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
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
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
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