The very last vestiges of the Vickers and .303" Bren

[Peter Laidler]

The last piece of kit associated with the old and trusty .303” Vickers machine gun and Bren has been declared obsolete. This was the GAUGE, Plug, .306” No2 Mk1 part number B2/SM 75B. This gauge was used to confirm leed wear from the chamber to the bore to ascertain the remainder of safe barrel life for Vickers guns used for what we used to call ‘overhead fire’ These ‘OHF’ guns were used to fire over the heads of advancing troops and during what was called ‘battle inoculation’ of troops during training. The gauge was an important bit of kit for Vickers Armourers and inspectors at major workshops who overhauled the old Brens. It was concealed within an unscrewable 5/8" diameter two piece steel tube. The gauge was calibrated for length and diameter annually too. It could be used extended, by being reversed into the gauge cap to gauge-up a barrel out of the gun. Or, screwed into the bottom section of the case to form a right angle and so gauge-up a barrel fitted into the gun. Maybe someone with some photography skills could put one up for all to see.

The Vickers gun was declared obsolete in Britain after being used for the last time by Paratroopers in Aden and Gurkhas in Borneo in the summer of 1968 (yes, I was there and Summer/winter/autumn and spring are all the same except for the daily monsoon deluge……………) so how come this Vickers gauge has lived on for so long?

This same gauge was also used to ascertain remaining safe barrel life of those Cadet Forces303” Bren guns still in service into the 90’s. Recently a cull of gauges uncovered that this old pre-war gauge was still on charge at some of the major workshops and immediately declared obsolete – to be struck off charge. So at the stroke of a pen, the last vestiges of the trusty Vickers machine gun has been consigned to the bin. So if you have one of the gauges, take it out, give it a wipe with an oily cloth and put in a special place

But not QUITE………… Because the Small Arms School have retained several of these magnificent beasts that are used on special occasions and so far as I'm aware, I'm the last Vickers trained Armourer still in the Army system

Information

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[gravityfan]

I have one of these in absolutely mint condition. Are there any docs describing their use, the values/tolerances and so on?

Can they tell you anything about a LE throat or bore?

Beautifully made gauge, it would be nice if it were useful to boot!

[Richard Fisher]

Peter may be able to direct you to something more recent, and for the Bren, but the Vickers information in the 1951 manual on the gun is at:

http://www.vickersmachinegun.org.uk/...3.htm#lesson16

It gives the tolerances and the number of rounds left for the barrel life.

It's fascinating to here that this has lasted so long. Some photos are at:

http://www.vickersmachinegun.org.uk/acc-armourers.htm

Regards

Richard

[Peter Laidler]

There it is........, all you need to know

As to whether the gauge can be used in the other .303 Enfield Rifles, well I don't know. I suppose it COULD be used as a guide to leed wear in the barrel using the average wear formula chart shown above but it wasn't sanctioned for use with the rifles.

But for the rifle, accuracy is the criteria whereas for the Vickers in the OHF role, then safety is the criteria. Anyone else got one of these?

[gravityfan]

Thank you indeed Richard and Peter.

The Vickers information is most interesting. I shall have to read the rest of the information you have been so good as to share online.

Good point Peter that the reasons for rejection are different, and that makes a lot of sense. Accuracy obviously not a consideration for the OHF guns, and safety not an issue for a LE until well after it is useless in terms of accuracy. Nice insight there.

Although the absolute numbers stated for the Vickers are probably quite irrelevant to a LE, I should think that I could take a baseline with an unfired barrel, and deduce using the Vickers numbers a wear value on LE barrels, it will be interesting. Just as a pointer, because as Peter said, accuracy is the thing.

I'm really glad I asked.

gravityfan

[tankhunter]

. Anyone else got one of these?

I used to have about 20 odd of these. All been given away now, over the years though!

[Peter Laidler]

I don't know if they're worth anything - except for their intrinsic/sentimental value. But nice to have as a reminder. The trouble with these things is that for the likes of Armourers, they were just another tool to do another job!