These downloads are provided free-of-charge for the benefit of anyone that wants to know more about the use of the Vickers Machine Gun and read what the Machine Gunners would have known. Many are rare items not readily available so, if you find them useful, please support the development of this resource. The archive now includes a wider range of associated documents so indirectly related to machine gunner. We hope you find it interesting.
By supporting the Association through Patreon, you are supporting the website fees that will enable us to have high-resolution versions online. All donations are truly appreciated.
If you’d prefer to only give on a one-off basis, then go to PayPal or BuyMeACoffee and make a donation there.
All of the manuals are sorted in date order, with some exceptions where it is appropriate to group similar manuals, such as the Small Arms Training series.
1908-1919:
Musketry Regulations, Part I
1909, Reprinted with Amendments 1912, United Kingdom
The manual that determined how every soldier in the British Army was taught how to use their rifle or machine gun. This includes the cleaning and handling of their weapon as well as the courses they had to undertake.
Low-resolution PDF download: 7,458 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Musketry Regulations, Part I
1909, Reprinted with Amendments, 1914, United Kingdom
Updated just prior to the outbreak of the Great War, this was the manual that determined how every soldier in the British Army was taught how to use their rifle or machine gun. This includes the cleaning and handling of their weapon as well as the courses they had to undertake.
Low-resolution PDF download: 12,280 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Musketry Regulations, Part II: Rifle Ranges and Musketry Appliances
1910, Reprinted with amendments, 1914, United Kingdom
This is the part of the Musketry Regulations that set out how to construct and use rifle ranges and the training equipment for teaching musketry in the British Army.
Low-resolution PDF download: 6,669 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Infantry Training (4-Company Organization)
1914, United Kingdom
All members of a British Army infantry battalion were trained according to this manual. It includes drill for individuals, companies and then the machine gun sections of the battalion.
Low-resolution PDF download: 17,418 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
SS 135J: The Division in Attack
1918, United Kingdom
Published in the last month of the war, this manual includes information on how the British Army was fighting haven’t learnt all their lessons so far. It includes all aspects of the Division, including the infantry battalions, the artillery and the machine gun battalions.
Low-resolution PDF download: 4,912 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
1920-1938:
Army Order 247 of 1921 amended Musketry Regulations, Part II: Paragraph 163 – “Positions” substitute “Portions.” Page 3 of the Amendments issued with Army Order 79 or 1921: “Substitute new plate 43 (shown in previous page).”
Addendum No. 6 to Musketry Regulations, Part I, 1909 (reprinted 1914) was issued in 1920. This was amended in 1922 (Army Order 171) and it separated the training of the men of the rifle companies of the infantry battalion from the machine gun troops and platoons, who would subsequently be trained according to Machine Gun Training.
An amendment to the Musketry Regulations, Part I, 1909 (reprint 1914) was made in Army Order 378 of September 1922. It changed the weapons training year start date from 1st November for Egypt and from 1st October for Straits Settlements (Malaya) both to 1st April as of 1st April 1923.
Infantry Training, Volume I – Training
1926, United Kingdom
The main manual on how the infantry were being trained in the inter-war period. It covers the principles and systems of training, squad drill, squad drill without arms; squad drill with arms; saluting; platoon drill; company drill; battalion drill; field signals; battle drill; march discipline; training in field operations; ceremonial; drill – company and battalion; drill – brigade and division; guards, guard of honour and lining streets; trooping and presentation of colours, feu-de-joie and funerals.
JPGs and PDF available on Patreon – subscribe to access and support the VMGCRA
Section Leading
1928, United Kingdom
This is the British Army‘s guide ‘for the Training of Non-Commissioned Officers as Commanders of Rifle and Lewis-gun Sections. It covers many aspects of how the infantry operated towards the end of the 1920s.
Low-resolution PDF download: 4,840 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Infantry Training, Volume II – War
1931, United Kingdom
A comprehensive manual covering all aspects of the infantry doctrine in this period. Chapter titles include Battle, Attack, Defence (including the machine gun’s role in the defence), Protection, Fighting in close country, woods and villages, Night operations, Ammunition supply, Working parties and tasks and Assault bridging.
Not yet available.
Infantry Training, Volume II – War
1931, Amendments (No. 1), 1932, United Kingdom
Minor updates to the 1931 manual.
Available as a JPG on the left of the screen (one page amendment).
Infantry Training, Volume II – War
1931, Amendments (No. 2), 1933, United Kingdom
Minor updates to the 1931 manual.
Available as a JPG on the left of the screen (one page amendment).
Infantry Training: Training and War
1937, United Kingdom
This manual describes in full detail how the infantry of the British Army was trained at the start of the Second World War. It incorporated the latest lessons on mobility and the armaments that were in service.
Low-resolution PDF download: 12,695 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Infantry Section Leading
1938, United Kingdom
This 1940 reprint of the manual covers all aspects of the most basic unit in the British Army: the infantry section of the infantry battalion. It covers the characteristics and qualities expected of a section leader at that start of the Second World War, as well as the organisation of the infantry battalion and the basic tactics of the section, including patrols, attacks, defence and messages, reports and orders.
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
1939-1975:
Manual of Map Reading, Photo Reading and Field Sketching
1929 (Reprinted with Amendments (Nos. 1 to 4)), 1939, United Kingdom
This manual shows how the British Army was reading maps, using the compass and protractor as well as photo interpretation and making field sketches at the outset of the Second World War.
Low-resolution PDF download: 7,140 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Instructor’s Handbook on Fieldcraft and Battle Drill
1942 (Provisional)
The instruction manual on all aspects of fieldcraft in the mid-War period. This could arguably be shown as the main source material for the training of the troops in preparation for Operation OVERLORD and all of the other operations in between. It complements the Battle School manual and the military training pamphlets issued. It contains superb illustrations on all of the different tactics and actions used.
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon.
Part VIII. – Fieldcraft, Battle Drill, Section and Platoon Tactics
1944, United Kingdom
This comprehensive manual covers all aspects of the infantry section and platoon of the infantry battalion in the latter part of the Second World War, as well as their tactics and employment from the perspective of the men within them. It also cover the individual skills and knowledge of the infantryman, such as camouflage and concealment and how to dig a slit trench. The formations for patrols and set-piece attacks by the platoon and section are explained and there are diagrams throughout.
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Post-War Series (sorted by Volume and Pamphlet)
Volume I – Infantry Platoon Weapons
Provisional Pamphlet for The General Purpose Machine Gun
1962, United Kingdom
The General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) replaced the Vickers in British Army service in the sustained fire role but for a few years it served alongside the Vickers. This is the first pamphlet introduced to explain its use.
Low-resolution PDF download: 4,413 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Pamphlet No. 6B, The General Purpose Machine Gun (Sustained Fire) (All Arms)
1968, United Kingdom
The British Army’s manual on how to use the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) in the sustained fire role, which is the role it replaced the Vickers in.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3,559 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Pamphlet No. 11, Exercising Trained Soldiers (All Arms)
1949, United Kingdom
A wide-ranging British Army pamphlet from the immediate post-war period that includes handling of the rifle, bayonet, light machine gun, machine carbine, 2-inch mortar, PIAT and grenades – everything in the infantry platoon. It covers all types of exercises, field firing and competitions.
Available for Patrons here.
Volume II, Infantry Heavy Weapons
Pamphlet No. 24, The Medium Machine Gun
Part I – Mechanical Subjects
1951, United Kingdom
The first of the three part manual for the Vickers machine gun that would see it take all of the lessons learnt in the Second World War and use them until the end of the Vickers’ service life in the British Army. It includes all mechanical elements, stoppages, spares and repairs.
Low-resolution PDF download: 11,953 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Part II – Drills and Training
1951, United Kingdom
The second of the three part series, this manual shows all of the drills and training that needs to be compled by the machine gun platoon. It includes drills from the Universal Carrier, as was in use at the time.
Low-resolution PDF download: 18,010 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Part II – Drills and Training. Amendments (No. 1)
October 1952, United Kingdom
The first amendments issued for the 1951 manual Part II. They include amendments to the text as well as changes to the practices.
Low-resolution PDF download: 713 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Part II – Drills and Training. Amendments (No. 2)
March 1953, United Kingdom
The second set of amendments for the 1951 manual. It includes a new lesson on controlled corrections of fire.
Low-resolution PDF download: 379 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Part III – Fire Control
1951, United Kingdom
The third of the three part series and this includes all of the fire control elements for using multiple guns to engage direct and indirect firing targets.
Low-resolution PDF download: 9,889 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Part III – Fire Control
1951, Australia
The Australian Army’s version of the fire control section of the three-part manual series on the Vickers machine gun in the post-Second World War period.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3,798 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Part III – Fire Control
1951 (Reprinted with Amendments (Nos. 1 to 3)), 1954, United Kingdom
A full reprint of Part III that includes the first three sets of amendments on how the Vickers machine gun could be used in numbers for direct and indirect fire.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3,692 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Part III – Fire Control. Amendments No. 4
November 1959, United Kingdom
The last known amendments to the Fire Control part of the post-War Vickers machine gun manual. It includes updated beaten zone information.
Low-resolution PDF download: 598 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Pamphlet No. 26, Range-finder
Volume II, Infantry Heavy Weapons, Pamphlet No. 26, Range-finder No. 12
1946 (Reprinted with Amendments (No. 1)), 1949, United Kingdom
The training manual for the rangetaker in the immediate post-Second World War period. It includes a full training schedule and all of the lesson detail is included.
Low-resolution PDF download: 4,496 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Volume III, Ranges and Courses
Pamphlet No. 31, Range work
Pamphlet No. 31, Range Work – General (All Arms)
1948 (Reprinted with Amendments (Nos. 1 to 5), 1952), United Kindom
This manual details the post-Second World War rules and regulations for the safe management of small arms ranges. It includes the safety precautions, range duties, butt duties and signalling, field firing, and rifle meetings.
Coming soon.
Pamphlet No. 31, Range Work – General (All Arms)
1948 (Amendments No. 6), United Kingdom.
A small amendment for new instructions on the demolition and disposal of ‘blinds’ – shells and bombs that have not exploded on the range as intended, including the PIAT.
Coming soon.
Volume IV, Tactics
Volume IV, Tactics, Infantry Section Leading and Platoon Tactics
1950, United Kingdom
The training manual for up to platoon level tactics in the infantry battalion, with information on how to equip the section and co-operation with the support company, including the medium machine guns, mortars and carriers.
Low-resolution PDF download: 7.04 MB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
These downloads are provided free-of-charge for the benefit of anyone that wants to know more about the use of the Vickers Machine Gun and read what the Machine Gunners would have known. Many are rare items not readily available so, if you find them useful, please support the development of this resource. The archive now includes a wider range of associated documents so indirectly related to machine gunner. We hope you find it interesting.
By supporting the Association through Patreon, you are supporting the website fees that will enable us to have high-resolution versions online. All donations are truly appreciated.
If you’d prefer to only give on a one-off basis, then go to PayPal or BuyMeACoffee and make a donation there.
All of the manuals are sorted in date order, with some exceptions where it is appropriate to group similar manuals, such as the Small Arms Training series.
Sources
- The National Archives, WO 123/63 Army Orders 1921.
- The National Archives, WO 123/64 Army Orders 1922.
