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The Reference Desk => Organizations, Vehicles, Equipment => Topic started by: bob48 on March 19, 2023, 01:45:58 PM

Title: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 19, 2023, 01:45:58 PM
I'm doing a bit of research for the next game in the 'Assault' series, this being 'Assault - Sicily '43'. There are a number of scenarios that include US Airborne, and, as far as I can tell, the standard MG used was the M1919 0.30 cal, the M2 being much too heavy. Despite a fair bit a research, I can find no evidence of any issue of the M2 to Airborne units, and, in fact, other that vehicle mounts, not that common as a tripod mounted weapon in Infantry units.

Anyone have any hard info to offer me? :-)
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: Tolstoi on March 19, 2023, 08:26:50 PM
I found T/O 7-37 from Feb. 1942 (https://www.ablecompany502pir.org/files/TO_7-37_February_1942.pdf), and it lists 1: "Gun, machine, light, cal .30 - 1" per rifle squad. That must be the M1919 .30 cal., right? Source is from the Battle Order (https://www.battleorder.org/us-airborne-ww2) website. I'll keep looking for other sources if this isn't what you are seeking.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 20, 2023, 06:56:13 AM
 :bigthumb: Yes, that corresponds to the info I've found so far.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 20, 2023, 07:17:45 AM
I can tell you from experience that schlepping around an M2 it's not a trivial exercise.

There's no way that one guy is carrying all the parts to it.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 20, 2023, 08:09:46 AM
Oh, I have no doubt in my mind that the M2 was not something that the Airborne would have had access to as a tripod mounted support weapon. from the info I have found, it would seem that it was not all that common even for infantry units - one source even saying that only 1 per battalion was the norm. (1943-44 period in particular).
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: Tolstoi on March 20, 2023, 08:51:11 AM
Oh, so I think I misunderstood. You're stating you have the ToE info too; however, you are not able to find written accounts of airborne units having or using the M1919 .30 cal., such as in an official AAR, or written history that would reflect them airborne units being issued and using such a weapon. Is that correct?
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 20, 2023, 09:39:55 AM
No, we're quite happy with the fact that the M1919 0.30cal was standard issue, but NOT the M2 0.50cal.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: Tolstoi on March 20, 2023, 10:09:37 AM
Ugh!  :face:  Yup, I didn't read what you wrote properly. M2, not M1919. I'll just get me coat.

(https://i.makeagif.com/media/11-10-2016/iLy3Df.gif)
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 20, 2023, 10:21:35 AM
 :ROFL:
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: GROGnadsUSA on March 26, 2023, 05:02:46 PM
There's no way that one guy is carrying all the parts to it.
'2' 'Guys' won't "suffice" UNLESS they're going to 'pitch-fits/parts' at the enemy-! I am NO 'Commander McBragg' yet had read through my '201'-File and learned that with the 'M-60' or 'M-2' then I'm "expert" too for them, according to their 'Scoring' criterion-! ALSO; noticed having scored "spectacularly" of the '3-D'-renderings, to where you will 'assemble' some object into '1' of their depictions presented that you will choose amongst. My 'average' is 128 of these "Testings", and you did require a 110 at minimum for "O.C.S." consideration, barring NON-'Collegiate' status-? ONLY went to 'U.of.W" or "M.S.U." for 'Wargames' or Ladies, but, that's JUST 'moi'-!   
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 26, 2023, 05:06:04 PM
 ???

Sorry, but I really didn't understand that or see how it relates to the topic.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: GROGnadsUSA on March 26, 2023, 05:12:41 PM
???

Sorry, but I really didn't understand that or see how it relates to the topic.
So, you FREELY 'admit' never having anything dueing with these-? What about the 'Machinist's Section' "Grease Gun"-'M.G.'-?The '.45'-!-!-! "Grenades"-? Explosives to: "blow up real good-"-!-? ASSEMBLY of some: 'Atomic ProJo'-?-! What about "JEEP is 'Driven' ala BEAR"-? 
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 26, 2023, 05:30:21 PM
I'm going to charitably assume that you are attempting to be jocular (and failing miserably I might add).
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: GROGnadsUSA on March 26, 2023, 05:42:49 PM
SORRY with apropos 'apologies' of: before this. What's that 'song'-? "I Keep Forgetting" that others didn't have the utmost *thangs* of what I did-? So, "back on the 'Crazy Train' track" THEN there ought "be" a 'Corporal WESLEY' counter-! Every 'Army' should have that-? *Specialty* NAME "name" it-!
great tune-!
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 27, 2023, 11:36:18 AM
We have now resolved the issue and new counters and unit cards for the 0.30 are being produced (with amended stats). This also entailed amending several formation cards and scenario set-ups to replace most of the M2's with 0.30's. Well worth the effort in order to stay closer to historical organisations.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: Tolstoi on March 28, 2023, 05:27:36 PM
 :2thumbs:
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: besilarius on March 28, 2023, 11:44:45 PM
It was a given that any newbie on the Mekong, who got into a firefight, always melted the barrels.
Was told that the amount of orders for new barrels could choke a horse.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 29, 2023, 06:09:58 AM
Whilst that is interesting, bear in mind that I'm talking specifically about airborne forces in WW2 and not about the M2 itself.
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 29, 2023, 06:32:55 AM
I'm doing a bit of research for the next game in the 'Assault' series, this being 'Assault - Sicily '43'. There are a number of scenarios that include US Airborne, and, as far as I can tell, the standard MG used was the M1919 0.30 cal, the M2 being much too heavy. Despite a fair bit a research, I can find no evidence of any issue of the M2 to Airborne units, and, in fact, other that vehicle mounts, not that common as a tripod mounted weapon in Infantry units.

Anyone have any hard info to offer me? :-)


Bringing it back to the original point - I've never seen any evidence of dismounted infantry having M2s in WW2, and mounted infantry kept them on their vehicles if they had them at all
Title: Re: M2 0.50cal HMG WW2
Post by: bob48 on March 29, 2023, 06:34:53 AM
That is certainly the conclusion that we came to, and we have amended the game accordingly.