WINDSOCK MINI DATAFILE 3(ON THE COVER: Lewis MI on early form of Foster ‘mount on an SESa — in this instance the Shuttleworth Trust's F904. The clip and cable id grip ‘was squeezed by the pilot to release the forward clamp securing the fore part of the gun, The other cable is the remote trigger control. (R L Rimell) Above, a pair of Mk.lll guns on the late RNAS/RAF twin mount AN INTRODUCTION About the drawings (On pages 4 and 5 the author presents scale drawings of Lewis gun variations. These are all reproduced to the standard 1:12 scale which is an sy size for modellers to enlarge or reduce as necessary for their particular model subject whether 1:6 or larger; 1:24 or smaller. Ray Rimell, November 1995. Pusu ‘Albatros Production, Ltd ‘Acknowledgements — all photos are trom the author's collection unless otherwise accredited c P IERS! STATEMENT: This book is published by Albatros Production Hertlordshire, HPA IBY, Great Britain. Copyright © 1995 Albatros edited and produced by R | Rimell. Co-pubisher: A M Hogan. Scale drawings by Harry Woo binding in Great Britain by The Magazine Printing Company Limited, Enfield, Mid Copyright and may not be reproduced oF transmitted in any form whatsoever, ether in whole or in part, without the prior, written consent of rk Estate, Berkhamsted, ISBN No, 0 948414 SI 2. Designed. man. Mono and colour origination, printing and sex, EN3 INT. The contents ofthis publication are strictly 10 Long View, Chiltern P lctions, Ltd Printed in Great Bet UK PRICE $5.00 (NET)THE METAMORPHIC MG A guide to the changing appearance of the well-used aircraft weapon of WWI By HARRY WOODMAN he history of the Lewis as an aircraft weapon even up to 1918 is quite ong and complex. It has been told before to some extent and in this booklet the intention is merely to illus trate as clearly as possible the several versions and to explain the reasons for the numerous modifications brought about by the experience of aerial com- bat. Throughout the text, reference will be made to the accompanying line drawings [1 ~ 21] on pages 4 and 5. The contents may be of particular interest to modellers, especially those who build large scale flying models. For example, the American firm of Williams’ Brothers have long marketed an excellent series of plastic kits of WW1 guns in 1:6 scale, however, the Lewis in the series is a model of the US Mode! 1918. Its rather disappointing to see beautiful models of, say, a 1916 Nieuport 11 or a 1917 SESa with a type of Lewis fitted which was never seen on such aircraft. The Wile liams kit can easily be modified and itis hoped that the illustrations within these pages might prove to be of assistance. ‘The Gun ~a very concise history Conceived by Lt. Col. Isaac N Lewis who failed to intorest the US War Department ‘Above, this should really be captioned. ‘what happened next?’ One of the Mki Lewis guns that filtered through to Rus- sia in 1916. Fitted with a spade grip and doflector bag, this is flight simulation at mud roots level. (G Petrov) and so travelled to Europe and joined a syndicate in Belgium known as Armes Automatique Lewis Société Anonyme Belge formed at Liége in 1912. Lewis quickly realised that a larger, more experienced, firm was needed to pro- duce the woapon in quantity and so came to an agreement with the Birming: ham Small Arms Company (BSA) who took over manufacture and acquired all rights in Europe and the Eastern hemis- phere. The British War Office were not impressed with the Lewis although a handful were purchased for use by the RFC. This was not short-sightedness, the idea of a light machine gun (more correctly an automatic weapon) which could be fired ‘from the hip’ by an indi-vidual infantryman was not appreciated at the time by any of the military hierar- Chies in Europe or the USA. In any case the early Lewis was not without its draw- backs. It was tested and found to be a little fragile for the rough and tumble of the battlefield, the circular magazine in particular attracted dust and mud and its air-cooling system was suspect. Some interest in the weapon was expressed by RFC and RNAS officers who saw it as a possible aircraft or air ship gun. By the end of 1914 in the East and the West the conception of warfare had to be radically altored as did the estimates of the duration of the conflict. This had a significant effect for the need now arose for vast numbers of guns and ammuni- tion of all types. The Lewis was now seen as a quickly-made automatic gun to supplement the splendid Vickers which could not be made fast enough. Orders were placed with BSA who had fortul tously just completed a large new fac- tory and even larger orders were placed with manufacturers in the USA who did 2 ot espouse the isolationist movement. Which was just as well because the voracious appetite for the war machine was never satisfied ‘The few Lewis guns soon caught on as a useful light weapon in the RFC and RNAS while the French also saw it as a better gun than their light Hotchkiss and awkward American Colts, The RNAS reluctantly passed some to France and soon the Russians wanted them too. However, BSA eventually got into its Stride and began to suppy the weapon in adequate numbers whilst the American ‘Savage Co. of Ithica, New York started to supply the French. The British Army did not officially adopt the Lewis until October 1915 after an initial try-out period, ‘The Mark | Lewis [1] was a gas-oper- fated light automatic weapon firing ammunition of rifle calibre (British 0.303 inch). It was also air-cooled and the magazine, which held 47 rounds, was circular in shape and positioned’ con- trally.In its basic form with shoulder butt Left, a_ BE2c at Famborough (photo dated February 6 1916) demonstrating Why the front seat man could find it dif= ficult to even see an enemy aircraft let alone fire at one despite having two ‘uns. A third gun for use by the pilot is. also mounted. All the guns are stripped ‘and have wooden handguards from Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifles fitted as gas cylinder protectors; no magazines are fitted. Below, the ‘RNAS Pattern’ Lewis with- ‘out magazine. This one is mounted on the starboard gallows mount of an F3 flying boat. Note the extended central pillar to accommodate the larger 97 found No.5 magazine. (JM Bruce/GS Leslie Collection)stock it weighed about 27 Ibs. The rate of fire was 550 + rounds per minute (rpm) and the effective range was 1,900 yards. The Gun — a very much simplified description The Lewis was a gas-operated gun which meant that the hot expanding {gases created by the explosion in the cartridge not only propelled the bullet through the barrel but were partly diverted through a hole into a cylinder below the barrel, This cylinder was known as the gas cylinder and it con- tained a piston rod. The gases forced the piston backwards and by means of a rack and pinion provided the power to operate the various parts of the gun such as empties, ejection, partial revol- ving of the magazine to insert now rounds in the breech, etc. Gun barrels need to be kept cool if they are required to fire repeatedly and in the Maxim type a water jacket sur- rounded the barrel. The Lewis was an air-cooled weapon and dispersed the heat by enclosing the barrel in a medium which would absorb the heat by radia tion, this was a cast aluminium radiator with 17 longitudinal fins [2]. When the {gun fired, the gases which followed the bullet were formed into a cone shape by the bell-shaped muzzle piece which assisted the formation of a vacuum in the radiator chamber. This in turn caused an inrush of cool air from the ‘open rear of the radiator and so cooled the barrel Despite what is seen in old Hollywood films the Lewis was not fired in long con- tinuous bursts, since the barrel would probably suffer ‘bluoing’. It was fired in short bursts of three-four rounds for two reasons: the first was not to overheat the Above, a Mkill Lewis with @ Mkil deflector bag (about to fall off). In this posed incident the weapon is mounted fon an Anderson arch with sliding tele- scopic tube, one of several different mounts used on the FE2b. This one ‘was to enable the gunner to fire to the rear (over the top of the wing). In order to do so he had to adopt this rather hair-raising attitude. Under such cir- cumstances the fitting of the original shoulder stock could be useful as it could be jammed into the shoulder allowing a free hand to hang on (as in ‘the German Parabellum). (RAF Museum) Left, a good study of the last variant of the ‘(aircraft) Lewis, the Mkll, which appeared late in the war. It is mounted here on the No.2 Scarff ring of a Han- dley Page 0/400 and has the improved Mk. (improved) deflector bag. A No.5 type magazine with the late version of the Norman vane foresight, a ring back sight and Hazelton muzzle attachment are fitted.LEWIS GUN DRAWINGS All to constant 1:12 scale KEY TO PAGE 4: 41: The standard Lewis Mk. of 1915. 2: A cross-section showing the 17 fins of the cast aluminium structure. 3: The original No4 magazine which proved to lack rigidity. 4: The strengthened No.2 magazine. 5: The appearance of the gun when only the front part of the radiator cas- ing was removed, often seen on French aircraft. 6:A stripped Mk gun with the rump of the radiator (front and rear sections) retained and with the spade hand grip. 7: Three types of yokes, from top they are the Mk, the Mk.IV and the special ‘one used for overwing mounts. 8: Front view of the final and most used. collector bag (officially known as a ‘deflector bag’) of the improved Mk.ll pattern. 9: Side view showing bag with gun held in MkAV yoke. 410: Side and front view of metal mouth- piece Mkilll. This combined mouth- piece with lugs for fitting to a bronze pillar mounting. The sketch at right shows the more common standard fit- ting. 11: Left side profile of the ‘RNAS Pat- torn’ Lewis with steel sheath of sleeve fitted to protect the gas cylinder. This idea was later adopted for the Mk! Lewis. Note revised yoke required for this weapon and wire handle. 12: Top view of Mk.! Lewis partly stripped with No.2 magazine. barrel and the second was the fact that the magazine held only 47 rounds which meant that a sustained burst would empty the magazine within about five seconds. It is sobering to compare the Lewis with a Maxim type weapon which Could be fired in long bursts at the same rpm with a belt of 260-500 rounds. Some understanding of the mechanism of the Lowis is necessary in order to appreci- ate the reasons for so many modifica- tions to the airborne Lewis throughout the war. The Lewis in service The main reason for the popularity of the Lewis was its comparative lightness and 4 handiness, there was no belt and the un was well balanced, From the begin- ning. BSA realised its suitability as an air ‘weapon and an early ‘extra’ was a spade grip to replace the long shoulder butt. (6) Even as early as spring 1915 some air- crew realised that certain bits and pieces could be removed from the Lewis to reduce weight and air resistance. Air tomperaturo drops by 3°F for every 1,000 feet of altitude, this factor com- pared with the cold airstream meant that the radiator could be dispensed with along with its covers. Some early strip- ping was not approved mainly because the gas cylinder was totally exposed; ‘even a small dent could cause the gun to stop firing. [6] As a result, many home- made gas cylinder protectors were made in workshops in metal and wood. ‘The cold air also caused gun oil to con- geal causing more problems but a spe- Cial oil was devioped to overcome this. ‘total removal of all parts of the radia- tor case was not advisable, the rear part was the place where the various yokes. [7] wore fitted to mount the gun. The RFC continued to use the rump of the case along with sawn-off ends of the radiator [6] The RNAS eventually adopted their own form of modification, the gas cylinder being protected by a steel sheath [11] which necessitated a8 5s — Te special yoke replacement.” ‘At this period many variations can be seen in photographs. The original small Not magazine [3] was the subject of complaint, removing it and its succes- sor, the fluted strengthened No.2 [4] was difficult as the top grip was too small, ‘The RNAS devised their own wire loop handle [11] and eventually this was replaced by a leather grip on all maga- zines. [18] The Lewis shed its empties from an aperture on the right side of the breech. This was no problem on the ground but in the air, brass cases flying aft from a usher nose could, and did, strike the propeller with dire consequences apart from battering the pilot's face. BSA had designed a cartridge collector bag in 1915 but it only held 94 cases which ‘meant removal after two magazines. In addition, the slipstream made it fold up alongside the breech and cause a stop- Page when the empties could not get in. The first step was crude, a larger bag with metal or wire mesh inserted in a box shape which was clumsy. Eventually the final model arrived in the form of the improved Mkil which was stiffened by wire and held 329 cases. [8] Degrees of standardization ‘As a result of experience and sugges- tions from men at the front, BSA pro- ALL DRAWINGS BY THE AUTHOR KEY TO PAGE 5: 19: Mkll Lewis (RFC pattern). The fore- sight has been enlarged and fixed on top of the light casing. The magazine is. the 97 round No.5 type and one of sev- eral types of remote trigger control fitted (on overwing guns), 14: Front view of Mk.ll gun showing variations in the louvring. 15: Two more identified types of remote trigger control. 16: The light case of the Mk. gun with Norman vane foresight fitted and ring back sight on its own yoke. The lower section shows the flash hider more usually seen on the Mk gun. 17: The Mk.ll gun with the later pattern of vane sight and the special ‘yoke" required for this gun. In RAF jargon the correct name was ‘distancing piece’ 18: The detail of the top of the Nos ‘magazine with leather handi 19: A Mkil gun fitted with the early form of Hutton night sight with typical held on with insulating 20: An Italian Lewis with the typical extended spade grip which were fitted to the Lewis in order that the pilots could reach it more easily. The alumi- nium shield is typical and was intended to offer some screening when changing drums. These items appear to have been locally made and varied in appearance. 21: The French-Darne-built Lewis with its special wooden sheath for the gas cylinder. This is an observer's free gun. duced what was to become the Lewis Mii. gun which was officially adopted in November 1915 but did not appear in ‘numbers until mid 1916. [3] This weapon replaced most of the earlier modified ‘Mics. The protection for the gas cylinder was provided by the fitting ofa thin metal tube around barrel and cylinder. It retained the rump of the radiator casing to accommodate the various yokes and utilised the new 97 round deep maga- zine (No.5 type). New sights were fitted such as the ring and bead and for free guns the Norman vane fore sight. Some late Mk: guns were fitted with flash hiders. [18] The last variant was the MK.III which 6dispensed with the final remnant of the radiator casing and introduced the steo! sheath protector for the gas cylinder The kill guns were officially accepted on May 13 1918 and a few appeared the last months of the war. This model remained in RAF use until the mid 1930s as an aircraft gun. Observers had com- plained that the original spade grip was too tight for hands in thick gloves and the trigger guard was also too small. A new type of spade grip appeared during the war but an enlarged trigger guard did not appear until postwar years. The rpm of the Lewis was also increased, using mechanical improvements and the Hazelton muzzle attachment. [17] It eventually reached 700 rpm. Other users Apart from the British the Lewis was employed an an aircraft gun by the French, Belgian, Russian, Italian and ‘American air services. A large number fell into German hands, a high propor- tion through the BE2c/d/e ‘delivery ser- vice’. German pilots and observers often fitted the gun as an extra, The French obtained their Lewis guns from Britain and the American Savage company, but arranged for a model to be manufao- tured in France. This was the Darne model. [21] The Italians had compara- tivoly few and used their own Revell guns in large numbers as a free gun. [20] The first American Lewis for air use was the 1917 ground model, a number of which were diverted to the US Air Ser- vice where they were stripped like the British Lewis. The 1918 model (aircraft use) was the equivalent of the RAF Mkil It was fitted with a special conical ‘muzzle piece known as a ‘recoil check’ intended to do just that. ‘The airborne Lewis, a retrospective look Because the Lewis became so closely associated with the aeroplane in the ‘early period of the war it came to be 6 regarded as suitable for all purposes to the detriment of development else- where. The Vickers, after an initial short spell as an air weapon, was disregarded Until the first German two seaters with ring-mounted Maxim type guns and Fokker monoplanes with the same kind of gun synchronised to fire through the airscrew arc appeared. As the British and French aircraft started to fall in ever increasing numbers it dawned on the Allies that the Germans were using belt- fed Maxim guns (the MG 14 Parabellum’ and the IMG 08). If anything, this speeded up the search for an effective synchronisation system. The idea was not new, it had been on the back burner since 1914, The pilots who actually flew the machines realised that a fixed gun firing forward was the best form of armament for an offensive aircraft. This led to early land crude arrangements in 1915 which included taped airscrews on some Brit- ish aircraft (faith and tape lash-ups) which permitted a percentage of rounds to pass through. Then the various sys- toms of deflectors tried out by the Top, during the Russo-Polish conflict of 1920 all kinds of weaponry and air- craft were used. Here we have a French Darne-built Lewis mounted on a Hal- berstadt gun ring which has been fixed in the rear cockpit of an LVG C-VI (pas- Senger version). The observer is Lt. Kwiecinski and his pilot is Sot. Blazyski. They are members of the 12th ‘Squadron of the Polish Air Service at Lida in September 1920. (T Kopdnski) Above left, unknown Italian pilot in his Macchi Nieuport Type 11. The overwing Lewis has the Italian spade grip and a shield is fitted to deflect the slipstream whilst changing magazines. Above right, a pair of US model 1918 Lewis guns ina duplex arrangement on a US DHA in 1918. Note the conical ‘muzzle pieces fitted and the individual Lewis fixed to fire downwards for use by the pilot. The side opening is for access to a camera mount with bomb- sight bracket above. This machine is also fitted with twin fixed Marlin guns. (RL Cavanagh)