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Miniatures Adventure => The Great War => Topic started by: Metternich on December 23, 2017, 08:14:18 PM

Title: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: Metternich on December 23, 2017, 08:14:18 PM

Attached is an measured analysis and test firing of the Chauchat by the Forgotten Weapons website.  Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCwP3Dm52Ls

Title: Re: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: Johnnytodd on December 28, 2017, 12:29:49 AM

Brilliant link- thanks Metternich!

Title: Re: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: wrgmr1 on December 29, 2017, 01:05:11 AM

Great link!! Thanks!

Title: Re: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: monk2002uk on December 29, 2017, 07:47:17 AM

Thanks Metternich.

Here is another review, which includes details of the German conversion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjcGurpTtwE

Robert

Title: Re: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: Metternich on December 31, 2017, 01:57:08 AM

Thanks for posting that Monk.  First time I had ever heard of the German rechambering of the Chauchat - what a complex magazine system.  Wanted to point out that the narrator's two photos of troops with Stahlhelms with Chauchats are actually of Bulgarians, not Germans, and they have the typical French version (and the earlier photo with the three men in body armor and stahlhelms are actually US troops wearing souvenirs - the fellow on the right even has his helmet on backwards - and it is the American Chauchat they are carrying with the box magazine). 

Title: Re: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: monk2002uk on December 31, 2017, 07:42:50 AM

Yes, the photos of men wearing body armour and Stahlhelm are not German soldiers. The SS photo may not be of German-born soldiers; certainly the gunner has not been trained in the correct way to fire the Chauchat ;-). There is another photo of a Chauchat team in German WW2 uniform here:

(http://i.imgur.com/0OWKaAb.jpg)

Neither image shows the WW1 German magazine for the Chauchat.

Robert

Title: Re: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: monk2002uk on December 31, 2017, 07:55:06 AM

And an excellent video showing how the Chauchat could be used to support marching fire, though the gunner is not marching in this clip:

Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPFu_ZlQ6yg)

Spears describes the French approach is his book 'Prelude to Victory', which covers the lead up to Nivelle's fateful offensive in 1917. As Liaison Officer between British GHQ and French CQG, Spears was invited to a demonstration of the Chauchat in late 1916. The demonstration was conducted at night, with the Chauchat gunners advancing on the German 'trenches' whilst firing tracer mixed with conventional ammunition. It made for a spectacular sight.

Robert

Title: Re: Chauchat - analysis and range firing
Post by: Metternich on January 02, 2018, 02:37:01 AM

The SS made do with a lot of captured weapons (and obsolescent German and Czech weapons) in the first year or so of WW 2, because at that time they didn't have priority for issuance from Wehrmacht stocks.  So you'll see pictures of early SS troops with Czech Ceska Zbrojovka vz. 30 machine guns, broomhandle Mausers, MP28's, even some MG 08s, and the Chauchat.