The M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle

WEAPONS OF THE WORLD WAR II MARINE

The Browning Automatic Rifle, better known as the "B-A-R," was the Marine Corps' squad automatic weapon for many years. It was part of the infantry Marine's arsenal from the closing days of World War I right through the Cold War. In World War II, the BAR provided the fire support Marine outfits needed to fight and maneuver in the rugged Pacific campaigns.

(above) The Browning Automatic Rifle, Cal. 30,
M1918A2,with Bipod

The BAR was an air-cooled, gas-operated,
magazine-fed, shoulder weapon

Weight of the BAR–20 pounds with bipod
Rate of fire–120-150 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range–600 yards
Method of loading–20 round magazine

The BAR was an enduring weapon of the 20th Century. Designed by the legendary John M. Browning, the BAR was the culmination of almost twenty years of trial and testing. In World War I, American forces in France were first equipped with the French Chauchat automatic rifle. A dismal failure in combat, the Chauchat had so many problems, they were nearly impossible to enumerate. During the summer of 1918, BAR's were issued to divisions of the American Expeditionary Force. In addition, all stateside divisons embarking for France were issued with BAR's. The new automatic rifle was first used in combat during the fall of 1918 and proved itself to be superior to any other similar weapon.

(Above) Marines of a BAR team of Landing Team 2/2,
2nd MarDiv loading BAR magazines enroute to Tarawa–
November 1943. Loaded magazines can be seen on the deck near
the right knee of the Marine at left. USMC Photo

The BAR was the core weapon of the Marine rifle squad. Marine Corps doctrine stressed that fire team leaders should keep direct control of their BAR men. The squad leader was charged with designating BAR positions on the defense, and organizing the other fighting positions around them. Marines respected the firepower of the BAR, and it earned a reputation as a reliable weapon that could not be broken. There was no sound that reassured Marines more than the steady hammer of the BAR firing in a tight spot.

Of course, the BAR had its drawbacks too. First, it was downright heavy–the weapon with its 12 loaded magazines weighed almost 40 pounds. That was a lot to carry for a kid who might only weigh 140 pounds himself.

There was no provision to change the barrel after rapid firing, so the BAR got really hot. After firing a few hundred rounds in a short period, the barrel would glow red, and the heat scorched the wooden fore end beneath the barrel. And it flat out burned through ammo. Marines learned to fire in 3 to 5 round bursts, but that was still only four trigger pulls for a magazine. It took much longer to load a BAR magazine than to fire it.

Among the many heroic Marines of World War II was Pfc Paul Witek, of Chicago, Ill. Pfc Witek was a BAR man in 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division during the campaign for Guam. During the battle for Finegayan on 3 August 1944, his platoon was pinned down by heavy fire. Pfc Witek covered his fellow Marines by firing a full magazine from his BAR while standing erect.

While his platoon withdrew to reconsolidate, Pfc Witek remained to cover one of his wounded buddies waiting for evacuation. Hit by enemy machine gun fire again and pinned down, the platoon took cover and Pfc Witek unhesitatingly moved forward, throwing hand grenades and firing bursts from his BAR. He closed to within 5 to 10 yards of the enemy position, destroying the emplacement and killing eight Japanese soldiers. He was struck and killed by enemy rifle fire. For his heroic and sacrificial actions, Pfc Witek was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.

Even with its drawbacks, the BAR was one of the best squad automatic weapons in World War II. By war's end, there were 27 BARs in every Marine rifle company.

(Left) Pfc Tom Williams of Los Angeles, Calif., with his BAR–Camp Pendleton, summer 1944.
He served with Co. H 3/26, 5th MarDiv.
courtesy Tom Williams

"The BAR was a bitch. There were bolts and firing pins, extractors and receiver groups, a sliding leg assembly, a flash hider, a bipod bearing, and a recoil spring and guide… The tricky part of the BAR, I remember, was putting your index finger on the checkered surface of the recoil spring guide, turning and pressing until the ends were clear of the retaining shoulders, and then carefully removing the spring and guide. You never hurried that part. If you let the spring get away from you, the guide would rip right through your throat."

Goodbye Darkness–A Memoir of the Pacific War
William Manchester

(above) 4th MarDiv Gyrenes moving up onto the Motoyama Plateau on
Iwo Jima— February 1945. At right is a BAR man.
Still image from USMC combat camera film

(above) A patrol of the 6th MarDiv searches the ruins of Naha, Okinawa looking for Japanese snipers–Spring 1945. Leading the Marines at left is a BAR man. USMC Photo

(Above) A heavily armed Marine assault team moves out
on Okinawa–Spring 1945. The Marine at left is equipped
with the BAR. The Marine in the foreground carries the
M2-2 flamethrower. USMC Photo

(Above) A Fourth Marine Division BAR man attempts to clean the dirt from his weapon on Iwo Jima–February 1945. The BAR fired from the open-bolt position. Therefore, it was especially prone to stoppages due to dity and debris falling into the chamber from the ejection port. Still image from USMC combat camera film

NOTE: Painting The BAR Man by Col Charles Waterhouse, USMCR (ret), USMC Combat Art Collection

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