Manual machine gun Wiebel M / 1932 (Denmark)
From the beginning of the 20th century, the main light machine gun of the Danish armed forces was Madsen. Production of this weapons lasted until the early fifties, it was used in the armies of three dozen countries. However, at the beginning of the thirties, the military wanted to get a new light machine gun with higher characteristics that meet the requirements of the time. The development of the new machine gun was entrusted to the company Dansk Industri Syndikat (DISA), which at that time carried out mass production of "Madsen". New weapons received the designation Wiebel M / 1932.
A number of requirements were made for new weapons, primarily related to size and weight. Since the military needed a new light machine gun to reinforce rifle subunits, the weapon should have relatively compact dimensions (no more than other weapons of the time) and relatively small weight. In addition, it was required to provide ease of use and acceptable firepower. To solve this problem, DISA designers had to use several interesting ideas, as well as develop a new cartridge.
Madsen machine guns in various versions were intended for the use of rifle cartridges of several types. By the beginning of the thirties, it became clear that the power of such ammunition was excessive for light machine guns. The rifle cartridge provided the necessary firepower of the weapon, but worsened its usability and accuracy of fire. In this regard, a new cartridge 1932x7,7 mm was created for the Wiebel M / 44 machine gun.
This cartridge had a bottle sleeve and a pointed shell bullet weighing 7,78 g. Looking ahead, it should be noted that the M / 1932 machine gun bullet had an initial speed of 660 m / s and muzzle energy slightly less than 1700 J. Thus, the new cartridge was slightly less common rifle ammunition and noticeably weaker than them. The power of ammunition 7,7x44 mm was significantly higher than that of pistol cartridges. This allows to classify it as a intermediate cartridge.
In order to maximize the relief of weapons, the authors of the Wiebel M / 1932 project decided to simplify the design and also reduce the size of various parts to the required minimum. So, the receiver of the weapon had a length of about 200 mm. On its front wall there were fastenings for the barrel and automatic flue gas units. A rifled barrel about 520 mm long received fins on the outer surface for cooling during firing. Under the barrel were located the vapor tube and the piston, which set in motion the bolt of the weapon. The total length of the weapon with the butt spread out exceeded 930 mm.
The weapon received a vapor-automatic, and the vapor-tube (or its casing) had a significantly larger diameter in comparison with the barrel. When fired, the gas piston set in motion the bolt group, due to which preparation for a new shot was made. The method of locking the barrel is unknown. According to some sources, the shutter was used. An interesting fact is that in the extreme rear position, the bolt touched the rear wall of the receiver - the assembly layout was so tight.
The machine gun Wiebel M / 1932 received a trigger mechanism with the ability to select the mode of fire. Turning the fire translator, located above the trigger, on the left side of the weapon, the shooter could turn on a non-automatic safety lock and also switch USM to single or automatic fire.
To power the machine gun was supposed to use detachable box magazines with a capacity for 20 cartridges. The receiving window of the receiver was located directly in front of the trigger guard. Lever latch store located inside the bracket. Cartridges were shot through a window in the right wall of the receiver.
Weapons equipped with a folding butt of the original design. To the rear wall of the receiver on a loop fastened supporting platform, which, in turn, was installed detail of a characteristic curved shape. At the other end was a pad with soft cushions to absorb some of the recoil energy. If necessary, the butt could be folded to the left, reducing the length of the machine gun by about 28 cm. There was a folding bipod under the front section of the flue gas pipe.
The sights of the weapon consisted of a fly, located above the barrel of the barrel, and a sight on the front of the receiver cover.
Unfortunately, the characteristics of the weapon are unknown. Nevertheless, the well-known information about the original 7,7x44 mm cartridge makes it possible to speculate on the capabilities of the Wiebel M / 1932 machine gun. They were probably at about the same level as the characteristics of the first machine guns or assault rifles.
Anyway, the new development company DISA is not interested in the Danish military. It is known that during the tests of the machine gun several serious flaws were revealed that required correction. In addition, the army made some comments on the appearance of weapons. The development of the first draft of the project Wiebel M / 1932 stopped.
In the National Military History Museum of Denmark (Copenhagen) are stored two machine guns Wiebel M / 1932. It is noteworthy that this weapon with serial numbers 1001 and 1003 looks different and, apparently, is a different version of the same machine gun. Probably, after the end of the tests of the base machine gun, the designers of the DISA company continued to develop their development, which resulted in the appearance of the weapon number 1003.
Sample №1003 has a number of characteristic differences, allowing to identify it as a revised version of the project M / 1932. Instead of ribbing, the barrel of an updated machine gun received a cylindrical casing with perforations for cooling. The fly was shifted back and located above the bipod mount. The machine gun received a new open sight, which was installed on the back of the receiver cover. The butt of the weapon retained common features, but its design was seriously refined. In particular, the soft cushions of the back plate were replaced by wooden parts of complex shape.
Perhaps the most interesting changes have undergone weapons ammunition system. Probably, the military did not accept the possibility of using the Wiebel M / 1932 machine gun only with magazines for 20 cartridges. On the left side of the receiver there was a window for feeding the cartridge belt, covered with a lid. Thus, if necessary, the machine gunner could supply his weapon with a ribbon and fire in relatively long lines.
Details of the fate of the updated machine gun M / 1932 is also unknown. However, the lack of information on the production of any modification of these weapons suggests that the military was not interested in the second version of the project. Despite all the improvements of the external units, the modernized machine gun Wiebel M / 1932 retained the internal mechanisms of the base model. As a result, he retained the main characteristics, although the usability and flexibility of application had to be improved due to a number of innovations.
The Danish Defense Ministry showed no interest in the new DISA machine gun; The modernization project did not suit him either. As a result, the production of these weapons was limited to a few copies used during the tests. So far, only two Wiebel M / 1932 machine guns have been preserved. Both of them are exhibits of the military history museum in Copenhagen. The troops, in turn, continued the exploitation of the developed, but obsolete "Madsenov."
Based on:
http://thm-online.dk/
http://world.guns.ru/
http://raigap.livejournal.com/
Popenker MR, Milchev M.N. World War II: Gunsmiths War. - M .: Yauza, Eksmo, 2008
A number of requirements were made for new weapons, primarily related to size and weight. Since the military needed a new light machine gun to reinforce rifle subunits, the weapon should have relatively compact dimensions (no more than other weapons of the time) and relatively small weight. In addition, it was required to provide ease of use and acceptable firepower. To solve this problem, DISA designers had to use several interesting ideas, as well as develop a new cartridge.
Madsen machine guns in various versions were intended for the use of rifle cartridges of several types. By the beginning of the thirties, it became clear that the power of such ammunition was excessive for light machine guns. The rifle cartridge provided the necessary firepower of the weapon, but worsened its usability and accuracy of fire. In this regard, a new cartridge 1932x7,7 mm was created for the Wiebel M / 44 machine gun.
This cartridge had a bottle sleeve and a pointed shell bullet weighing 7,78 g. Looking ahead, it should be noted that the M / 1932 machine gun bullet had an initial speed of 660 m / s and muzzle energy slightly less than 1700 J. Thus, the new cartridge was slightly less common rifle ammunition and noticeably weaker than them. The power of ammunition 7,7x44 mm was significantly higher than that of pistol cartridges. This allows to classify it as a intermediate cartridge.
In order to maximize the relief of weapons, the authors of the Wiebel M / 1932 project decided to simplify the design and also reduce the size of various parts to the required minimum. So, the receiver of the weapon had a length of about 200 mm. On its front wall there were fastenings for the barrel and automatic flue gas units. A rifled barrel about 520 mm long received fins on the outer surface for cooling during firing. Under the barrel were located the vapor tube and the piston, which set in motion the bolt of the weapon. The total length of the weapon with the butt spread out exceeded 930 mm.
The weapon received a vapor-automatic, and the vapor-tube (or its casing) had a significantly larger diameter in comparison with the barrel. When fired, the gas piston set in motion the bolt group, due to which preparation for a new shot was made. The method of locking the barrel is unknown. According to some sources, the shutter was used. An interesting fact is that in the extreme rear position, the bolt touched the rear wall of the receiver - the assembly layout was so tight.
The machine gun Wiebel M / 1932 received a trigger mechanism with the ability to select the mode of fire. Turning the fire translator, located above the trigger, on the left side of the weapon, the shooter could turn on a non-automatic safety lock and also switch USM to single or automatic fire.
To power the machine gun was supposed to use detachable box magazines with a capacity for 20 cartridges. The receiving window of the receiver was located directly in front of the trigger guard. Lever latch store located inside the bracket. Cartridges were shot through a window in the right wall of the receiver.
Weapons equipped with a folding butt of the original design. To the rear wall of the receiver on a loop fastened supporting platform, which, in turn, was installed detail of a characteristic curved shape. At the other end was a pad with soft cushions to absorb some of the recoil energy. If necessary, the butt could be folded to the left, reducing the length of the machine gun by about 28 cm. There was a folding bipod under the front section of the flue gas pipe.
The sights of the weapon consisted of a fly, located above the barrel of the barrel, and a sight on the front of the receiver cover.
Unfortunately, the characteristics of the weapon are unknown. Nevertheless, the well-known information about the original 7,7x44 mm cartridge makes it possible to speculate on the capabilities of the Wiebel M / 1932 machine gun. They were probably at about the same level as the characteristics of the first machine guns or assault rifles.
Anyway, the new development company DISA is not interested in the Danish military. It is known that during the tests of the machine gun several serious flaws were revealed that required correction. In addition, the army made some comments on the appearance of weapons. The development of the first draft of the project Wiebel M / 1932 stopped.
In the National Military History Museum of Denmark (Copenhagen) are stored two machine guns Wiebel M / 1932. It is noteworthy that this weapon with serial numbers 1001 and 1003 looks different and, apparently, is a different version of the same machine gun. Probably, after the end of the tests of the base machine gun, the designers of the DISA company continued to develop their development, which resulted in the appearance of the weapon number 1003.
Sample №1003 has a number of characteristic differences, allowing to identify it as a revised version of the project M / 1932. Instead of ribbing, the barrel of an updated machine gun received a cylindrical casing with perforations for cooling. The fly was shifted back and located above the bipod mount. The machine gun received a new open sight, which was installed on the back of the receiver cover. The butt of the weapon retained common features, but its design was seriously refined. In particular, the soft cushions of the back plate were replaced by wooden parts of complex shape.
Perhaps the most interesting changes have undergone weapons ammunition system. Probably, the military did not accept the possibility of using the Wiebel M / 1932 machine gun only with magazines for 20 cartridges. On the left side of the receiver there was a window for feeding the cartridge belt, covered with a lid. Thus, if necessary, the machine gunner could supply his weapon with a ribbon and fire in relatively long lines.
Details of the fate of the updated machine gun M / 1932 is also unknown. However, the lack of information on the production of any modification of these weapons suggests that the military was not interested in the second version of the project. Despite all the improvements of the external units, the modernized machine gun Wiebel M / 1932 retained the internal mechanisms of the base model. As a result, he retained the main characteristics, although the usability and flexibility of application had to be improved due to a number of innovations.
The Danish Defense Ministry showed no interest in the new DISA machine gun; The modernization project did not suit him either. As a result, the production of these weapons was limited to a few copies used during the tests. So far, only two Wiebel M / 1932 machine guns have been preserved. Both of them are exhibits of the military history museum in Copenhagen. The troops, in turn, continued the exploitation of the developed, but obsolete "Madsenov."
Based on:
http://thm-online.dk/
http://world.guns.ru/
http://raigap.livejournal.com/
Popenker MR, Milchev M.N. World War II: Gunsmiths War. - M .: Yauza, Eksmo, 2008
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