https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...9_55_33a-1.jpg
Fighting the "battle of the hedgerow", an American infantryman draws a bead on a German sniper from his position behind a hedgerow near Mortain, France. 8/9/44 Co. "A", 119th Inf., 30th Div.
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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...9_55_33a-1.jpg
Fighting the "battle of the hedgerow", an American infantryman draws a bead on a German sniper from his position behind a hedgerow near Mortain, France. 8/9/44 Co. "A", 119th Inf., 30th Div.
Love the signal flare sticking out of his gear!
Anybody know what the other item is laying almost vertical against his thigh?
Attachment 128056
I couldn't imagine having to Sprint or run with that axe and handle slapping against my thigh. That would be an awkward weight hanging off of you it seems
Handle of the pick. The head should be in the bag tied to the handle. Seems to be just lying against his leg.
It looks like he has many canteens strapped to him as well, possibly three. One in a canteen pouch, one in his lower pack you can see the lid sticking out, and it looks like another canteen pouch behind the first canteen pouch. I never realized anyone carried more than one canteen
Alot of photos of the US Marines in the South Pacific with two canteens per man
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ein_1944-1.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by RCS
There is a lot going on in that picture! Another signal flare with grenade launcher on a barrel in the background. My guess is it looks like M8 launcher on a carbine. At the risk of asking a dumb question, what is the heavy duty looking belt around the machine gunner? And is it just me or does the guy on the right look like his M3 fighting knife is bent? Looks like it's in a cloth scabbard that is bent on the end,
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by jond41403
Thank you for the context of the picture and the answer to the items I was wondering about. I didn't realize they had just come ashore. I love these picture of the day photos! A picture truly is worth a thousand words.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Unusual ammo boxes also!
M17 Ammo Chest 50 Cal. It looks like they are both ammo chestsQuote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
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.
The Browning M2 on the picture looks like that it just comes out of the factory!is it possible that this is a posed photo?I remember it was common during WW1 to take orchestrated poses for journalists for example.
Anything is possible, the captions states "This particular picture is from the invasion of Kwajalein Atoll"...Quote:
Originally Posted by donki1967
Awesome collection, are those yours?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
Russ
No, don't have much need for a 50 I am sure most of those are not legal in NYS. Plus can not have more than 10 links.Quote:
Originally Posted by RASelkirk