SwampTiger
Banned
Winchester Automatic Carbine Model 1918
Frank F. Burton was confident he had a winner. The new automatic rifle in .345 Winchester was perfect for the trench warfare and as an anti-balloon gun. Yet, the fools at Springfield Armory refused to accept it into service. Desperate to find a way around the Armory decision, Burton requested a trial by the Navy Department.
The Navy sent a Marine Lt. Colonel and a Navy Commander to test the guns. Both officers expressed interest in the gun. However, they also listed several issues needing attention. The dual magazine arrangement was excessively complicated and cumbersome. The gun and barrel were too long for their needs. The Marine officer wanted a closed bolt operation to improve semi-automatic accuracy. The Navy officer noted a problem with the top mounting of the magazines. The Marine officer requested the caliber be changed to a .30 caliber variant using the same bullet as the .30 Army 1906. Both officers agreed the inline stock made for a comfortable shooting rifle. Burton saw a great deal of work ahead.
Winchester Burton 1917 light machine rifle
Burton returned to his workshop humbled, but determined to improve his rifle, He first lopped 9.5 inches off the barrel. He machined off half the cooling fins. This change reduced the length of the rifle from 45.5 inches to 36 inches. The weight dropped from 10 pounds to 8.75 pounds. He next began a redesign of the bolt and receiver assemblies. The magazine well was moved to the bottom of the receiver. The ejection port and cocking lever were placed on the right side of the receiver. The bolt was simplified to work with one magazine. The aircraft ring mount was not machined into the new receiver. The gun now weighed 8 pounds. Winchester approved three copies of the new gun. Winchester also supplied a new ,30 caliber cartridge based upon the .345 rimless case. The 150 grain bullet left the 15.5 inch barrel at 1950 feet per second. Burton and other Winchester employees spent two weeks sorting out minor issues before contacting the Navy for a second test.
Burton met the original two officers plus a dozen NCO’s at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. These men spent the next three days shooting, inspecting, disassembling, reassembling and generally trying to wreck the guns. By the end of the test, the officers agreed the guns met the needs of the services. The officers forwarded recommendations to the Navy Department to acquire the gun at the utmost speed for use in the trenches of France.
The Navy Department approved the purchased of 1500 guns for the Marine units heading for France on December 18, 1917. Winchester tooled up and began manufacturing the guns by the end of the year. The first batch of 1000 was sent to France in June 1918. The Marine Brigade began equipping with the new carbine, now officially the .30 M1918 Automatic Carbine, on August 15, 1918. Each gun was issued with five 20 round magazines. The two Regiments issued their 500 carbines differently. The 4th Marine Regiment issued the guns to one battalion, while the 5th Marine spread the guns between its battalions. The Carbines were first used in the St. Mihael operation on September 14, 1918. They continued with in operations through the war. The Navy issued a second order for 600 guns on October 3, 1918.
Frank F. Burton was confident he had a winner. The new automatic rifle in .345 Winchester was perfect for the trench warfare and as an anti-balloon gun. Yet, the fools at Springfield Armory refused to accept it into service. Desperate to find a way around the Armory decision, Burton requested a trial by the Navy Department.
The Navy sent a Marine Lt. Colonel and a Navy Commander to test the guns. Both officers expressed interest in the gun. However, they also listed several issues needing attention. The dual magazine arrangement was excessively complicated and cumbersome. The gun and barrel were too long for their needs. The Marine officer wanted a closed bolt operation to improve semi-automatic accuracy. The Navy officer noted a problem with the top mounting of the magazines. The Marine officer requested the caliber be changed to a .30 caliber variant using the same bullet as the .30 Army 1906. Both officers agreed the inline stock made for a comfortable shooting rifle. Burton saw a great deal of work ahead.
Winchester Burton 1917 light machine rifle
Burton returned to his workshop humbled, but determined to improve his rifle, He first lopped 9.5 inches off the barrel. He machined off half the cooling fins. This change reduced the length of the rifle from 45.5 inches to 36 inches. The weight dropped from 10 pounds to 8.75 pounds. He next began a redesign of the bolt and receiver assemblies. The magazine well was moved to the bottom of the receiver. The ejection port and cocking lever were placed on the right side of the receiver. The bolt was simplified to work with one magazine. The aircraft ring mount was not machined into the new receiver. The gun now weighed 8 pounds. Winchester approved three copies of the new gun. Winchester also supplied a new ,30 caliber cartridge based upon the .345 rimless case. The 150 grain bullet left the 15.5 inch barrel at 1950 feet per second. Burton and other Winchester employees spent two weeks sorting out minor issues before contacting the Navy for a second test.
Burton met the original two officers plus a dozen NCO’s at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. These men spent the next three days shooting, inspecting, disassembling, reassembling and generally trying to wreck the guns. By the end of the test, the officers agreed the guns met the needs of the services. The officers forwarded recommendations to the Navy Department to acquire the gun at the utmost speed for use in the trenches of France.
The Navy Department approved the purchased of 1500 guns for the Marine units heading for France on December 18, 1917. Winchester tooled up and began manufacturing the guns by the end of the year. The first batch of 1000 was sent to France in June 1918. The Marine Brigade began equipping with the new carbine, now officially the .30 M1918 Automatic Carbine, on August 15, 1918. Each gun was issued with five 20 round magazines. The two Regiments issued their 500 carbines differently. The 4th Marine Regiment issued the guns to one battalion, while the 5th Marine spread the guns between its battalions. The Carbines were first used in the St. Mihael operation on September 14, 1918. They continued with in operations through the war. The Navy issued a second order for 600 guns on October 3, 1918.