What is a Maxim Gun?
The Maxim gun was the first effective machine gun portable enough to be used in warfare. Invented by American Hiram Maxim (1840 – 1916) in 1885, it used the energy of each bullet’s recoil force to eject the spent cartridge and insert the next bullet. Trials showed it could fire 500 rounds per minute, equivalent to the firepower of about 100 rifles. Compared to modern machine guns, the Maxim was extremely bulky and awkward, typically requiring a four to six man team to operate it. However, at the time it was the only alternative to slow firing bolt action rifles, and its extreme lethality was employed to devastating effect against obsolete charging tactics. It was adopted by the British Army in 1889, and first used by Britain`s colonial forces in the Matabele war in 1893-1894. The design was purchased by several other European countries, setting off an arms and technology race. The Maxim gun first saw significant action in the Russo-Japanese War, where both sides bought vast numbers of
