Tag Archives: M2

Behind the scenes: U.S. Army’s Small Arms Repair Facility Anniston Army Depot

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A behind the scenes look at the U.S. Army’s Small Arms Repair Facility at Anniston Army Depot.

Here, Army experts with the U.S. Army Materiel Command bring small caliber weapons to fully mission capable status, from disassembly, repair, modification, to target accuracy testing. The full overhaul resets US Army equipment and generates readiness. They cover M249 SAWs, conversion of M2 BHMGs to the improved M2A1, M4s, et. al. They show off a Frigidaire-made M2 as well as an example by Kelsey Hayes Wheels

I am kinda disappointed that the M-4 standards for accuracy are 5-inches at 100 meters, seems a bit loose. But meh. Also, they should have mic’d old boy, as its hard to hear him (sorry).

Still, between CMP and Anniston Army Depot, there is probably no better pool of U.S. small arms gunsmiths in any town its size in the world.

As noted by DLA:

“The depot’s Small Arms Repair Facility is the primary Small Arms Rebuild Center for the Department of Defense.

Here, employees overhaul, repair and upgrade small caliber weapons from the M9 pistol to the M2 50-caliber machine gun, grenade launchers, mortars and much more.

The men and women who work in the depot’s Small Arms Repair Facility are able to refurbish many parts, bringing them back to like-new condition.

For example, as much as 60 percent of a M2 weapon can be refurbished and reused as the artisans upgrade it to a M2A1 machine gun. ”

That rack tho:

You know Grafe looks like Hoth in winter

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So there was a photo dump of the VALEX of the 2nd Dragoons in Germany’s Grafenwoehr Training Area last week by the very talented photojournalist Michał Zieliński and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jennifer Bunn among others which I compiled for Guns.com. Well surprise, surprise, the Dragoons’ social media picked it up, which I thought was cool.

Anyway, click on the photo to get your cold blast of fresh air from Grafe.

2nd-cav-rgt

Is that a six-pack of .50 cals in your chin, or are you just happy to see me?

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In a follow up to yesterday’s post on the M2 unjamming tool made by a B17 gunner, here is an interesting version of the B17G. The “G” model Flying Fortress was not so much a bomber as it was a flying anti-aircraft artillery cluster. Equipped with a remotely operated Bendix-made chin turret, the G model had 13 AN/M2 .50 cals compared to the 7 in previous models.

And some had even more.

Meet West End, tail number 42-31435, who was equipped with an experimental 6-barrel Bendix turret, giving her a total of 17 M-2 heavy machine guns.

West End, tail number 42-31435 SU-S experimental six gun m2 turret

Click to big up

Each had a cyclic rate of fire topping 850 rounds per minute (a bit spicier than the typical ground combat variant of Ma Deuce), giving West End the theoretical capability of ripping out 240 .50 BMG tracers per second if all 17 of her guns were engaged.

West End, tail number 42-31435 SU-S experimental six gun m2 turret 3 West End, tail number 42-31435 SU-S experimental six gun m2 turret s

This aircraft was credited with 27 combat missions with the 384th Bomb Group and crash landed at RAF Manston, Kent, due to major flak damage after escorting a raid on a German V-weapons complex near Coubronne, France 6 July 1944.

Just chillin with my .50 (and my M50)

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U.S. Army Soldiers with 1st Brigade, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division conducting defensive operations during Swift Response 16 training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area, a part of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, in Hohenfels, Germany, Jun. 20, 2016.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

Note there seems to be a good old fashioned CBRN drill going on, hence the paratrooper with his tripod mounted M2HB-QCB Browning heavy machine gun in 12.7mm (.50BMG) and his new-fangled M50 joint service general purpose mask, which replaced the older M40 a few years back.

The beercan-sized cage on the muzzle of ma deuce, held by a three-legged bracket is the blank firing adaptor. The adaptor reduces the muzzle size, slowing the escaping gasses and thus causing a recoil “kick” large enough to cycle the weapon. So if you ever see a M2 so equipped, the picture was taken during an exercise.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

And, as this short-sleeved paratrooper above shows, Germany does get hot in June. Of course we can’t fault him for not being in a chem suit, but good luck getting a cheek-weld on that M4 (note yellow BFA) while wearing a mask. Still, it’s nice to see mono-pod grips being used more. They are hella useful.