Browning wz.1928
Encyclopedia
The Browning wz.1928 is a Polish
version of the M1918 BAR. It was a light machine gun
used by the Poles in World War II
.
, as well as after the French and British armies that equipped the Polish Blue Army
during the Great War
. The large variety of light machine guns used, as well as the fact that each of them used a different calibre, made the troop training and logistics a difficult task.
After the Polish-Bolshevik War, in 1923 a competition was opened for a new, standard light machine gun for the Polish army that was to replace all previously used types of LMG. The competition ended without a winner and the following year the Polish ministry of war purchased 12 pieces of M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, Lewis wz. 1923 and Hotchkiss wz. 23 each. The tests proved the superiority of the American construction, and during the 1925 competition a Belgian FN
-made Browning was chosen. Although extensive tests of all the constructions were continued, the Polish army ordered a series of Belgian-made BAR machine guns, modified to better suit the Polish needs. Among the most notable modifications were the calibre (modified from .30-06 Springfield
to standard Polish 8x57mm IS), the bipod's construction and mounting and the iron sights
(peephole changed to v-notch type). Also, the barrel was lengthened for greater accuracy and a pistol grip was added for easier aiming. Apart from the 10,000 pieces ordered in Fabrique Nationale, Poland also bought a licence to construct the weapon at home. The first wz.28 LMGs were officially commissioned in 1927 and were officially named 7,92 mm rkm Browning wz. 1928, which is a Polish designation for 7.92 mm hand-held machine gun of Browning mark 1928.
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Due to serious flaws in license documentation purchased from Belgium, the production in Poland was not started until 1930. Until 1939 approximately 14,000 pieces were built. Also, additional modifications were introduced during the production. Among them was replacement of the iron sights with a smaller version and reshaping the butt to the fish tail. There were also extensive works on spare, replaceable barrels for the weapon, which however were never completed due to the outbreak of World War II
.
During the German-Soviet Invasion of Poland
of 1939, the rkm wz. 1928 was the standard LMG used by almost all Polish infantry and cavalry units. The German Wehrmacht
captured a number of Polish-made Browning guns and used them until the end of World War II under the designation of lMG 28 (p). A number were also seized by the Red Army
and used during the war.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
version of the M1918 BAR. It was a light machine gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
used by the Poles in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
After Poland regained its independence in 1918, the Polish Army was equipped in all sorts of machine guns inherited after the armed forces of the partitionersPartitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
, as well as after the French and British armies that equipped the Polish Blue Army
Blue Army
The Blue Army, or Haller's Army, are informal names given to the Polish Army units formed in France during the later stages of World War I. The army was created in June 1917 as part of the Polish units allied to the Entente. After the Great War ended, the units were transferred to Poland, where...
during the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The large variety of light machine guns used, as well as the fact that each of them used a different calibre, made the troop training and logistics a difficult task.
FN
FN may refer to:* fn key, a key found on some compact keyboards* FN Herstal or Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, a Belgian arms factory**FN , the motorcycles produced by FN Herstal* Front National , a French political party...
-made Browning was chosen. Although extensive tests of all the constructions were continued, the Polish army ordered a series of Belgian-made BAR machine guns, modified to better suit the Polish needs. Among the most notable modifications were the calibre (modified from .30-06 Springfield
.30-06 Springfield
The .30-06 Springfield cartridge or 7.62×63mm in metric notation, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 and standardized, and was in use until the 1960s and early 1970s. It replaced the .30-03, 6 mm Lee Navy, and .30 US Army...
to standard Polish 8x57mm IS), the bipod's construction and mounting and the iron sights
Iron sights
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
(peephole changed to v-notch type). Also, the barrel was lengthened for greater accuracy and a pistol grip was added for easier aiming. Apart from the 10,000 pieces ordered in Fabrique Nationale, Poland also bought a licence to construct the weapon at home. The first wz.28 LMGs were officially commissioned in 1927 and were officially named 7,92 mm rkm Browning wz. 1928, which is a Polish designation for 7.92 mm hand-held machine gun of Browning mark 1928.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
During the German-Soviet Invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939, the rkm wz. 1928 was the standard LMG used by almost all Polish infantry and cavalry units. The German Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
captured a number of Polish-made Browning guns and used them until the end of World War II under the designation of lMG 28 (p). A number were also seized by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and used during the war.
Variants
The RKM wz.28 was a basis for development of an aerial, flexible machine gun, designated karabin maszynowy obserwatora wz.37Karabin maszynowy obserwatora wz.37
The karabin maszynowy obserwatora wz.37 is a Polish version of the Browning wz.1928. It was a flexible machine gun used in the some Polish airplanes in the beginning of World War II.-History:...