Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I've been watching "The Weapon Hunter" on the Smithsonian Channel. I know, some have issues with the show's host. That said, I did learn a bit from the recent episode that pertained to the "Stinger" WWII LMG that was cobbled together by Marines in the Pacific. They built the hand-carried gun from a ANM2 aircraft machine gun, a Garand stock with a fabricated trigger mechanism, and a BAR's bipod and carry handle.
The Weapon Hunter: Iwo Jima Franken-gun
I'd never heard of Corporal Tony Stein:
CMOHS.org - Corporal STEIN, TONY, U.S. Marine Corps
But, this episode I learned about Corporal Stein's Medal of Honor citation (CMOHS.org - Corporal STEIN, TONY, U.S. Marine Corps) and that "Cpl. Stein, armed with a personally improvised aircraft-type weapon [the "Stinger"], provided rapid covering fire as the remainder of his platoon attempted to move into position...... he removed his helmet and shoes to expedite his movements and ran back to the beach for additional ammunition, making a total of 8 trips under intense fire and carrying or assisting a wounded man back each time."
Info on this unique firearm:
The Stinger Light Machinegun - Guns.com
The Weapon Hunter: Iwo Jima Franken-gun
I'd never heard of Corporal Tony Stein:
CMOHS.org - Corporal STEIN, TONY, U.S. Marine Corps
But, this episode I learned about Corporal Stein's Medal of Honor citation (CMOHS.org - Corporal STEIN, TONY, U.S. Marine Corps) and that "Cpl. Stein, armed with a personally improvised aircraft-type weapon [the "Stinger"], provided rapid covering fire as the remainder of his platoon attempted to move into position...... he removed his helmet and shoes to expedite his movements and ran back to the beach for additional ammunition, making a total of 8 trips under intense fire and carrying or assisting a wounded man back each time."
Info on this unique firearm:
The Stinger Light Machinegun - Guns.com
The Stinger LMG
During the war in the Pacific, the United States Navy and Marines lost thousands of aircraft not only to enemy action, but also to accidents and mechanical failures. It was from some of these junked aircraft that enterprising marines obtained ‘surplus’ ANM2s and decided to modify them for use on the ground.
Early marines such as Private Bill Colby in 1943 used a re-purposed ANM2, still with the spade grips attached, simply by jury-rigging a bipod to the front of the barrel. In November 1944, Para Marine Sergeant Mel J Grevich, of the machine gun section G Company, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, began a more complex adaptation. With the blessing of his commanding officers all the way to the battalion level, he began manufacturing the new weapon in Hawaii while the 5th MARDIV waited to invade Iwo Jima.
Taking surplus ANM2 and parts acquired “from God knows where,” Grevich manufactured six finished weapons with the help of Private First Class John Lyttle. Lyttle for the record said years later of the base machinegun parts that, “I don’t recall how or where we got them.” The design took the ANM2, removed the spade grips, added a simple trigger to the firing solenoid, used M1 Carbine replacement stocks for a grip, attached a BAR bipod to the front, gave the whole thing a 100-round box magazine that held a linked belt of ammunition, and painted them a camouflaged color. The result was a weapon just over forty inches long, weighing in at a manageable 25-pounds, and capable of firing 30-06 rounds at a rate three times faster than the standard M1919A6 of the day.
During the war in the Pacific, the United States Navy and Marines lost thousands of aircraft not only to enemy action, but also to accidents and mechanical failures. It was from some of these junked aircraft that enterprising marines obtained ‘surplus’ ANM2s and decided to modify them for use on the ground.
Early marines such as Private Bill Colby in 1943 used a re-purposed ANM2, still with the spade grips attached, simply by jury-rigging a bipod to the front of the barrel. In November 1944, Para Marine Sergeant Mel J Grevich, of the machine gun section G Company, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, began a more complex adaptation. With the blessing of his commanding officers all the way to the battalion level, he began manufacturing the new weapon in Hawaii while the 5th MARDIV waited to invade Iwo Jima.
Taking surplus ANM2 and parts acquired “from God knows where,” Grevich manufactured six finished weapons with the help of Private First Class John Lyttle. Lyttle for the record said years later of the base machinegun parts that, “I don’t recall how or where we got them.” The design took the ANM2, removed the spade grips, added a simple trigger to the firing solenoid, used M1 Carbine replacement stocks for a grip, attached a BAR bipod to the front, gave the whole thing a 100-round box magazine that held a linked belt of ammunition, and painted them a camouflaged color. The result was a weapon just over forty inches long, weighing in at a manageable 25-pounds, and capable of firing 30-06 rounds at a rate three times faster than the standard M1919A6 of the day.
