1951 Manual

The 1951 manual was the last complete set of instructions on the use, handling and training of the Vickers MMG.  A full cope of the original documents are available as free PDF downloads on the Infantry Training manuals page.

Part I – Mechanical Subjects

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LESSON # LESSON DESCRIPTION PAGE
INTRODUCTION
Scope of the pamphlet 1
  Layout of the pamphlet 1
  Method of Teaching 1
  Organisation of MG Platoon 2
  Organisation if training in technical handling 3
  Safety precautions during training 3
CHAPTER 1. – THE GUN AND TRIPOD
1 General Description 7
2 Characteristics 10
CHAPTER 2. – STRIPPING
3 General Points 13
4 Stripping the Gun 15
5 Stripping the Lock 16
6 Stripping the Feedblock 19
7 Stripping component parts 19
8 Changing the barrel without draining the barrel casing 21
CHAPTER 3. – GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF THE GUN AND TRIPOD
9 Cleaning 22
10 Examinations, tests and adjustments (1) 24
11 Examinations, tests and adjustments (2) 25
12 Examinations, tests and adjustments (3) 27
13 Preparation for firing 29
14 Points during firing 32
15 Points after firing 33
16 Barrel life 34
CHAPTER 4. – SPARE PARTS AND REPAIRS
17 Description and packing of spare parts 38
18 Repairs 41
CHAPTER 5. – IMMEDIATE ACTION
  Introductory Notes 43
19 Introduction and first position stoppages 44
20 Second position stoppages 47
21 Third position stoppages 49
22 Fourth position stoppages 52
23 Special stoppages 53
CHAPTER 6. – MECHANISM
  Introductory Notes 56
24 Firing action first shot and action on recoil 56
25 First action in the feedblock 58
26 Backward rotation of the crank and second action in the feedblock 59
27 Backward movement and cocking of the lock 60
28 Forward movement of the lock 62
29 Subsequent and ends of bursts 63
CHAPTER 7. – CAUSES OF STOPPAGES
  Introductory notes 64
30 Causes of first position stoppages 65
31 Causes of second position stoppages 66
32 Causes of third position stoppages 67
33 Causes of fourth position stoppages 68
34 Causes of special stoppages 69
CHAPTER 8. – INSTRUMENT AND AIMING
35 The sights, aiming and loading 71
36 The Dial Sight 73
37 Aiming post, aiming lamp, zero post and direction dial 75
38 Aiming with the dial sight by day 76
39 Aiming with the dial sight by night 77
40 Paralleling with the dial sight 78
41 Elevation with the dial sight 79
42 Recording the QE and measuring an angle of sight 80
43 Director 81
44 Resector Protractor 84
CHAPTER 9. – INSTRUMENT TESTS
45 Testing the clinometer 87
46 Testing and adjusting the dial sight 88
47 Testing the director 89

Part II – Drills And Training

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LESSON # LESSON DESCRIPTION PAGE
CHAPTER 10. – GUN DRILL
  Introductory notes 1
48 Layout and inspection of carrier stores 2
49 Preliminaries to gun drill 4
50 Action and cease firing from the carrier 7
51 Clear gun and stand clear 10
52 Laying and firing 11
53 Consistency of tap 13
54 Traversing and swinging traverse 15
55 Application of direct fire orders 17
56 Controlled corrections, indirect (elevation) 19
57 Controlled corrections, indirect (direction) 20
58 Emergency action 22
59 Prepare for carrier action 23
60 Tests of elementary training 25
CHAPTER 11. – ADVANCED MACHINE GUN HANDLING
  Introductory notes 30
61 Man-handling of loads – short carry 30
62 Mounting the gun on exposed gound 32
63 Mounting the gun on uneven ground 33
64 Bringing the gun into action making use of cover 35
65 Bringing the carrier into a hull-down position 37
CHAPTER 12. – VISUAL TRAINING
  Introductory notes 39
66 Indication and recognition 40
67 Observation of fire and ranging 44
CHAPTER 13. – SECTION DRILL
68 Dismounted action and cease firing 48
69 Carrier action 51
70 Fire discipline 52
71 Replacement of breakages 54
72 Obscuration of the target 55
73 Changing from direct fire to night firing and vice versa 57
74 Relief of guns by night 59
CHAPTER 14. – INDIRECT FIRE DRILL
  Introductory notes 60
75 Mount gun and cease firing 62
76 Paralleling 64
77 Obtaining direction and elevation 66
78 Application of indirect fire control orders 67
79 Fire control charts 70
80 Changing from indirect fire to night firing and vice versa 71
81 Coming into action by night and cease firing 72
82 Obtaining direction and elevation by night 74
CHAPTER 15. – BATTLE PROCEDURE
  Introductory notes 76
83 Reconnaissance of platoon and section areas 76
84 Occupation of platoon position direct fire, dismounted action by day 84
85 Modifications for direct fire, carrier action 90
86 Modifications for indirect fire 90
87 Modifications for reorgansation 92
88 Modifications for defence 98
89 Inspection of a section area in defence 101
90 Modifications for the occupation of a position by night when a daylight reconnaissance can be made 105
91 Modifications for relief in the line 108
92 Modifications for withdrawl 109

Part III – Fire Control

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LESSON # LESSON DESCRIPTION PAGE
CHAPTER 16. – GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FIRE CONTROL
  Introductory notes 1
93 Characteristics of machine gun fire 2
94 Elevation 6
95 Range tables and climatic influences 8
96 Errors in direction and elevation 12
CHAPTER 17. – DIRECT FIRE
  Introductory notes 14
97 Fire orders, direct 14
98 Point targets 17
99 Traversing targets 21
100 Depth targets 25
101 Moving targets 31
CHAPTER 18. – FLANKING AND OVERHEAD FIRE
  Introductory notes 33
102 Flanking fire 34
103 Overhead fire, direct 38
104 Overhead fire, indirect 44
CHAPTER 19. – PROTECTIVE FIRE – FIXED LINES
  Introductory notes 46
105 Laying a fixed line (flanking fire) 46
106 Laying a fixed line (overhead fire) 50
107 Laying a fixed line when no daylight reconnaissance has been possible 52
CHAPTER 20. – NIGHT FIRING
  Introductory notes 53
108 Reconnaissance and preparation of a night firing position 54
CHAPTER 21. – INDIRECT FIRE
  Introductory notes 57
109 System of indirect fire control 58
110 Fire orders, indirect 61
111 Paralleling 63
112 Targets of equal or less width than the gun frontage 66
113 Targets of greater width than the gun frontage 68
114 Depth targets 70
115 Crest clearance 72
CHAPTER 22. – MAP SHOOTING
  Introductory notes 74
116 Map shooting – direction 75
117 Map shooting – elevation, crest clearance and safety 77
118 Fire control charts 80
APPENDICES
I Blank Firing Attachment 92
II MMG range courses and safety precautions 114
III MMG skill-at-arms – conditions of qualification 131
IV Loading carriers 139
V Manhandling of loads – long carry 141