While perusing an original Ram Tank Instruction Book (1942) which we
have just acquired, we found a picture of the Browning 1919A4 .30
calibre machine gun in its mount, as used in the cupola in all but the
late Rams.
What's fascinating about this is the firing mechanism, which is a
mechanical trigger adaptation which allows firing from below, as there
was no room in the cupola behind the gun. The link below is to this
picture. Have any of you knowledgeable in such things ever seen an
adaptation like this, or was this a 'home-grown' device developed for
expedience? The manual only gives a brief description of the gun and its
method of use, nothing mechanical.
http://www.1cacr.org/pics/cupola1919a4.jpg
Also, shown on the stowage diagram for the inside left of the turret are
four "Reel, Ammunition, Cal..30 (110rds), A.A."; from reading the text,
I'm assuming these were for the third .30 cal normally carried in clips
on the outside left of the turret, for the commander's use in
anti-aircraft protection. However, I have never heard of ammunition fed
from reels before; can anyone cast some light on this?
-- Regards,Geoff Winnington-Ball MAPLE LEAF UP! ==> Zephyr, Ontario, Canada ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maple Leaf Up - The Canadian Army Overseas in WW2 http://www.mapleleafup.org <sunray@mapleleafup.org> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment http://www.1cacr.org <info@1cacr.org> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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