Berthier machine gun

The Vickers–Berthier was based on a French design of just before World War I. It was proposed for use with infantry as Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modèle 1910, Modèle 1911, Modèle 1912, Modèle 1916 and Modèle 1920.^[3] It was also proposed in 1918 to US Army which finally refused it.^[4] A later version, the Fusil Mitrailleur Berthier Modèle 1922 from Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault, competed for the replacement of the Chauchat LMG in the French army but the Fusil Mitrailleur modèle 1924 was adopted.^[1]

Vickers–Berthier machine gun

In 1925 Vickers in Britain purchased the licence rights of the Berthier Model 1922^[1] for production in their Crayford factory, and as a replacement for the Lewis gun. It was an alternative to the water-cooled Vickers machine gun made by the same company.^[5] The weapon used a gas and tipping bolt mechanism similar to the Bren light machine gun, was air-cooled like the Bren and also like the Bren had a removable barrel. It was adopted by the Indian Army in 1933.^[6] During the British Army trials of several light machine guns which began in 1932, the Vickers–Berthier was in direct competition with the ZB vz. 26. The British Army adopted the latter, modified and known as the Bren light machine gun, and the Vickers–Berthier was adopted by the British Indian Army.^[7] A production line for the Vickers–Berthier Light Machine-Gun Mk 3 was established at the Rifle Factory Ishapore.^[8]

Users

•  Bolivia^[14]
•  British India^[8]
•  India^[8]
•  Latvia:^[15] Vickers–Berthier Mk I, more than 800 by April 1936^[16][17]
•  Paraguay: Captured from Bolivia^[14]
•  Portugal: small numbers bought,^[1] known as m/931^[18]
• Kingdom of Spain: small numbers bought^[1]
•  Spanish Republic: 322 sold by Paraguay in 1936^[14]
•  United Kingdom: limited use^[16]
•  Afghanistan: Used by Taliban ^{[citation needed]}

Failed bids

•  Romania: Vickers–Berthier gun was tested in 1927-1928, without success^[19]
•  Greece: Tested by Greek Army in 1925, which chose Hotchkiss machine gun instead^[20]