Wanted: Vickers .50 tech data

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Dave lean

G'day all, trying to get some tech data and line drawings of a Vickers .50 MG so as to create a pair of gas firers for Colin's two Vickers light tanks he is rebuilding. (Check out the Armour section of this forum) any tips would be greatly appreciated. Even if you know of one in a museum where I might be able to obtain some basic measurements, cheers Dave

Contact Richard Fisher.


https://vickersmg.blog/

Tim

[Tony Smith]

Is it just the "Front end" you want details of (ie the part external to the turret and visible from the outside), or the whole gun in detail?

And does it need to specifically be the English-made MkV that was supplied with the Vickers Light Tanks, or will the Australian-made MkXXI version be sufficient?

[Dave lean]

Hi Tony, am after the whole gun mate, be nice to poke ones noggin down through the hatch and see as much correct detail as possible. Another contact of mine does very excellent and discreet gas conversions for all manner of weaponry so the desire is to have a pair of Vickers that not only look the part but sound it as well. I have only one photo of the two guns mounted in the Bovington tank but there is insufficient detail to scale off. B2U Dok

[Dave lean]

Sorry Tony I missed adding the type, It's really up to Col but I suspect it doesn't really matter? Were the Au built units used in these tanks I guess is the question.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Dave lean

Hi Tony, am after the whole gun mate, be nice to poke ones noggin down through the hatch and see as much correct detail as possible. Another contact of mine does very excellent and discreet gas conversions for all manner of weaponry so the desire is to have a pair of Vickers that not only look the part but sound it as well. I have only one photo of the two guns mounted in the Bovington tank but there is insufficient detail to scale off. B2U Dok

A pair of Vickers .50s is ambitious. A single would be a score. And even if you found them the cross border restrictions shipping may be a deal stopper. I wish you the best of luck. Fabricating replicas should be a day's work for Colin given what he'd demonstrated so far but getting hold of an original would be the key. Let me know if you need details on a plain old .303 Vickers.

[Dave lean]

G'day Bruce, I have been in touch with Richard Fisher in the UK and it would seem that he is able to give me sufficient info/detail on these guns. I hadn't realized that the Lithgow small arms facility in NSW has info on the .50 as well. Regarding originals.. wouldn't it be nice to pop into the local butchers shop and ask for a pair of NOS .5 ins ?? Anyway I am confident that with some basic drawings and measurements of the correct Mk, I can replicate what is needed. I note that the turret mounted 303 V has a slightly shorter cooling jacket than does the standard unit, can you confirm this? As I only have some less than ideal photos to go on. As for the fabrication of all these guns, this will be my contribution to Cols project. I can assure you he has plenty on his plate with all the other details that need his attention.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Dave lean

I hadn't realized that the Lithgow small arms facility in NSW has info on the .50 as well. Anyway I am confident that with some basic drawings and measurements of the correct Mk, I can replicate what is needed.

OK, so you want a .5 MkV Tank Vickers? Well, you can't have all 3!

Lithgow have a .303 MkXXI TANK Vickers (Lithgow made), a .303 MkV Aircraft Vickers, and a .5 MkIII Naval Vickers. I will have a deeper look through the Archives on Tuesday to see if there any drawings or images of the .5 MkV Tank Vickers.

BTW, the nomenclature for these guns is .5, not .50. The ammunition is unique and not regular .50BMG

[Tony Smith]

Mk III .5 Naval Vickers. The feedblock is significantly bigger that the regular .303, but otherwise, the receiver end and cooling jacket are approximately similar sized to the standard .303. I am doubtful of the displayed ammunition, it looks to be a .50 Spotter round for a 106RCL. not the correct .5 Vickers.

[Dave lean]

Hi Tony, I suspect that with the info coming in I will be well on the way to creating reasonable replicas of both these guns, Thanks for clarifying the correct nomenclature by the way. Do you have access to the LSA collection? Even though I have some reasonably good photos of the 303 in its various Mks, I am still to get my hands on accurate measurements ( particularly the pistol grip assy and the set up forward of the main frame) and I have no measurements whatsoever for any part of the .5 MkV tank.