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 on the side levers engaging with the bends 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 presence of the

thumbpiece. By this means the trigger bar is held

continually to the rear, and so when the clock 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 in 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 bell, 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 [[nose?]] 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 (cnhacb) chamber will be

ejected and the [[??]] from the feed bl;ock 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 parts & 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 from pf the feed block before gun is

cleared, or at any time during firing).