historicalfirearms: Chauchat-Sutter Machine RifleIn 1914-15 French airmen, desperate for an effe
historicalfirearms: Chauchat-Sutter Machine Rifle In 1914-15 French airmen, desperate for an effective weapon against enemy planes, began equipping their aircraft with a forebearer of the famous M1915 CSRG ‘Chauchat’ automatic rifle. Between 1903 and 1909 Louis Chauchat (image #1) and Charles Sutter (image #2) developed a series of seven autoloading prototypes at the Puteaux Arsenal (APX). Chauchat and Sutter focused their efforts on on the long recoil principle using the system in both self-loading rifles and Fusils Mitrailleurs (machine rifles). Chauchat and Sutter’s machine rifle went through six iterations between 1903 and 1909 culminating in the Chauchat-Sutter (CS) Model of 1911 (see images #1 & #2). Some of their earlier designs were chambered in a 7x59mm cartridge designed by Chauchat himself. The Model of 1911, however, chambered France’s standard 8x50R Lebel round. The CS M1911 had a curved magazine which continued to be used in Chauchat and Sutter’s future designs including the CSRG M1915 ‘Chauchat’. The M1911’s 20-round magazine was top-mounted, unlike the later Chauchat M1915 which moved it beneath the receiver, and the charging handle was below the centre of the magazine (rather than on the right as in the CSRG). During official trials of the M1911, in November 1911, the weapon was officially designated the Fusil-Mitrailleurs C7 de Puteaux Systeme CS. The prototype’s locking lugs broke during the first trial but further tests were carried out in April 1912. During the second trial a further 1,500 rounds were fired which damaged several more parts and led to an out of battery detonation. While the trials showed the M1911 was not ready for service Chauchat and Sutter continued refining the design. In June 1912, Colonel Chauchat transferred to the MAS arsenal as Assistant General Manager. While at MAS he reinforced the machine rifle’s bolt and readied it for further trials, the result was the Model of 1913. Two prototype M1913s were tested in January 1913, both firing 2,500 rounds “at a strenuous pace” with no major failures. Sutter corrected some problems with the angle of the feed ramp on the spot and the designers considered the testing a great success. The CS machine rifle could fire 50 rounds per minute in semi-automatic and a steady 100 rounds per minute in fully automatic. Single shot and burst fire accuracy out to 600m was found to be acceptable and the only real complaint was about deformation to the thin sheet metal magazines which caused failures to feed. This would be a continuing problem with the M1915 CSRG. M1915 CSRG (source) The trials report suggested that problems with magazine deformation would not be a serious problem for the machine rifle as it would be used for fortress duty. A year before the outbreak of war the French Army saw the CS machine rifle not as an infantry light support weapon but as a light machine gun to be deployed within fixed fortifications. Following the successful January 1913 trials expanded troop trials were ordered in february with 100 CS machine rifle requested. With the outbreak of war in August 1914, the trials of the CS machine rifle had not yet begun. It quickly became obvious that the machine gun and rapid fire artillery had ended the war of movement and the French army needed new weapons to break the stalemate. Following a demonstration of Chauchat and Sutter’s machine rifle General Joseph Joffre, the French commander-in-chief, requested the purchase of 50,000 machine rifles in April 1915. What would become the M1915 CSRG was recommended for adoption in late July 1915 and a production contract was signed in October. In late 1914 - early 1915 the French Armée de l'Air was in desperate need of weapons to arm their aircraft. Pilots and observers had little success firing standard service rifles and pistols at their adversaries. It was quickly realised by both sides that machine guns were the best weapon available. In their search for suitable lightweight machine guns the French took the small run of CS Model of 1913 machine rifles made before the war for planned infantry trials and fitted them to aircraft (see images #3 & #4). Of the 188 Model of 1913 CS machine rifles made 65 were given to two Armée de l'Air squadrons. They were fitted to Morane-Saulnier and Maurice Farman biplanes and were in service until late 1916 when the Lewis guns replaced them. The CS Machine Rifles are a fascinating part of the better known M1915 Chauchat’s history, not only were they important steps in the weapon’s development but they also played a small but important role in France’s early air war. Sources: Ribeyrolles Automatic Weapons and Chauchat-Ribeyrolles Machine Pistols, Small Arms Review, J. Huon, (source) Honour Bound - The Chauchat Machine Rifle, G. Demaison & Y. Buffetaut, (1995) Proud Promise: French Autoloading Rifles 1898-1979, J. Huon, (1995) If you enjoy the content please consider supporting Historical Firearms through Patreon! -- source link