Videos tagged with Aircraft Weapon

This video showcases the British Farquhar-Hill rifle, an early semi-automatic design from 1918. Chambered in .303 British, it features a distinctive 19-round drum magazine. Originally accepted by the British army but too late for WWI service, it found use as an observer's weapon in aircraft. The description also references a 1934 clip of Colonel Farquhar demonstrating his machine guns, highlighting the historical significance of this rare firearm. The video aims to provide the only known online footage of the Farquhar-Hill rifle being fired.

This video focuses on the Soviet GSh-23 twin-barreled autocannon, a formidable aircraft weapon system famously integrated into Soviet-era jet fighters such as the MiG-21 and MiG-23. The title highlights the weapon's association with these iconic Cold War aircraft, placing it within the context of military history and aviation. The description further solidifies the video's subject matter by emphasizing the specific application of this powerful armament in aerial combat platforms.

This video delves into the fascinating use of the Winchester Model 1894 rifle by the French military during World War I. It highlights the purchase of 15,100 units in 1913-1914, intended as supplemental arms for drivers and airfield guards, and as a backup emergency weapon for aircraft crews. The description notes two key modifications: the addition of side-mounted sling swivels and metric range markings on the rear sight, extending to 1000 meters. The video contrasts these with other primary emergency aircraft weapons like the Winchester Self-Loader and the Berthier.

This video explores the M1915 Villar Perosa, one of the earliest military machine guns, originally designed as an aircraft weapon. It details its unique dual-barreled configuration, high rate of fire, and its feed system using 25-round magazines of 9mm Glisenti cartridges. The description highlights its obsolescence in aerial combat with the advent of improved armaments and its unsuccessful adaptations for ground combat. The video also touches upon its later conversion into shoulder-fired submachine guns by Beretta and Villar Perosa, making intact original models rare.

This video delves into the Burton Light Machine Rifle (LMR) from 1917, exploring its potential as America's first assault rifle due to its select-fire capability, intermediate cartridge, and shoulder-fired design. Developed during WWI, it was intended for aerial observers attacking balloons with incendiary rounds, utilizing a modified .351 WSL cartridge. The rifle featured a unique dual top-mounted 20-round magazine system, a finned barrel for cooling, and a pistol grip for recoil management. Despite its innovative design, the LMR was rendered obsolete by more effective aircraft-mounted machine guns before it could be fielded, with only a single example ever produced. The video highlights its discovery and current location in the Cody Firearms Museum.

This video delves into the historical significance of the M1908 Mondragon, a pioneering semi-automatic rifle recognized as the first to be adopted as a standard infantry arm by a national military. Despite its innovative design, featuring a long-action gas piston and rotating bolt, the rifle faced reliability issues due to the necessity of high-quality ammunition, which Mexico's domestic production couldn't consistently provide. Manufactured by SIG in Switzerland, the Mondragon was eventually sold to Germany for use as an aircraft observer weapon, highlighting its unique place in firearms history.