Tag Archives: M1919 Brownings

Strongpoint

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Talk about pucker factor. It happened 75 years ago. 15 September 1950, “Somewhere in Korea,” but we know now it is in the newly established Inchon enclave.

Original Caption: “Marines with a bazooka and a protecting machine gun set up a security post against a possible tank counter-attack. 1st MarDiv. Korea.”

Photog: Sgt. Frank Kerr. 127-N-A2747. National Archives Identifier 5891325

Note the M20 3.5-inch “Super Bazooka” with a rocket loaded and at least four more on standby, as well as the M1919 air-cooled Browning .30 cal with three cans of belted ammo ready to go. All in all, at least a few minutes’ worth of “tough resistance” before these Devils had to be reinforced or fall back. Their jute bag protection, however, is more concealment than cover.

Rushed to Korea in July 1950, the Marines quickly fell in love with the new Super Bazooka, which replaced their smaller and much less effective 2.36-inch M9 Bazookas. Besides putting the T-34 on the menu, at least at close range, it proved useful in knocking out enemy bunkers and clumps of positions.

“Marine riflemen in the background stand by while their 3.5 bazooka man puts a round into a Communist position down the hill. This action took place in mopping-up operations in Korea.” 18 September 1950. From the Photograph Collection (COLL/3948), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections

The Far-Reaching UN Forces in Korea and the Things they Carried

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With this month being the 70th anniversary of the rush by the Free World to help keep the fledgling Republic of Korea from forced incorporation by its Communist neighbor to the North, it should be pointed out that the UN forces that mustered to liberate Seoul and keep it so carried an interesting array of arms. Gathered ultimately from 21 countries you had a lot of WWII-era repeats such as No. 3 and No. 4 Enfields carried by Commonwealth troops as well as M1 Garands/Carbines toted by American and a host of Uncle Sam-supplied countries.

But there were most assuredly some oddball infantry weapons that were used as well.

One historical curiosity was the initial contingent supplied by the Royal Thai Army, who left for Korea in October 1950 wearing French Adrian-style “sun” helmets and armed with 8x52mm Type 66 Siamese Mausers that were actually versions of the bolt-action Japanese Type 38 Arisaka built before WWII at Japan’s Koishikawa arsenal.

Note their French-style helmets, U.S.-marked M36 packs, and Japanese Showa-period rifles. Ultimately, more than 10,000 Thai troops would serve in the Korean War alongside U.S. forces, fighting notably at the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. (Photo: UN News Archives)

More in my column at Guns.com.