Machine Gunners....

[Chris Boonzaier]

I thought a nice thread showing group shots of Machine Gun trrops would be educative... I have a bunch still to scan, but to start the ball rolling, some bavarian Landwehr machine gunners... Notice the empty belt and the oh so sexy round steam tim (I would loooove one of those!!)

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here is a shot from April 1917, the nice trench mount on the MG....

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here is a nice MG0815 shot

[Chris Boonzaier]

Another MG0815 crew

[Chris Boonzaier]

A variation stand on this one...

[Chris Boonzaier]

A heavier gun now with some Landwehrmen, nitice the round container again...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Ditto on this one...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Grandfathers, not so close to the front...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Closer to the front...

[Chris Boonzaier]

A nice shot indeed... have never seen one of the waggons on the left, and wonder what the leather case is that he is carrying...

[Chris Boonzaier]

These guys look the part...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Interestng study of the shield...

[Chip]

Chris,

Thanks for showing the photos. You have some excellent examples. The leather case that you mention in post #10 is the large MG tool kit. Inside this larger kit was a folded leather piece, which had the slots and straps to attach the tools. Rather than fish around inside for what you wanted, you just pulled the entire leather piece out with all of the tools attached to it.

There was also a lighter tool kit, which was worn on the belt. Here is what the interior of the small kit looks like (some of the contents shown are incorrect). Also, here is a photo of the working part of the cylindrical condensing can.

Chip

[Tony]

I think I have a few MG photos, I'll have to dig them out. Here's one for starters.

Tony

[Chris Boonzaier]

Chris,

Thanks for showing the photos. You have some excellent examples. The leather case that you mention in post #10 is the large MG tool kit. Inside this larger kit was a folded leather piece, which had the slots and straps to attach the tools. Rather than fish around inside for what you wanted, you just pulled the entire leather piece out with all of the tools attached to it.

There was also a lighter tool kit, which was worn on the belt. Here is what the interior of the small kit looks like (some of the contents shown are incorrect). Also, here is a photo of the working part of the cylindrical condensing can.

Chip

oooooooh you bastard! Dont say you actually own those !!!

[Chris Boonzaier]

I think I have a few MG photos, I'll have to dig them out. Here's one for starters.

Tony

Any idea what those cross straps are for ??

[Tony]

These ones?

Don't know, probably for carrying something like the sledge.

Edited November 24, 2006 by Tony

[Tony]

Here's another.

[Chris Boonzaier]

These ones?

Don't know, probably for carrying something like the sledge.

Thats what I thought, but they have 08/15s with no sledge?

[Chip]

Chris,

Unfortunately, I do not own these things. The photos were taken by me at friend's house in Germany.

I have owned several of the large MG tool cases, but none had any contents remaining. There is a nice example on display at the army museum in Brussels. Here is a picture of it (taken through the glass case). As you can see, there is a wooden mallet, wrench, spare locks and other larger repair parts.

Chip

[Chris Boonzaier]

Chris,

Unfortunately, I do not own these things.

That kinda makes me feel better

[Tony]

It could be your one in the middle of this bunch Chris.

[Chip]

Chris,

I imagine that Tony's photo shows a group receiving MG training and they have the Trageriemens on because they are being trained on both weapons. Here is an Ersatz (Papiergarn) Trageriemen. This one is mine!

Chip

[Tony]

Chip, they were in a quiet area in Elsa? in Feb 1918 where they stayed for a couple of months. As far as I know, the Uffz. was already in the MG section, so maybe he was giving the instruction. They're from RIR94.

By the way, look how clean their boots are.

tony

[Chip]

Chris,

I found a photo of the large MG tool case. It had belt loops on the back and a shoulder sling.

Chip