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Ma Deuce — The M2 .50-Caliber Machine Gun

Ascout said:
We did not have the TTS, but I was on the Hughes LASER Rangefinder Test Project at the Armor Board. My first test there after Vietnam, 1972. Test on the M551 and also used on the M60A2 (which I also tested).
I was appalled to find that it took until the late '70's to get into service on M551's.
I also used the M85, M73 and M219 POS. And the M37 (an M1919MG coax on M48, in Thirty Cal!)
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That M-37 co-ax you mentioned would have been a great replacement for the troublesome M-73. My loader kept a ruptured case removal tool in his pocket and barrels were a real pain to change.
 
rcurtner said:
That M-37 co-ax you mentioned would have been a great replacement for the troublesome M-73. My loader kept a ruptured case removal tool in his pocket and barrels were a real pain to change.
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That was the old M1919 derivative. Fired the .30 cal round and complicated the logistical train by adding another ammo type that was deliberately left behind due to pressure to conform to NATO.
 
I’m a Marine vet who crewed CH-53A heavy lift helicopters in the early ‘80’s. Our weapons were two M2’s, one on each side. I only fired it in training but I fell in love with that big badassed gun. I also served in the Air Force and retired with a total of 25 years. For various reasons, I decided to build a Vietnam War gun truck, War Wagon. I used James Lyle’s gun truck boots to ensure I did everything correct. Consequently, I installed three .50 ex-GI equaliberator mounts in the gun box. I also covered the floor with 144 .50 ammo cans (empty) to show how our troops used that ammo as reloads for the guns and for mine protection. I use resin replicas because all other replicas are insanely expensive.
 

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jeffhuey1n said:
I’m a Marine vet who crewed CH-53A heavy lift helicopters in the early ‘80’s. Our weapons were two M2’s, one on each side. I only fired it in training but I fell in love with that big badassed gun. I also served in the Air Force and retired with a total of 25 years. For various reasons, I decided to build a Vietnam War gun truck, War Wagon. I used James Lyle’s gun truck boots to ensure I did everything correct. Consequently, I installed three .50 ex-GI equaliberator mounts in the gun box. I also covered the floor with 144 .50 ammo cans (empty) to show how our troops used that ammo as reloads for the guns and for mine protection. I use resin replicas because all other replicas are insanely expensive.
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I contributed a shot* to his first book. He has assembled the best collections of photos and background of the subject available.
*"The Rebel"
 
jeffhuey1n said:
When I started putting parts together, there were only his books and a couple others that I could get info from. Did you crew Rebel? That was a one of a kind armored box.
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I did not crew that vehicle. I was a Cav Scout up North at the time and just happened to catch it parked at Phu Bai one afternoon. I was trained as a Tanker & had an M551 Sheridan endorsement on my MOS but any AFV is of interest.
With genuine affection, I think of Guntruckers as frustrated Tankers...that is, they go to considerable lengths to scrounge any improvised armor & firepower that they can get their hands on, just as Tankers in that conflict would do.
 
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