British and commonwealth commander cupola MG's

[Son of a gun-ner]

K guns were popular in the earlier stages of the war, not so sure about later on tho?

Yeah, the SAS used them in Africa, it's what made me wonder if they were used by anyone else or on tanks.
I know they were used in planes first.

[Tiger6]

Have had a quick looksee at Forgotten Weapons, I'm wondering if I'm not mistaking K guns for drum feed Brens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKn3BBaC_U

[Son of a gun-ner]

Thank you. That's the trouble, they look similar with a drum on. Although the Vickers looks like it has a longer barrel.

[Tiger6]

Found this:
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=105783

and this chap with the very apparatus I had in mind:
http://worldwarmemorries.blogspot.com/2 ... 2.html?m=1

[Son of a gun-ner]

Found this:
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=105783

and this chap with the very apparatus I had in mind:
http://worldwarmemorries.blogspot.com/2 ... 2.html?m=1

Fantastic, thank you

[43rdRecceReg]

Some more for your collection, Mick. These were taken from my copy of David Fletcher's engrossing 'British Battle tanks: American-made World War 11 tanks'. The Firefly sports a .30cal Browning on the cupola; but since Fireflies had no bow MG as secondary armament, and so makes sense to have one on the cupola.
It also makes economic and practical sense to use .30cal rounds, as Britain was awash with them. Britain also made .55 cal rounds for the Boys Anti-tank rifle, which wouldn't fit the Browning M2. That said, I believe the Royal Ordnance factory at Spennymoor, produced .50 cal ammo, but it was supplied mostly to meet the demands of US B17 squadrons, from what I've read.

Firefly with 30cal Browning (above)
Here's a British Sherman (75mm) also sporting the Browning .30cal, as is the Firefly immediately behind it.

It's a curious thing, that whenever we see American Shermans in films and pics, the turret-mounted .50 is often a prominent feature. I'm just wondering whether Brits preferred to use co-axial guns for strafing?
Just an idea.
Incidentally, I started a thread a couple of years back of defensive weapons carried by tankers (pistols and submachine guns). Close up, these weapons could be easier to use (through pistol ports and hatches, etc.,)
that fixed mounted turret guns- even those with Brad Pitt pulling the trigger ..
In fact, I've fired most of them (Tokarev, Walther P38, PPK, Enfield No.2 Mk 1, Browning 1911, Luger etc..), but not the Greasegun (US tankers), and Schmeisser MP40. My lad has all of these (fully operational), except the submgs. But, for obvious reasons, submachine guns are almost impossible to get hold of in Switzerland (where I go to shoot), unless they are chambered for .22, and modded to semi-auto only status.

[HERMAN BIX]

I've owned & fired MP-38, PPsh41, PPs43, Thompson, Sterling, StG 44, and a very crude copy of a Tech-9

I know the '44 is not an SMG, but as it was at the time a transitional weapon that was not a rifle round, but not a pistol round, I included it .

Of them all, I would go the PPsH41.............I had early and late models(select fire option and full auto only)
Plenty of magazine capacity, faultless reliability, and not overly difficult to handle.
The Thompson was the best hitter round for round, due to its massive(comparatively) round of .45ACP and mine had a 50 rnd mag, but the thing was heavy, hard to clean(and it needed to be cleaned) & ammo was expensive.
Hitting hard is great, but once its dead-its dead...........no need to expend more .45 because the drum mag is hard to reload, and as its heavy, encourages the emptying of it asap !!.
Im certain thats why the stick mag was introduced.
The MP38 for me was a good second, but lacked mag capacity, and had a relatively pedestrian rate of fire.
Its advantage was the folding stock, making it compact to handle(especially in a tank confine) and easy to use as a secondary weapon, such as a gun crew or A.T. rocket team.
But for getting rounds out on the threat, a rate of 950 rpm of 7.62X25 Tokarev X 71 is tough to beat.

[Son of a gun-ner]

Thank you guys for your gun knowledge and information

Herman. Do you know what guns New Zealand used on their tank cupolas during WW2.

[HERMAN BIX]

Thank you guys for your gun knowledge and information

Herman. Do you know what guns New Zealand used on their tank cupolas during WW2.

Sherman equipped units in Africa & Italy had the Browning .30, with a smattering of the odd .50BMG in Italy.
Tanks such as Valentine, Matilda, Crusader were not standardly fitted with cupola M.G's..............I assume as they had no proper cupola !!
But turret roof M.Gs did not seem to be standard fitment.

To my knowledge, no Commonwealth tank that was fitted with a cupola/turret roof M.G. was anything other than a Browning .30.

[Son of a gun-ner]

Cool, thanks for that looks like I need a couple of Brownings then, especially as I want to do my firefly as a New Zealand unit for my half Kiwi grandson