WWI German Machine Gun

[Subdeacon Joe]

#WeaponsWednesday - German MG08/15

The German MG08/15 was an attempt by Germany during WWI to turn the MG08 heavy machine gun into a lighter, man portable weapon system. By lightening the receiver, adding a pistol grip, shoulder stock and a bipod, the German Army was able to rapidly field a squad-level automatic weapon with minimal development and get it into front line use quickly. However, the demands on a crew-served weapon remained, and many MG08/15s were used for static defense, where water for the gun’s cooling jacket and stocks of ammunition could be kept close at hand. 

MG08/15 serial number 4833 was emplaced along the Meuse River, southeast of the city of Sedan on the morning of 11 November 1918.  The 5th Marines crossed the river under cover of darkness, starting at 2130 the previous night. Two of the regiment’s battalions were across by morning, and began a sweep northwards along the east bank of the Meuse. The gun was captured around 0900, a mere two hours before the Armistice was to go into effect. 

After the armistice, the Marine Brigade was placed on occupation duty in Neuweid, Germany, near Coblenz.  In January 1919, then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited the Marines at Neuweid and during their official meeting, MGen John Lejeune presented this captured machine gun to the Assistant Secretary.  It was transferred to the National Museum of the Marine Corps from the Franklin Delano Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, NY in 1979.

 

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Great googlie mooglies, but that is an UGLY gun!

[DeaconKC]

But can we use it for WB?

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

and we cussed the pig (M60) while packing it around 

that critter is not only UGLY , and to looks to be very heavy 

 

  CB 

[Sedalia Dave]