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.30-06 M1918 American Chauchat - Doughboys Go to France (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2024-05-04 12:00:03 +0000 UTCWhen the US entered World War One, the country had a grand total of 1,453 machine guns, split between 4 different models. This was not a useful inventory to equip even a single division headed for France, and so the US had to look to France for automatic weapons. In June 1917 Springfield Armory tested a French CSRG Chauchat automatic rifle, and found it good enough to inquire about making an American version chambered for the .30-06 cartridge. This happened quickly, and after testing in August 1917, a batch of 25,000 was ordered. Of these, 18,000 were delivered and they were used to arm several divisions of American troops on the Continent.
Unfortunately, the American Chauchat was beset by extraction problems. These have today be traced to incorrectly cut chambers, which were slightly too short and caused stuck cases when the guns got hot. It is unclear exactly what caused the problem, but the result was that most of the guns were restricted to training use (as best we can tell today), and exchanged for French 8mm Chauchats when units deployed to the front. Today, American Chauchats are extremely rare, but also very much under appreciated for their role as significant American WWI small arms.
Comments
Troy Janda
I was just at the Serbia Military museum in Belgrade. They have several 30/06 and 8mm in their displays, presumably given as aid before and during ww2
Robert Beattie
Thanks for the good story of a really "forgotten weapon."
Mark H. Smith
Thank you for that review. Ramble all you wish Ian, it is all fascinating. Peaceful Skies.
Cleo45
Great story of a long-forgotten weapon. And the other firearms behind you when you did the video? Oh, man, drool-city!
Richard Joy
I know the Marines were sorry to lose their Lewis guns upon joining the 2ID :(
EyeBall
It's unfortunate for our troops that there was no decision to run a chamber reamer and relieve the extractor cut to solve rhe reliability problems. And the short development time could not solve the flimsy magazine.
Guido Schriewer
how was the song they used for mae's shooting footage? "... we came to kill the kaiser... hurray hurray.... ". the reloads looked good in project lightning. without the bar... ok the madsen (bet they wished for one) but there weren't THAT many options, were there.
Glenn Miller
Interesting story of the American Chauchat, thanks
