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Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Schwarz 07-12.jpeg‎|thumb|right|500px|Schwarzlose MG M. 7/12 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher.]]
[[Image:SchwarzloseM07MG.jpg‎|thumb|right|500px|Schwarzlose Modell 1907 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher]]
[[Image:07-12.jpg‎|thumb|right|500px|Dutch Schwarzlose MG M. 08/13 - 6.5×53mmR]]
The '''Schwarzlose machine gun''' is a water-cooled, belt-fed machine gun designed by Andreas Wilhelm Schwarzlose for the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1907. While after the establishment of the [[Maxim]] construction, many countries of the world placed orders with the large manufacturers [[Vickers]] or DWM (''Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken'' AG) or applied for their own production, the Austro-Hungarian Empire took other paths. Around 1902, the Berlin engineer Andreas Schwarzlose applied for a patent for his own design of a machine gun. The [[Steyr|Steyr-Werke]] acquired the license in 1905, and in 1907 it was introduced to the Austrian armed forces as the M.07, chambered in 8x50mmR Mannlicher. This model has a gap between the top cover and the water jacket. Some improvements led from 1912 on to the M.07/12.
The '''Schwarzlose machine gun''' is a water-cooled, belt-fed machine gun designed by Andreas Wilhelm Schwarzlose for the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1907. Following the release of the [[Maxim]] design, many states of the world placed orders with the large manufacturers [[Vickers]] and DWM or applied for their own production. The K.u.K. monarchy of Austria-Hungary took another path. Around 1902, the Berlin engineer Andreas Schwarzlose had applied for a patent for his own machine gun design. [[Steyr|Steyr-Werke]] acquired the license in 1905 and in 1907 it was introduced in the Austrian armed forces as the M.07 in the caliber 8x50R. The model of 1907 has a gap between the top cover and the water jacket. This was changed with the MG M. 7/12. Some improvements after 1912 led to the version M.07 / 12.  


Schwarzlose, who had previously attracted attention through technically highly interesting constructions in the field of weapons technology, took a completely new approach. His MG had a fixed barrel and is based essentially on the functioning of a delayed spring-mass closure. During the shooting process, the spent cartridge blows back the bolt rearward, but without locking it, thus giving a momentary delay. During this delay, chamber pressure drops enough to be safe. The use of a strong recoil spring along with a heavy bolt and series of levers led to retarding of the rearward motion from recoil, ensuring in conjunction with its relatively short barrel that the bullet exists the weapon before recoil forces move the bolt back and dissipate the high pressure left behind. A small blemish on this ingenious design is the need for an oil pump, which was considered necessary prevent problems with extracting cartridges. An oil filling of five liters was enough for about 4,500 cartridges. The Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops were equipped with the M.07/12/R16, which was an air-cooled version of the M. 7/12. During World War I, Austria-Hungary exported the MG M. 7/12 to Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire.
Schwarzlose, who had already drawn attention to himself before with technically highly interesting constructions in the field of weapon technology, broke completely new ground. His MG had a fixed barrel and was essentially based on the function of a delayed spring-mass breech. At no time during the firing process was the system positively locked. On the other hand, a relatively strong closing spring, few but solid and therefore robust locking parts, and retarding lever forces together with a short barrel provided the reloading cycle. A small shadow is cast on this ingenious design by the need for case lubrication, which was deemed necessary to reduce extraction resistance and thus minimize the risk of case tearing. One oil filling of five liters was enough for about 4,500 cartridges. The Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops (''k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppen'') were equipped with the M.07/12/R16, which was an air-cooled version of the M.07/12. During World War I, Austria-Hungary exported the M. 07/12 to Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire.


The nature of the construction initially suggests that the Schwarzlose MG relies too heavily on given functional parameters such as caliber, laboratory and, in particular, run length, to be easily adapted to other versions of the same caliber or other calibers. Interestingly enough, however, the MG was successfully designed to use such different calibers as the improved cartridge M.31 (Austria, Hungary after 1931), 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schönauer, 6.5mm Swedish or even 8mm Mauser.
The Schwarzlose-MG was inferior to the German Maxim [[MG 08]] and [[Maxim MG08/15|08/15]], especially the disc rim cartridge of the German groove rim cartridge, in terms of dimensional accuracy and simultaneous combustion, and it did not allow metal belts. Inhibitions of the MG occurred frequently, especially due to case breakers. Also, the hemp belts (for the aviation troops also for 500, 750 and 1000 rounds) caused constant trouble. At higher altitudes, inhibitions due to wetness, icing, and cold occurred much more easily, especially when the belts often remained ammunition for days on end.


It was used in the two world wars and then on many fronts, from Scandinavia to North Africa.
The way it is constructed initially suggests that the Blackless CMM is too dependent on predetermined functional parameters such as caliber, laboratory, and especially barrel length to be easily adapted to other charges of the same caliber or other calibers. Interestingly, however, it has been possible to adapt the MG to such different calibers as the improved cartridge M.31 (Austria, Hungary after 1931), 6.5 mm Mannlicher-Schönauer, 6.5 mm Swedish or even 7.92x57mm (8x57 IS).


Manufacturers were from 1905 to 1918 OeWG and Steyr and from 1914 to 1918 [[FÉG|FGGY]] in Budapest. Another manufacturer was in Holland based on the M.07 under the names M.07, M08/13, M08/15 and chambered in 6.5×53mmR (Artillery Inrichtingen, M08, about 2000 pieces). In Sweden, it was manufactured as the Kulspruta M/1914 (which looks exactly the same like the M. 7/12, but on the water cooling jacket is the Swedish national coat of arms.) and was used for decades in the Swedish army and built by Carl Gustav. It adorns to this day the medal of the Swedish MG gunners.
Manufacturers were from 1905 to 1918 ''Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft'' (OeWG), Steyr, and from 1914 to 1918 [[FÉG|FGGY]] in Budapest. Another manufacturer was in Holland, ''Artillery Inrichtingen'', that strongly oriented to the M.07 and was further developed to M08/13 and M08/15, chambered in 6.5x53mmR. In Sweden, it was manufactured by Carl Gustav as the ''Kulspruta'' M/1914 (which looks exactly the same as the M. 07/12, but has the Swedish national coat of arms on the water-cooling jacket) and was used for decades in the Swedish army. It adorns to this day the medal of the Swedish MG gunners.
 
It was used in both world wars and also afterward on many fronts, from Scandinavia to North Africa.


__TOC__<br clear="all">
__TOC__<br clear="all">


== Specifications ==
=Schwarzlose M.07/12=
[[Image:Schwarz 07-12.jpeg‎|thumb|right|500px|Schwarzlose Modell 1907/12 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher]]
The '''Maschinengewehr 07/12''' was the standard machine gun of the K.u.k Army. It was introduced in 1912 as an improved version of the M.07. The M.07/12 had an increased rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute compared to the predecessor M. 07, automatic steam discharge of the water cooler, an enlarged oiler, and other design changes. The external distinguishing feature of the two models:
on the M.07, the barrel jacket does not extend to the housing.
 
From 1915 on, the ''Luftfahrtruppen'' also needed machine guns for their planes and resorted to this weapon. The 8.3 kg water jacket was usually omitted to save weight. The MG was used as a movable weapon on the "round" of the observer in two-seaters (from 1917 also in the rotating ring) and as a rigidly forward-firing MG for operation by the pilot.
 
During World War I, Austria-Hungary exported the M.07/12 to Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. The Schwarzlose was also exported and reused in the successor states of the K.u.K. monarchy. For this purpose, it was converted to other ammunition. This model had only ten functional parts, therefore, it was very reliable and was also used as a prey weapon by the enemy. The M.07/12 was still in use during the Second World War.
 
<br clear=all>
 
==Specifications==


'' Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12''
* '''County of Origin:''' Austria
* '''County of Origin:''' Austria


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* '''Weight:''' (unloaded) 44lbs (19.9kg)
* '''Weight:''' (unloaded) 44lbs (19.9kg)


{{Gun Title}}
<br clear=all>
{{Gun Title|Schwarzlose M.07/12}}
-----


===Film===
===Film===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#ffffff; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|-
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Title'''
!width="280"|Title
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="170"|'''Actor'''
!width="170"|Actor
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="180"|'''Character'''
!width="250"|Character
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Note'''
!width="250"|Note
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
!width="50"|Date
|-
|-
|''[[Mountains on Fire]]'' || || Austrian soldiers || M. 7/12 || 1931
|''[[Mountains on Fire]]'' || || Austro-Hungarian soldiers || M.07/12 || 1931
|-
|-
| ''[[If War Comes Tomorrow (Esli zavtra voyna)]]'' || || || Seen in documentary footage || 1938
| ''[[If War Comes Tomorrow (Esli zavtra voyna)]]'' || || || Seen in documentary footage || 1938
|-
|-
|''[[Operation Amsterdam]]'' || || || Dutch M. 08/15 (anti-aircraft version) || 1959
| ''[[The Great War (La grande guerra)]]'' || || Austro-Hungarian and Italian soldiers || || 1959
|-
|-
| ''[[Hell Is for Heroes]]'' || || German soldiers || Stock footage || 1962
|''[[The Good Soldier Schweik (Der brave Soldat Schwejk)]]'' || || An Austro-Hungarian soldier || || 1960
|-
|-
| ''[[The Four Days of Naples (Le quattro giornate di Napoli)|The Four Days of Naples]]'' || || Italian Resistance fighters || || 1962
| ''[[The Four Days of Naples (Le quattro giornate di Napoli)|The Four Days of Naples]]'' || || Italian Resistance fighters || || 1962
|-
|-
| ''[[Shortest Day (Il giorno più corto), The|The Shortest Day (Il giorno più corto)]]'' ||  || Italian solders || M. 7/12 || 1963
| ''[[The Shortest Day (Il giorno più corto)]]'' ||  || Italian solders || M.07/12 || 1963
|-
|-
| ''[[The Desert of the Tartars (Il deserto dei Tartari)]]'' || || Austro-Hungarian soldiers || || 1976
| ''[[The Desert of the Tartars (Il deserto dei Tartari)]]'' || || Austro-Hungarian soldiers || || 1976
|-
|-
| ''[[From Hell to Victory]]'' || || British soldiers || Standing for [[Vickers]] || 1979
| ''[[From Hell to Victory]]'' || || British soldiers || Standing in for [[Vickers]] || 1979
|-
| ''[[The Grey Zone]]'' || || German soldiers || || 2001
|-
|-
| ''[[Roses of the Desert, The|The Roses of the Desert]]'' || || Italian soldiers ||  mock-up || 2006
| ''[[The Roses of the Desert]]'' || || Italian soldiers ||  mock-up || 2006
|-
| ''[[The Silent Mountain]]'' || || || Seen in Italian camp || 2014
|-
| ''[[John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum]]'' || || || Seen in armory || 2019
|-
|-
|}
|}


===Television===
===Television===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#ffffff; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|-
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Title'''
!width="280"|Title
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="170"|'''Actor'''
!width="170"|Actor
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="180"|'''Character'''
!width="180"|Character
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Note'''
!width="250"|Note
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
!width="50"|Date
|-
|-
| ''[[Front Without Mercy (Front ohne Gnade)]]'' || || || Seen among Italian troops; Ep.5 || 1984
| ''[[Front Without Mercy (Front ohne Gnade)]]'' || || || Seen among Italian troops; Ep.5 || 1984
|-
|-
| ''[[And Quiet Flows the Don (Tikhiy Don) (2015)|And Quiet Flows the Don (Tikhiy Don)]]'' || || Austro-Hungarian soldiers || || 2015
| ''[[And Quiet Flows the Don (Tikhiy Don) (2015)|And Quiet Flows the Don (Tikhiy Don)]]'' || || Austro-Hungarian soldiers || || 2015
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Babylon Berlin - Season 1‎]]'' || || Police officers || Ep. 03 || rowspan=2|2017
|-
| || || Ep. 07
|-
| ''[[Babylon Berlin - Season 2]]'' || || || Ep. 16 || 2015
|-
|-
|}
|}


===Video Game===
===Video Game===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#ffffff; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|-
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="300"|'''Game Title'''
!width="300"|Game Title
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Appears as'''
!width="200"|Appears as
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Note'''
!width="250"|Note
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Release Date'''
!width="100"|Release Date
|-
|-
| ''[[Battlefield: 1918]]'' || || || 2004
| ''[[Battlefield: 1918]]'' || || || 2004
|-
|-
| ''[[Battle of Empires : 1914-1918]]'' || || || 2014
| ''[[Battle of Empires: 1914-1918]]'' || "Schwarzlose" || || 2015
|-
| ''[[Tannenberg]]'' || "Schwarzlose M.07/12" || Post-WWI Romanian variant with shield || 2019
|-
|-
| ''[[Tannenberg]]'' || "Schwarzlose M.07/12 " || with shield || 2019
| ''[[Isonzo]]'' || "Schwarzlose M.07/12" || Post-WWI Romanian variant || 2022
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 96: Line 123:
<br clear="all">
<br clear="all">


==Schwarzlose M1907/24==
=Schwarzlose M.08=
[[Image:Schwarzlose_07-24.jpg‎|thumb|right|500px|Czechoslovak VZ 24 Machine Gun - 7.92x57 Mauser]]
[[Image:07-12.jpg‎|thumb|right|500px|Dutch Schwarzlose M.08/13 - 6.5x53mmR]]
In 1908, the Dutch army purchased its own variant of the Schwarzlose; the '''M.08''' chambered in 6.5x53mmR like their [[Hembrug M95|Hembrug rifles]]; however, the barrels were later bordered to 7.92mm. The army bought 75 pieces in 1910, 56 pieces in 1911, and another 55 pieces in 1913. So in 1914, the Netherlands had about 300 pieces of this weapon in its arsenal. From this time on the Dutch army started to produce them themselves because of delivery problems.
 
Until 1940 another 2000 pieces were produced, the Schwarzlose M.08/15 chambered in 7.92mm. This variant was oriented on the Austrian M.07/12, without the gap between the housing and (longer) barrel, and was also used as an anti-aircraft weapon. Eventually, there would be 2300 pieces ready for use in the Maydays of 1940. A special gun carriage was used in the so-called "G-casemate" and an armored jacket was attached to the barrel.


Czechoslovakia took over a larger number of these machine guns in the inventory of their forces. In 1924 these weapons have been converted to the caliber 7.92 × 57 mm and designated as M. 07/24; note that it has longer barrel and jacket. After the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, the M. 07/24 was used by the Wehrmacht.
<br clear=all>
{{Gun Title|Schwarzlose M.08}}
-----


===Film===
===Film===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#ffffff; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|-
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Title'''
!width="280"|Title
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="170"|'''Actor'''
!width="170"|Actor
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="180"|'''Character'''
!width="180"|Character
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Notation'''
!width="250"|Note
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
!width="50"|Date
|-
|-
|-
| ''[[Stolen Border,The (Uloupená hranice)|The Stolen Border (Uloupená hranice)]]'' || || Czechoslovak troops ||   ||  1947
|''[[Operation Amsterdam]]'' || || || M. 08/15 (anti-aircraft version) || 1959
|-
|}
 
<br clear="all">
 
=Schwarzlose M1907/24=
[[Image:Schwarzlose_07-24.jpg‎|thumb|right|500px|Czechoslovak Schwarzlose-Janeček vz.07/24 - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Note it has a longer barrel jacket, compared to other models.]]
In 1918, Czechoslovakia, as a successor state of Austria-Hungary, added a larger number of Schwarzloses to its armed forces. From 1924 on, these weapons were converted to the 7.92x57mm caliber and designated as M07/24. After the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, the ''Wehrmacht'' took over the weapons captured there in 1939, especially since they had the same caliber as the German rifles and machine guns, and were used primarily as heavy machine guns in the machine gun companies of the infantry divisions of the 5th and 6th ''Aufstellungswelle'', which were mainly equipped with Czech weapons. Later replaced by other more modern weapons, reserve stocks were still used in the ''Volkssturm'' toward the end of the war.
 
<br clear=all>
{{Gun Title|Schwarzlose M1907/24}}
-----
 
===Film===
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#ffffff; font-size: 95%"
|-
!width="250"|Title
!width="170"|Actor
!width="180"|Character
!width="200"|Notation
!width="50"|Date
|-
| ''[[The Stolen Border (Uloupená hranice)]]'' || || Czechoslovak troops || ||  1947
|-
|-
|''[[Wolves' Lairs (Vlcie diery)]]'' || || Slovak insurgents || || 1948
|''[[Wolves' Lairs (Vlcie diery)]]'' || || Slovak insurgents || || 1948
|-
|-
| ''[[Captain Dabac]]'' || || Slovak soldiers ||   ||  1959
| ''[[Captain Dabac]]'' || || Slovak soldiers || ||  1959
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Forty-Four Mutineers]]'' || [[Dusan Blaskovic]] || Tono Mikles  || rowspan=2 | standing for M. 7/12 || rowspan=2 | 1964
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Forty-Four Mutineers]]'' || [[Dusan Blaskovic]] || Tono Mikles  || rowspan=2 | Standing in for M.07/12 || rowspan=2 | 1964
|-
|-
||| Austro-Hungarian soldiers   
||| Austro-Hungarian soldiers   
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''[[A Star Called Wormwood (Hvezda zvaná Pelynek)]]'' || [[Rudolf Deyl]] ||  Pvt. František Noha  || rowspan=2 | standing for M. 7/12 || rowspan=2 | 1959
| rowspan=2 | ''[[A Star Called Wormwood (Hvězda zvaná Pelyněk)]]'' || [[Rudolf Deyl]] ||  Pvt. František Noha  || rowspan=2 | Standing in for M.07/12 || rowspan=2 | 1959
|-
|-
||| Bosnian guards   
||| Bosnian guards   
|-
|-
| ''[[Von Ryan's Express]]'' || || German guards || || 1965
| ''[[Von Ryan's Express]]'' || || German guards || || 1965
|-
|-
| ''[[Day That Shook the World, The|The Day That Shook the World]]'' ||  || Austro-Hungarian soldiers || standing for M. 7/12 || 1975
| ''[[The Day That Shook the World]]'' ||  || Austro-Hungarian soldiers || Standing in for M.07/12 || 1975
|-
|-
| ''[[World Knows Nothing, The (Svet nic neví)|The World Knows Nothing (Svet nic neví)]]'' ||  || Czechoslovak troops ||   ||  1987
| ''[[The World Knows Nothing (Svet nic neví)]]'' ||  || Czechoslovak troops || ||  1987
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Capitaine Conan]]'' || [[Philippe Torreton]] || Captain Conan  || rowspan=2 | standing for M. 7/12 || rowspan=2 | 1996
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Capitaine Conan]]'' || [[Philippe Torreton]] || Captain Conan  || rowspan=2 | Standing in for M.07/12 || rowspan=2 | 1996
|-
|-
| || Bulgarian and French soldiers , Bolsheviks  
| || Bulgarian and French soldiers, Bolsheviks  
|-
|-
| ''[[Company of Heroes (2013)|Company of Heroes]]'' || || German soldiers ||   ||  2013
| ''[[Company of Heroes (2013)|Company of Heroes]]'' || || German soldiers || ||  2013
|-
|-
|}
|}


[[Category:Gun]]
[[Category:Gun]]
[[Category:Machine Gun]]
[[Category:Machine Gun]]

Latest revision as of 16:24, 21 November 2023

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Schwarzlose Modell 1907 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher

The Schwarzlose machine gun is a water-cooled, belt-fed machine gun designed by Andreas Wilhelm Schwarzlose for the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1907. While after the establishment of the Maxim construction, many countries of the world placed orders with the large manufacturers Vickers or DWM (Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken AG) or applied for their own production, the Austro-Hungarian Empire took other paths. Around 1902, the Berlin engineer Andreas Schwarzlose applied for a patent for his own design of a machine gun. The Steyr-Werke acquired the license in 1905, and in 1907 it was introduced to the Austrian armed forces as the M.07, chambered in 8x50mmR Mannlicher. This model has a gap between the top cover and the water jacket. Some improvements led from 1912 on to the M.07/12.

Schwarzlose, who had already drawn attention to himself before with technically highly interesting constructions in the field of weapon technology, broke completely new ground. His MG had a fixed barrel and was essentially based on the function of a delayed spring-mass breech. At no time during the firing process was the system positively locked. On the other hand, a relatively strong closing spring, few but solid and therefore robust locking parts, and retarding lever forces together with a short barrel provided the reloading cycle. A small shadow is cast on this ingenious design by the need for case lubrication, which was deemed necessary to reduce extraction resistance and thus minimize the risk of case tearing. One oil filling of five liters was enough for about 4,500 cartridges. The Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops (k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppen) were equipped with the M.07/12/R16, which was an air-cooled version of the M.07/12. During World War I, Austria-Hungary exported the M. 07/12 to Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire.

The Schwarzlose-MG was inferior to the German Maxim MG 08 and 08/15, especially the disc rim cartridge of the German groove rim cartridge, in terms of dimensional accuracy and simultaneous combustion, and it did not allow metal belts. Inhibitions of the MG occurred frequently, especially due to case breakers. Also, the hemp belts (for the aviation troops also for 500, 750 and 1000 rounds) caused constant trouble. At higher altitudes, inhibitions due to wetness, icing, and cold occurred much more easily, especially when the belts often remained ammunition for days on end.

The way it is constructed initially suggests that the Blackless CMM is too dependent on predetermined functional parameters such as caliber, laboratory, and especially barrel length to be easily adapted to other charges of the same caliber or other calibers. Interestingly, however, it has been possible to adapt the MG to such different calibers as the improved cartridge M.31 (Austria, Hungary after 1931), 6.5 mm Mannlicher-Schönauer, 6.5 mm Swedish or even 7.92x57mm (8x57 IS).

Manufacturers were from 1905 to 1918 Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (OeWG), Steyr, and from 1914 to 1918 FGGY in Budapest. Another manufacturer was in Holland, Artillery Inrichtingen, that strongly oriented to the M.07 and was further developed to M08/13 and M08/15, chambered in 6.5x53mmR. In Sweden, it was manufactured by Carl Gustav as the Kulspruta M/1914 (which looks exactly the same as the M. 07/12, but has the Swedish national coat of arms on the water-cooling jacket) and was used for decades in the Swedish army. It adorns to this day the medal of the Swedish MG gunners.

It was used in both world wars and also afterward on many fronts, from Scandinavia to North Africa.


Schwarzlose M.07/12

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Schwarzlose Modell 1907/12 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher

The Maschinengewehr 07/12 was the standard machine gun of the K.u.k Army. It was introduced in 1912 as an improved version of the M.07. The M.07/12 had an increased rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute compared to the predecessor M. 07, automatic steam discharge of the water cooler, an enlarged oiler, and other design changes. The external distinguishing feature of the two models: on the M.07, the barrel jacket does not extend to the housing.

From 1915 on, the Luftfahrtruppen also needed machine guns for their planes and resorted to this weapon. The 8.3 kg water jacket was usually omitted to save weight. The MG was used as a movable weapon on the "round" of the observer in two-seaters (from 1917 also in the rotating ring) and as a rigidly forward-firing MG for operation by the pilot.

During World War I, Austria-Hungary exported the M.07/12 to Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. The Schwarzlose was also exported and reused in the successor states of the K.u.K. monarchy. For this purpose, it was converted to other ammunition. This model had only ten functional parts, therefore, it was very reliable and was also used as a prey weapon by the enemy. The M.07/12 was still in use during the Second World War.


Specifications

  • County of Origin: Austria
  • Type: Machine Gun
  • Calibers: 8mm Mannlicher, 7.92mm Mauser, 6.5mm Mauser
  • Capacity: 250 round fabric belt
  • Cyclic Rate: 400 rds/min
  • Length: 42.00in(1066mm)
  • Barrel Length: 20.75in(526mm)
  • Weight: (unloaded) 44lbs (19.9kg)


The Schwarzlose M.07/12 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:


Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
Mountains on Fire Austro-Hungarian soldiers M.07/12 1931
If War Comes Tomorrow (Esli zavtra voyna) Seen in documentary footage 1938
The Great War (La grande guerra) Austro-Hungarian and Italian soldiers 1959
The Good Soldier Schweik (Der brave Soldat Schwejk) An Austro-Hungarian soldier 1960
The Four Days of Naples Italian Resistance fighters 1962
The Shortest Day (Il giorno più corto) Italian solders M.07/12 1963
The Desert of the Tartars (Il deserto dei Tartari) Austro-Hungarian soldiers 1976
From Hell to Victory British soldiers Standing in for Vickers 1979
The Grey Zone German soldiers 2001
The Roses of the Desert Italian soldiers mock-up 2006
The Silent Mountain Seen in Italian camp 2014
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum Seen in armory 2019

Television

Title Actor Character Note Date
Front Without Mercy (Front ohne Gnade) Seen among Italian troops; Ep.5 1984
And Quiet Flows the Don (Tikhiy Don) Austro-Hungarian soldiers 2015
Babylon Berlin - Season 1‎ Police officers Ep. 03 2017
Ep. 07
Babylon Berlin - Season 2 Ep. 16 2015

Video Game

Game Title Appears as Note Release Date
Battlefield: 1918 2004
Battle of Empires: 1914-1918 "Schwarzlose" 2015
Tannenberg "Schwarzlose M.07/12" Post-WWI Romanian variant with shield 2019
Isonzo "Schwarzlose M.07/12" Post-WWI Romanian variant 2022


Schwarzlose M.08

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Dutch Schwarzlose M.08/13 - 6.5x53mmR

In 1908, the Dutch army purchased its own variant of the Schwarzlose; the M.08 chambered in 6.5x53mmR like their Hembrug rifles; however, the barrels were later bordered to 7.92mm. The army bought 75 pieces in 1910, 56 pieces in 1911, and another 55 pieces in 1913. So in 1914, the Netherlands had about 300 pieces of this weapon in its arsenal. From this time on the Dutch army started to produce them themselves because of delivery problems.

Until 1940 another 2000 pieces were produced, the Schwarzlose M.08/15 chambered in 7.92mm. This variant was oriented on the Austrian M.07/12, without the gap between the housing and (longer) barrel, and was also used as an anti-aircraft weapon. Eventually, there would be 2300 pieces ready for use in the Maydays of 1940. A special gun carriage was used in the so-called "G-casemate" and an armored jacket was attached to the barrel.


The Schwarzlose M.08 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:


Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
Operation Amsterdam M. 08/15 (anti-aircraft version) 1959


Schwarzlose M1907/24

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Czechoslovak Schwarzlose-Janeček vz.07/24 - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Note it has a longer barrel jacket, compared to other models.

In 1918, Czechoslovakia, as a successor state of Austria-Hungary, added a larger number of Schwarzloses to its armed forces. From 1924 on, these weapons were converted to the 7.92x57mm caliber and designated as M07/24. After the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, the Wehrmacht took over the weapons captured there in 1939, especially since they had the same caliber as the German rifles and machine guns, and were used primarily as heavy machine guns in the machine gun companies of the infantry divisions of the 5th and 6th Aufstellungswelle, which were mainly equipped with Czech weapons. Later replaced by other more modern weapons, reserve stocks were still used in the Volkssturm toward the end of the war.


The Schwarzlose M1907/24 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:


Film

Title Actor Character Notation Date
The Stolen Border (Uloupená hranice) Czechoslovak troops 1947
Wolves' Lairs (Vlcie diery) Slovak insurgents 1948
Captain Dabac Slovak soldiers 1959
Forty-Four Mutineers Dusan Blaskovic Tono Mikles Standing in for M.07/12 1964
Austro-Hungarian soldiers
A Star Called Wormwood (Hvězda zvaná Pelyněk) Rudolf Deyl Pvt. František Noha Standing in for M.07/12 1959
Bosnian guards
Von Ryan's Express German guards 1965
The Day That Shook the World Austro-Hungarian soldiers Standing in for M.07/12 1975
The World Knows Nothing (Svet nic neví) Czechoslovak troops 1987
Capitaine Conan Philippe Torreton Captain Conan Standing in for M.07/12 1996
Bulgarian and French soldiers, Bolsheviks
Company of Heroes German soldiers 2013