Browning machine gun, caliber .30, all types ; U.S. machine gun, caliber .22, and trainer, caliber .22

Characteristics of Browning machine gun, caliber.30 2 1. Purpose and scope, — a. Purpose. — (1) The purpose of this manual is to furnish instructions for the inspection, maintenance, and repair of the following:

(a) Browning machine gum, caliber.30. M1917, water-cooled.

♦This pamphlet supersedes TM 9-1205, November 1$, 1941.

M1918MI, aircraft, fixed and flexible.

M1919, aircraft, fixed and flexible.

M1919A2, fixed and flexible.

M1919A4, fixed and flexible.

M2, aircraft, fixed and flexible.

M2, heavy barrel, fixed and flexible.

(b) Machine guns, caliber M. U. S. Ml.

(c) Tripods and belt -fitting machine (used with the above guns). (2) The manual is intended for the use of ordnance maintenance companies and such trained ordnance personnel as are charged with inspection, maintenance, and repair of this materiel.

b. Scope. — This manual contains instructions for inspection, maintenance, and repair supplementary to information given in other publications (see appendix). The information given is treated as a single set of instructions applicable to all models of this weapon as listed in a above. Items which do not apply to the particular model in question will therefore be disregarded.

2. Characteristics of Browning machine gun, caliber.30. — a. M1917 and modifications. — (1) The Browning machine gun, caliber.30, M1917, was designed to function with model 1906 cartridges against normal ground targets. At that time, no requirement existed for using ground machine guns against aerial targets. The tripod mount, caliber.30, M1917, had an elevating stem so mounted that it was free to rotate about both the vertical and horizontal axes. When the tripod mount, caliber.30, M1917A1, was developed, it was necessary to provide for quicker mounting and dismounting of the gun. This required that the elevating stem of the elevating mechanism be retained in a vertical position and keyed to prevent rotation. The principal differences between the Browning machine gun, caliber.30, M1917, when modified to the Browning machine gun, caliber.30, M1917A1, are as follows:

(a) A new bottom plate (D35392) which includes all the pieces of the stirrup in the old bottom plate and the mounting bracket (previously the elevating bracket).

(b) A new belt feed lever and mounting of the type used in the Browning machine gun, caliber.30, M1919A4. This was necessitated by relocating the ammunition chest on the ground instead of on the tripod, resulting in a material increase in the weight to be lifted by the feeding mechanism of the gun.

Drigiral from UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (c) An improved cover latch assembly using a new type of spring in modifying the latch.

(d) Sights graduated for either Ml ball ammunition or M2 ammunition.

(e) Guns which were modified at a later date were equipped with cover catch assemblies to retain the cover in a fixed position whenever it was opened.

(/) A tension spring in the rear sight assembly for the purpose of damping the vibration of the sight.

(2) The Browning machine gun, caliber.30, M1917A1, of new manufacture will include in addition to the above-mentioned changes the following new features:

(a) A steel end cap in place of the bronze end caps currently used. (6) A steel trunnion block in place of the currently used bronze trunnion block.

Note. — Both the steel trunnion block and the steel end cap will be interchangeable with the present bronze parts.

(c) An approved steam tube assembly of the type used in Browning machine gun, caliber.50, M2, water-cooled. - (d) A new bunter plate of the type used in the Browning machine gun, caliber.30, M1919A4.

Republished by Liber Copia LLC for convenient study and reference on any device.