L3A3 / L3A4 Browning MG; Tripod, M2 & L2A1 in British Service

[nzl1a1collector]

Just wondering what was the official colour for the M2 / L2A1 Tripods in service in the 1970/80's. Where they painted the Deep Bronze Green or Black Suncorite 201?



What surprises me is the overall size of it when all folded up. Its tiny compared to the Bren Guns Tripod.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

I have seen them left in grey phosphate and painted black.

They were best left grey phosphate because they were not fully strip-downable and the black painting was easily contaminated by the oil and grease that could remain in the folding bits and also that the paint could make the folding slide bars hard to manage to the point that it'd jamb up if you got paint on them.

Good tripod too. The Indians used them with a slight modification for Brens but they had no height for firing over cover.

[Woodsy]

My NZ marked one is still in the original grey phosphate, as sold off by NZ Armoured Corps about 1980.

[nzl1a1collector]

The legs are the issue with the tripod, they have rust and there is very little finish left on them but the head, pintle and T&E have good to new finish to them.

So really I need to get the tripod re-phosphated? or ensure any paint doesn't interfere with the folding portions.

Currently the tripod is in 20 pieces after giving it a clean awaiting a decision on what to do with refinishing it.

[Brit plumber]

I've got 2 and both are painted black. I've seen quite a few and it appears they were 'As new' in grey phosphate or FTR'd with new markings and in sunc.

Have you got an L3 to go with it?

This is the one I own, looks like it came over with lend lease and never left the armoury except to be converted. The FTR'd Gun and Tripod aren't mine, I missed them but I then got the one shown.

Attachment 55375 Attachment 55376Attachment 55374 Attachment 55373

[Brit plumber]

I forgot, I've also got one of those silly SUIT bore sighting tripods that I think you have NZ.

Attachment 55377

[nzl1a1collector]

Unfortunately I don't have an L3 to go with the tripod, I got it so I can put the Bore Sighting unit onto it. It will go well with the Aiming Rest siting in the lounge.

[Brit plumber]

I see, my unit is all black and still has the stores label attached if you'd like a photo of that? You will have to remind me later in the week when I'm home. It was obviously one of those 'What the heck do we do with this piece of crap' affairs as it languished in an ISO container for years and no one had a clue what it was for until it was on it's way for scrap when a friend liberated it for me.

[RCS]

I found a M60 adopter for the M2 and M122 tripod, these were used quite a lot during the 1960's.

I use to collect the data plates from the tripods that were demilled in the salvage yard,
note they started using aluminum towards the end of the warAttachment 55378Attachment 55379Attachment 55380

[Bruce_in_Oz]

And then there was the interesting Australian adaptation of the Brit tripod for the L7 so that it would work with the M-60.

Followed up some years later by the "reverse" conversion of this "M-60" tripod to accept the MAG-58; the world truly is a circle.

And then there is the M2 tripod modded to take the Minimi...................