SIG Neuhausen KE7

SIG Neuhausen KE7
Type Light machine gun
Place of origin Switzerland
Service history
Used by Republic of China
Wars World War II
Chinese Civil War
Production history
Manufacturer SIG
Produced 1929-1938
Specifications
Weight 8.2 kg
Length 1,190 mm
Barrel length 800 mm
Crew 2, firer and magazine/barrel changer

Cartridge 7.92×57mm Mauser and others
Action Recoil-operated
Rate of fire 550 rounds/minute
Feed system 25 round box magazine
Sights Iron

The SIG Neuhausen KE7 is a light machine gun designed and manufactured in Switzerland in the decade before the Second World War. Although exported, it was never used by the Swiss Army.

Description

The SIG KE7 is a recoil operated, air cooled light machine gun. It is fed from a curved box magazine mounted on the underside of the weapon, which holds 25 rounds. A light folding bipod is attached to the perforated barrel jacket, and an additional rear monopod can be fitted.[1]

History

The KE7 light machine gun was designed by Pal de Kiraly and Gotthard End at the SIG small arms factory in Neuhausen am Rheinfall. Production commenced in 1929, with most weapons being exported to the Republic of China chambered for 7.92×57mm Mauser ammunition. Some KE-7 machine guns were also made in other calibres for export to Latin America.[1] In 1930 examples were provided for trials being run by the British Army to find a replacement for the Lewis gun, although a modified Czechoslovak weapon was finally adopted as the Bren gun.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "SIG Neuhausen KE-7 light machine gun (Switzerland)". world.guns.ru. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  2. Grant, Neil (2013), The Bren Gun, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 978-1782000822 (pp. 9-11)
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.