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Bob H.
Tarawa Photos
Thu Feb 23, 2012 15:16
69.120.136.44

Came across this web site and blog of Able Company 24th

Marines that have battle photos which include some of

Tarawa that I have never seen before. If these are old and

previously posted, pardon me. I can't seem to link them so

here is the address:

http://ablecompany24.blogspot.com/2009/07/battle-photos.

html


I've never seen the photo of "the pile of burned out MG's

from battling the Japs at Tarawa"

Bob


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  • Tarawa Photos - Comment — Jim Hildebrand, Tue Feb 28 10:20
    This is one of the photos posted. I have never seen it before and as I looked at it, a thought occurred to me. Could these actually be the machine guns removed from LVTs after the battle?
    • That actually makes more sense. — Ed Gilbert, Tue Feb 28 18:44
      The receiver groups pretty much never "burned out", but the barrels were prone to overheat and warp or cause rounds to cook off. That's why the barrels were interchangeable. Several tankers commented ... more
    • Re: Tarawa Photos - Comment — Bob H., Tue Feb 28 15:05
      Jim, Valid thought, is there any way to differentiate between the MG type that the Landing Force used and the ones fixed on the LVT's ? I assume they are all Browning 30 cal air cooled. What happen... more
      • TRIPODS — George Proulx, Wed Feb 29 21:38
        I see tripods at the lower right of the pile. GEP
        • Re: TRIPODS — Wiliam L. Jefferies, Thu Mar 1 12:52
          George, I was not a machinegunner but if I remember the barrels would get very hot if they kept firing without letting them cool off and jam. I remember this happened on Tarawa. Please correct me if... more
          • overheating .30cal — Ed Gilbert, Thu Mar 1 17:35
            The chamber was integral to the barrel, so that all the heat buildup was in that one part. Machine gunners were trained to fire in short bursts to prevent overheating, but even so they would... more
            • machine guns — jim browne, Fri Mar 2 13:45
              Aloha Ed. As a machine gun section leader in Korea where we used the same 1919 A-4 as you guys did durung WW II. All machine gunners were trained to fire 3-6 round bursts to keep the barrels from... more
              • Who, me? Definitely NOT a WW2 vet - — Ed Gilbert, Fri Mar 2 17:58
                I wasn't even BORN until 1946. Just a historian trying to keep things alive and straight for future generations.
          • Re: TRIPODS — George Proulx, Thu Mar 1 15:12
            You are quite right Jeff. Gunners had to be somewhat careful firing the air cooled .30 cal. There is a much printed photo of a gun crew on Tarawa that shows one man with his back against a sandbagged ... more
  • Re: Tarawa Photos — David Oswalt, Thu Feb 23 20:27
    I don't get anything except "blog Co.A 24Marines does not exist" Anyone else having trouble?
    • Try this... — Jim Hildebrand, Thu Feb 23 23:38
      Try this - then scroll down. http://ablecompany24.blogspot.com/2009/07/battle-photos.html -Jim
    • Re: Tarawa Photos — Bob H., Thu Feb 23 23:26
      The html did not highlight. You can just re-type the site and add the html or click on the "Company A,24 Marines" and it will bring you to that site.
      • Tarawa Pic — Kim Righetti, Wed Feb 29 08:15
        Thanks for posting this pic. I have never seen it before.
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