VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

Spent shells would be inside the turret so I don't think that is what it's for. The opening at the bottom is quite large for quick empty but for what. Perhaps someone else would have the answer.

[David Dunlop]

Morning, Colin.

The modern German Marder sports a 20mm Machine Cannon, the spent casings from which are ultimately ejected out of the vehicle down, and foreword to the top of the front hull. Not at all sure what happens to the disposable metal links, but they may be captured somehow inside the vehicle.

Ejection/Extraction systems for these kinds of weapons are an art form in themselves. The direction the empty casing goes can be controlled quite well with the design of the mechanism. Earlier in the thread, it was discussed the ammunition feeds for the two guns in the Vickers would have been from bins to the outside of the two guns. It would make sense, therefore, that spent casings, and perhaps links, ejected to the inside of the two guns and very likely downwards.

Is there anything about the turret design that suggests an open channel, or duct of some form exists between and forward of the guns that the casings could be directed through and out the front? There might be additional fittings in this area inside the turret to assist in the flow of empties to the outside that have not been recognized yet.

Anyone familiar with the operation of these two guns feel free to comment. Every little bit will help.

David

[colin jones]

Hi David, I think you are right on target . There is an opening at the front of the turret which I put down to a possible ventilation duct but it does fit in with tray area. Russ Gregg also thought it was for casings too but I also said they were ejected from the inside. It make sense now!! I don't have any drawings or pictures or the inside of that area but with some earlier comments of a casing bag inside under the guns is probably wrong.. It must be a fool proof and complicated system to get them out as a blockage would be very hard to clear. I guess that is one part I won't be making but it is good to know what it's for .
Colin

[colin jones]

Here's a couple of Photos Russ took for me of the one at Borden. I thought the opening was some sort of ventilation area.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by colin jones

Here's a couple of Photos Russ took for me of the one at Borden. I thought the opening was some sort of ventilation area.

It turns with the turret so would be of little use as a ventilation item as it would only work when the turret was in on place. Spent cases collector does make sense and collecting brass in a bin that would be emptied 'after action' is just British enough to be possible. Though turning the turret to have it jingle down the side make little more sense that collecting it and just flinging it away by hand. A closer look at the Borden Vickers to see if there is a hole or chute on the mantlet might solve the mystery. Does the centre 'lid' piece hinge?

[45jim]

Looks like the rectangular opening on the bottom of the box should have a screen bolted in place. Seems logical that it could catch the casings and let them cool off without dropping them all over the upper hull.
Light tank casing catcher.jpg

[Colin Alford]

All,

There are a number of Vickers MG Manuals related to Tank and AFV mountings at this site:

https://vickersmg.blog/manual/tank-training/

The various .303 and .50 Vickers MG marks for use in Tanks and AFVs had cartridge ejection tubes fitted so that the ejection took place underneath the gun, forward and outside of the vehicle.

I am quite confident that the tray in question was the "cartridge case tray" mentioned in some of the linked documents.

One question that I have not worked through is why there appear to be 3 locations for belt boxes inside the turret. In:

https://vickersmg.files.wordpress.co...i-04-36-a1.pdf

under the description of "Mountings, M.G., No. 10, Mark 1" it states that
the mount was for "one .303-in. M.G. Mk. VI or IV and one .5-in. M.G. Mk. V. Alternately two .303-in. M.G. Mk VI or IV can be used in this mounting in light tanks, Mk V or VI." It goes on to state that "projections on the underside of the platforms are drilled for the belt box carrier"

Not having a good sense of the layout of the guns and trays for belt boxes, and also not knowing the dimensions of the trays, I wonder if the two outside trays are possibly used when two .303s were fitted and the central tray was used when a .50 was fitted?

Colin

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by 45jim

Looks like the rectangular opening on the bottom of the box should have a screen bolted in place. Seems logical that it could catch the casings and let them cool off without dropping them all over the upper hull.

Is it possible the screen is a museum addition to stop the public from using the slot as a garbage can?