The Lewis Gun managed to survive the budget cuts of the interwar years across several militaries of the world. Despite it being replaced in some circles (the British went on to adopt the excellent Czech-based BREN Light Machine Gun), the Lewis series was still in circulation by the time of World War 2. Again, a shortage of small arms forced the aging weapon into frontline service. Even with British BRENs available, so much inventory was lost in the harried evacuations at Dunkirk, France that Lewis Guns in British storage were reissued to Home Guard and naval elements to shore up stock limitations.
In practice, Lewis Guns were highly valued for their lethality though they did prove prone to jamming and excessive weight (particularly for a "light" machine gun). One of the primary reasons for stoppages lay in the overhead pan magazine feed as well as the relatively complex internal action. Regardless, it was available in the required numbers and, when working, it provided the repeat-fire capabilities on land and in the air that was needed by Allied forces. Additionally, a half-dozen or so Lewis Guns could be manufactured for every one Vickers system, such was its comparable manufacture simplicity.
As a long-running weapon, the Lewis Gun appeared in several notable variants throughout its service life. The Mark 1 model was brought about on October 15th, 1915 by the British Army and proved the original production form. These were fielded with the 47-round count pan magazines with sights ranged out to 2,000 yards. Overall length was 50.5 inches with an unloaded weight of 26lbs.
The Mark 2 was brought about as an aircraft-based version of the land-based Mark 1 and these were adopted on November 10th, 1915. The Mark 2 saw its cooling shroud removed and a spade-type grip added to the rear of the receiver (losing its wooden stock). Early versions still utilized the 47-round pan magazine until, in November of 1916, the 97-round count was introduced on aircraft variants as well.
The Mark 2* was adopted late in the war on May 13th, 1918 (the war ended with an armistice in November). Based on the Mark 2 design, and modified from existing stocks of that weapon, the Mark 2* was given a higher rate-of-fire for improved hit probability in aerial combat. This involved use of a dimensionally larger gas port used in the gas-operated action. The Mark 3 designation was nothing more than new-build Mark 2* guns.
Lewis Guns were available in its various forms throughout the interwar years. By the time of World War 2, they were, yet again, pressed into service. The war began in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland, prompting both France and Britain to declare war on the Axis powers with included Italy, Japan, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. The German tactic lay, once again, in dominating Belgium and its neighbors en route to Paris, France which was finally reached in the summer of 1940. In 1942, the British Navy headed development of the "Lewis SS" gun (also "Lewis Mark XI SS") which attempted to translate the Lewis Gun into a more conventional infantry LMG to be fired from the shoulder. Existing stocks were modified to the new standard which involved loss of the cooling shroud and radiator (if affixed), addition of a forward hand grip (as well as hand guard), installation of a muzzle compensator and use of a traditional rifle-style butt.
Back in 1940, the American firearms concern of Savage Arms Corporation took on production of the Lewis Gun in .30-06 Springfield caliber and this form was recognized by the British as "Savage-Lewis" guns to avoid confusion with their existing .303 British machine gun stocks. A red, two-inch band was also painted on these British models to clearly differentiate their chambering to unsuspecting users. Early forms incorporated a wooden butt but these later gave way to a cheaper metal skeleton type arrangement. Original sighting devices were also fixed while later models showcased adjustable types ranged to 400 yards. Grips were of the spade type. The British Navy procured some of this form throughout the year and these were later passed on to British Home Guard units.
In the post-war years, the Lewis Gun continued service as the Mark 4 was adopted on August 16th, 1946. The Mark 4 involved existing Mark 3 guns revised to an easier mass-production standard. Earlier Mark 1 guns were to be updated to the Mark 4 standard under the Mark 1* designation but it is believed that none ever saw the light of day for the Mark 1, itself, was officially labeled "obsolete" by British authorities. Ironically, the declaration was made on the same day of adoption of the Mark 4 in 1946.
From this point forward, Lewis Guns began to fall largely out of use for, by 1953, they were mostly out of frontline circulation in any one army. Production spanned from 1913 to 1942 with use beginning as far back as 1914. Despite its formal retirement, the Lewis Gun has appeared in more modern conflicts as was the case during the Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949), "The Troubles" (Northern Ireland, 1960-1998) and during the Croatian War of Indepedence (1991-1995).
The Lewis Gun was officially adopted by the forces of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Estonia, Finland, France, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Russian Empire (and, later, the Soviet Union), Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Yugoslavia. The German Empire of World War 1 and the Nazi German regime of World War 2 both used presumably captured stocks and chambered them for local 7.92mm cartridge. Captured Lewis Guns in German service were bestowed the designation of MG 137(e).
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