Maxim's invention constituted a leap forward regarding the introduction of efficient infantry weaponry on the battlefield. The Gatling gun had proven itself a very capable and efficient platform for countering mass attacks during conflicts in both North America and Africa. Maxim's invention differentiated from the Gatling gun by two main principles: 1) a single barrel and 2) re-usage of the cartridge recoil gasses for automatic reloading. This system proved to be a mechanical burden for its operators, because it frequently jammed. Up to that point the principle of mass-volleys from a single gun-point had come from the Gatling machinegun, which was no more than an apparatus that produced a rapid fired volley of bullets from a revolving multi-barrel base. In 1884 Harim Maxim developed the first off modern type machinegun. All four these guns are part of our article below. The Spandau M.25 was the standard heavy machinegun for the light AA platoons, whereas the Vickers M.18 was kept in service for the reserve machinegun companies. The standard Dutch light machinegun was the Lewis M.20 the standard Dutch heavy machinegun was the Schwarzlose M.08. These weapons are also not incorporated in this article. The Dutch KNIL army also used the Vickers, Breda, Colt Browning 7,7 mm and 12,7 mm as well as the Johnson Automatic Rifle, the Madsen, the Schmeisser MP.28 and the Thompson. The navy and airforce weapons shall not be included. We shall elaborate on four main types which were in use in the Netherlands itself: the Lewis light machinegun and the heavy machinegun types Schwarzlose, Vickers and Spandau. The Dutch army used many different types of machineguns during the war in May 1940. 2.48: Movie about the German invasion of Holland.2.33: British and French Airforce operations over Holland 10-17 May.2.32: Registered Allied/German aircraft losses over Holland.2.27: The typicals of the Dutch Five Days' War.2.22: Holland: The army and the interbellum.2.2: Dutch army strategy and armament in WWII.
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