Cartridge Charge Bullet form Bullet weight Velocity (Vo)
“S” = 98 = 3.2 g = short concave arched base = 10.2 grams = 895 m/s = 2936 ft/sec
“sS” = 98 = 2.85 grams = long torpedo shape = 12.8 grams = 785 m/s = 2575 ft/sec
Barrel lengths, 740mm = 29.13”
The “sS’ cartridge was adopted in 1918 as a long range machine gun cartridge and was the standard issue cartridge of WW2.
The following is a very good write up of German ammunition.
https://ammunitionstore.com/content/7.92×57mm Mauser.pdf
The Germans, like the Americans found out that their light 150 grain ammunition, did not have the long range of the heaver British 174 grain and French 198 grain ammunition for machine gun barrages ( indirect fire ).
The heavy machine gun were set up in batteries, like artillery, to deny an area to the enemy.
The Vickers was used for indirect fire against enemy positions at ranges up to 4,500 yards (4,100 m). This plunging fire was used to great effect against road junctions, trench systems, forming up points, and other locations that might be observed by a forward observer, or zeroed in at one time for future attacks, or guessed at by men using maps and experience.
From;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_machine_gun
The Americans adopted the M-1 172 grain bullet to extend the range of their machine guns, and went back to the M-2 150 grain bullet because of the danger the 172 grain bullet present at the military ranges, so one source claims.
