SteveKrieg
Company Commander
G'day all,
Another one to add to the series.
This one illustrates U.S. Airborne infantry firepower (the accompanying info panel to the scene explains it all to the visiting public come 'D-Day'). Particularly that part played by the M1919A4 against the backdrop story of the defence of Saint-Come-du-Mont, a hamlet along the vital main road of Nationale 13 - one step closer to the objective of Carentan.
This is Scene 12 which commences to tell the story, in four small vignettes like this one, U.S. airborne firepower. To be followed by another platoon-level weapon - the 60mm mortar and M7 grenade launcher w/M2 frag grenade, then 'Tank Killers' (covering the bazooka and M7 grenade launder with M9A1 HEAT round), then the Pack 75mm (already posted on one of the threads).
Basically, due to the manoeuvre nature of the Division at this time - as it tries to consolidate and move towards the vital juncture town of Carentan - a hastily dug shell scrape (weapons pit) that unlike more prepared firing positions (which can take a lot of time to dig down and cover with over-head protection) can be quickly dug in quick time to provide a level of protection and concealment for its occupiers consists of a .30 LMG team as part of a platoon-level defensive line; the machine gun so-positioned as to cover a wide arc and tying-in with other squad pits to its left and right.
Here, the No.2 gunner (whose snack-time is quickly interrupted) points out a likely target to the gunner to their front at 11 O'clock (target direction method known as 'Clock ray' where the pit is the centre of the clock and aids in quick target acquisition, eg' the 12 is directly to your front and the 6-O'clock becomes directly to your rear. To assist with getting rounds on target, the canvas belts for the gun (disintegrating link belts for the .30 Cal were not seen in the ETO 'til around August) have a configuration of a 1-5 tracer.
Whilst the U.S. Army were fielding the lighter BAR (which fired the same round as the M1919), the airborne chose the heavier, tripod-mounted MMG because of its sustained-fire capability as opposed to the BAR which was fed by a 20-round magazine... led stoppages. The gun was normally dropped as part of a bundle load however there is some evidence to suggest crews took to breaking down the weapon to its component parts and distributed to the crew to jump with). After Normandy, the BAR was employed by some airborne units normally as a second 'fallback' LMG within the squad.
The pit shows signs of occupation and action by way of spent casings and en' bloc clips and dis-used K-rat cans and packaging. A short-handled shovel nearby is on-hand to keep the pit free of loose dirt (considered 'house cleaning') and the spoil used to enhance both depth (protection) to the crew and take awayl their silhouette (background) from view by those approaching. Normally the spoil would be camouflaged as it does stick out like a 'sore thumb' however given it's only a 'hasty' position and with Germans already aware of their presence in the area then camouflage (not to be confused with concealment) is the last thing on the crew's mind.
Enjoy, Steve
Another one to add to the series.
This one illustrates U.S. Airborne infantry firepower (the accompanying info panel to the scene explains it all to the visiting public come 'D-Day'). Particularly that part played by the M1919A4 against the backdrop story of the defence of Saint-Come-du-Mont, a hamlet along the vital main road of Nationale 13 - one step closer to the objective of Carentan.
This is Scene 12 which commences to tell the story, in four small vignettes like this one, U.S. airborne firepower. To be followed by another platoon-level weapon - the 60mm mortar and M7 grenade launcher w/M2 frag grenade, then 'Tank Killers' (covering the bazooka and M7 grenade launder with M9A1 HEAT round), then the Pack 75mm (already posted on one of the threads).
Basically, due to the manoeuvre nature of the Division at this time - as it tries to consolidate and move towards the vital juncture town of Carentan - a hastily dug shell scrape (weapons pit) that unlike more prepared firing positions (which can take a lot of time to dig down and cover with over-head protection) can be quickly dug in quick time to provide a level of protection and concealment for its occupiers consists of a .30 LMG team as part of a platoon-level defensive line; the machine gun so-positioned as to cover a wide arc and tying-in with other squad pits to its left and right.
Here, the No.2 gunner (whose snack-time is quickly interrupted) points out a likely target to the gunner to their front at 11 O'clock (target direction method known as 'Clock ray' where the pit is the centre of the clock and aids in quick target acquisition, eg' the 12 is directly to your front and the 6-O'clock becomes directly to your rear. To assist with getting rounds on target, the canvas belts for the gun (disintegrating link belts for the .30 Cal were not seen in the ETO 'til around August) have a configuration of a 1-5 tracer.
Whilst the U.S. Army were fielding the lighter BAR (which fired the same round as the M1919), the airborne chose the heavier, tripod-mounted MMG because of its sustained-fire capability as opposed to the BAR which was fed by a 20-round magazine... led stoppages. The gun was normally dropped as part of a bundle load however there is some evidence to suggest crews took to breaking down the weapon to its component parts and distributed to the crew to jump with). After Normandy, the BAR was employed by some airborne units normally as a second 'fallback' LMG within the squad.
The pit shows signs of occupation and action by way of spent casings and en' bloc clips and dis-used K-rat cans and packaging. A short-handled shovel nearby is on-hand to keep the pit free of loose dirt (considered 'house cleaning') and the spoil used to enhance both depth (protection) to the crew and take awayl their silhouette (background) from view by those approaching. Normally the spoil would be camouflaged as it does stick out like a 'sore thumb' however given it's only a 'hasty' position and with Germans already aware of their presence in the area then camouflage (not to be confused with concealment) is the last thing on the crew's mind.
Enjoy, Steve
