GPMG IN SF MODE

[Flying10uk]

Does the British army still change barrels on GMPG when used in the S.F. mode? What is the item propped up on supports to the left of the left hand soldier?

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[browningautorifle]

change barrels

Our doctrine states after every 220 rds a barrel will be changed. The British QMSI embedded with the Small Arms Cell in Gagetown will have driven that.

What is the item propped up on supports to the left

Those look like aiming stakes stuck in the ground upside down and that's a spare barrel, cooling...

[browningautorifle]

the M60 was renowned for...(RUNAWAY)

The firing mech had a flat spring holding it's axis pins in place. Supposedly assembled from the bottom it would lose it's tension and fall out allowing the firing mech to fall off. The Aussie instructors had us install them from top so they wouldn't fall off...just one of the things.

The Gun is not issued with a spare barrel.....
2 barrels come with the tripod as part of the kit, and any gun is then fitted to the tripod and barrels by an Armoured ( fitted for headspace) so the barrels are actually serial numbered to the tripod not the gun.

Very different from the way we do it. We issue a second barrel that's numbered to the gun. The third barrel comes with the mount group and "Extra barrels are provided during SF role"...meaning as stated others are checked and brought to that gun. Interesting, such a vast difference in doctrine...

The second barrel looks like it is being held up by 2 trip flare-pot pickets.

That's possible...Here's pics of aiming stakes and trip flare stakes...item "C" in our SF kit.

Our doctrine states after every 220 rds a barrel will be changed.

Here's a mistake from the past, the correction comes from the current book...a quote..."If the fire has to be delivered for long periods, whether at the normal or rapid rate, the barrel is to be changed every 440 rounds. The gas plug and block are to be cleaned with the issued reamers before re-use..."