| M1922 machine gun | |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Light machine gun |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Service: | 1922–1950s |
| Wars: | Rif War Constitutionalist Revolution[1] Spanish Civil War Second Sino-Japanese War World War II Greco-Italian War First Indochina War |
| Designer: | Hotchkiss et Cie |
| Manufacturer: | Hotchkiss et Cie |
| Weight: | 8.5 kg |
| Length: | 1216 mm |
| Part Length: | 600 mm |
| Cartridge: | Several, including 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer, 7×57mm Mauser, 7.5×54mm French, .303 British, 7.92×57mm Mauser, 8×50mmR Lebel[2] |
| Action: | Gas operated |
| Rate: | 450 rounds/minute |
| Feed: | 20 round overhead box magazine, 15-24-30 round feed strip |
| Sights: | Iron |
The Hotchkiss M1922 was a light machine gun manufactured by Hotchkiss.
It was never adopted in large numbers by the French Army; nevertheless, it was exported to many European and Latin American countries under the names Hotchkiss M1926 or Hotchkiss M1934.
The Fusil-Mitrailleur (FM) Model 1922 is a classic weapon with a fixed stock, pistol grip, and wooden handguard. It has a non-telescopic folding bipod. Both the cocking handle and ejection port is located on the right side. The FM's caliber varied with the user, being chambered in a wide range of calibres and fed from either 20-round overhead magazines or an extended feed strip (Greek model). Its maximum range is 2,000 meters, and it had a regulator mechanism that would allow the user to adjust the rate of fire.
The Hotchkiss M1922 was used with great success by the Greek Army during Greco-Italian War during the fight against the Royal Italian Army.[3] It was also used by the Chinese Nationalist Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War to fight against the Japanese Imperial Army and was frequently used in the Spanish Civil War by the Nationalist and in small numbers, the Republicans.[4]
There were several versions with different feed systems, calibers and improvements, among which were the Hotchkiss M1924 and M1926, the last of which spawned the Greek EYP Hotchkiss.[5]
Brazil - M1922 in 7×57mm Mauser[6]
France - Mitrailleuse légère Hotchkiss type 1934, used in French colonies : Liban and French Indochina[8]
Greece - 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer and 7.92×57mm Mauser,[2] 6000 used
Spain - 3,000 Hotchkiss Model 1922 O.C. (Oviedo and A Coruña), in 7×57mm Mauser[10]
United Kingdom - .303 British, only for evaluation[5]
Turkey - 7.92×57mm Mauser[5]