SIG KE7

The SIG KE7 is a light machine gun designed and manufactured in Switzerland in the decade before the Second World War. Although exported, it was never used by the Swiss Army.

SIG KE7
TypeLight machine gun
Place of originSwitzerland
Service history
Used byRepublic of China
People's Republic of China
WarsChinese Civil War
Second Sino-Japanese War
Korean War
Production history
ManufacturerSIG
Produced1929-1938
Specifications
Mass8.2 kg
Length1,190 mm
Barrel length800 mm
Crew2, firer and magazine/barrel changer
Cartridge7.92×57mm Mauser and others
ActionRecoil-operated
Rate of fire550 rounds/minute
Feed system25 round box magazine
SightsIron

Description

The SIG KE7 is a recoil operated, air cooled light machine gun. It is fed from a curved box magazine mounted on the underside of the weapon, which holds 25 rounds. A light folding bipod is attached to the perforated barrel jacket, and an additional rear monopod can be fitted.[1]

History

The KE7 light machine gun was designed by Pál Király and Gotthard End at the SIG small arms factory in Neuhausen am Rheinfall. Production commenced in 1929, with most weapons being exported to the Republic of China chambered for 7.92×57mm Mauser ammunition. They were used during the Chinese Civil War, the Second Sino-Japanese War[2] and the Korean War.[3] The KE-7 was copied and 7,900 were locally produced between 1934 and 1937.[4] Some KE-7 machine guns were also made in other calibres for export to Latin America[1] and Ethiopia.[5] In 1930, examples were provided for trials being run by the British Army to find a replacement for the Lewis gun, although a modified Czechoslovak weapon was finally adopted as the Bren gun.[6]

References
  1. "SIG Neuhausen KE-7 light machine gun (Switzerland)". world.guns.ru. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  2. Philip Jowett (2005). The Chinese Army 1937–49: World War II and Civil War. Osprey Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-1841769042.
  3. Ness, Leland; Shih, Bin (July 2016). Kangzhan: Guide to Chinese Ground Forces 1937–45. Helion & Company. p. 292. ISBN 9781910294420.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  4. Ness & Shih 2016, p. 223.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyR4w7MkSco
  6. Grant, Neil (2013), The Bren Gun, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 978-1782000822 (pp. 9-11)

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