Gladman then was shot in the right shoulder while changing ammunition drums.

The changing of ammunition drums could be completed in a few seconds by an experienced gunner.

Early production aircraft also had two ammunition drums: one for normal rounds and the other for empty ones.

The weapon has a unique action; when a tab on the back is pushed, a pair of ammunition drums rotate.

However, the 97-round ammunition drums could not be changed once empty, nor could the pilot clear gun jams.

Since the gun had to be tilted-back to change ammunition drums, the gun could also be fired upwards at an angle.

There are two ammunition drums each contains 250 rounds, and other versions of the ammunition drums have been reportedly developed.

Also on board were marine distress signals, bilge pumps for the hull and wingtip floats, drinking water tanks, plenty of spare ammunition drums and an anchor.

These were initially fed from 60-round drums, requiring the radar operator to change the ammunition drums manually-an arduous and unpopular task, especially at night and while chasing a bomber.

Picking up a Lewis gun and some ammunition drums on his way, he succeeded in reaching the enemy trench and sighting another hostile machine-gun, he killed the entire team and the officer.

It enabled the gun to be pulled down so that its breech was conveniently in front of the pilot, making it much easier to change ammunition drums or to clear stoppages in flight.

Standard accessories supplied with the weapon include an ammunition container, extra belts, a cleaning rod (carried on the left side of the receiver), cleaning kit (stowed in a compartment inside of the stock), sling and pouches for the ammunition drums.

Often, these challenges are made even more difficult by the additions of limitations or handicaps, such as the requirement to carry several ammunition drums, not touching portions of an obstacle painted red to indicate simulated booby traps, and evacuating team members with simulated wounds.

Gast demonstrated the weapon to ordnance experts in August 1917, who were so impressed that a production order for 3,000 guns was awarded to Vorwerk und Companie, along with ten ammunition drums and spare parts for each gun at a unit price of 6,800 marks each.