Skip to content

Maxims in the Skies: the German LMG 08/15

All the best firearms history channels streaming to all major devices:
weaponsandwar.tv

As soon as the MG08/15 “light” machine gun was adopted by Germany, it was recognized as an ideal basis for an aircraft gun. Weight was of the essence for WW1 aircraft, and a lightened Maxim was just the thing to use. So the Spandau Arsenal began producing the LMG08/15 (the “L” in which might stand for either air-cooled or lightweight; we really don’t know which) in May 1916. In addition to cutting a ton of lightening slots in the water jacket, the guns also had mechanisms added to allow a pilot to cycle both the bolt and the feed system from behind the gun (something not possible with a standard ground model). The example we are looking at today has a great example of an early style of such device completely intact…

https://utreon.com/c/forgottenweapons/
http://www.patreon.com/ForgottenWeapons
http://www.floatplane.com/channel/ForgottenWeapons

Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! http://shop.forgottenweapons.com

Leave a Reply