WEAPONS OF THE WORLD WAR II GYRENE

M1917A1 Heavy Machine Gun

Characteristics Weight (with water): 93 pounds Rate of fire: 400-600 rounds per minute Maximum effective range: 1100 yards Method of loading: 250 round cloth belts The M1917A1 was a water cooled, recoil operated, belt fed, heavy machine gun.

The M1917A1 Heavy Machine Gun was one of many weapons designed by the legendary John M. Browning. It was first used in World War I as the M1917 HMG. Nearly 70,000 of these weapons were produced in 1917-1918. After the armistice, many of these weapons were placed in long term storage.

Between 1936-1937, Rock Island Arsenal made numerous modifications to these weapons, redesignating the HMG as the M1917A1. With the coming of World War II, the US Army Ordnance Department placed contracts for new weapons. During the war, nearly 54,000 M1917A1's were built by American manufacturers.

In the Marine Corps, the M1917A1 was used primarily in the the Marine infantry battalion. Under the D-series Table of Organization in effect at the start of the war, there were 24 heavy machine guns found in the battalion weapons company. These weapons were organized into three heavy machine gun platoons.

As the war progressed, the number of heavy machine guns decreased in favor of lighter weapons. Under the F-series Table of Organization, approved in May 1944, the heavy machine gun platoons were assigned to the rifle companies, for a total of 18 HMG's.

The photo at left depicts a Marine Corps heavy machine gun squad. In addition to the HMG, the squad was authorized two hand carts, one for the gun, and the other for ammunition. The squad leader was a corporal, and the rest of the Marines were non-rates. The gunner fired the weapon and the assistant gunner fed the weapon and helped with target identification. The other Marines in the squad were ammo bearers.

In the attack, the HMG's could be employed to cover the flanks on the axis of advance, or to provide suppressive fires on the objective. In the defense, they were a key part of the battalion's fires. The guns' water cooling and heavy tripods enabled them to fire thousands of rounds if necessary.

Weighing nearly 100 pounds, the M1917A1 was difficult to transport. It was cumbersome to hand carry and its ammunition was also heavy. HMG's were usually emplaced in static positions. They were best suited to the defensive role of breaking up Japanese night attacks and banzai charges.

GySgt John M. Basilone was one of the first Medal of Honor recipients in World War II. He served as a HMG section leader in Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during the Guadalcanal campaign. On the night of 24-25 October 1942, his courage and leadership were critical to smashing a Japanese regimental night attack.

GySgt Basilone received his Medal of Honor on 27 May 1943 while the 1st MarDiv was recuperating in Australia. He was then ordered home to take part in war bond drives. The Corps offered him a commission, but he said, "I'm a plain soldier, I want to stay one." He wanted badly to return to the FMF and requested transfer many times. His request was granted in early 1944 and he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th MarDiv.

Serving as a HMG platoon sergeant, GySgt Basilone landed on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945. Arriving on Red Beach with the 4th wave at about 0930, he immediately set to work moving his Marines forward across the fire-swept ground. Disregarding his own safety many times, he tried to restore momentum to the stalled attack.

He ignored concentrated fire and seemed oblivious to the danger all around him. Finally, Gunny Basilone's luck ran out at about noon. While briefing his Marines, he was killed by a Japanese mortar round. He was buried in the 5th MarDiv cemetery. The Gunny was later was the recipient of a posthumous Navy Cross.

A pre-war Marine with a heavy machine gun on an anti-aircraft mount. The water hose is visible near the muzzle on the water jacket.
Courtesy World War II in Color

""Our crew and two others set off… in a flanking movement to the left, heading for some level terrain to the right of the Jap's position. It took about all the patience and strength most of us had going down that hill because we had to cover at least a hundred yards and use as much concealment as possible. We finally made it, setting up the guns in the flat section of the Jap's flank, my gun forward, the other two covering the rear." "The Japs made repeated charges, but were caught in a crossfire until the defending unit was cut down to about sixty-five. With the cover of the rear guns we were able to move up with hand grenades and knock out the first pillbox, going on later to the second. The third pillbox was too high on the hill to get at, but our guns were able to engage it with a constant fire that allowed our men waiting on the hill to advance on the Japs."" "Short Belts and Short Ranges" by Sgt I. R. McVay Leatherneck Magazine August 1944

(above) Officer candidates at MCB, Quantico, on a heavy machine gun range early in World War II. The wooden ammo boxes and fabric belts used with the M1917A1 are visible in this photo. Later in the war, metal ammo boxes and disintegrating link belts were introduced for use with this weapon. USMC Photo

(above) a heavy machine gun squad of the 24th Marines in the field at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in late 1943. USMC Photo

(above) A heavy machine gun squad on Iwo Jima–1945. The pile of brass casings behind the weapon shows how much ammunition was fired out of these guns. During sustained firing, thousands of rounds could be fired in a short time. USMC Photo

(above) A heavy machine gun in action on Iwo Jima. The cloth belt is clearly visible as it feeds from the receiver. In this weapon, casings ejected from the bottom of the receiver. Still image from a USMC motion picture

 

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT

WORLD WAR II GYRENE HOME