In Their Words

M1914 Hotchkiss Machine Gun

One of the most identifiable machine guns used by the A.E.F. during World War I was the French-made M1914 Hotchkiss. Originally adopted by the French in 1914, American forces quickly began using the weapon to supplement the acute shortage of machine guns in the A.E.F. Capable of firing 400 French 8mm cartridges per minute, the Hotchkiss used a 30 round strip of ammunition, commonly known as a stripper-clip. The M1914 weighed 54 pounds alone, the tripod which supported it weighed nearly another 54 pounds. Although air-cooled, the Hotchkiss was prone to overheating. Leather and chain-maille gloves and shoulder pads were used to transport the heated Hotchkiss’ without the danger of burning the soldier carrying it.

The Hotchkiss’ weight and its ability to quickly overheat were problems faced by nearly all machine guns of the period. Despite these factors, machine guns played prominent roles on the battlefields of the Great War. Machine guns were generally used in a defensive role. Stationed in groups due to their tendency to overheat, machine guns placed at strong-points could concentrate rapid streams of fire into advancing enemy ranks, greatly complicating any enemy movement by inflicting large numbers of casualties and forcing the enemy to seek protective cover.

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