Maxim M/32-33

The Maxim M/32-33 is a Finnish modification of the Russian M1910 Maxim, developed by Aimo Lahti in 1932. The weapon was able to fire at the rate of 850 rounds/min, while the Russian M1910 and earlier Finnish M09-21 were capable of 600 rounds /min. The reason was not only that Aimo Lahti was ordered to develop the weapon with a new metallic ammunition belt but also because of other improvements, such as accelerator mechanism and muzzle booster. Other changes included the redesign of the Maxim M/32-33's grips and rear sights, as well as an installation point for an optical sight.

7,62 mm Maxim M/32-33
TypeMachine gun
Place of originFinland
Service history
In service1933–1950
Used byFinland
WarsWorld War II
Winter War
Continuation War
Production history
Designed1931
Produced1933–1944
No. built~1200
Variants–
Specifications
Mass24 kg, M/33 tripod: 30 kg
Length1180 mm
Barrel length721 mm
Cartridge7.62×53mmR
Actionrecoil
Rate of fire650–850 round/min
Muzzle velocity–
Effective firing range2000 m
Feed system200 round continuous metallic belt

Unlike all the other Finnish Maxims, the Maxim M/32-33 was designed from the outset to be suitable for anti-aircraft use. The new M/32 tripod was designed and issued with extra parts allowing it to be easily modified as an anti-aircraft mount, and accessories for anti-aircraft shooting were included as standard.

The last improvement to the M/32-33 was the addition of a snow-filling cap to the water jacket; this way snow could be used instead of water during winter, so there was no need to carry and take care of 3 kg of coolant water in snowy sub-zero conditions. This feature was adopted in the late Russian World War II Maxim variant.

Some few hundred early M/09s were modified into M/32s by Gun Depot 1 between 1933-1935. These weapons have also been called M/09-32s.

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