±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 777
Total: 777
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Home
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Photo Gallery
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Photo Gallery
10: Photo Gallery
11: Community Forums
12: Home
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Home
19: Home
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Your Account
27: Home
28: Photo Gallery
29: Home
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Photo Gallery
33: Home
34: Photo Gallery
35: Downloads
36: Photo Gallery
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Home
41: Community Forums
42: Photo Gallery
43: Photo Gallery
44: Community Forums
45: Home
46: Home
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Photo Gallery
50: Community Forums
51: Home
52: Photo Gallery
53: Home
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Photo Gallery
57: Community Forums
58: Home
59: Photo Gallery
60: Photo Gallery
61: Community Forums
62: Community Forums
63: Photo Gallery
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Photo Gallery
70: Community Forums
71: CPGlang
72: Community Forums
73: Photo Gallery
74: Community Forums
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Home
80: Photo Gallery
81: Home
82: Photo Gallery
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Photo Gallery
86: Photo Gallery
87: Community Forums
88: CPGlang
89: Your Account
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: CPGlang
94: Community Forums
95: Photo Gallery
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Photo Gallery
105: Downloads
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Photo Gallery
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Photo Gallery
114: Member Screenshots
115: Photo Gallery
116: Home
117: Community Forums
118: Home
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Photo Gallery
122: Community Forums
123: Community Forums
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: News Archive
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Member Screenshots
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Photo Gallery
136: Photo Gallery
137: Photo Gallery
138: Community Forums
139: Home
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Home
143: Home
144: Community Forums
145: Statistics
146: Community Forums
147: Downloads
148: Photo Gallery
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Downloads
152: Community Forums
153: Member Screenshots
154: Home
155: News Archive
156: Community Forums
157: Downloads
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: News Archive
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: News Archive
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Home
172: Home
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Home
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Photo Gallery
182: Community Forums
183: Home
184: Photo Gallery
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Home
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Home
192: Community Forums
193: CPGlang
194: Photo Gallery
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Photo Gallery
202: Home
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Downloads
209: Photo Gallery
210: Community Forums
211: Home
212: Community Forums
213: Downloads
214: Home
215: Community Forums
216: News Archive
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Home
220: Photo Gallery
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Member Screenshots
225: Community Forums
226: Photo Gallery
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Photo Gallery
230: Photo Gallery
231: Photo Gallery
232: Downloads
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Home
236: Downloads
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Home
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Member Screenshots
245: Photo Gallery
246: Community Forums
247: Photo Gallery
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Statistics
251: Your Account
252: Community Forums
253: Your Account
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Photo Gallery
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: Downloads
260: Community Forums
261: Downloads
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Community Forums
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Home
269: Downloads
270: Community Forums
271: Home
272: Home
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Photo Gallery
280: Community Forums
281: Photo Gallery
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Your Account
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Photo Gallery
291: Photo Gallery
292: Community Forums
293: Home
294: Photo Gallery
295: Community Forums
296: Home
297: Community Forums
298: Contact
299: Photo Gallery
300: Photo Gallery
301: Home
302: Photo Gallery
303: Community Forums
304: Photo Gallery
305: Community Forums
306: Home
307: Photo Gallery
308: Home
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Photo Gallery
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Photo Gallery
316: Home
317: Home
318: Community Forums
319: Your Account
320: Photo Gallery
321: Home
322: Your Account
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Photo Gallery
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Home
331: Home
332: CPGlang
333: Community Forums
334: Home
335: Photo Gallery
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Home
341: Community Forums
342: Photo Gallery
343: Photo Gallery
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Photo Gallery
348: Photo Gallery
349: Downloads
350: Community Forums
351: Photo Gallery
352: CPGlang
353: Community Forums
354: Home
355: Community Forums
356: LinkToUs
357: Community Forums
358: Downloads
359: Home
360: Photo Gallery
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Member Screenshots
364: Community Forums
365: Photo Gallery
366: Community Forums
367: Community Forums
368: Downloads
369: Community Forums
370: Downloads
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Home
374: Downloads
375: Community Forums
376: Home
377: Home
378: Member Screenshots
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Home
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Photo Gallery
388: Community Forums
389: Community Forums
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Photo Gallery
396: Photo Gallery
397: Community Forums
398: Photo Gallery
399: Member Screenshots
400: Home
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Community Forums
404: Photo Gallery
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Photo Gallery
408: Downloads
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Photo Gallery
412: Downloads
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Member Screenshots
419: Photo Gallery
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Community Forums
424: Member Screenshots
425: Community Forums
426: Photo Gallery
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Home
431: Community Forums
432: Home
433: Community Forums
434: Home
435: Home
436: Photo Gallery
437: Photo Gallery
438: Community Forums
439: Photo Gallery
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Downloads
443: Community Forums
444: Photo Gallery
445: Community Forums
446: Your Account
447: Community Forums
448: Community Forums
449: Community Forums
450: Statistics
451: Photo Gallery
452: Community Forums
453: Photo Gallery
454: News Archive
455: Photo Gallery
456: Member Screenshots
457: Community Forums
458: CPGlang
459: Community Forums
460: Your Account
461: Community Forums
462: Your Account
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Home
466: Community Forums
467: Downloads
468: Downloads
469: Contact
470: Photo Gallery
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Community Forums
476: Community Forums
477: Member Screenshots
478: Community Forums
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Photo Gallery
483: Photo Gallery
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Downloads
494: Home
495: Community Forums
496: Home
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Home
501: Community Forums
502: Photo Gallery
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Home
508: Community Forums
509: News
510: News Archive
511: Community Forums
512: Home
513: Community Forums
514: Photo Gallery
515: Community Forums
516: Photo Gallery
517: Photo Gallery
518: Community Forums
519: Community Forums
520: Home
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Home
524: Community Forums
525: Photo Gallery
526: Community Forums
527: Photo Gallery
528: Community Forums
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Photo Gallery
538: CPGlang
539: Photo Gallery
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Member Screenshots
544: Photo Gallery
545: Community Forums
546: Photo Gallery
547: Photo Gallery
548: Photo Gallery
549: Community Forums
550: Home
551: Community Forums
552: Photo Gallery
553: Home
554: Community Forums
555: Home
556: Community Forums
557: Downloads
558: Community Forums
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: Photo Gallery
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Community Forums
565: Community Forums
566: Photo Gallery
567: Downloads
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Photo Gallery
571: Community Forums
572: Community Forums
573: Your Account
574: Community Forums
575: Photo Gallery
576: Community Forums
577: Downloads
578: Photo Gallery
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Home
583: Community Forums
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Community Forums
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: Downloads
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Photo Gallery
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: Community Forums
603: Community Forums
604: Home
605: News
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Community Forums
611: Member Screenshots
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Community Forums
618: Photo Gallery
619: Downloads
620: Home
621: Community Forums
622: Community Forums
623: Community Forums
624: Community Forums
625: Community Forums
626: Community Forums
627: Community Forums
628: Statistics
629: Community Forums
630: Community Forums
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Community Forums
634: Home
635: Community Forums
636: Community Forums
637: Home
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Community Forums
642: Community Forums
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Community Forums
646: Photo Gallery
647: Community Forums
648: Photo Gallery
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Photo Gallery
653: Community Forums
654: Home
655: Community Forums
656: Community Forums
657: Community Forums
658: Community Forums
659: Photo Gallery
660: Community Forums
661: Home
662: Member Screenshots
663: Photo Gallery
664: Downloads
665: Downloads
666: Community Forums
667: Community Forums
668: Photo Gallery
669: Community Forums
670: Photo Gallery
671: Community Forums
672: Community Forums
673: Community Forums
674: Home
675: Community Forums
676: Community Forums
677: Home
678: News
679: Photo Gallery
680: Community Forums
681: Downloads
682: Community Forums
683: Community Forums
684: News
685: Home
686: Member Screenshots
687: Community Forums
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums
691: Community Forums
692: Downloads
693: Community Forums
694: Community Forums
695: CPGlang
696: Community Forums
697: Community Forums
698: Community Forums
699: Photo Gallery
700: Community Forums
701: Community Forums
702: Photo Gallery
703: Community Forums
704: Community Forums
705: Community Forums
706: Community Forums
707: Community Forums
708: Community Forums
709: Photo Gallery
710: Community Forums
711: Home
712: Community Forums
713: Community Forums
714: Community Forums
715: Community Forums
716: Community Forums
717: Community Forums
718: Photo Gallery
719: Downloads
720: Community Forums
721: Downloads
722: Community Forums
723: Community Forums
724: Photo Gallery
725: Downloads
726: Member Screenshots
727: Photo Gallery
728: Community Forums
729: Photo Gallery
730: Community Forums
731: Community Forums
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Downloads
735: Community Forums
736: Community Forums
737: Community Forums
738: Community Forums
739: Community Forums
740: Community Forums
741: Home
742: Community Forums
743: Community Forums
744: Community Forums
745: Community Forums
746: Community Forums
747: Community Forums
748: Home
749: Community Forums
750: Community Forums
751: Community Forums
752: Photo Gallery
753: Community Forums
754: Community Forums
755: Community Forums
756: Photo Gallery
757: Community Forums
758: Community Forums
759: Community Forums
760: Community Forums
761: Photo Gallery
762: Statistics
763: Photo Gallery
764: Community Forums
765: Community Forums
766: Photo Gallery
767: Community Forums
768: Community Forums
769: CPGlang
770: Community Forums
771: Community Forums
772: Photo Gallery
773: Community Forums
774: Community Forums
775: Downloads
776: Community Forums
777: Statistics

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
The cures of the M3
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
oldtop
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 70

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:07 am
Post subject: The cures of the M3

I watched vehicle crews in the Corps sweat out firing the M3 submachine for years, and I'll tell you it was the last weapon I would bet my life on.
The problem was alway those @#$%$#@ magazines and the springs, I saw crews holding the M3 upside down to get the mags to feed. the springs had been in those mags for so long they would no longer feed the rounds, but after each trip to the range some "hardhead" Lt would push the follower down with his calbrated finger and declare the mags "ok" and the whole thing would start allover again. And the Corps got by till Nam..I will never forget a Ontos commander standing along his bogged down vehicle trying to beat off some rag- rice farmers (VC) with his M3, there he was firing one shot at a time and shaking it to feed between each round...When I went back to Nam in 68 as a SSgt and they tried to give a M1911 I almost gagged, I did find myself a good 12ga pump shotgun, when asked why I prefered the shotgun by a "hardhead" 2nd Lt I told him that most of our fights would be at night (the NVA and VCs weren't total fools and knew they could cut their loses by 50% in a night action) And if you want to know why a shotgun just stand outside at night and try to see the sights on your 45.
Back to top
View user's profile
SFC_Jeff_Button
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1311
Location: Ft Hood, TX
PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:44 am
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

24th ID had M4's till I left there, (Ft Stewart) in 1997. Never fired them but had them in the arms room never the less. I have a stack of brand-new TM's for them still from there.

_________________
SFC Jeff Button "High Angle Hell"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Sabot
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:54 pm
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

I first ran across the M3 as a 12F enlisted man (combat engineer vehicle crewman). We had two per vehicle, but never fired them. As a lieutenant, I was the platoon leader of an M60A3TTS platoon and we had two per tank. We used to "fam fire" them every so often, normally to burn up .45 cal ammo so it did not have to be turned in at the end of pistol qualification. The magazines were crap, even ones we had still wrapped in foil and never used.

_________________
RobG
Back to top
View user's profile AIM Address
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:32 am
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

Standard issue for every tanker in my day as well. Open bolt, phooey!

Curiously, a suppressed version was a favorite among some early MACV-SOG teams, including the legendary Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver. Never carried one in combat myself though.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Rikard_Hufschmied
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 458
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:28 pm
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

- Doug_Kibbey
Standard issue for every tanker in my day as well. Open bolt, phooey!


Hey, don't slag open bolt. If well made and with basic maintenance there are few things more reliable.

I've had my share of weak magazine and recoil springs though. When my platoon was up for guard duty during basic training I was selected Platoon Leader and one of my duties was to keep inventory of the guard barracks and equipment. To my amazement the guard weapons weren't included on the list and just one look at the six m/45B's (Carl-Gustav's) in the rack were a sad sight. God knows how long they'd been in the rack with recoil springs compressed and full magazines. They were full of dust and grit and when disassembled the recoil springs were quite noticeable shorter than a healthy one. The mags were worse. First none were full, and many were topped with just 2-3 live rounds on all blanks or mixed with blanks!!! Second, the springs were so weak from being compressed for so long that they without a doubt would have caused a failure to feed. Third, there were some serious dents in a couple of mags from being trashed around on guard duty ... and these were the weapons we should use on guard?

We promptly (against regualtion) exchanged the weapons and mags with our own issue that we got from our lockers and rumaged around for live ammo (which for some reason and again against regulation is always available), popped in the cleaned bolts from the guard weapons and we were ready to go.

At the end of our rotation I handed over the ammended inventory list to the commanding officer and saw his jaw drop, I seriously think that it had never crossed their minds before that. Need I say that the guard weapons were kept in pristine condition after this "incident", all faulty parts exchanged and everything kept in inventory down to the last round of live ammo.
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:57 pm
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

- Rikard_Hufschmied
- Doug_Kibbey
Standard issue for every tanker in my day as well. Open bolt, phooey!


Hey, don't slag open bolt. If well made and with basic maintenance there are few things more reliable.



Not the hot tip though, where exposure to funky elements is likely...if you're to be ready to fire (with this weapon) you're either charged and allowing more moisture (or worse) into the receiver (even with ejection port door closed) or gonna' be forced to charge the thing from closed, with all it's attendant noise. Simple, yes....reliably dry and clean when ready to fire...maybe. Closed bolt has distinct advantages where the elements and stealth are an issue. (..and I hate having to futz with the "door")
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Rikard_Hufschmied
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 458
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:55 am
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

- Doug_Kibbey
- Rikard_Hufschmied
- Doug_Kibbey
Standard issue for every tanker in my day as well. Open bolt, phooey!


Hey, don't slag open bolt. If well made and with basic maintenance there are few things more reliable.



Not the hot tip though, where exposure to funky elements is likely...if you're to be ready to fire (with this weapon) you're either charged and allowing more moisture (or worse) into the receiver (even with ejection port door closed) or gonna' be forced to charge the thing from closed, with all it's attendant noise. Simple, yes....reliably dry and clean when ready to fire...maybe. Closed bolt has distinct advantages where the elements and stealth are an issue. (..and I hate having to futz with the "door")


I admit to having no experience with the M3, the only open bolt SMG I know well is the m/45 (Swedish K) and it's very robust and durable and even reasonably silent to charge from closed. From what I've heard and read the "Enema Syringe" was/is never first choice anywhere at any time.
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:42 pm
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

- Rikard_Hufschmied
- Doug_Kibbey
- Rikard_Hufschmied
- Doug_Kibbey
Standard issue for every tanker in my day as well. Open bolt, phooey!


Hey, don't slag open bolt. If well made and with basic maintenance there are few things more reliable.



Not the hot tip though, where exposure to funky elements is likely...if you're to be ready to fire (with this weapon) you're either charged and allowing more moisture (or worse) into the receiver (even with ejection port door closed) or gonna' be forced to charge the thing from closed, with all it's attendant noise. Simple, yes....reliably dry and clean when ready to fire...maybe. Closed bolt has distinct advantages where the elements and stealth are an issue. (..and I hate having to futz with the "door")


I admit to having no experience with the M3, the only open bolt SMG I know well is the m/45 (Swedish K) and it's very robust and durable and even reasonably silent to charge from closed. From what I've heard and read the "Enema Syringe" was/is never first choice anywhere at any time.


Rikard,
...and interestingly enough, the Swedish K was the other (and more commonly employed) open-bolt SMG to see use with covert forces like SOG in Vietnam (both weapons lent themselves to sound suppression).
I had a Thompson for a while over there that I used from time-to-time in "I" Corps...an early one with the removeable stock that effectively made it a long-barreled machine pistol. Heavier than either the "K" or M3, it made up for it in capacity because I had a drum magazine in addition to the 30rd. stick. It fired from a closed-bolt though, of course...and was selectable for semi-auto and had decent Lyman sights.
Quite a few S. Vietnamese and Montagnard forces used the M3 very early in the war (like everything else old in the U.S. inventory, like BAR's, etc.).
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
oldtop
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 70

PostPosted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:08 am
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

The problem with the M3 was you needed to keep it's ejection port cover open and this " open hole" was the main collection point for everything from drit to small trees (god help you if you slipped and went down in the mud!!). If you got caught by the bad guys with the port close for safety reason or to keep it clean they wern't going to call time out so you could flip open the port cover.
Back to top
View user's profile
Rikard_Hufschmied
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 458
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:11 am
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

- oldtop
The problem with the M3 was you needed to keep it's ejection port cover open and this " open hole" was the main collection point for everything from drit to small trees (god help you if you slipped and went down in the mud!!). If you got caught by the bad guys with the port close for safety reason or to keep it clean they wern't going to call time out so you could flip open the port cover.


The "open hole" is a problem with the m/45 as well but easily solved. What we did was that we removed the canvas bag from the brasscatcher which left only the case deflecting unit. This also solved another nasty problem with most open bolt desgins, premature detonation of a round not fully chambered. This may send shrapnel out of the ejection port into the shooters face and if extremely unlucky into the eyes. With the case deflector in place it's no problem. It looks ugly though, like a piece of plumbing attached, but it does the trick. I have pictures somewhere, I'll try to find them.
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Rikard_Hufschmied
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 458
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:37 am
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

- Doug_Kibbey
- Rikard_Hufschmied
- Doug_Kibbey
- Rikard_Hufschmied
- Doug_Kibbey
Standard issue for every tanker in my day as well. Open bolt, phooey!


Hey, don't slag open bolt. If well made and with basic maintenance there are few things more reliable.



Not the hot tip though, where exposure to funky elements is likely...if you're to be ready to fire (with this weapon) you're either charged and allowing more moisture (or worse) into the receiver (even with ejection port door closed) or gonna' be forced to charge the thing from closed, with all it's attendant noise. Simple, yes....reliably dry and clean when ready to fire...maybe. Closed bolt has distinct advantages where the elements and stealth are an issue. (..and I hate having to futz with the "door")


I admit to having no experience with the M3, the only open bolt SMG I know well is the m/45 (Swedish K) and it's very robust and durable and even reasonably silent to charge from closed. From what I've heard and read the "Enema Syringe" was/is never first choice anywhere at any time.


Rikard,
...and interestingly enough, the Swedish K was the other (and more commonly employed) open-bolt SMG to see use with covert forces like SOG in Vietnam (both weapons lent themselves to sound suppression).
I had a Thompson for a while over there that I used from time-to-time in "I" Corps...an early one with the removeable stock that effectively made it a long-barreled machine pistol. Heavier than either the "K" or M3, it made up for it in capacity because I had a drum magazine in addition to the 30rd. stick. It fired from a closed-bolt though, of course...and was selectable for semi-auto and had decent Lyman sights.
Quite a few S. Vietnamese and Montagnard forces used the M3 very early in the war (like everything else old in the U.S. inventory, like BAR's, etc.).


Doug,

I've read that CIA and Special Units favored the "K" and that when Sweden cut off the supply the Navy commisioned S&W to make a copy, hence the M76. Take a look at this arms dump picture, the m/45 is to the left on top of a pile of M3's with an SKS right beside it. The site doesn't say where the pictures were taken but it must be Vietnam, I've seen smililar pictures taken by friends who have been there in the 80's and 90's.

Check out all the pictures from the armsdump at the link below:
Vietnam Armsdump

Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Dirk
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 115
Location: South Africa
PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:20 am
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

Thanks for the URL !

Interesting to note the Lee-Enfield Mk 4 rifles rusting away - my shoulder still hurts from firing a Mk 4 Mr. Green

Best regards

Dirk
Back to top
View user's profile
oldtop
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 70

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 3:42 pm
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

Don't see a Enfield in that pile, there is a SKS next to the smg, note the SKS's chomed bayonet, the only thing not rusted to crap.
Back to top
View user's profile
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 3:50 pm
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

Here's one to make Dontos cry...and if you go to the index page below, and look at the series of files beginning with "armspics"...you're sure to find something to make you cry too..... Sad

www.project-x.org.uk/images/



Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Rikard_Hufschmied
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 458
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 4:16 pm
Post subject: Re: The cures of the M3

- oldtop
Don't see a Enfield in that pile, there is a SKS next to the smg, note the SKS's chomed bayonet, the only thing not rusted to crap.


Oldtop,

A rusting pile of M3's no less. Go to the link below to see the full set of pictures, there you'll find the Enfields Dirk is talking about.

www.project-x.org.uk/armsdump.html
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum