This
page features color photos of weapons commonly used by American
soldiers during World War II. Click on the photos to open a larger
version in a new window.
Browning machine gun, cal. 30, M1919A4 on the M2 tripod. It
had a rate of fire of 400-500 rounds/minute. The M1919A6 had
a shoulder stock, carrying handle, and bipod.
M2 50 cal. machine gun mounted on an M3 White Scout Car.
While the gun could theoretically fire 450 - 575 rounds per
minute, due to overheating of the barrel the gun was typically
fired in short bursts. 100 - 150 rounds could be fired from
a cool gun; 40 rounds per minute would allow for 500 rounds
fired without overheating.
81mm
M1 and 60mm M2 mortars. The combined weight of the barrel,
bipod and base plate of the 81mm was 136 pounds. The 60mm
weighed 42 pounds.
81mm mortar M2 with HE M43 shells. The mortar also fired
the elongated HE M36 shell; both shell types are included
in Tamiya's "Machine Gun and Mortar Team." The mortar
had a range between 100 and 3,290 yards.
60mm mortar M2 with grey illuminating M83 shell and drab HE
M49A2 shell. The mortar had a range between 100 and 1,985
yards.
