Large Weapons Cache Uncovered In AR Ramadi, 23 Detained

CJTF7 ^ | Jan. 18, 2004

[solo gringo]

Thanks for the good news I love it Our troops are doing a hellva job GOD BLESS THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE.

[blackie]

Rounding up more guys and bad stuff ~ Bump!

[The KG9 Kid]

This is a huge score.

[fso301]

Keep a close eye on the news from Pakistan and India and you'll frequently see MG-42s mounted on military vehicles. Most recently, I saw them associated with footage of the aftermath of the failed bombing attempt on Musharraf.

My understanding about the MG-42 was that it's very high cyclic rate of fire made its recoil difficult to control resulting in reduced accuracy, especially at longer ranges. Its high cyclic rate also meant the ammo carriers got a real workout trying to keep it fed. On the plus side, a gunner who could control the recoil could lay down a withering fire. American GI's called it Hitlers buzzsaw.

I always thought the M-60s detachable barrel was influenced by the MG-42s detachable barrel.

[TexKat]

Bump for freedom wanting Iraqis talkin more and more sooner rather than later.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There is an incredible amount of ammo in IRAQ.

But every bit removed helps!

[Renfield]

The MG-42 had a cyclic rate of ~1200rpm, which could indeed be difficult to control, if the weapon was not fired in short bursts. The MG-3, its modern incarnation, has 2 cyclic rates of fire, depending upon which bolt and recoil buffer is used. With the heavier bolt and buffer, rates are ~750-950.....still pretty fast.

The barrel-changing facility of the MG-42 was elegant and simple, and since the barrel was shrouded, it was also safe to handle. The M-60, on the other hand, has the barrel and gas-tube assembly come off as a single unit; and since the barrel is unshrouded, a hot barrel can burn the hand of the operator during a change. These guns, as I understand it, were issued with an asbestos glove for barrel changing!!!! Now, who's going to be able to keep up with an asbestos glove in the heat of battle?

The M-60 is regarded by most observers as a poor design, especially in comparison with MG-3 or the FN MAG. That's why it was replaced by the MAG in coaxial roles, and by the Minimi in the Squad Automatic Weapon role.

[fso301]

I guess by saying the concept of a detachable barrel on the M-60 as opposed to the fixed barrel of the BAR and Browning .30 was influenced by the MG-42. Granted, not having a barrel shroud may have sounded good in a conferenceroom but in practice was a bad idea. Suspect it was someones bright idea to get the overall weight dow.

Given the MG-42s recoil managability issues, any idea why the Germans went with a conical flash hider rather than a combo muzzle break-flash hider?

[sdk7x7]

Nice website... look at the status of the top 55 Most Wanted in Iraq: http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/irag-faqs/most-wanted.htm

[Renfield]

Yes, I do. The cone at the end of the barrel isn't intended as a flash hider (although it has that effect); it's a recoil booster, needed to make the action work properly. Remember, with a delayed roller-lock action, there is no primary extraction, as there would be in a gas-operated or Browning-style recoil operated mechanism. The breech block, after the locking rollers disengage from their milled recesses in the receiver, still must have enough rearward momentum to remove the spent cartridge from the chamber. The recoil-booster gives a little extra jolt to the barrel, which is transferred to the breecblock, to make sure the cartridge case gets pulled out of the chamber. You see the same conical recoil boosters on the SIG 710-1, 710-2, 710-3, the Cetme Armelli, and other MGs using roller-lock actions.

Some roller-lock guns employ fluted chambers, so that the cartridge case "floats" in pressurized hot gasses for an instant, just to aid in extraction. H & K guns (such as the G-3), and the earlier Cetme assault rifle, employ this type of chamber. Consequently, cartridge cases ejected from the G-3 are very, very hot, and will burn you if they touch you.

[Renfield]

"...Hells bells, I keep that much in my ammo locker at home..."

Me, too. If my house ever catches fire, they'll see the fireball all the way over in D.C.!

[Once-Ler]

and NO US Soldier was killed by this 'big bad enemy' in Iraq on Jan. 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, or 16th.

Thanx for pointing that out. It does seem like things are quieting down in Iraq. Good job troops!

[VOA]

bump

[PhilDragoo]

Nice catch; now kill the terrorists and put their heads on pikes, thank you.

[maestro]

"Good Hunting!"

Prayers Always!

(II Peter 3:18)

[Travis McGee]

Thanks for your terrific "News from the Front" posts!

[windchime]

Bump!

[FBD]

good Iraq news bump.

[Free Vulcan]

That cache list could easily double as my Christmas list if all that stuff were legal.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You are very welcome, Travis.

Correction today, sadly. We lost a Soldier yesterday because of a Jan. 16 IED attack:

U.S. Soldier Dies Of Wounds

BAGHDAD, Iraq – One Coalition Joint Task Force-Seven soldier died Jan. 18 of wounds received in an improvised explosive device attack in Samarra at approximately 2:30 p.m., Jan. 16.

The incident is under investigation.

The soldier’s name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

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Release #040119d: http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/media-information/january2004/040119d.htm