The Vickers machine gun — originally a British, belt-fed design — was widely adopted across the Western Allies during World War I. When supplied to or manufactured for French service it often received minor French modifications (changes to the cooling jacket, sights, feed direction, mounting fittings or trigger/lock parts) so it would better fit French airframes or local logistics. These Vickers (French-modified) guns retained the Vickers’ hallmark reliability and sustained-fire capability while being adapted to French mounting and service requirements.

Aircraft commonly seen with Vickers (French-modified)

• SPAD S.VII / SPAD S.XIII — primary French fighters; typically carried one (S.VII) or two (S.XIII) synchronized Vickers.
• Nieuport 17 / Nieuport 24 / Nieuport 28 — many carried a fuselage-mounted synchronized Vickers in French and American service (others used overwing Lewis).
• Breguet 14 — widely produced two-seat reconnaissance and bomber aircraft, usually equipped with a synchronized Vickers for the pilot plus flexible guns for the observer.
• Salmson 2 A.2 — reconnaissance aircraft sometimes fitted with a synchronized Vickers in addition to observer’s armament.
• Other Allied service types — aircraft supplied to France or the U.S. Air Service could carry French-modified Vickers, including American-built fighters like the Nieuport 28 and license-built Breguet 14s.

Historical significance

The Vickers (French-modified) combined the proven endurance of the British Vickers design with local adjustments for French production and service. Its adaptability made it the standard synchronized gun for late-war French fighters, ensuring compatibility with domestic designs such as the SPAD series and Nieuports. This widespread use helped define the armament of French and American squadrons in the final years of WWI.{{freeshipping_code_1}}{{payment}}