Maximkonekivääristä

Maximkonekivääri, also known as the Maxim gun, was an early recoil-operated machine gun invented by Sir Hiram Maxim in 1884. It was one of the first truly automatic weapons, capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute without manual reloading between shots. The design utilized the recoil from a fired cartridge to eject the spent casing, load a new round, and cock the weapon, allowing for sustained fire as long as ammunition and a suitable cooling system were available.

The Maxim gun's operation was based on the principle of short recoil. When a shot was fired, the barrel and bolt recoiled together for a short distance. This movement unlocked the bolt, ejected the spent casing, and then allowed a spring-loaded mechanism to re-chamber a new round and lock the bolt for the next shot. A key feature was its water-cooling jacket, a hollow cylinder surrounding the barrel filled with water, which absorbed the intense heat generated by continuous firing, preventing the weapon from overheating and jamming.

Adopted by numerous armies around the world, the Maxim gun saw extensive use in conflicts from the late 19th century through World War I. Its devastating firepower made it a formidable defensive weapon, capable of creating a "hail of death" that could decimate attacking infantry. While its design was later superseded by lighter and more advanced machine guns, the Maxim gun's revolutionary concept laid the groundwork for modern automatic weaponry. It was manufactured under license in various countries, including Britain, Germany, and Russia, often with slight modifications to suit national requirements.