This is the Vickers machine gun, arguably one of the most efficient and effective...
Join the conversation
Log in or create an account to leave a comment
Log In
This is the Vickers machine gun, arguably one of the most efficient and effective machines
ever invented. It was once subjected to
an extraordinary test. A team of gunners fired more than
five million rounds out of a single Vickers gun over the course
of a week. Soldiers worked in pairs to keep up
the rate of fire, with a third man shovelling up the piles of
spent brass. At the end of the test, despite the
huge toll on this machine gun, it was inspected and found to be fit
for service in every respect. Quite simply, the Vickers is a
marvel of 20th-century engineering. It's up there with the aeroplane
and the computer, and yet it has just one purpose -
to maim and to kill
ever invented. It was once subjected to
an extraordinary test. A team of gunners fired more than
five million rounds out of a single Vickers gun over the course
of a week. Soldiers worked in pairs to keep up
the rate of fire, with a third man shovelling up the piles of
spent brass. At the end of the test, despite the
huge toll on this machine gun, it was inspected and found to be fit
for service in every respect. Quite simply, the Vickers is a
marvel of 20th-century engineering. It's up there with the aeroplane
and the computer, and yet it has just one purpose -
to maim and to kill
Full Transcript
00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.044
This is the Vickers machine gun,
00:00:03.044 --> 00:00:06.004
arguably one of the most efficient
00:00:06.004 --> 00:00:09.999
and effective machines
ever invented.
00:00:09.999 --> 00:00:13.032
It was once subjected to
an extraordinary test.
00:00:13.032 --> 00:00:18.024
A team of gunners fired more than
five million rounds out of a single
00:00:18.024 --> 00:00:20.004
Vickers gun over the course
of a week.
00:00:21.006 --> 00:00:26.044
Soldiers worked in pairs to keep up
the rate of fire, with a third man
00:00:26.044 --> 00:00:29.076
shovelling up the piles of
spent brass.
00:00:29.076 --> 00:00:33.084
At the end of the test, despite the
huge toll on this machine gun,
00:00:33.084 --> 00:00:38.096
it was inspected and found to be fit
for service in every respect.
00:00:38.096 --> 00:00:43.006
Quite simply, the Vickers is a
marvel of 20th-century engineering.
00:00:43.006 --> 00:00:47.000
It's up there with the aeroplane
and the computer,
00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:51.028
and yet it has just one purpose -
to maim and to kill.
Want This Clip in HD?
Upgrade for HD/4K downloads and unlimited access. Upgrade now →
Movie Summary
Dr Sam Willis traces the history of the weapons that have shaped Britain.
