Maxim M/32-33

The Maxim M/32-33 is a Finnish heavy machine gun, a modification of the Russian M1910 Maxim that Aimo Lahti developed in 1932. Lahti was ordered to adapt the Maxim so that it could be fed from metallic ammunition belts instead of cloth ones, and the result fired about 850 rounds a minute against 600 for the Russian M1910 and the earlier Finnish M09-21. The higher rate came from an accelerator mechanism and a muzzle booster, and the grips and rear sights were redesigned with a mount for an optical sight. Unlike the other Finnish Maxims it was designed from the start for anti-aircraft use, with a tripod that converted easily to an anti-aircraft mount. A snow-filling cap on the water jacket let crews use snow instead of carrying coolant water in winter. A few hundred early M/09 guns were also brought to the M/32 standard in depot workshops between 1933 and 1935.