Maxim M1910 7.62mm Heavy Machine Gun

The hard-earned experience of the Russo-Japanese war, made the Russian Army very well aware of the devastating power of Machine Guns. Soon after they both started improving on both their equipment and organization. Afterwards they accepted a new and improved Maxim type HMG. This was the M1910. 

In the year after, 1911, the M1910 was mated to a new and improved wheeled and shield-equipped tripod, the so called Sokolov lavette. This very characteristic design meant that the gun could be fired, either on a high tripod or resting on the wheels. The wheels also meant that the gun could be either pulled or pushed when moved about. (The most tell-tale sign of the Sokolov mount - in contrast with the earlier lavette designs - was that there also was a third, tiny wheel under the back part of the lavette, the one that was used for pulling and also as a seat for the gunner.) The shield could be removed. The effort to make the gun as movable as possible was also extended to the ammunition supply: the gun came with special cylinders, made for pulling, that each could contain 3 boxes of ammo, plus spare oil and water. For longer hauls the M1910 could be carried either on horseback (in the cavalry) or on special cart (in the infantry).

The sight of the M1910 was set for distances between 600 to 2600 paces (about 425-1850 meters), in increments of 50 paces. (The Russian tactical manuals stated that a HMG should not be deployed any nearer to the target than 800 meters.) The gun also cames with gear to enable it to be fired in well protected positions: first a so called hyposcope, which was a reflective glass prism that made it possible for the gunner to fire the M1910 without exposing himself, secondly a sort of measuring stick, making it possible to aim the gun almost as a artillery piece.

At the start of the war, each Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Russian Army, had one so called HMG kommando (equivalent of a company) attached. And this is the way these commandos were organized:

This ment that the Russian Army was well equipped with HMG:s at the start of the war, in fact, the Russian Infantry Divisions had more HMG:s (32) than the Infantry Divisions of any other involved country.

The M1910 was a sturdy and realiable weapon, and it would be used all through WW1 and all through WW2. 

Below can be found excerpts from a contemporary Russian Army Manual, showing details of the Maxim:

The M1910 was a sturdy and realiable weapon, and it would be used all through WW1 and all through WW2. 

For more info see this Dutch Link, and for excellent photos se this fine Russian site. And some really super material on this HMG can be found on this site. See this link to see a video of this HMG.

Technical Data, the M1910 Maxim Gun

Technical Data, the M1911 Sokolov Lavette