Maxim M/32-33

7,62 mm Maxim M/32-33
Type Machine gun
Place of origin Finland
Service history
In service 1933 to 1950
Used by Finland
Wars World War II Winter War, Continuation War
Production history
Designed 1931
Produced 1933 to 1944
Number built ~ 1200
Variants -
Specifications
Weight 24 kg, M/33 tripod: 30 kg
Length 1180 mm
Barrel length 721 mm
Cartridge 7.62×53mmR
Action recoil
Rate of fire 650-850 round/min
Muzzle velocity -
Effective firing range 2000 m
Feed system 200 round continuous metallic belt

The Maxim M/32-33 is a Finnish modification of the Russian M1910 Maxim, developed by Aimo Lahti in 1932. The weapon was able to fire at the rate of 850 rounds/min, while the Russian M1910 and earlier Finnish M09-21 were capable of 600 rounds /min. The reason was not only that Aimo Lahti was ordered to develop the weapon with a new metallic ammunition belt but also because of other improvements, such as accelerator mechanism and muzzle booster. Other improvements had Maxim M/32-33's whole handle part were redesigned and installation point for optical sight was added.

Unlike all the other Finnish Maxims, the Maxim M/32-33 was designed to be suitable for anti-aircraft usage from the beginning. Tripod M/32 was designed and issued with extra parts allowing it to be easily modified as an anti-aircraft mount and accessories for anti-aircraft shooting were included.

The last improvement to the M/32-33 was adding a snow filling cap to the water jacket, this way snow could be used instead of water in winter, so there was no need to carry and taking care of 3 kg of coolant water in winter. This feature was copied in the late Russian World War II Maxim variant.

Some few hundred early M/09s were modified into M/32s by Gun Depot 1 between 1933-1935. These weapons have also been called M/09-32s.

External links

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