system takes another giant stride when TDI wins a $617,000 competitive contract from JSSAP for a study of Kerbrat’s concept for a lightweight .50 BMG caliber machine gun. No doubt drawing on his extensive experience at FN Herstal on development of the 15mm BRG-15 machine gun and other projects, Kerbrat builds and delivers a working prototype to Viking Works. It is called the “Disraptor,” a play on words describing Gamma’s intention to disrupt the status quo with a light, simple, powerful, and fast firing gun that has the fearsome characteristics of the raptor family of predatory birds. Live fire experimentation and computer modeling guide the design’s subsequent development, carried out at Viking Works and Picatinny. With minor modifications, notably the addition of a special hydraulic buffer system from Enidine, the mechanism proves markedly superior to a standard M2HB in the program’s two critical objectives: 40% less weight and half the recoil impulse of the M2HB (95% reduction compared to theoretical maximum). Again, ARDEC engineers via the CRADA and consultant Curtis Johnson provide significant support to this effort.
• June 2005 to December 2006. Former US military special operators at AMTI help with maximizing real world combat utility. Informal advice from some of the many Virginia Beach area Naval Special Warfare personnel – notably including SEAL operators – also proves very helpful.
• February 2007. Boldly asserting Kerbrat’s Super V to be “The most significant advance in weapons operating systems in more than 120 years,” TDI’s TRL6 KRISS XSMG grabs instant attention when it is unveiled at the prestigious Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trades (SHOT) show in Orlando, Florida. A well-coordinated publicity campaign, conceived and carried out by Brotman, Winter, Fried Communications (BWFC), has long preceded the event, elevating interest from the gun press. Notable among these is the February issue of National Rifle Association’s prestigious American Rifleman magazine. Live fire opportunities and other special accommodations for the notoriously skeptical news media and occasionally skeptical gun press pay off in creating a growing buzz among law enforcement, military and civilian shooting enthusiasts. The XSMG stars in several nationally-distributed television programs including an installment of the Discovery Channel’s “Future Weapons” series that originally aired on 19 March 2007, and has since become a hit on YouTube.
• March 2007. TDI completes design and development of the TRL7 KRISS XSMG and begins prototyping, developmental testing and accelerated producibility studies for producing the XSMG. TDI also moves into its new Viking Works “art to part” Design and Development facility on 16 March 2007.

• August 2007 to October 2007. TDI modifies the XSMG to create a semi-automatic carbine with 16 inch barrel, designated the KRISS Super V Vector CRB/SO (for Carbine/Special Ops), for sale to the civilian market. The CRB/SO has ~95% parts compatibility with XSMG.
• October 2007. Charles J. Kushell IV, bringing 30 years of international experience in top level marketing and management, is named as TDI’s Acting Chief Executive Officer and Director. Mr. Kushell’s involvement as a Director of TDI dates to 2005.
• October 2007 to February 2008. Nine TRL 7 XSMGs, built at Viking Works, are delivered to the Army’s Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) for a full range of testing under an extension of TDI’s CRADA with ARDEC. Strict Test Operating Procedures (TOP), specified for this class of US Military small arms, are applied to the guns. Among these are function firing in extreme heat and cold, sand and mud, prolonged exposure to salt fog, rain, freezing rain, unlubricated test, accuracy/dispersion, noise, drop tests, safety tests, and endurance firing. Results of these are tabulated in formal documentation from ATC and the XSMG documentation for the Army’s essential man-rated “safety release” is prepared for approval. All of this demonstrates the weapon’s state of development at TRL7 and will clear the way for US Armed Forces personnel to participate in future live fire evaluations.
• March 2007 to February 2008. Further mechanical, operational and manufacturability refinements of the XSMG, as well as development of a semiautomatic carbine, are carried out at Viking Works. TDI continues its collaboration with MagPul Industries on customized flip-up sights and a sturdy and reliable magazine extension that boosts capacity to 30 rounds. Additional input from numerous hands-on live fire evaluations, notably including a range session for personnel of US Special Operations Command, is used to fine tune location and function of shooter interface components and controls. Meanwhile, TDI explores alternatives for production of the new subguns and carbines, eventually deciding to contract out parts production, then assemble, inspect, test, and ship at Viking Works.
• November 2007. These efforts, incorporating more than 50 design changes that enhance firing performance and manufacturing efficiency, result in standardization of the KRISS Super-V Vector .45 ACP SMG and initial low-rate production begins. This is soon followed by the KRISS Super-V Vector CRB/SO .45 ACP, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) approved semiautomatic carbine. Closely resembling the subgun except for a 16 inch barrel and modified fire control system that precludes full auto conversion, the distinctive CRB/SO has particular appeal to tactical weapons enthusiasts for combat shooting competition and home defense.
• 11 October 2007. BWFC and TDI host an invitation-only live fire demonstration and hands-on evaluation for prominent representatives of the news media and gun/military/law enforcement press at Blackwater USA. The program includes briefings and Q&A with top company officials as well as a dramatic tactical scenario and the opportunity to test fire the newest version Vector subguns and carbines. Jebsen arrives from Switzerland to see for himself, likely noting that his considerable investment is being well received by the many influential attendees. Additional positive reporting is generated over the next several months.

• January 2008. TDI announces an exclusive agreement with industry giant AcuSport as sole distributor for the KRISS Super-V family of semiautomatic firearms and accessories to the US civilian market. Marketing and sales of the submachine gun version, heavily regulated by federal, state and local laws, remain under direct control of TDI.
• 1 February 2008. The now-standardized production model KRISS Super-V Vector submachine gun and carbine receive their public debut at the S.H.O.T. show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Long-tantalizing possibilities are now reality, fueling a million dollars in pre-delivery orders.
• March/April 2008. Under supervision of Finn, Kushell, and retired Marine non-commissioned officer Tom Maffin, Manager of Training and Demonstrations, TDI begins a series of training programs for AcuSports’ exclusive dealer network. Specific outlets for the line of semiautomatic KRISS weapons and accessories have been hand selected for their combination of a storefront operation with substantial sales in law enforcement and tactical items, plus an indoor range for live fire demonstration and user evaluation.
• April 2008. TDI’s Viking Works facility ships the first batch of KRISS Super V Vector CRB/SO carbines. Production will hit its stride at 200 guns per month in April/May 2008 as plans are finalized to triple this figure in the coming months.

Coming Attractions

TDI points proudly to the rapid prototyping capabilities at Viking Works where lead engineer Mr. Quan Le and more than a dozen designers, machinists and support personnel make it possible to go from “art to part” in short order.

This exemplifies Gamma’s transformational concept, Lindsay told us. “One of our primary themes in R&D is to do things smart and fast, to ‘turn the crank’ to iterate quickly,” he said. “We realized early on that we needed to have some core capabilities; not only in people, but also in software and machine tools that would allow us to go from a white board drawing to a Pro/Engineer design, to a Master Cam Toolpath, to cutting the part. In some cases within minutes or hours.”

And the Virginia Beach facility will soon double in size to 8,000 square feet, essential room for TDI’s rapidly growing manufacturing operations as production of both subguns and carbines ramps up to triple the current capacity of 200 guns per month.

While there are legions of advocates for the proven combat utility of the .45 ACP round, proponents of other hot pistol loads such as .357 SIG and .40 S&W may take heart. TDI says they’re well prepared to accommodate your preference as long as production numbers make it economically viable. Additionally, they’re closely watching for indications that the US military’s perennially pursued but never reached replacement of the current M9 pistol might be revived once again. Tailoring Kerbrat’s clever Super V sliding lock for various calibers and loadings is easily done – whether for a pistol, a personal defense weapon, or the tenuously described “Compact Weapon” of late.

Rifle caliber versions are also under active consideration. Kerbrat’s original Recoil Device patent application includes detailed drawings and descriptions of a Super V selective fire battle rifle in 7.62mm. TDI is monitoring his recent design work in various calibers and also conducting its own experimentation at Viking Works.

Wisely noting the marked preference among civilians for military style weaponry, TDI hired California based Innovative Design Group to supercharge the CRB/SO with a “Black Rifle” type profile. Among several candidates offered, the lean and mean A2-b proved most compelling, placing the Vector mechanism in an assault rifle type housing with plenty of Picatinny Rail for accessories, as well as a skeletonized buttstock.

Pre-production work is well underway and this “50 State Legal” modular design may be customized to customer preference or to comply with local restrictions, most notoriously those of California.

Kerbrat’s concept for a semiautomatic 12 gauge shotgun has been explored at TDI. While it showed great promise, a parallel design by Viking Works engineers has proven more practical to maintain the traditional lines, balance and handling that experienced shooters demand. The KRISS MVS 12, providing dramatically reduced recoil and muzzle climb in a featherweight 5.5 pound package, is expected to hit the market in late 2009, subject to time and money available for development. Computer aided design modeling and analysis completed by TDI has already demonstrated the physics of reducing felt recoil by more than 40% in this lightweight gun while not sacrificing the classic shotgun aesthetic – even before considering contributions of semi-auto cycling action or traditional buffer or compensation techniques.

Lightweight “heavy machine guns” are of intense interest throughout the US Armed Forces in mounted applications for land, sea and air combat, with particular emphasis on the rapidly growing field of robotic platforms. Following its evaluation of engineering and test data from initial examination of the .50 caliber Disraptor, ARDEC has indicated a readiness to continue development in Phase 2 as funding permits. Additionally, ARDEC has requested proposals from TDI for a .50 caliber sniper rifle and a medium caliber machine gun, all utilizing Kerbrat’s Super V system.

In exciting news to proponents of robot-warriors, TDI is collaborating with a large defense contractor in integrating a KRISS Super V .45 ACP system onto a very lightweight (less than 40 lbs) unmanned ground vehicle for close quarters battle in urban operations.

Gamma also holds US and international patents for an adaptation of plasma torch technology to more efficiently fire mortars and cannon. This is potentially a great improvement over conventional percussion primers that sometimes fail, creating the extremely dangerous potential for a “hangfire” when the dud round detonates during the process of removal from the breech. This pulsed plasma jet firing mechanism has been built and tested at Gamma’s Nyon R&D facilities, proving the concept as workable and practical.

Bottom Line

It cannot be over-emphasized that Kerbrat’s internationally patented “Recoil Control Device” is applicable in various configurations to most any type of cartridge weapon from handgun to howitzer. Offered by TDI for licensing under the trademarked name KRISS Super V, the family of weapons is on track to expand beyond the current subgun, carbine and shotgun.

While mystical powers of the kris sword may not be measurable, dramatic reductions in recoil, muzzle rise and weapon weight are. Stay tuned.

Find Out More

Transformational Defense Industries, Inc. has a particularly information-rich website with hot links to technical information, press coverage, test videos, and more at www.kriss-tdi.com.

AcuSport Corp. www.acusport.com.

YouTube videos of KRISS XSMG (the Discovery Channel’s “Future Weapons” segment is also linked on TDI website) at www.youtube.com search “KRISS”

Soviet Spetsnaz troops played a key role in post-WW2 Soviet military doctrine, in both local operations (mostly in third world countries such as Afghanistan) and in possible global war in Europe. In either case, Spetsnaz required, among other things, weapons that could be used with at least some degree of stealth. The silenced 9×18 PB pistol was the first mass issue Spetsnaz silenced handgun. It was quite effective, but Spetsnaz was always on the lookout for the more firepower, and one request was for a weapon to match (at least partially) the western silenced 9mm submachine guns, such as the Sterling L34A1 and others.

At the time, submachine guns had no place in Soviet military doctrine, and the closest thing in the Soviet arms inventory was the 9mm Stechkin APS machine pistol. Many thousands of these guns were produced in the USSR during the mid-to-late fifties, and by the early seventies most were replaced by Kalashnikov assault rifles. For a variety of reasons, most APS pistols were withdrawn from service and put into storage. This large pistol featured a 20-round magazine, detachable holster/shoulder stock and a select-fire mechanism with rate reducer, which permitted for a controllable rate of fire of about 600 rounds per minute. Effective range, with shoulder stock attached, was 70-100 meters (although the sights were optimistically marked up to 200 meters). Holstered, this weapon was certainly more compact than most of the contemporary western submachine guns, although a wooden or plastic holster/shoulder stock added significant weight.

The task of designing a silenced version of the APS was handled to TsNII TochMash (Central Scientific Research Institute of Precision Machine building), the key Soviet R&D organization for Spetsnaz equipment and weapons. The development team was led by designer Neugodnov, and the modified weapon was provisionally marked AO-44. After mandatory tests and evaluation, this weapon was officially adopted for use by the Soviet Army in 1972, as “Avtomaticheskij Pistolet BeschumnyjAPB” – automatic noiseless pistol, official military index 6P13. All APB pistols were remanufactured at TsNII TochMash from old APS pistols, and thus bear manufacturing dates from the late 1950s. These pistols were widely used by Soviet Spetsnaz in Afghanistan and are still in limited issue with military and law enforcement of Russia and certain other ex-USSR states: although most were retired from service due to their age, and replaced by more effective and modern weapons.

The author had the chance to fire an APB at one of Russia’s military organizations, and was quite impressed with it. The heavy pistol, with addition of the large silencer, handles already mild recoil of the 9×18 cartridge quite well, in both semiautomatic and automatic modes. Due to the built-in rate reducer, two- and three-round bursts are easy to master; even single shots in full automatic mode are easy to obtain with minimal practice. The single-shot accuracy at 25 meters was hard to judge due to the age of the gun and the well-worn barrel, but it was generally acceptable. In full automatic mode and at 25 meters, when using the standard wire shoulder stock and two-hand grip (both hands holding the pistol grip), the author was able to put 3-4 round bursts into the area 4 to 6 inches in length (with hits spreading mostly in a vertical direction). With the left hand holding the silencer of the gun (with proper heat insulation provided by the piece of cloth wrapped around it) the vertical spread in short bursts can be further decreased by about 30%.

The sound of the firing is mild and roughly similar to that of powerful air-gun or .22LR rifle, although the slide slams back and forth with a loud metallic sound. The wire stock, supplied with APB pistols, is significantly lighter and more compact than the wooden stock-holster of the original APS, but the latter provides a better control over the weapon, at least by the author’s own impression. Unfortunately, no special holster was available for the APB at the time of the informal test, but almost any holster would be more comfortable to carry than the original wooden or plastic holster-shoulder stock of APS. In the field, the APB was carried in the leather flap-type holster with an integral pocket holding shoulder stock with the silencer attached to it. Spare magazines were carried in a double leather pouch, with two pockets each holding two magazines. The standard ammunition load for each APB issued for combat was 100 rounds (one magazine in the gun and four spares in pouch on the belt).

The Stechkin APS pistol, which served as a base for the APB, could in some respects be considered the first “Wondernine” – the high capacity, double action, nine-millimeter caliber pistol. Also, in some respects, it was still influenced by the pre-war machine pistols like the Mauser C96 Schnellfeuer, Astra Modelo F or Star MM. All considered, when originally issued, it failed to fill a predetermined niche as it was too bulky and heavy for a pistol and too weak for a carbine or submachine gun, still less an assault rifle.

The APB pistol is blowback operated, with a fixed barrel. To achieve subsonic velocities under all environmental conditions and with a relatively long barrel (the APS barrel was 140mm long and accelerated the standard 9×18 bullet to transonic velocity of 340 m/s), the barrel of the APB is ported. Two sets of radial holes are drilled, one near the chamber (four holes) and another about an inch from the muzzle (two rows of eight holes total). The barrel is then enclosed in the removable steel tube, which then flows the excessive powder gases forward to the muzzle and protects the internals of the gun from hot gases and burnt residue. This tube extends forward from the muzzle of the barrel for about an inch to provide a necessary mounting interface for a quick-detachable silencer. This interface consists of a single turn of the thread made on the outside of tube. In the original APS design, the return spring was located around the barrel. A new return spring of larger diameter was manufactured and the slide was machined from inside to provide more room for the enlarged diameter spring. During disassembly, the tube can be easily detached from the barrel once the slide and return spring are removed. This is necessary for routine cleaning and maintenance of the gun. Although the gun examined by the author was probably not cleaned for years, it ran flawlessly.

The trigger is double action with an exposed hammer. A three-position safety works as a fire mode selector (safe – semi – auto), and also forces the hammer to decock safely when the gun is set on “safe”. To provide controllable full automatic fire, the APB is fitted with an inertia-type rate reducer made in the form of a steel plunger that reciprocates up and down in the grip just behind the magazine channel. When the pistol is fired in full automatic mode, at the end of its forward movement the slide hits the plunger and forces it down against its spring while at the same time the hammer is held cocked by the automatic sear. Once the plunger completes its down-and-up cycle, it strikes the automatic sear and thus releases the hammer to fire the next shot. The magazine is of the double-stack type with a double feed with the magazine release located at the base of the grip. The sights are of somewhat unusual design with a fixed front and a range-adjustable rear. Rear sight adjustments are made by the rotation of a small drum, which has pre-sets for 25, 50, 100 and 200 meters range. The grip is slotted, originally to accept the shoulder stock-holster, which in the APB version was replaced by a detachable steel wire stock. The stock has spring-loaded clamps, which are used to attach a silencer to it for storage and transportation.

The quick-detachable silencer is of a relatively simple and robust design. It consists of a steel tube, open at the rear, and a steel insert that runs the entire length of the silencer and provides mounting surfaces on the rear and holds four steel baffles at the middle and front. Baffles are permanently welded to the insert, so for all practical purposes, the silencer can be broken down to just two parts: the outer shell and insert. To provide an unblocked sight line with the original sights, the silencer is of an eccentric design, with most of its volume being moved downward from the axis of the bore. It is probably not the most effective design, but it is certainly robust, can withstand rough handling and serve for years without any cleaning and maintenance. To protect the silencer from unscrewing itself through use, it has a spring-loaded lock.

Manual safety: a lever at the left side of the slide. Rotate lever forward and up to turn the safety on; rotate it down about 60 degrees (position marked with a dot) to turn the safety off for single shot mode. Rotate it all the way back to set to the automatic fire mode. When applied, the safety blocks the movement of the slide and decocks the hammer automatically.

Field stripping procedure: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the trigger guard downwards, then swing it to one side to lock it in the open position; 4) pull the slide all the way back, then raise the rear of the slide to the top, and off the frame rails; 5) carefully ease the slide forward and off the barrel; 6) remove the return spring from the barrel; 7) rotate the gas evacuation tube left or right for 1/4 of a turn, then pull it forward and out of the barrel. Reassemble in reverse order.

APB Spetsnaz Pistol

Trigger type: Double / single action
Caliber / ammunition used: 9×18 PM
Muzzle velocity: 290 m/s (950 fps)
Weight, empty gun w/o accessories: 1100 g (2.4 lbs)
Weight, with silencer and shoulder stock: 1600 g (3.5 lbs)
Length: 780 mm (30.7”) with stock and silencer, 257 mm (10.1”) gun w/o accessories
Barrel length: 140 mm (5.5”)
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds

Submachine Guns of the United States of America: From the AM-180 Through the ZX-7
Frank Iannamico, 2004
Moose Lake Publishing LLC
Henderson, Nevada 89014
ISBN 0-9742724-0-X

Book reviewed by Jon Miller

“Prolific publishing pundit, Frank Iannamico, pens powerful primer providing provocative parlance pertinent to our past time.”

Appropriately titled, this profusely illustrated 486 page book chronologically catalogues the history and progression of American submachine guns from the 1921 Thompson through the M16.

The author introduces U.S. submachine guns through a review of preceding German, Italian, Russian and Japanese efforts in the first section. He then melds into the WW II U.S. Machine Gun Trials replete with extensive documentation in the second section. Trials included the Atmed, Austen, Hyde, Reising, Smith and Wesson, Soumi, Star, Sten, Woodhull and High Standard machine guns. Illustrations include period photos and field-stripped weapons.

The third section is dedicated to Phase Two of the Ordnance Tests. It includes the above weapons plus the Atlantic, Auto Ordnance T-2, Masco, modified 1911-A1 pistol, German MP40, Olsen, Owen, Turner, UD-1, and Thompson with straight line butt stock machine guns. Machine gun cartridges are discussed and Ordnance testing procedures are explained in this section.

Section five is U.S. Production Guns 1921-1945 from the Thompson through the Grease Gun with emphasis on the Thompson, Grease Gun and UD-42. Section six is one hundred fifty five pages of all the Post WWII U.S. Submachine Guns.

A fifty five page section is devoted to Prototypes and Patents in section seven. This includes intriguing illustrations of prototypes with patent drawings.

The final twenty pages show field-stripping diagrams of Thompson, Reising, UD-42, M2, Grease Gun, Smith and Wesson Model 76, MAC Ingram and M16.

Submachine Guns of the United States of America provides a solid introduction to the submachine gun. It covers each topic well and provides appropriate illustrations. This ambitious work successfully provides a sound source of information and education for the beginner and intermediate level Class III enthusiast.

Most of you know of the untiring efforts that the NFATCA has been putting forth for nearly five years to bring success to many of our efforts in working with the BATFE. Among the many efforts that we have worked closely with the Bureau include:

• Working with the NFA Branch on assisting with the process of streamlining the forms transfer process and increasing the speed of the overall time to get a transfer approved.
• The NFA Handbook and its first update
• Assisting ATF with reviews to the 4473 revision process.
• Getting approval for the process of acquiring multiple sales samples.
• Designing, laying out, and developing the Firearms Technology Branch Procedures Manual.
• Negotiating a successful resolution to the FNC sear issues.
• Working with the ATF compliance process and designing a dealer training program.
• Developing a series of programs including the Manufacturers Forum to bring the industry and ATF closer on multiple manufacturing issues.

This list goes on and on and will continue to grow as we work closer almost every day in dealing with the multitude of issues that affect the NFA public and the industry as a whole. Most recently there have been so many issues that the NFATCA has been dealing with that both ATF and the NFATCA have elected to ramp up our efforts as a team and deal with the industry issues face to face.

The NFATCA has suggested and the Bureau has agreed to jointly tackle these issues through the efforts of a joint task force aimed at discussing the issues at length and trying to determine the best solutions to solve a myriad of problems that affect all of us in the NFA world.

This effort is an unprecedented initiative to jointly discuss the issues at hand and attempt to reach a solution that makes sense to both ATF and the industry. Once we reach a resolution on a particular issue then the findings will be released by the NFATCA on our web site and through a Small Arms Review article. ATF, if appropriate, may issue a ruling or an industry circular to address the agreed upon solution to a particular issue.

The forum for such a collaborative effort will be tackled in a two part process that enables the NFATCA to investigate the issue fully and apprise ATF on the details of the matter before we invite ATF to a conference bridge to discuss the matter. As a first portion of this process the NFATCA will listen, as we always have, to our membership and the general industry about the particular issues that may be affecting the trade.

As a first step, the NFATCA will invite specific industry members to an open discussion on a matter to dig deeply into all facets of the issue and to determine whether it merits discussion with ATF. The industry discussions will invite any and all members of the industry that can contribute good information to our discussions. Being a member of the NFATCA is not a requirement to participate in these discussions.

In many cases a few simple contacts within ATF can resolve these matters with a mere phone call. However, if after a detailed discussion with appropriate industry representatives and the NFATCA, we determine that the matter is truly of industry concern, the NFATCA will invite appropriate ATF representatives to meet on a conference bridge, or at one of the many face to face meetings we have to discuss the matter in further detail and attempt to reach a conclusion on how to appropriately handle any number of potential issues.

These discussions and the results will be handled however ATF and the NFATCA elect to agree on the release or dissemination of conclusions we reach as a collaborative effort. The goal of this initiative will be to bring the industry and ATF closer in examining the details of anything we both feel merits discussion, clarification, or rulings concerning our discussions.

I should also mention that the FAIR group has been working with ATF on a venue very close to the NFATCA effort and it is our hope that these two efforts can be combined to establish a truly collaborative effort with ATF from all sides of the NFA industry. As this process moves forward everyone can be assured that the news of this activity will be addressed in any number of ways.

One of the easiest ways to stay abreast of the continuous and tireless efforts of the NFATCA is to watch the website for updates and news of our energy and accomplishments.

Still wondering why you should join the NFATCA? Come and join the spirit of a relationship that is working for all of our benefits and is the only nationwide organization that is working tirelessly at protecting your NFA ownership. Visit us at www.NFATCA.org.