One of the rare aircraft machine guns from the First World War is the Austro-Hungarian Schwarzlose. This was a delayed blowback heavy machine gun used by the Empire’s infantry as the M1907/12, and it was really the only domestic machine gun available for use in aircraft at the time. While guns were initially used with slotted or intact water jackets, the blowback mechanism meant that the jacket could be easily removed without compromising functionality (unlike Maxim/Vickers designs that required muzzle support). Two iterations of naked-barrel aircraft Schwarzlose guns were made, the M16 and M16A, with iterative improvements in rate of fire and reliability at high altitudes. The M16A seen here was capable of up to 880 rpm and operation at 23,000 feet. Only a few hundred of these guns appear to have been produced, and they are very scarce today.
Many thanks tot he US National WW1 Museum & Memorial for pulling this example out of their exhibit for me to film! If you are in Kansas City, make sure to stop by and see the museum:
https://www.theworldwar.org
M1907/12 Schwarzlose video: https://youtu.be/9_pWNjuZj30
“(…)one of the bigger issues with
these guns was getting them to run
properly at altitude. And none of my
reference material explains exactly why(…)”
Schwarzlose machine gun’s reliability depends at integral cartridge oiler. This machine gun will receive disadvantage to reliability if any one below happen:
– lack of oil
– using oil of shady quality
– low air temperature
Latest was source of problems in ground application in winter and at high altitude in all seasons.
Only if it would have used a fluted chamber, this may have sorted the issues out.
Good point, perhaps.
That is a very well done museum. Thank you for promoting it.
Also the K.C. railway station is worth a look, not just a crime scene!
Also the KC barbecue is worth eating: Arthur Bryant’s vs. Rosedale’s vs. Gates vs. everybody else.
I am inclined to think this was a flexible gun if the handgrips were left on.
Gun oil was the least of the pilot’s problems; engine oil and oil fumes would blow back into the pilot’s face. The oil was castor oil and the fumes had the same laxative effects as ingesting the oil orally.
I have only heard that about some Sopwith aircraft flown by the British. Did the Austro-Hungarians also burn castor oil?
My understanding is that it was the only lubricant in those days that maintained sufficient viscosity at cold altitudes. I admit I’ve never seen an account from the German-Austrian side. As that other fella says, I could be wrong.
I looked it up. Yup, castor oil was used by pretty much everyone then.
Was there ever proposed a HMG variant of the Schwarzlose chambered in 12.7mm or similar?
Do you know, who was the Most Famous Karol from the once Austro-Hungarian town of Wadowice? At least in my humble view.
(no, not one Karol Wojtyła)
Karol von Brumowski.
He certainly used this gun.
I have always seen his name as ‘Godwin,’ with ‘Karol Maria’ as his middle names. Regardless of name you’re right. Von Brumowski did the old Doppel-Monarchie proud.