Adoption of 37mm Maxim Automatic Guns by Russian Navy in Late 19th to Early 20th Century
https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2025-14-2-447-462
Abstract
This study investigates the adoption of Maxim automatic guns by the Russian Navy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It explores the close relationship between this topic and the development of naval artillery in Russia, as well as the dynamics of the domestic military-industrial complex and the functioning of the Ministry of the Navy of the Russian Empire during the period in question. The relevance of this research is underscored by the limited scholarship on the subject and its significance for analyzing historical experiences in weapon development. An analysis of archival sources is conducted, with many documents being introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time. The author concludes that the Russian military industry of that era was ill-prepared for the production of automatic guns. It is reported that the Ministry of the Navy deemed it unnecessary to allocate substantial financial resources for organizing their production through foreign companies. The study reveals that the ministry opted for a compromise solution, acquiring a limited number of new weapons with the intention of subsequently establishing production capabilities within domestic enterprises. Ultimately, it is established that Maxim automatic guns were never adopted by the Russian army and navy, both of which were in dire need of such weaponry during World War I.
About the Author
A. V. Kislitsyn
Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Alexander V. Kislitsyn, PhD in History, Senior Lecturer, Department of History and Philosophy
St. Petersburg
References
1. Barsukov, E. Z. (1948). Artillery of the Russian army: (1900—1917), 1. Moscow: Voenizdat. 392 p. (In Russ.).
2. Barsukov, E. Z. (1949). Artillery of the Russian army: (1900—1917), 2. Moscow: Voenizdat. 343 p. (In Russ.).
3. Beskrovny, L. G. (1973). The Russian army and Navy in the 19th century: The military and economic potential of Russia. Moscow: Nauka Publ. 616 p. (In Russ.).
4. Beskrovny, L. G. (1986). The Russian Army and Navy at the beginning of the 20th century: Essays on military and economic potential. Moscow: Nauka Publ. 240 p. (In Russ.).
5. Blagonravov, A. A. (ed.). (1945). The material part of small arms, 1. Moscow: Oborongiz, Gl. ed. lit. on armament and ammunition. 572 p. (In Russ.).
6. Capitan John Moore RN. (ed.). (2001). Jane’s Fighting Ships of World War I. London: Randome House Group Ltd. 320 p. ISBN I851703780.
7. Chesneau, R. (ed.). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860—1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. 440 p. ISBN 0851771335.
8. Chinn, G. M. (1951). The Machine Gun: History, evolution and development of Manual, Automatic and Airborne Repeating Weapons, 1. Washington (D.C.): U.S. Government Printing Office. 688 p.
9. DiGiulian, T. (2022). United States of America 1-pdr (0.45 kg) 1.46 (37 mm) Marks 1 through 15. Available at: http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_1pounder_m1.php (accessed 16.10.2024).
10. Fedorov, V. G. (1939). Evolution of small arms, 2. Moscow: Voenizdat. 316 p. (In Russ.).
11. Fedoseev, S. L. (2008). Machine guns of the Russian army. Moscow: Yauza: Eksmo. 364 p. ISBN 978-5-699-25634-1. (In Russ.).
12. Fedoseev, S. L. (2009). Machine guns of Russia. Heavy fire. Moscow: Eksmo: Yauza. 600 p. ISBN 978-5-699-31622-9. (In Russ.).
13. Gardiner, R. (ed.). (1985). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906—1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. 439 p. ISBN 0851772455.
14. Hall, D. D. (1974). German guns of World War I in South Africa. The Military History Journal, 3 (2). Available at: https://www.samilitaryhistory.org/vol032dh.html (accessed 16.10.2024).
15. Handbook for the 1-pr. Q.F. gun (Mounted on field carriage). (1902). London: Harrison and Sons. 76 p.
16. Hutchison, G. S. (1938). Machine Guns, their history and tactical employment (being also a history of the machine gun corps, 1916—1922). London: Macmillan and Co., limited. 349 p.
17. Kislitsyn, A. V. (2020). The creation of sleeve production at the Admiralty Izhora factories at the end of the 19th century. University Scientific Journal, 59: 198—210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25807/PBH.22225064.2020.59.198.210. (In Russ.).
18. Manikovsky, A. A. (1937). Combat supply of the Russian army in the World War. Moscow: State Military Publishing House of the People’s Commissariat of Defense of the USSR. 718 p. (In Russ.)
19. Novitsky, V. F. (ed.). (1911—1915). Military Encyclopedia. St. Petersburg: I.D. Sytin Publishing House. 320 p. (In Russ.).
20. Senin, A. S. (2014). Organization of the supply of the Russian army with weapons and ammunition during the First World War. In: XX century and Russia: society, reforms, revolutions, 2. Samara: [b. i.]. 63—79. ISBN 978-5-4259-0301-3. (In Russ.).
21. Shirokorad, A. B. (2000). Encyclopedia of Russian artillery. Minsk: Harvest. 1156 p. ISBN 985-433-703-0. (In Russ.).
22. Sinichenko, V. V. (2021). On the issue of arms and equipment supplies to Russia from abroad in 1914—1916. Proceedings of the Laboratory of Ancient Technologies, 17 (1): 214—225. (In Russ.).
23. Williams, A. G. (2013). 37mm and 40mm guns in British Service. 1 June. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20140421221344/ http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/37-40mm.htm (accessed 16.10.2024)
24. Zalyubovsky, A. P. (1936). Supply of the Russian army in the Great War with rifles, machine guns, revolvers and cartridges for them. Belgrade: Publication of the Central Board of the Society of Russian Artillery Officers Abroad. 134 p. (In Russ.).
Review
For citations:
Kislitsyn A.V. Adoption of 37mm Maxim Automatic Guns by Russian Navy in Late 19th to Early 20th Century. Nauchnyi dialog. 2025;14(2):447-462. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2025-14-2-447-462
Views:
328
Email this article 