The MG08/15

[MG1918]

Attachment 86375
note tubular bipod (which incidentally I look for!) and often used with the T Gewehr.
Mark

[Ovidio]

With the success of the lewis the Imperial German Army needed an equivalent, and as efficient as ever why not take advantage of existing parts and interchange. Much discussion exists when this wpn actualy hit the front line ie late 1915 or early 1916 but many say it was unpopular, be it weight, stoppages or accuracy (due to the poorly placed bipod).
Great faces!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c0b31bd9-1.jpg
This one is fitted with the BFA.
Mark[COLOR="black"]

Hi MG1918,

I happened to read this thread thanks to your refreshing it and was a bit surprised by the statement that the gun was unpopular. I'm not arguing that for total lack of competence in the issue, but being a "half German" (Italian blood with German education), I have always heard a very interesting and at first for me incomprehensible way of saying in Germany. When something is extremely simple, so simple that anyone can grasp or do it, they still say nullachtfünfzehn for it, which is exactly the German pronunciation for 08/15. As a kid I really could not understand it, so I asked and received this exact explanation. That gun was so simple, that it remained as a way of saying in the German language.
Just as my little bit of trivial info about this topic, with absolutely no intention to doubt about your statement because, as already written above, I don't have any deep knowledge about that weapon, just this cultural leftover from WWI.
Have a nice day.

[MG1918]

Ovidio thanks for commenting. Interesting perspective and you could well be right. My offering has only come from reading other stories from German articles, in that nullacht funfzen meant rubbish/all buggered up! Maybe it is the same thing - simple AND useless!
In reality it was a fairly average to poor assault weapon, heavy even without ammunition and then add a further weighty assault drum with only 100 rds you can see resupply is an immediate issue. The position of the bipod also was a significant design failing, only rectified in the inter-war period. As a static defence weapon, using the 250 rd belts then clearly it was of more use/value. Especially when the Germans had forward defence in depth.
Mark

[Ovidio]

Hi MG, I'll ask some acquaintances of mine in Germany who often use that saying.
Mostly it's technicians who still use it.
I'm on holiday, but in a couple weeks I'll get smarter on this issue and report.

[MG1918]

Attachment 89875

Time to re-energise the MG threads. Please see MG08/15 details.

[Gil Boyd]

[Ovidio]

Smashin’ pumpkins

[browningautorifle]

We had one at Wardlow Alberta years ago and shot a few through it then...long time ago now.

[MG1918]

Attachment 89906

[MG1918]

Trying to find the MG08/15 bipods and have identified 3 patterns. For ease they are called the standard bipod, the expedient bipod and the tubular bipod. Any information would be very welcome.
The standard type:
Attachment 89988Attachment 89989