Hotchkiss M1922 machine gun
A French light machine gun exported widely but not adopted by France.
The Hotchkiss M1922 is a light machine gun built by the Hotchkiss company. While the French Army never adopted it in large numbers, the weapon saw widespread export to many European and Latin American countries, often sold as the Hotchkiss M1926 or Hotchkiss M1934.
This machine gun has a fixed stock, a pistol grip, and a wooden handguard, along with a folding bipod that does not telescope. The cocking handle and the ejection port are both on the right side. Its caliber depended on the buyer, as it was chambered in many different calibers and fed either from a 20-round overhead magazine (used by the Spanish model) or a 15-round feed strip. It has a maximum range of 2,000 meters and includes a regulator mechanism that lets the user adjust the rate of fire.
The Greek Army used the Hotchkiss M1922 with great success during the Greco-Italian War against the Royal Italian Army. It was also employed by the Chinese Nationalist Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War against the Japanese Imperial Army, and saw frequent use in the Spanish Civil War, primarily by Nationalist forces and in smaller numbers by the Republicans.
Several versions existed with different feed systems, calibers, and improvements, including the Hotchkiss M1924 and M1926. The M1926 led to the Greek EYP Hotchkiss. Users included forces using the Model 1922 in 7mm Mauser; 1,000 M1924s in 7.92mm Mauser; the Mitrailleuse légère Hotchkiss type 1934 in French Lebanon and French Indochina; the Hotchkiss Model 1926 in 6.5mm Greek and 7.92mm Mauser (6,000 used); around 3,500 in 7.92mm Mauser received between 1931 and 1939; 3,000 Hotchkiss Model 1922 O.C. in 7×57mm Mauser; weapons from the Spanish Army and Czechoslovakia; a .303 British version for evaluation only; and a 7.92×57mm Mauser variant. The Viet Minh used it during the First Indochina War.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- France
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 1922–1950s
- Designer
- Hotchkiss et Cie
- Weight
- 8.5 kg
- Length
- 1216 mm
- Part Length
- 600 mm
- Action
- Gas operated
- Rate
- 450 rounds/min
- Sights
- Iron
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Fusil-Mitrailleur (FM) Model 1922 is a classic weapon with a fixed stock, pistol grip, and wooden handguard. It has a non-telescopic folding bipod, and both the cocking handle and ejection port are located on the right side. The FM's caliber varied with the user, being chambered in a wide range of calibres and fed from either 20-round overhead magazines (Spanish model) or a 15-round feed strip. Its maximum range is 2,000 meters, and it had a regulator mechanism that would allow the user to adjust the rate of fire.
The Hotchkiss M1922 was used with great success by the Greek Army during the Greco-Italian War against the Royal Italian Army. It was also used by the Chinese Nationalist Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War to fight against the Japanese Imperial Army and was frequently used in the Spanish Civil War by the Nationalist and, in small numbers, the Republicans.
Several versions existed with different feed systems, calibers and improvements, among which were the Hotchkiss M1924 and M1926, the last of which spawned the Greek EYP Hotchkiss. Users included Greece (6,000 Model 1926 in 6.5mm Greek and 7.92mm Mauser), Spain (~3,500 in 7.92mm Mauser between 1931 and 1939, plus 3,000 Model 1922 O.C. in 7×57mm Mauser), Czechoslovakia (7.92×57mm Mauser), and the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War.
Reader's Guide
The Hotchkiss M1922's significance lies in its widespread export despite limited French adoption. It saw notable combat use in several conflicts, including the Greco-Italian War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the Spanish Civil War. The weapon's adaptability to various calibers and feed systems allowed it to serve multiple armies, from Greece to China. Its legacy is reflected in the numerous versions—M1924, M1926, and the Greek EYP Hotchkiss—that extended its service life. The M1922 also saw use in French colonial territories such as Lebanon and Indochina, and later by the Viet Minh. While not a frontline standard for France, it became a reliable support weapon for many nations, demonstrating the export market's role in sustaining Hotchkiss's production.
Did You Know?
- The Hotchkiss M1922 was never adopted in large numbers by the French Army.
- It was exported under the names Hotchkiss M1926 or Hotchkiss M1934.
- The weapon had a regulator mechanism to adjust the rate of fire.
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