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Post Info TOPIC: Did the French use the Hotchkiss M1909 (Portative, Mk I, Benét-Mercié, etc)?


Legend

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Did the French use the Hotchkiss M1909 (Portative, Mk I, Benét-Mercié, etc)?
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Obviously it was used by GB - in the tanks and by cavalry, etc. - and by USA, and a few by Belgium. But was it used by France? I never seen it mentioned specifically.



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Legend

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The French tanks (Saint-Chamond, Schneider CA1, Renault FT) all seem to have used the Hotchkiss Mle 1914. The manual for the Saint-Chamond tank explicitly says it was equipped

with the Mle 1914.

I don't know about the French armoured cars.

Regards,

Charlie

 

 



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Legend

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Sorry,  Charlie. Not made myself clear. I know the French tanks used the M1914. What I meant was: Was the M1909 used by the French infantry and/or cavalry (or air force, for that matter) during the War, or was it purely an export gun? I can find plenty of references to the Puteaux and St. Etienne in French service, but only a couple to the 1909, which makes me doubtful.



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Lieutenant-Colonel

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The first recorded air to air combat victory is reported as having been made using the M1909 on October 5th 1914, by Sergeant Joseph Frantz and Corporal Louis Quénault of Escadrille VB24. I hope that this is correct, and that it helps!

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Legend

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Thanks, Michael. It supports what I am becoming convinced of: that it was used in France only as an aircraft gun. I've got a huge book of photographs of French platoons standing proudly with their mgs, and there's not a 1909 amongst them. The Funckens, who are pretty good on things like this, show 1909s with the Belgian Carabinier Cyclists but not in their many pages of French uniforms and equipment.



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Legend

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Aha.

http://encyclopedie-des-armes.com/index.php/armes/mitrailleuses-1914-1918/140-fusil-mitrailleur-hotchkiss-modele-1909

"Peu utilisé dans les tranchées, il servit à équiper les avions et les chars." (Little used in the trenches, it was used to equip aircraft and tanks.)

 

 



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