Finnish Maxims

[JTV]

Splitted from https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic ... 9&t=235045
/Juha

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Earlier just thought that I had seen somewhere photos of MG 08 during Winter War.
Found them, SA-photos 2241 and 2242.

...but it seems that they are not MG 08, but quite rare(?) combos of Finnish Maxim (M 09-21?) guns and MG 08 mounts.

I have seen those photos before. As far I know this was a unique combination in that sense that it was limited to armored trains. These are interior photos from machinegun wagon of armored train. Finnish Army had two almost identical armoured trains during Winter War and unfortunately it is not impossible in which of those these were photographed. The mounts (Schlitten 08) quite certainly originate from MG 08 machine guns which had used in these armored trains before they they got replaced with 7.62 mm x 53R caliber Maxim machine guns in 1930's. In this case I would call the machine guns simply Maxim m/09 since they do not have m/21 tripods with them.

More detailed information about weaponry used in Finnish armored trains can be found on this page of my website:
http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/TRAINS6.htm

Jarkko

[Juha Tompuri]

As far I know this was a unique combination in that sense that it was limited to armored trains.

Agree, the small number of the combos makes them rare. And rare seems to be the info about them?

Finnish Army had two almost identical armoured trains during Winter War and unfortunately it is not impossible in which of those these were photographed.

Judging from the photo numbers and given locations, Armoured Train #1 might be a better candidate.

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

...but it seems that they are not MG 08, but quite rare(?) combos of Finnish Maxim (M 09-21?) guns and MG 08 mounts.

In this case I would call the machine guns simply Maxim m/09 since they do not have m/21 tripods with them.

Far from being an expert on this issue, but aren't there differences between m/09 and m/09-21 guns?
Mounts not mattering.

Regards, Juha

[JTV]

...but it seems that they are not MG 08, but quite rare(?) combos of Finnish Maxim (M 09-21?) guns and MG 08 mounts.

In this case I would call the machine guns simply Maxim m/09 since they do not have m/21 tripods with them.

Far from being an expert on this issue, but aren't there differences between m/09 and m/09-21 guns?
Mounts not mattering.

The differences between actual machine guns (read: not mounts) of Finnish built/improved m/09 and Finnish-made m/09-21 were quite small. I would say on average less so than in between typical Finnish built/improved m/09 and typical Russian/Soviet made m/09 (m1910).

Jarkko

[Juha Tompuri]

The differences between actual machine guns (read: not mounts) of Finnish built/improved m/09 and Finnish-made m/09-21 were quite small.

So small that without the mounts one can't figure out which type of guns they are?

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

So small that without the mounts one can't figure out which type of guns they are?

SA-photos 2241 and 2242:

[Juha Tompuri]

Same(?) wagon during Continuation War.
SA-photo 38262


Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

The differences between actual machine guns (read: not mounts) of Finnish built/improved m/09 and Finnish-made m/09-21 were quite small.

So small that without the mounts one can't figure out which type of guns they are?

Close-ups from the photos I have posted earlier.
Rear sights m/22, I believe.
Wouldn't that point towards the guns probably being of the type m/09-21?

Regards, Juha