|
Date: |
|
Description: | 1. 8MM. Masch. - Gew. 1908
2. DEUTSCHE WAFFEN-UND MUNITIONSFABRIK BERLIN 1915
3. FEUER/FAHR SICHER
4. 1479
5. JETTISONED AT SOUTH HANNINGFIELD, ESSEX, BY THE ZEPPELIN AIRSHIP L.15, AFTER SHE HAD BEEN HIT BY THE GUNS OF THE LONDON A.A. DEFENCES ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 31ST - 1ST APRIL 1916.
The standard German machine-gun of the First World War, the MG08 was a water-cooled weapon employing the Maxim system of operation (see FIR 8095).
The version of the MG 08 adopted by the German Navy differed in minor details from the Army version (see FIR 9295), largely intended to make it more suitable for use from shipboard mounts. Navy MG 08s were also used to arm Zeppelin airships, which had naval crews.
This particular weapon was jettisoned over South Hanningfield in Essex by the Zeppelin L15, as it attempted to gain height after being hit by anti-aircraft fire on the night of 31 March 1916. The damage proved too serious however, and L15 broke up and crashed into the North Sea shortly afterwards.
Zeppelin type stowage bracket fitted to left of receiver. Distorted by impact so that barrel and jacket lie at a shallow angle to the receiver, grips also distorted. Various missing parts were probably 'souvenired' at the time of the weapon's recovery. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken, Berlin | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
-
-
-
-
MG 09
1. 8mm KARTECHNITSA MAKSIM'
2.…
-
-
-
-
MG 08
1. 22282 M.G. O8 D.W.M.…
-
|