Item Description
Original Item. Only One Available. This is a great example of an extremely difficult-to-find, wartime-manufactured M1917A1 Browning Machine Gun Anti-Aircraft Tripod. We have offered several M1917A1 tripods in the past, but this is the first in full Anti-Aircraft configuration, with great data plates that date the tripod to 1944. The set consists of a normal M1917A1 tripod with an Elevator cradle attachment meant for Anti-Aircraft fire.
Both pieces of equipment retain their original data plates. The tripod plate reads:
NO. 273148 H.M.R.
MOUNT, TRIPOD,
CAL. .30, M2
APPLIANCE MFG. CO, 1944
And the Cradle’s data plate reads:
ELEVATOR-CRADLE
A.A. CAL. 50 MI
HEINTZ MANUFACTURING CO. D.N.H.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNA. U.S.A.
The purpose of the elevator cradle was to allow firing of the weapon at near-vertical angles while firing at aircraft. The cradle legs are connected via chains between them which are a bit oxidized but still function well. The legs of the cradle tripod measure roughly 60” long, and the elevator-cradle is roughly 21” tall on its own.
This is a phenomenal Anti-Aircraft tripod set with fantastic potential for display. It will easily become the centerpiece of any U.S. WWII Collection, or any collection of Machine Gun Equipment. Comes ready for further research and display.
Developed in the 1930s, the Browning M1917A1 machine gun was an improved version of the M1917 used by the U.S. Army in France during World War I. The weapon featured a water jacket, which allowed the machine gun to fire for long periods without the barrel overheating. As the water heated and began to boil, steam collected in the top of the jacket and was vented into a container, where it condensed back to water for reuse in the jacket.
Water cooling allowed the M1917A1 to fire sustained bursts of between 450 and 600 rounds per minute, but it also made the machine gun heavy and difficult to move. The machine gun, tripod, ammunition and water needed to operate the weapon weighed more than 100 pounds. The M1917A1’s weight made it ideally suited for static defensive positions, where it could provide prolonged defensive fire without the need for mobility. The M1917A1 was used in all theaters during World War II and remained in service through the Korean War before finally being phased out during the Vietnam War.
The Browning M1917A1 .30 Caliber Machine Gun was made famous by Sergeant John Basilone (November 4, 1916 - February 19, 1945). He was a United States Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the nation's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross in World War II.
During the Battle for Henderson Field, his unit came under attack by a regiment of approximately 3,000 soldiers from the Japanese Sendai Division. On October 24, 1942, Japanese forces began a frontal attack using machine guns, grenades, and mortars against the American heavy machine guns. Basilone commanded two sections of machine guns that fought for the next two days until only Basilone and two other Marines were left standing. Basilone moved an extra gun into position and maintained continual fire against the incoming Japanese forces. He then repaired and manned another machine gun, holding the defensive line until replacements arrived. As the battle went on, ammunition became critically low. Despite their supply lines having been cut off by enemies in the rear, Basilone fought through hostile ground to resupply his heavy machine gunners with urgently needed ammunition. When the last of it ran out shortly before dawn on the second day, Basilone held off the Japanese soldiers attacking his position using his pistol. By the end of the engagement, Japanese forces opposite their section of the line were virtually annihilated. For his actions during the battle, he received the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor.
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- This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America. Every display machinegun and machine gun parts set and gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).
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