No, that's a K-Bar and it's not unusual for the end of the leather scabbard to get folded a bit. Gunner's wearing a life preserver belt, they have just come ashore. Yes, the carbine in the back has a grenade launcher. Not so often seen as the rifle.
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Unusual ammo boxes also!
M17 Ammo Chest 50 Cal. It looks like they are both ammo chests
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSCF2948-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10_thumb-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2C79C430-1.jpg
Compare to this US GI Ordnance Tool Box, with Tray, new in the box. US GI, NOS Condition.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../toolbox-1.jpg
The 50 looks like it would be one heavy piece of equipment to even try and attempt to run with even the ammo cans full would be weighty, were they more deployed from fairly fixed positions and the 30 cal mG's move with the troops.
Did the squads have 30 & 50's move with them.
Apparently so.
Gun alone was 128 lbs and each ammo can was about 35 lbs. Still, the book prescribed a three man crew and detachment commander to break down and haul the gun. Personally, with what these guys were facing, bunkers and emplacements, I think this gun is exactly what was needed. You'd have to believe me when I tell you how destructive they are. MGs were in a separate unit of MG Platoon. This particular picture is from the invasion of Kwajalein Atoll...
The Browning M-2 . 50-caliber heavy machine gun casts a long shadow over U.S. military history – and it holds a special place in the hearts of many soldiers. Nicknamed “Ma Deuce” by World War II G.I.s, some who have fired the weapon consider it the mother of all machine guns.
From footage I've seen over the years the different round types in use cover just about every scenario also from what I've read in some of my books on Snipers using the 50 Barrett on soft targets whether in front of a wall or behind it the 750Gn projectile is devastating in every sense of the word.
https://www.milsurps.com/
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...BMG_Rounds.jpg
green/gray tip Raufoss Mk 211 HEIAP (high-explosive incendiary armor-piercing)
yellow/red tip (M48 spotter)
silver tip (M8 armor-piercing incendiary)
light blue tip (M20 incendiary)
black tip (M2 armor piercing)
silver tip/red sabot (M962 SLAP-T)
silver tip/amber sabot (M903 SLAP)
red tip (M17 tracer)
unpainted copper (M33 ball)
https://www.milsurps.com/
I can add a picture or two of a few of the 50 cal rounds Mark listed. Here is an M903 slap and a M962 slap -T.