Aussie Lt Horse LMG's

[smirnoff]

Does anyone know how the Australian Light Horse Units carried their Lewis and Hotchkiss guns whilst mounted please?

[Stecal]

Here is how the Vickers were carried.  I assume Hotchkiss would be similar.  Lewis guns the yprobably just slung like rifles.

[smirnoff]

Many thanks.
The Hotchkiss was the bipod mount, 3lbs lighter than a Lewis IIRC.
I have carried a Lewis and it is very heavy (well, I thought it was), slung across the back it could possibly be a fairly destabilising weight (but that is my, an amateurs, view).
Just wondered if a modified rifle bucket was used for the Lewis or Hotchkiss.
I have contacted the ALH Association to see if they can throw any light...

[former user]

the Lewis gun weighs 13 kg, slightly heavier than the 11,5 kg MG 3 which I carried,

and I would agree, I wouldn't want to carry it on horseback

[smirnoff]

From the lads at the Society of the Military Horse forum, Hotchkiss:

[Sheerluck Holmes]

The Lewis gun was only used for a few months by the ALH... they went to the Hotchkiss because it was more reliable.

[smirnoff]

Yes, but some were retained by some troops I hear. No doubt phased out over time. Be interesting to see how the Lewis was carried on horseback...

[former user]

probably in a similar way....

just an idea:

german cavalry in WWII would have MG carried with them too

maybe You can find a suitable inspiration there?

[Stecal]

I had no idea Lewis guns weighed that much and more than the Hotchkiss. 
Nice find on the hotchkiss carrier.

Does anybody make a 25mm Hotchkiss?  Only one I know of is the Pulp Mini's Chinese Hotchkiss HMG.

[starkadder]

The field manual for carrying the Hotchkiss:

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1830030/hotchkiss-machine-gun-pack-for-cavalry-page-3/


Lots of other material here as well.