[nuyt]

Hello Bob,

Nice to meet you!

You wrote:

"I need info on their 37-mm guns and whether they also operated as Stafford Ordnance, selling "re-built" 11-mm Vickers guns to the NPC (or anyother foreign purchaser). "

Regarding the M-H's 37mm automatic guns I advise you to contact both Hans Heesakkers (NL) as well as Leland Ness (US). They are authorities regarding these tanks and armaments.

About the Vickers mg's:

The NEI were home to a large number of variants of the Vickers machineguns. Not counting tank, armoured car and airplane versions, by 1942 KNIL army operated four different infantry types (I assume you are talking about these):

- the M23, basically the Dutch 6,5mm infantry mg (apprx 400 in service);

- the M23 7,7mm Australian (acquired in Oz from 1941 on, apprx 250-300 delivered by March 42. No less than 725 had been ordered. By August 41 the US Mission report mentions 135 on hand. The Japanese found 126 on Java alone. If delivery and production were up to schedule a maximum of another 150 pieces may have been delivered to the NEI before March 1 42);

- the M23 Amerika 7,7mm (according to Martens/ De Vries: Nederlandse vuurwapens KNIL en ML some 500 were delivered in 1940, but there is no further info. Permission was needed from th US authorities as well as the British Purchasing Commision - that had a claim on them. According to the US Mission report 500 were "on hand" by August 41);

- the M23 Borsumij (a 7,7mm NEI home production by the Borneo Sumatra Maatschappij on Java starting in 1940. Unknown numbers produced. Several KNIL units, notably those on Timor and Central-Java used them in March 42).

In a letter to the Queen of Febr 1942 the HQ states that only 81 .30 mg's are on hand, as well as 366 of .303 cal and 393 6,5mm guns.

The last ones must be the Dutch Vickers, the first some Colts ordered as well, the second must be the Australian and Borsumij Vickers together. Where are the US Vickers?

The NEI bought the most outlandish collection of machineguns in 1940-42: Lewis's from the US (KNIL operated 3 different versions in two calibers), cal .30 rim Hotchkiss with Russian WW1 vintage ammo, also acquired in the US and Fiats and Breda's from the British in North Africa and all other sorts from weapon collectors in the US.

I have no info on Stafford, nor about the qualities of the Vickers from the US. Can you tell us some more?

One possible clue: There was an outstanding contract by April 41 to a Alfred Ettlinger, NY for TNT and a minimum of 400 machineguns (max 500) at 613 USD a piece with extra barrels and ammo, but that was febr. 41. No mg brand is named though.

Well, that's all I have at the moment...

Kind regards,
Nuyt


PS enclosed picture (source Beeldbank) of a Hotchkiss in Suriname, WW2, adapted by Van Karner Ordnance Corporation, firing Russian Ammo.