Service notebook of Harold Gordon Cornell - 1917 - Part 17

7.

Vicker's Light Automatic Machine Gun

^the lower projection on the gib rides over the base of the

cartridge in the chamber and so a fresh round is

now gripped by the extractor between the upper and

lower projections of on the gib, and the firing

pin hole is brought opposite the chamber. The side

plate springs now come into action, holding the

extractor at its highest point.

10. Closing of the Breech

The steps of the side levers engaging with the bents 

on the extractor levers allow the side lever head,

& connecting rod to go below the horizontal, this

closing the breech. At the same time the crank

handle is momentarily checked by the check lever.

11. Depression of Fear.

The rotation of crank gives to the side lever head

and connecting rod a forward and downward

movement, and when it goes slightly below horizontal

the side lever head bears on the tail of the sear

disengaging the bent on the sear, from the bent in

the firing pin. The long arm of the lock spring

8.

Vicker's Light Automatic Machine Gun

will then propel the firing pin forward, until

the nose of the trigger engages with the bent on the

tumbler and the gun is ready to fire.

12. Firing of the first shot.

To fire the first shot, raise the safety catch & press

the thumb piece. The pawl on the firing lever bears

on the tail of the trigger bar lever, and the trigger

bar lever being pivoted, draws the head of the

trigger bar lever to the rear. The tail of the trigger

is engaged in the slot of the trigger bar and when

the trigger bar is drawn to the rear it trips the

tail of the trigger and this disengages the nose of

the trigger from the bent in the tumbler freeing

the firing pin which is propelled forward by the

long arm of the lock spring, and the cartridge is primed.

13. Continuous Fire

For continuous fire, maintain the pressure of the

thumbpiece. By this means the trigger bar is held

continually to the rear, and so when the lock goes

forward, the tail of the trigger is tripped before

9.

Vicker's Light Automatic Machine Gun

the sear is depressed, and on the sear being

depressed, the long arm of the lock spring will

send the firing pin fully forward, and so prime

the cartridge. During continuous fire, the gun

is fired by depression in the sear only.

14.   Cease Fire
Release the pressure on the thumb-piece and the
trigger bar will spring forward. When the lock goes
forward this time, the tail of the trigger is not tripped
and therefore when the sear is depressed the firing
pin will only go forward until the nose of the trigger
engages with the bent on the tumbler.  By this means
the gun is controlled
15.   Unload
When cease fire is given and cartridge remain
in the belt, the extractor will be gripping a live round
in the feed-block and a live round in the chamber.
Draw crank handle on the roller.  The horns of the 
extractor will travel along the cams withdrawing
both live rounds.  When the extractor is forced down 

10
Vicker's Light Automatic Machine Gun

the live round from the (cxtractor) chamber will be

ejected and the one from the feed block will be

in line with the chamber. Let go the crank 

handle and the live round from the feed block is

facing the chamber. Repeat this movement, release lock

spring, release top and bottom pawls & remove belt from

feed block.

16   Clear Gun

To clear gun, sear cover level must be up & lock

resting at hinge (On no account must anyone

be allowed in front of the feed block before gun is

cleared, or at any time during firing).

Care & Cleaning

(1) After firing, barrel to be cleaned every day for

ten days and longer if the climate is damp. After

firing 600 rounds boiling water should be poured

through barrel.

(2) Always keep outside if barrel well oiled to

prevent rust.

11.
Vicker's Light Automatic Machine Gun
Care & Cleaning
3. Use double pull-through for nickeling when necessary.
4. If working parts do not move freely, wash
thoroughly in petrol or paraffin
5. In cold or frosty weather, oil very sparingly with
"Oil P924"
6. Add 25% glycerine to water in cold weather to
prevent freezing when gun is not firing.
7. Wet belts must be dried as soon as possible.
8. New belts should be plugged before using.
9. All brass strips to be examined daily & if
necessary repaired.
When packing the cannelure & front gland care must
be taken that it is a water tight joint, but
not tight enough to hamper the free movement of
the recoiling portions. These two joints must be
well piled.

12

Vicker's Light Automatic Machine Gun

Points Before Firing.

Barrel clean & water in casing.

Oil gun generally and have reserve supply in handles

Weight fusee spring (7 to 9 lbs) and recoiling portions (2 to 4 lbs)

Examine working parts, gun mounting & belts. 

Check spare parts.

Points during Firing

Water supply to be maintained.           )These points only apply

Oil during temporary cessation if fire. ) when firing on ground

Refill bolts, if necessary. Keep tripod legs tightly clamped.

Points during Temporary Cessation of Fire

Go through loading motions every ten minutes to

ensure that the working parts have not clogged.

Points after firing

(1) Unload,

(2) Release Lock Spring

(3) Oil barrel & run off water (in ground guns)

(4) Collect live round from empties

(5) Clean guns thoroughly on return to aerodrome

(6) History sheets complete.

[*HSElliott*]

Wireless
1. Sterling Transmitter
2. 6 Volt Accumulator
3. Aerial Wire
4. Aerial Bracket
5. Safety Plug
To tune Transmitter. The closed circuit or primary clip
is placed on wave length reqd. The open circuit
or aerial clip always remains on the outside turn of
the helix. The aerial is same length in feet as the wave
length in metres.
Safety Plug is a protection against fire, it should
never be in circuit except when about to transmit.
It should always be removed immediately transmission
is finished.
Diagram - see original document   

Wireless Telegraph Morse Code
 

A  .-	U ..-	Call - . - . -	ä .-.-
B -...	V...-	Finish . - . - .	á or å .--.-
C -.-.	W.- -	1  .- - - -	ch ----
D -.-	X-..-	2 ..---	é ..-..
E .	Y -.--	3 ...--	ῆ --.--
F..-.	Z --..	4 .....-	ö ---.
G --.	Period .. .. ..	5 .....	ü ..--
H ....	: ---...	6 -....	ç -.-..
I ..	; -.-.-.	7 --...
J .---	, .-.-.-	8 ---..	A dash is equal in length
K -.-	? ..--..	9 ----.	to 3 dots.
L .-..	! --..--	0 -----	Space between 2 elements in
M --	- -....-	Break -...-	a letter = 1 dot
N -.	' .----.		Space between letters in a
O ---.	£ -.-..		word = 1 dash
P .--.	( ) -.- -.-		Space between words in
Q --.-	Italics ..-.-		a sentence = 2 dashes
R .-.	Wait .-...
S ...	Understand ...-.
T -	Don't understand -....-.

   

         

Wireless training of officers.

Instructions for the conduct of

(a) Puff Target Practice.

(b) Panneau reading from the air.

(c) Ground sigs. reading from air.

(a) Puff target practice.

For completion of test A (b) a pupil is required

to range 10 Puffs correctly Map co-ordinates of

target to be sent and Artillery code and ground

signals to be correctly used.

The procedure is as follows; -

A point on the Artillery training map of the

district is selected as representing the position

of the battery with which the aeroplane

is to work.

Call this point A.

Another position on the map is selected as

representing the location of a hostile battery

which it is to be arranged to shoot at.

Call this point B.

A pupil will be instructed to range on

"Point B/ with an English battery which is in

position at "Point A"

He will be tols the map co-ordinates of the

respective positions and will then carry on

according to the principles he will have

mastered during his course of instruction on

the picture target.

He will be allotted a number by his flight

commander who will also inform him as to the

call letter of the battery with which he is to

work.

The flight commander will instruct him to call

up the aerodrome Wireless station before

proceeding to the scene of action to ensure

t

(2)

that the wireless in the machine is working

properly.

The Flight Commander will see that sufficient

notice is given to the wireless personnel

at the wireless station so that all

arrangements are in readiness.

This will be done as follows; -

2 hours before it is intended

to commence the shoot an order worded as follows

will be sent to the wireless operator in

charge at the station.

Time ....... Date..........

Lieut........ will range battery at (e.g.) B 9 A 60 B7 B 56

on hostile battery at (e.g.) B 19 a 60

This day from ......... machine no.........

The machine will leave the ground at .......... O'c

.......... O i/c ..........Flt

..............Sqdn.

On receipt of this order at the wireless stn

the following action will be taken.

Operator in charge machines will fit the

necessary wireless equipment to the aeroplane

allotted for the shoot.

This operator will remain at the station and

when the machine leaves the ground will

"listen in" for the station "call up" and will

give the pupil the "K" signal to proceed.