Скачать или смотреть The Weapon That Turned One Soldier Into an Army

During World War I, most machine guns were heavy, slow, and fixed in place.
The Lewis Gun changed everything.

Designed by American officer Isaac Newton Lewis, the weapon was rejected by the U.S. Army.
Instead, Britain and the Commonwealth adopted it massively in 1915, making it one of the war’s most iconic light machine guns.

Weighing around 12–13 kilograms, the Lewis Gun was light enough to be carried forward into the trenches.
It fired .303 British ammunition from a distinctive top-mounted drum magazine, holding 47 or 97 rounds.

With a rate of fire of 500–600 rounds per minute, it delivered sustained, controllable fire.
This allowed small infantry teams to suppress enemy positions and halt mass attacks.

Its air-cooled barrel system helped prevent overheating, while its stability made it effective in trenches, on vehicles, and even mounted on early fighter aircraft.

In the mud and wire of World War I, the Lewis Gun proved that mobility could be just as deadly as raw firepower.

This video is for historical and educational purposes only.