M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 1

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle

Rifle, Caliber .30, Automatic, Browning, M1918

The M1918A2 BARType Light machine gun

Place of origin  United States

Service historyIn service 1918–1960s (U.S.)

Used by See Users

Wars World War IWorld War IISecond Sino-Japanese WarChinese Civil WarKorean WarFirst Indochina WarBay of Pigs InvasionVietnam WarCambodian Civil WarTurkish invasion of CyprusThai–Laotian Border WarPalestinian Civil War

Production historyDesigner John Browning

Designed 1917

Manufacturer Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing CompanyWinchester Repeating Arms CompanyMarlin-Rockwell CorporationNew England Small ArmsRoyal McBee Typewriter CompanyInternational Business MachinesCarl Gustafs Stads GevärsfaktoriPaństwowa Fabryka Karabinów

Produced 1917–1950s

Number built 100,000+ (M1918)

Variants See Variants

SpecificationsWeight 7.25 kg (15.98 lb) (M1918)

Approx. 11 kg (24 lb) (M1922)6 kg (13 lb) (Colt Monitor)8.4 kg (19 lb) (M1918A1)8.8 kg (19 lb) (M1918A2)9 kg (20 lb) (wz. 1928)

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 2

Length 1,194 mm (47 in) (M1918, M1922, M1918A1)1,215 mm (47.8 in) (M1918A2)1,110 mm (43.7 in) (wz. 1928)

Barrel length 610 mm (24 in) (M1918, M1922, M1918A1, M1918A2)611 mm (24.1 in) (wz. 1928)458 mm (18 in) (Colt Monitor)

Cartridge .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm)/.303 British (7.7x56mmR)/7x57mmMauser(M1918, M1922, M1918A1, M1918A2)7.92x57mm Mauser (wz. 1928)6.5x55mm (Kg m/21, m/37)

Action Gas-operated, tilting breech block

Rate of fire 500–650 rounds/min (M1918, M1922, M1918A1)500 rounds/min (Colt Monitor)300-450 or 500-650 rounds/min (M1918A2)600 rounds/min (wz. 1928)

Muzzle velocity 860 m/s (2,822 ft/s) (M1918, M1922, M1918A1, M1918A2)853 m/s (2,798.6 ft/s) (wz. 1928)

Effective range 100–1,500 yd sight adjustments (maximum effective range)

Maximum range Approx. 4,500-5,000 yd

Feed system 20-round detachable magazine

Sights Rear leaf, front post784 mm (30.9 in) sight radius (M1918, M1922, M1918A1)782 mm (30.8 in) (M1918A2)742 mm (29.2 in) (wz. 1928)

The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was a family of United States automatic rifles (or machine rifles) and lightmachine guns used by the United States and numerous other countries during the 20th century. The primary variantof the BAR series was the M1918, chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge and designed by JohnBrowning in 1917 for the U.S. Expeditionary Corps in Europe as a replacement for the French-made Chauchat andM1909 Benet-Mercie machine guns.The BAR was designed to be carried by advancing infantrymen, slung over the shoulder or fired from the hip, aconcept called "walking fire"—thought to be necessary for the individual soldier during trench warfare.[1] Howeverin practice, it was most often used as a light machine gun and fired from a bipod (introduced in later models).[2] Avariant of the original M1918 BAR, the Colt Monitor Machine Rifle, remains the lightest production automatic gunto fire the .30-06 Springfield cartridge, though the limited capacity of its standard 20-round magazine tended tohamper its utility in that role.[2]

Although the weapon did see some action in World War I, the BAR did not become standard issue in the U.S. Armyuntil 1938 when it was issued to squads as a portable light machine gun. The BAR saw extensive service in bothWorld War II and the Korean War and saw some service early in the Vietnam War. The BAR has since beenreplaced by the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon as the standard issue light machine gun in the U.S. Army.[3]

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 3

History

John M. Browning, the inventor of the rifle, andMr. Burton, the Winchester expert on rifles,discussing the finer points of the BAR at the

Winchester plant

The U.S. entered World War I with an inadequately small and obsoleteassortment of various domestic and foreign machine gun designs, dueprimarily to bureaucratic indecision and the lack of an establishedmilitary doctrine for their employment. When the declaration of war onImperial Germany was announced on 6 April 1917, the military highcommand was made aware that to fight this machine gun-dominatedtrench war, they had on hand a mere 670 M1909 Benet-Mercies, 282M1904 Maxims and 158 Colts, M1895.[4] After much debate, it wasfinally agreed that a rapid rearmament with domestic weapons wouldbe required, but until that time, U.S. troops would be issued whateverthe French and British had to offer. The arms donated by the Frenchwere often second-rate or surplus and chambered in 8mm Lebel,further complicating logistics as machine gunners and infantrymen

were issued different types of ammunition.[1]

Development

A live fire demonstration of the BAR in front ofmilitary and government officials

In 1917, prior to America's entry to the war, John Browning personallybrought to Washington, D.C. two types of automatic weapons for thepurposes of demonstration: a water-cooled machine gun (later adoptedas the M1917 Browning machine gun) and a shoulder-fired automaticrifle known then as the Browning Machine Rifle or BMR, bothchambered for the standard U.S. .30-06 Springfield cartridge.[1]

Browning had arranged for a public demonstration of both weapons ata location in southern Washington, D.C. known as Congress Heights.[5]

There, on 27 February 1917, in front of a crowd of 300 people(including high-ranking military officials, Congressmen, Senators,foreign dignitaries and the press), Browning staged a live fire

demonstration which so impressed the gathered crowd, that he was immediately awarded a contract for the weaponand it was hastily adopted into service (the water-cooled machine gun underwent further testing).[5]

Additional tests were conducted for U.S. Army Ordnance officials at Springfield Armory in May 1917 and bothweapons were unanimously recommended for immediate adoption. In order to avoid confusion with the belt-fedM1917 machine gun, the BAR came to be known as the M1918 or Rifle, Caliber .30, Automatic, Browning,M1918 according to official nomenclature. On 16 July 1917, 12,000 BARs were ordered from Colt's Patent FirearmsManufacturing Company who had secured an exclusive concession to manufacture the BAR under Browning'spatents (Browning's U.S. Patent 1,293,022 [6] was owned by Colt).[7] However Colt was already producing at peakcapacity (contracted to manufacture the Vickers machine gun for the British Army) and requested a delay inproduction while they expanded their manufacturing output with a new facility in Meriden, Connecticut. Due to theurgent need for the weapon, the request was denied and the Winchester Repeating Arms Company (WRAC) wasdesignated as the prime contractor. Winchester gave valuable assistance in refining the BAR's final design,correcting the drawings in preparation for mass production.[8] Among the changes made, the ejection pattern wasmodified (spent casings were directed to the right side of the weapon—instead of straight up).

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 4

Initial M1918 Production

2nd Lt. Val Browning with the BrowningAutomatic Rifle in France

Since work on the gun did not begin until February 1918, so hurriedwas the schedule at Winchester to bring the BAR into full productionthat the first production batch of 1,800 guns was delivered out ofspec;[8] it was discovered that many components did not interchangebetween rifles and production was temporarily halted untilmanufacturing procedures were upgraded to bring the weapon up tospecifications.[9] The initial contract with Winchester called for 25,000BARs. They were in full production by June 1918, delivering 4,000guns, and starting in July were turning out 9,000 units a month.

Colt and Marlin-Rockwell Corp. also began production shortly afterWinchester got into full production. Marlin-Rockwell, burdened by acontract to make rifles for the Belgian government, acquired the MayoRadiator Co.'s factory and used it exclusively to carry out productionof the BAR. The first unit from this source was delivered on 11 June1918 and the company's peak output reached 200 automatic rifles perday.[9] Colt had only produced 9,000 BARs by the time of the

armistice due to the heavy demands of previous orders.[9] These three companies produced a combined daily outputof 706 rifles and a total of approximately 52,000 BARs were delivered by all sources by the end of the war.[9]

Between 1918 and 1919, 102,125 BARs had been manufactured jointly by Colt (16,000 weapons), Winchester(47,123) and Marlin-Rockwell (39,002 units).

By July 1918, the BAR had begun to arrive in France, and the first unit to receive them was the U.S. Army's 79thInfantry Division, which took them into action for the first time on 13 September 1918.[9] The weapon waspersonally demonstrated against the enemy by 2nd Lieutenant Val Allen Browning, the inventor's son.[9] Despitebeing introduced very late in the war, the BAR made an impact disproportionate to its numbers; it was usedextensively during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and made a significant impression on the Allies (France alonerequested 15,000 automatic rifles to replace their notoriously unreliable Chauchat machine rifle).[9]

Design details and accessoriesThe M1918 is a selective fire, air-cooled automatic rifle using a gas-operated long-stroke piston rod actuated bypropellant gases bled through a vent in the barrel. The bolt is locked by a rising bolt lock. The gun fires from an openbolt. The spring-powered cartridge casing extractor is contained in the bolt and a fixed ejector is installed in thetrigger group. The BAR is striker fired (the bolt carrier serves as the striker) and uses a trigger mechanism with a fireselector lever that enables operating in either semi-automatic or fully automatic firing modes. The selector lever islocated on the left side of the receiver and is simultaneously the manual safety (selector lever in the "S" position –weapon is "safe", "F" – "Fire", "A" – "Automatic" fire). The "safe" setting blocks the trigger.The weapon's barrel is screwed into the receiver and is not quickly detachable. The M1918 feeds usingdouble-column 20-round box magazines, although 40-round magazines were also used in an anti-aircraft role; thesewere withdrawn from use in 1927. The M1918 has a cylindrical flash suppressor fitted to the muzzle end. Theoriginal BAR was equipped with a fixed wooden buttstock and closed-type adjustable iron sights, consisting of aforward post and a rear leaf sight with 100 to 1,500 yard range graduations.As a heavy automatic rifle designed for support fire, the M1918 was not fitted with a bayonet mount and no bayonet was ever issued.[10] Only one experimental bayonet fitting was ever made for the BAR by Winchester.[10] This was a standard, M1917 bayonet fitted at the Winchester factory with a special muzzle ring. The bayonet was attached to a standard M1918 BAR by means of a special experimental flash hider assembly.[10] This prototype bayonet/flash

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 5

hider assembly came from the Winchester in-house factory museum in New Haven, Connecticut with a tag printedon one side Winchester Repeating Arms Co./New Haven Conn., and handwitten on the other side: Combined FlashHider, Front Sight and Bayonet Mount for Browing Automatic Rifle Model 1918 with Bayonet and Scabbard and thedate - September 7, 1918.[10] There is no evidence whatsoever of military adoption nor a military stock number,name, or classification.[10]

Variants and subsequent models

The primary U.S. M1918 variants

The early M1918 BAR

During its lengthy service life, the BAR underwent continuousdevelopment, receiving many improvements and modifications. Thefirst major attempt at improving the M1918 resulted in the M1922 lightmachine gun, adopted by the United States Cavalry in 1922. Theweapon used a new heavy profile ribbed barrel, an adjustable spikedbipod (mounted to a swiveling collar on the barrel) with a rear,stock-mounted monopod, a side-mounted sling swivel and a new rearendplate, fixed to the stock retaining sleeve. The handguard waschanged, and in 1926, the BAR's sights were redesigned toaccommodate the heavy-bullet 172-grain M1 .30-06 ball ammunitionthen coming into service for machine gun use.

An FBI man practices with the Colt Monitor (R80). The Monitor had a separate pistol grip and

long, slotted Cutts recoil compensator.

In 1931, the Colt Arms Co. introduced the Colt Monitor AutomaticMachine Rifle (R 80), intended primarily for use by prison guards andlaw enforcement agencies.[11] Intended for use as a shoulder-firedautomatic rifle, the Colt Monitor omitted the standard bipod, insteadfeaturing a separate pistol grip and buttstock attached to a lightweightreceiver, along with a shortened 458 mm (18 in) barrel fitted with a4-inch (100 mm) Cutts compensator.[12] Weighing 16 lb. 3 oz. empty,the Colt Monitor had a rate of fire of approximately 500 rpm.[12]

Around 125 Colt Monitor automatic machine rifles were produced; ofthese ninety were purchased by the FBI.[12] Eleven rifles went to theU.S. Treasury Department in 1934, while the rest went to various stateprisons, banks, security companies, and accredited policedepartments.[12] Although the Colt Monitor was available for export

sale, no examples appear to have been exported to other countries.

In 1932, a greatly shortened version of the M1918 BAR designed for 'bush warfare' was developed by USMC MajorH.L. Smith, and was the subject of an evaluative report by Capt. Merritt A. Edson, Ordnance officer at theQuartermaster's Depot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[13] The barrel was shortened nine inches (229 mm) at themuzzle, and the gas port and gas cylinder tube were relocated. The modified BAR weighed 13 lb. 12 oz. and wasonly 34.5 inches (880 mm) long overall.[13] Though it proved superior to the M1918 in accuracy when fired in

automatic mode using the prone position, and equal in accuracy to the standard M1918 at ranges of 500-600 yards when fired from a rest, it was less accurate when fired from the shoulder, and had a loud report combined with a

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 6

fierce muzzle blast.[14] Attaching a Cutts compensator materially reduced the muzzle blast, but this was more thanoffset by the increase in smoke and dust at the muzzle when fired, obscuring the operator's vision.[13] Nor did itimprove control of the weapon when fired in bursts of automatic fire.[13] Though the report recommended buildingsix of these short-barrelled 'jungle' BARs for further evaluation, no further work was done on the project.[13]

The M1918A1, featuring a lightweight spiked bipod, with a leg height adjustment feature, attached to the gascylinder and a hinged steel butt plate, was formally approved on 24 June 1937.[15] The M1918A1 was intended toincrease the weapon's effectiveness and controllability firing in bursts. Relatively few M1918s were rebuilt to thenew M1918A1 standard.

M1918A2

In April 1938, work was commenced on an improved BAR for the U.S.Army. The latter specified a need for a BAR designed to serve in therole of a light machine gun for squad-level support fire. Earlyprototypes were fitted with barrel-mounted bipods, as well as pistolgrip housings and a unique rate-of-fire reducer mechanism purchasedfrom FN Herstal.[16] The rate reducer mechanism performed well intrials, and the pistol grip housing enabled the operator to fire more comfortably from the prone position. However, in1939 the Army declared that all modifications to the basic BAR be capable of being retrofitted to earlier M1918 gunswith no loss of parts interchangeability.[17] This effectively killed the FN-designed pistol grip and its proven ratereducer mechanism for the new M1918 replacement.[17]

Final development of the M1918A2 was authorized on 30 June 1938.[17] The FN-designed pistol grip andrate-reducer mechanism with two rates of automatic fire was shelved in favor of a rate-reducer mechanism designedby Springfield Armory, and housed in the buttstock. The Springfield Armory rate reducer also provided twoselectable rates of fully automatic fire only, activated by engaging the selector toggle. Additionally, a skid-footedbipod was fitted to the muzzle end of the barrel, magazine guides were added to the front of the trigger guard, thehandguard was shortened, a heat shield was added to help the cooling process, a small separate stock rest (monopod)was included for attachment to the butt, and the weapon's role was changed to that of a squad light machine gun. TheBAR's rear sight scales were also modified to accommodate the newly standardized M2 Ball ammunition with itslighter, flat-base bullet. The M1918A2 walnut buttstock is approximately one inch longer than the M1918 BARbuttstock.[18] The M1918A2 barrel was also fitted with a new flash suppressor, and fully adjustable iron sights. Latein the war, a barrel-mounted carrying handle was added.Because of budget limitations, initial M1918A2 production consisted of conversions of older M1918 BARs(remaining in surplus) along with a limited number of M1922s and M1918A1s. After the outbreak of war, attemptsto ramp up new M1918A2 production were stymied by the discovery that the World War I tooling used to producethe M1918 was either worn out or incompatible with modern production machinery.[19] New production was firstundertaken at the New England Small Arms Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. (a total of 168,000new weapons were manufactured). In 1942, a shortage of black walnut for buttstocks and grips led to thedevelopment of a black plastic buttstock for the BAR.[20] Composed of a mixture of Bakelite and Resinox, andimpregnated with shredded fabric, the buttstocks were sandblasted to reduce glare.[18] Firestone Rubber and LatexProducts Company produced the plastic buttstock for the U.S. Army, which was formally adopted on March 21,1942.[18]

Production rates greatly increased in 1943 after IBM introduced a method of casting BAR receivers from a new typeof malleable pig iron developed by the Saginaw division of General Motors, called ArmaSteel.[21] After successfullypassing a series of tests at Springfield Armory, the Chief of Ordnance instructed other BAR receiver manufacturersto change over from steel to ArmaSteel castings for this part.[21] During the Korean War, M1918A2 production wasresumed, this time contracted to the Royal McBee Typewriter Co., which produced an additional 61,000M1918A2s.[22]

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 7

Contemporary modelsIn 2008, Ohio Ordnance Works introduced a modern, semi-automatic version of the Browning Automatic Rifleknown as the 1918 A 3-SLR ("self-loading rifle").[23]

International and Commercial models

Export models

The BAR also found a ready market overseas and in various forms was widely exported. In 1919, the Colt's companydeveloped and produced a commercial variant called the Automatic Machine Rifle Model 1919 (companydesignation: Model U), which has a different return mechanism compared to the M1918 (it is installed in the stockrather than the gas tube) and lacks a flash hider. Later the Model 1924 rifle was offered for a short period of time,featuring a pistol grip and a redesigned handguard. These Colt automatic rifles were available in a number ofcalibers, including .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm), 7.65x53mm Belgian Mauser, 7x57mm Mauser, 6.5x55mm,7.92x57mm Mauser and .303 British (7.7x56mmR).[24] All of the 6.5x55mm-caliber Colt automatic rifles appear tohave been sold directly to FN.[24]

An improved version of the Model 1924, the Model 1925 (R75) would achieve the highest popularity in exportsales. It is based on the Model 1924 but uses a heavy, finned barrel, a lightweight bipod and is equipped with dustcovers in the magazine well and ejection port (some of these features were patented: refer to US patents 1548709 and1533968). The Model 1925 was produced in various calibers, including .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm),7.65x53mm Belgian Mauser, 7x57mm Mauser, 7.92x57mm Mauser, and .303 British (7.7x56mmR) (noColt-manufactured Model 1925 rifles in 6.5x55mm appear to have been sold).[24] A minor variant of the Model 1925(R75) was the R75A light machine gun with a quick-change barrel (produced in 1924 in small quantities for theDutch Army). Between 1921 and 1928, FN Herstal imported over 800 Colt-manufactured examples of the ColtMachine Rifles for sale abroad.[12]

All of the Colt automatic machine rifles, including the Colt Monitor, were available for export sale.[12] After 1929,the Model 1925 and the Colt Monitor were available for export sale in Colt's exclusive sales territories per itsagreement with FN.[12] These Colt territories included North America, Central America, the West Indies, SouthAmerica, Great Britain, Russia, Turkey, Siam (Thailand), India, and Australia.[12]

Belgium

A variant known as the FN Mle 1930 was developed in 7.65x53mm Belgian Mauser by FN Herstal and adopted bythe Belgian Army. The Mle 1930 is basically a licensed copy of the Colt Automatic Machine Rifle, Model 1925 (R75).[25] The Mle 1930 had a different gas valve and a mechanical rate-reducing fire control mechanism designed byDieudonne Saive, housed in the trigger guard/pistol grip housing.[25] Some of these FN rate reducer mechanisms andpistol grip housings were later purchased by Springfield Armory for evaluation and possible adoption on areplacement for the M1918.[16] The weapon also had a hinged shoulder plate and was adapted for use on a tripodmount. In 1932, Belgium adopted a new version of the FN Mle 1930 allocated the service designation FN Mle D(D—Demontable or "removable") which had a quick-change barrel, shoulder rest and a simplified take-downmethod for eased cleaning and maintenance. The Mle D was produced even after World War II in versions adaptedfor .30-06 Springfield and NATO-standard 7.62x51mm ammunition.The final variant in Belgian service was the Model DA1 chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge and feedingfrom the 20 round magazines for the FN FAL rifle.

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 8

Poland

Polish partisan member of Jędrusie unit withPolish version of the M1918 BAR during World

War II.

Production of the BAR in Belgium began only after signing anagreement with Poland (on 10 December 1927) involving theprocurement of 10,000 wz. 1928 light machine guns chambered in7.92x57mm Mauser, which are similar to the R75 variant but designedspecifically to meet the requirements of the Polish Army. Changes tothe base design include a pistol grip, different type of bipod, open-typeV-notch rear sight and a slightly longer barrel. Subsequent rifles wereassembled locally in Poland under license by the State Rifle Factory(Państwowa Fabryka Karabinów) in Warsaw. The wz. 1928 wasaccepted into service with the Polish Army in 1927 under the formalname 7,92 mm rkm Browning wz. 1928 ("7.92 mm Browninghand-held machine gun model 1928") and – until the outbreak ofWorld War II – was the primary light support weapon of Polishinfantry and cavalry formations (in 1939 Poland had a total of approx.20,000 wz. 1928 rifles in service). Additional detail modifications wereintroduced on the production line. Among them was the replacement ofthe iron sights with a smaller version and reshaping the butt to a fishtail.

In the mid-1930s, Polish small arms designer WawrzyniecLewandowski was tasked with developing a flexible aircraft-mounted machine gun based on the Browning wz.1928.This resulted in the wz. 1937. Changes included increasing the weapon's rate of fire to 1,100 rounds/min, eliminatingthe buttstock, adding a spade-type grip to the rear of receiver, moving the main drive spring under the barrel andmost importantly – changing the feed system. Sustained fire was practically impossible with the standard 20-roundbox magazine thus a new feed mechanism was developed, which was added to the receiver as a module. It contains aspring-loaded bolt-actuated lever, which would feed a round from a 91-round pan magazine located above thereceiver and force the round into the feed path during unlocking. The machine gun was accepted in 1937 and orderedby the Polish Air Force as the karabin maszynowy obserwatora wz. 1937 ("observers machine gun model 1937").339 machine guns were eventuality acquired and used as armament in the PZL.37 Łoś medium bomber and theLWS-3 Mewa reconnaissance aircraft.

Sweden

Swedish Kg m/21 model which was nearlyidentical to the M1919 configuration.

The model Kg m/37 with quick-detachable barrel.

In 1920, the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN)acquired sales and production rights to the BAR series of firearms inEurope from Colt. The first BAR model sold by FN was the Kg m/21(Kg—Kulsprutegevär or "machine rifle") chambered for the 6.5x55mmm/94 cartridge. The m/21 is a variant of the Model 1919 designed toSwedish specifications and manufactured initially by Colt's and laterunder license at the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna.Compared to the Model 1919, the Swedish weapon has—apart fromthe different caliber—a spiked bipod and pistol grip. The m/21 wouldbecome one of Sweden's main support weapons in the interwar yearstogether with the water-cooled belt-fed Ksp m/1914 medium machinegun (Swedish adaptation of the Austrian M07/12). Dissatisfied with the

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 9

rapidly overheating fixed barrel of the m/21, Carl Gustaf began to design a new quick-detach mechanism for thebarrel which mates the externally grooved chamber to a series of rotating flanges in the receiver operated by alocking lever. The barrel also received cooling fins along its entire length. These enhancements were incorporatedinto the fm/1935 prototype which was favorably evaluated during trials in 1935. The final version was the Kg m/37,adopted for service in 1937, which uses a smooth contour, unfinned barrel. Numerous m/21 guns were retrofittedwith the screw-on receiver extension and quick-change barrel, and renamed the Kg m/21-37. The m/37 remained inservice until being replaced by the FN MAG, but was still in second-line use until 1980. Carl Gustaf also developeda belt-fed prototype; however it was never adopted.

Civilian useWith the cessation of hostilities, Colt Arms Co. received the Browning patents to produce the BAR that had beenwithheld from issue during the war.[26] This allowed Colt to make the BAR available for commercial sale, includingsale to civilian owners. The Colt Automatic Machine Rifle Model 1919, initially made up of overruns from theM1918 military production contract, was the first of several commercial Colt BARs that would follow. However, thehigh price of the weapon and its limited utility for most civilian owners resulted in few sales. Ad Topperwien, afamous trick shooter of the early 1920s, purchased one of the first Colt-produced BARs to perform aerial targetshooting exhibitions.[27] Occasional BAR sales were made to civilian owners through distributors such as theOtt-Heiskell Hardware Co.[28] In 1931, the new Colt Monitor was made available to civilians during the Depressionat $300 each, including spare parts kit, sling, cleaning accessories, and six magazines, but Colt records indicate nodomestic sales occurred to individuals.[29] After passage of the National Firearms Act of 1934, civilian BARownership was restricted even further. Importation of machine guns for U.S. civilian transfer was banned in 1968,and U.S. production of machine guns for civilian transfer was banned in 1986. However, some transferablecivilian-owned BAR models exist in the United States, and occasionally come up for sale to qualified buyers. Somecompanies are manufacturing semi-automatic copies for sale to civilians.

Criminal and law enforcement useAlthough the Colt Monitor version of the BAR failed to interest U.S. civilian buyers in the midst of theDepression,[30] the underworld was a lot more interested: in 1936, the going price for a black-market Colt Monitorwas $5,000, with military BARs going for somewhat less.[30] The Army's M1918 was a favorite of gangster ClydeBarrow, who obtained his examples through periodic robberies of Army National Guard armories in the Midwest.Barrow liked to use armor-piercing (AP) .30-06 ammunition he obtained from armory stores, and frequentlymodified his BARs to suit his own needs.[31] Barrow taught his 90-lb. girlfriend Bonnie Parker to fire the M1918 aswell, and by all accounts the latter was an excellent BAR operator. Parker used a M1918 on full-automatic to pindown unsuspecting law officers after the latter confronted the gang at a house in Joplin, Missouri.[31] A Missourihighway patrolman at the scene, forced to dive for cover behind a substantial oak tree after Bonnie Parker opened upon him, would later state: "That little red-headed woman filled my face with splinters on the other side of that treewith one of those damned guns!".[31]

As the use of automatic weapons by gangster elements in the United States became more widespread, FBI director J.Edgar Hoover ordered the FBI to acquire and commence regular training with automatic shoulder weapons,including the Thompson submachine gun and the BAR. For its BARs, the FBI turned to Colt, which sold 90 ColtMonitor automatic machine rifles to the agency.[12] Some of the FBI's Monitors were distributed to FBI field officesfor use as support weapons if needed on a particular operation, while the remainder were retained at the FBIAcademy in Quantico, Virginia for training purposes.[32] Colt sold an additional 11 Colt Monitors to the U.S.Treasury Department in 1934, while 24 guns were sold to state prisons, banks, security companies, and accreditedcity, county, and state police departments.[12]

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 10

Although it has sometimes been alleged that the M1918 or M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle was used bymembers of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) in their wild shootout with Los Angeles police on 17 May1974, no SLA members ever used such a weapon. The confusion arose out of Browning's decision in the 1970s toalso designate its semiautomatic hunting rifle the Browning BAR. The SLA converted a .30-06 Browning BARhunting rifle and a .244 Remington Model 742 to automatic fire by crudely filing down the sear, and it was theseweapons that were used in the shootout.

The BAR in U.S. military service

World War IAt its inception, the M1918 was intended to be used as a shoulder-fired rifle capable of both semi-automatic andfully automatic fire. First issued in September 1918 to the AEF, it was based on the concept of "walking fire", aFrench practice in use since 1916 for which the CSRG 1915 (Chauchat) had been used accompanying advancingsquads of riflemen toward the enemy trenches, since the machine guns were too heavy to follow the troops during anassault.In addition to shoulder-fired operation, BAR gunners were issued a belt with magazine pouches for the BAR andsidearm along with a "cup" to support the stock of the rifle when held at the hip. In theory, this allowed the soldier tolay suppressive fire while walking forward, keeping the enemy's head down, a practice known as "marching fire".The idea would resurface in the submachine gun and ultimately the assault rifle.It is not known if any of the belt-cup devices actually saw combat use. The BAR saw little action in World War I, inpart due to the Armistice, and also because the U.S. Army was reluctant to have the BAR fall into enemy hands; thegun saw its first action in September 1918. 85,000 BARs were built by the war's end.

Interwar useDuring the interwar years, the BAR was standard issue to U.S. naval landing forces.[33] The weapon was a standarditem in U.S. ship armories, and each BAR was accompanied by a spare barrel.[33] Large capital ships often had over200 BARs on board.[33] Many of the U.S. Navy BARs remained in service well into the 1960s.[33]

The BAR saw action with U.S. Marine Corps units participating in the Haitian and Nicaraguan interventions, as wellas with U.S. Navy shipboard personnel in the course of patrol and gunboat duty along the Yangtze River inChina.[34] The First Marine Brigade stationed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, noted that training a man to use the BARproficiently took a full two days of range practice and instruction, compared to half a day with the .45 caliberThompson submachine gun.[34]

World War IIWhen the threat of a new war arose, Ordnance belatedly realized it had no portable squad light machine gun, andattempted to convert the M1918 BAR to that role with the adoption of the M1918A2 by the U.S. Army on 30 June1938.[35] The BAR was issued as the sole automatic fire support for an eight-man squad,[36] and all men were trainedat the basic level how to operate and fire the weapon in case the designated operator(s) were killed or wounded. Atthe start of the war, most infantry companies designated two- or three-man BAR teams, a gunner and one or twoassistant gunners (ammo bearers) who carried extra loaded magazines for the gun. By 1944, some units were usingone-man BAR teams, with the other riflemen in the squad detailed to carry additional magazines and/or bandoliers of.30 ammunition.[37] The average combat lifespan of a World War II BAR man was estimated to be 30 minutes.[38]

Despite various claims on the subject, the BAR was issued to soldiers of various heights.[39]

As originally conceived, U.S. Army tactical doctrine called for one M1918A2 per squad, using either one or two men to support and carry ammunition for the gun.[36] Fire and movement tactics centered around the M1 riflemen in the squad, while the BAR man was detailed to support the riflemen in the attack and provide mobility to the riflemen

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 11

with a base of fire.[36] This doctrine received a setback early in the war after U.S. ground forces encountered Germantroops well-armed with automatic weapons, including fast-firing, portable machine guns.[38] In some cases,particularly in the attack, every fourth German infantryman was equipped with an automatic weapon, either asubmachine gun or a full-power machine gun.[38]

In an attempt to overcome the BAR's limited continuous-fire capability, U.S. Army combat divisions increasinglybegan to specify two BAR fire teams per squad, following the practice of the U.S. Marine Corps. One team wouldtypically provide covering fire until a magazine was empty, whereupon the second team would open fire, thusallowing the first team to reload. In the Pacific, the BAR was often employed at the point or tail of a patrol orinfantry column, where its firepower could help break contact on a jungle trail in the event of ambush.[40] Aftercombat experience showed the benefits of maximizing portable automatic firepower in squad-size formations, theU.S. Marine Corps began to increase the number of BARs in its combat divisions, from 513 per division in 1943 to867 per division in 1945.[41] A thirteen-man squad was developed, consisting of three four-man fire teams, with oneBAR per fire team, or three BARs per squad. Instead of supporting the M1 riflemen in the attack, Marine tacticaldoctrine was focused around the BAR, with riflemen supporting and protecting the BAR gunner.[41]

Despite the improvements in the M1918A2, the BAR remained a difficult weapon to master with its open bolt andstrong recoil spring, requiring additional range practice and training to hit targets accurately without flinching.[42] Asa squad light machine gun, the BAR's effectiveness was mixed, since its thin, non-quick-change barrel and smallmagazine capacity greatly limited its firepower in comparison to genuine light machine guns such as the British Brenor the Japanese Type 96. The weapon's rate-reducer mechanism, a delicately balanced spring-and-weight systemdescribed by one Ordnance sergeant as a "Rube Goldberg device", came in for much criticism, often causingmalfunctions when not regularly cleaned.[43] The bipod and buttstock rest (monopod), which contributed so much tothe M1918A2's accuracy when firing prone on the rifle range, proved far less valuable under actual field combatconditions.[44] The stock rest was dropped from production in 1942, while the M1918A2's bipod and flash hiderwere often discarded by individual soldiers and Marines to save weight and improve portability, particularly in thePacific Theatre of war.[43] With these modifications, the BAR effectively reverted to its original role as a portable,shoulder-fired automatic rifle.[43]

Due to production demands, war priorities, subcontractor issues, and material shortages,[45] demand for theM1918A2 frequently exceeded supply, and as late as 1945 some Army units were sent into combat still carryingolder, unmodified M1918 weapons.[46]

After a period of service, ordnance personnel began to receive BARs with inoperable or malfunctioning recoil buffermechanisms. This was eventually traced to the soldier's common practice of cleaning the BAR in a vertical positionwith the butt of the weapon on the ground, allowing cleaning fluid and burned powder to collect in the recoil buffermechanism.[43] Additionally, unlike the M1 rifle, the BAR's gas cylinder was never changed to stainless steel.Consequently, the gas cylinder frequently rusted solid from the use of corrosive-primered M2 service ammunition ina humid environment when not stripped and cleaned on a daily basis.[43] While not without design flaws (athin-diameter, fixed barrel that quickly overheated, limited magazine capacity, complex field-strip/cleaningprocedure, unreliable recoil buffer mechanism, a gas cylinder assembly made of corrosion-prone metals, and manysmall internal parts), the BAR proved rugged and reliable enough when regularly field-stripped and cleaned.During World War II, the BAR saw extensive service, both official and unofficial, with many branches of service.One of the BAR's most unusual uses was as a defensive aircraft weapon. In 1944, Captain Wally A. Gayda, of theUSAAF Air Transport Command, reportedly used a BAR to return fire against a Japanese Army Nakajima fighterthat had attacked his C-46 cargo plane over the Hump in Burma. Gayda shoved the rifle out his forward cabinwindow, emptying the magazine and apparently killing the Japanese pilot.[47][48]

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 12

Korean War

Korean War, 1951: A U.S. soldier behind a tank,with an M1918A2.

The BAR continued in service in the Korean War. The last militarycontract for the manufacture of the M1918A2 was awarded to theRoyal Typewriter Co. of Hartford, Connecticut, which manufactured atotal of 61,000 M1918A2s during the conflict, using ArmaSteel castreceivers and trigger housings.[22] In his study of infantry weapons inKorea, historian S.L.A. Marshall interviewed hundreds of officers andmen in after-action reports on the effectiveness of various U.S. smallarms in the conflict.[49] General Marshall's report noted that anoverwhelming majority of respondents praised the BAR and the utilityof automatic fire delivered by a lightweight, portable small arm in bothday and night engagements.[50]

A typical BAR gunner of the Korean War carried the twelve-magazinebelt and combat suspenders, with three or four extra magazines in pockets.[51] Extra canteens, .45 pistol, grenades,and a flak vest added still more weight.[51] As in World War II, many BAR gunners disposed of the heavy bipod andother accoutrements of the M1918A2, but unlike the prior conflict the flash hider was always retained because of itsutility in night fighting.[52]

The large amounts of ammunition expended by BAR teams in Korea placed additional demands on the assistantgunner to stay in close contact with the BAR at all times, particularly on patrols.[53] While the BAR magazinesthemselves always seemed to be in short supply, Gen. Marshall reported that "riflemen in the squad were markedlywilling to carry extra ammunition for the BAR man."[54]

In combat, the M1918A2 frequently decided the outcome of frenzied attacks by North Korean and ChineseCommunist forces. Communist tactical doctrine centered around the mortar and machine gun, with attacks designedto envelop and cut off United Nations forces from supply and reinforcement. Communist machine gun teams werethe best-trained men in any given North Korean or Chinese infantry unit, skilled at placing their heavily camouflagedand protected weapons as close to U.N. forces as possible.[55] Once concealed, they often surprised U.N. forces byopening fire at very short ranges, covering any exposed ground with a hail of accurately sighted machinegun fire.[55]

Under these conditions it was frequently impossible for U.S. machine gun crews to move up their BrowningM1919A4 and M1919A6 guns in response without taking heavy casualties; when they were able to do so, theirposition was carefully noted by the enemy, who would frequently kill the exposed gun crews with mortar or machinegun fire while they were still emplacing their guns.[55] The BAR gunner, who could stealthily approach the enemygun position alone (and on his stomach if need be), proved invaluable in this type of combat.[55]

During the height of combat, the BAR gunner was often used as the 'fire brigade' weapon, helping to bolster weakareas of the perimeter under heavy pressure by Communist forces. In the defense, it was often used to strengthen thefirepower of a forward outpost.[55] Another role for the BAR was to deter or eliminate enemy sniper fire. In theabsence of a trained sniper, the BAR proved more effective than the random response of five or six M1 riflemen.[55]

Compared to World War II, U.S. infantry forces saw a huge increase in the number of night engagements. The addedfirepower of the BAR rifleman and his ability to redeploy to 'hot spots' around the unit perimeter provedindispensable in deterring night infiltration by skirmishers as well as repelling large-scale night infantry assaults.[56]

While new-production M1918A2 guns were almost universally praised for faultless performance in combat, a number of malfunctions in combat were reported with armory-reconditioned M1918A2s, particularly weapons that had been reconditioned by Ordnance in Japan, which did not replace operating (recoil) springs as a requirement of the reconditioning program.[41] After decades of complaints Ordnance addressed the problem of maintaining the problematic gas piston on the BAR by issuing disposable nylon gas valves.[53] When the nylon valve became caked over with carbon, it could be discarded and replaced with a fresh unit, eliminating the tedious task of cleaning and

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 13

polishing the valve with wire brush and G.I. solvent (frequently in short supply to line units).[53]

Vietnam WarThe M1918A2 was used in the early stages of the Vietnam War, when the U.S. delivered a quantity of 'obsolete',second-line small arms[57] to the South Vietnamese Army and associated allies, including the Montagnard hilltribespeople of South Vietnam. U.S. Special Forces advisors frequently chose the BAR over currently availableinfantry weapons. As one Special Forces sergeant declared, "Many times since my three tours of duty in Vietnam Ihave thanked God for . . . having a BAR that actually worked, as opposed to the jamming M16. . . We had a lot ofViet Cong infiltrators in all our [Special Forces] camps, who would steal weapons every chance they got. Needlessto say, the most popular weapon to steal was the venerable old BAR."[57]

Post-Vietnam useQuantities of the BAR remained in use by the Army National Guard up until the mid-1970s. Many nations in NATOand recipients of U.S. foreign aid adopted the BAR and used it into the 1990s.

Users

Polish resistance fighters during the WarsawUprising, 1944. The wz. 28 seen here is likely a

survivor of the 1939 September Campaign.

BAR in use by Vietnamese communist guerrillas,1966

•  Austria•  Bangladesh:Used by Bangladesh Police and RAB (Rapid

Action Battalion)•  Belgium: Adopted in 1930, built under licence by Fabrique

Nationale.•  Bolivia•  Brazil•  Cambodia•  Canada•  Chile•  People's Republic of China: A large number were seized from

the Republic of China during the Chinese Civil War.[58]

•  Republic of China: Used by Nationalist Forces during theSecond Sino-Japanese War and subsequent Chinese Civil War

•  Colombia[59]

•  Costa Rica[60]

•  Cuba•  Egypt•  El Salvador•  Ethiopia[59]

•  Finland•  France•  Nazi Germany: The Wehrmacht captured a number of

Polish-made Browning wz. 1928 guns and used them until the end of World War II under the designation of IMG28(p).

•  West Germany•  Greece•  Haiti•  Indonesia

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 14

•  Israel•  Republic of Korea•  Laos•  Liberia[59]

•  Luxembourg•  Netherlands•  Norway•  Pakistan•  Philippines•  Poland•  South Sudan: Used by the SPLA.•  North Vietnam: Captured and used by North Vietnam soldiers in the First Indochina War•  South Vietnam•  Soviet Union: A number of wz. 1928s were seized from the Poles by the Red Army and used during the war.•  Sweden•  Thailand: Locally known as the ปลก.88 or ปืนเล็กกล 88.•  Turkey (1950–1980)•  United Kingdom: Issued to the Home Guard in World War II[61]

•  United States•  Uruguay[59]

Notes[1] Chinn, George M.: The Machine Gun, Volume I: History, Evolution, and Development of Manual, Automatic, and Airborne Repeating

Weapons, p. 175. Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the Navy, 1951.[2] Bishop, Chris: The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, p. 239. Sterling Publishing, 2002.[3] "Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), M249 Light Machine Gun." (http:/ / www. fas. org/ man/ dod-101/ sys/ land/ m249. htm) FAS Military

Analysis Network. Federation of American Scientists, 1999. Web. Accessed 14 Dec 2012.[4][4] Chinn, 173.[5][5] Chinn, 176.[6] http:/ / www. google. com/ patents?vid=1293022[7][7] Chinn, 177.[8][8] Chinn, 180.[9][9] Chinn, 181.[10] Ballou, James L., Rock in a Hard Place: The Browning Automatic Rifle, Ontario, California: Collector Grade Publications Inc., ISBN

0-88935-263-1 (2000), pp. 225-226[11] Ballou, James L.: Rock in a Hard Place: The Browning Automatic Rifle, pp. 89-95. Ontario, California: Collector Grade Publications Inc.,

ISBN 0-88935-263-1 (2000).[12][12] Ballou, 89-95.[13][13] Ballou, 124-128.[14] Ballou, pp. 126: According to one evaluation the 'bush' model had a report as loud as the T9 37mm automatic AA cannon.[15][15] Ballou, 130.[16][16] Ballou, 133-138.[17][17] Ballou, 131-139.[18][18] Ballou, 301.[19][19] Ballou, 146-154.[20][20] Ballou, 301-303.[21][21] Ballou, 168.[22][22] Ballou, 191.[23] "1918A3 Browning Semi-Auto Self Loading Rifle" (http:/ / www. ohioordnanceworks. com/ Firearms/ OOWExclusiveFirearms/

1918A3_SLR. rif). Ohioordnanceworks.com. . Retrieved 2012-07-18.[24][24] Ballou, 95-99.[25][25] Ballou, 391-393.[26][26] Ballou, pp. 65-66

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 15

[27][27] Ballou, p. 76[28][28] Ballou, p. 97[29][29] Ballou, pp. 95, 99[30][30] Ballou, 95.[31][31] Ballou, 77-79.[32][32] Ballou, p. 94[33][33] Ballou, 115.[34][34] Ballou, 116.[35][35] Ballou, 139.[36] Rush, Robert S., The US Infantryman in World War II, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, ISBN 841767395 (2003), p. 26[37][37] Ballou, 174.[38][38] Ballou, 169.[39][39] Patton's Ghost Corps (2006) interviews with US 3rd Army veterans.[40] George, John, (Lt. Col.), Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Publications (1981) ISBN 0-935998-42-X, p. 400.[41][41] Ballou, 194.[42] Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 307[43] Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948)[44] George, John (Lt. Col.), Shots Fired In Anger p. 400[45][45] Ballou, 160-166.[46] Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 223: The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division preparing to assault Lingayen

Gulf at Luzon in the Philippines in January 1945 was just one example, an ordnance sergeant reporting that the division had "the mostbeat-down batch of BARs in the army. A few were the original [M1918] models."

[47] Curtiss C-46 Commando (http:/ / www. faqs. org/ docs/ air/ avc46. html).[48] American Aircraft of World War Two, Curtiss Commando (http:/ / www. century-of-flight. net/ Aviation history/ photo_albums/ timeline/

ww2/ 2/ Curtiss Commando. htm).[49] Marshall, S.L.A., Infantry Operations and Weapons Usage in Korea, Project Doughboy, Operations Research Office (ORO), U.S. Army

(1953)[50][50] Ballou, 191-194.[51][51] Ballou, 200.[52][52] Ballou, 199.[53][53] Ballou, 201.[54][54] Ballou, 193.[55][55] Ballou, 193-194.[56][56] Ballou, 196-199.[57][57] Ballou, 204.: This included the M1918A2, the M1919A6, M3A1 submachine gun, M2 carbine, and M1 Garand.[58] Spurr, Russell (1988). Enter the Dragon: China's Undeclared War Against the U.S. in Korea 1950-51. New York: Newmarket Press.

ISBN 1-55704-008-7.[59] Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information

Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.[60] Gander, Terry J.; Hogg, Ian V. Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995/1996. Jane's Information Group; 21 edition (May 1995). ISBN

978-0-7106-1241-0.[61][61] The Home Guard training Manual, Maj John Langdon-Davies, John Murry and the Pilot Press 1942, p. 120.

References• Ballou, James L., Rock in a Hard Place: The Browning Automatic Rifle, Ontario, California: Collector Grade

Publications Inc., ISBN 0-88935-263-1 (2000)• Bishop, Chris (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. New York: Sterling Publishing.

ISBN 1-58663-762-2.• Chinn, George M. (1951). The Machine Gun, Volume I: History, Evolution, and Development of Manual,

Automatic, and Airborne Repeating Weapons (http:/ / www. ibiblio. org/ hyperwar/ USN/ ref/ MG/ index. html).Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the Navy.

• Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press, (1948) ISBN 1-884849-09-1.• George, Lt. Col. John, Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Publications (1981), ISBN 0-935998-42-X.• Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John, Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, DBI Books Inc.

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle 16

• FM 23–15: Basic Field Manual — Browning Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30, M1918A2 (27 Aug 1940) (http:/ /www. ibiblio. org/ hyperwar/ USA/ ref/ FM/ PDFs/ FM23-15. PDF).

• (Polish) Popiel, Adam (1991). Uzbrojenie lotnictwa polskiego 1918–1939. Warsaw, Poland: SIGMA-NOT.pp. 205–206. ISBN 83-85001-37-9.

External links• Modern Firearms (http:/ / world. guns. ru/ machine/ mg36-e. htm)• The light machine guns of Sweden (http:/ / gotavapen. se/ gota/ artiklar/ kg/ swedish_kg2. htm)• 90th Infantry Division Preservation Group (http:/ / www. 90thidpg. us/ Reference/ Reference. html) – Reference

manual page including 4 BAR manuals• World War II Database (http:/ / ww2db. com/ weapon. php?q=52)• the Colt Monitor (http:/ / www. smallarmsreview. com/ pdf/ Monitor. pdf)• It Sure Is a Rugged Gun, Allen Raymond, December 1944 (http:/ / books. google. com/

books?id=4CEDAAAAMBAJ& pg=PA82& dq=popular+ science+ cannon& hl=en&ei=21C1TKDcF8Krngf1ociADQ& sa=X& oi=book_result& ct=result& resnum=6&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage& q& f=true) World War II article by combat war correspondent in Italy

Article Sources and Contributors 17

Article Sources and ContributorsM1918 Browning Automatic Rifle  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=532860475  Contributors: 4trw, 5-HT8, 5infBrig, 936559jamesS, A Werewolf, Actinman, Adashiel,Agricola44, AlanGutierrez, Alansohn, Aldis90, AlexanderWinston, Alxeedo, AnmaFinotera, Archolman, Asams10, Asdfzxc920, Ashley Pomeroy, Avatar9n, Badger151, Bellagio99, BereanHunter, Betacommand, Bigman67854, Bilsonius, Blaxthos, Bobblewik, Bolas, BonesBrigade, Brian in denver, Brianhe, Camw, Canthusus, Catgut, Chairman S., Chris the speller, Clarince63,Colonies Chris, D.E. Watters, DARK, DJ Tricky86, DanMP5, Darxus, Davecrosby uk, Deathbunny, Deerferw, Dellant, Diagraph01, DocKrin, DocWatson42, Drizzt2, DroneZone, Drpickem,DuaneThomas, Durova, EX STAB, El C, ElvisTrigger, Engineer, Ergbert, Eric-Wester, Excirial, FJ311, FLJuJitsu, Felecita, Fireaxe888, FlieGerFaUstMe262, Foofbun, Fraggle81, Francis Flinch,Gaius Cornelius, Gene Nygaard, Georgewilliamherbert, Germán E. Macías, Get It, Gjs238, GraemeLeggett, Grafikm fr, Greatrobo76, GregorB, Gunnai, Gunnut1966, Hairy Dude, Hasek is thebest, Heqs, Hmains, Hut 8.5, Hyalos, I dream of horses, Iluvbananas, Imgi12, Irish Duck, Island Monkey, JEmfinger, JGoodman, Jackehammond, Jetwave Dave, Jim101, JippoJabber, Jobberone,JohnCub, Johnabrowning, Jonadab, JonathanDP81, Josh Woolstenhulme, Joshbaumgartner, Junkyardslug, Juubelimies, Kadrun, KafzielSucksDogDick, Kajmal, Kanadier, Karenjc, Kelly Martin,Kernel Saunters, Khmer M16, Koalorka, Kross, L1A1 FAL, LC Revelation, LWF, Larry Dunn, LiDaobing, Lightmouse, Looper5920, Luna Santin, MFIreland, MKFI, Mabzie, Maclyn611,Magus732, Marcika, MarcoTolo, Matt Gies, Mav, MediaMogul, Midgrid, Mightfox, Mogism, Morphinea, Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg, Mudwater, Mytwocents, NawlinWiki, NeilN,Neko-chan, Nemo5576, New Hampshirite, Nicke L, Nukes4Tots, OLEF641, Oberiko, Ohconfucius, Oinbuh, Omnieiunium, On Thermonuclear War, Orca1 9904, Ose\fio, Ownage2214,Panoramix303, ParkerG16, Parsecboy, Pat Holscher, PaulinSaudi, Pernambuko, Phil1988, Pil56, Polyparadigm, Ppntori, Premeditated Chaos, Professor London, Prolog, Puffin, Pukepwnage,Quebec99, Quickload, R'n'B, ROG5728, Rayc, Renaissancee, Riddley, Rjwilmsi, Robert A West, RobertLunaIII, Rollo Bay 1758, Runeguy14, S, SDC, SQL, Safety Cap, Sandbekken, Sandius,Saturday, Scoop100, Scottanon, SelfStudyBuddy, Sf46, Shotgunlee, Signaleer, Slatersteven, Some Wiki Editor, Some guy, Sonicology, Spencer, Spute, Squalla, Srich32977, Staygyro, Steve2011,Supersam98765, Surgo, Sus scrofa, TBloemink, Tegel, Thatguy96, TheRedMax, TheWatcherREME, Thernlund, Thewellman, Thomphson, Thue, Thumperward, Tide rolls, Tiffi222, Timwi, Tomharrison, Trekphiler, Trevayne08, Tronno, Tschild, Twalls, Uew, Utcursch, Ve3, Veertlte, Veritas Panther, Vojvodaen, Wasted Sapience, Welsh, Whittling, Whoop whoop pull up, Wiki765,WikiParker, WikipedianMarlith, Wikiuser100, William Avery, Winged Brick, Wksdj, WotWeiller, Xiloynaha, YellowMonkey, Zhihao1, 531 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Army Heritage Museum B.A.R..jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Army_Heritage_Museum_B.A.R..jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: United StatesArmyFile:US flag 48 stars.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:US_flag_48_stars.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AnonMoos, Clindberg, Dual Freq, Flargman4,Homo lupus, Jacobolus, MuXXo, Rocket000, Tkgd2007, Zscout370, 6 anonymous editsFile:Browning with his BAR.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Browning_with_his_BAR.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: World War I U.S. Army SignalCorps CollectionFile:Congress Heights M1918 Test.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Congress_Heights_M1918_Test.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Harris & Ewing,photographer.. Original uploader was Koalorka at en.wikipediaFile:Val Browning M1918 BAR.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Val_Browning_M1918_BAR.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Dreyfuss. Originaluploader was Koalorka at en.wikipediaFile:M1918 Variants.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:M1918_Variants.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: United States ArmyImage:Browning Automatic Rifle Cropped.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Browning_Automatic_Rifle_Cropped.jpg  License: Creative CommonsAttribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors: joelogon / Joe Loong, cropped and retouched by user:Atirador.File:Firearms practice, 1936.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Firearms_practice,_1936.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: not statedFile:Browning ar001.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Browning_ar001.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Atirador, BelissariusFile:Zdzisław de Ville.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Zdzisław_de_Ville.jpg  License: anonymous-EU  Contributors: Kekator, Quibik, Tomasz WachowskiFile:Swedish Kg M1921 Right.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Swedish_Kg_M1921_Right.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Avron, Chris58, Fisch21,Lokal Profil, MKFIFile:Swedish Kg M1937 Left.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Swedish_Kg_M1937_Left.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Avron, Chris58, Fisch21, LokalProfil, MKFIImage:M1918A2 BAR Korea.JPEG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:M1918A2_BAR_Korea.JPEG  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Chang. Original uploader wasKoalorka at en.wikipediaFile:Warsaw Uprising by Tomaszewski - Mazowiecka 1.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Warsaw_Uprising_by_Tomaszewski_-_Mazowiecka_1.jpg  License: PublicDomain  Contributors: Jarekt, Nemo5576File:Viet Cong002.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Viet_Cong002.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: UnknownFile:Flag of Austria.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Austria.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:SKoppFile:Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:SKoppFile:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Bean49, David Descamps,Dbenbenn, Denelson83, Evanc0912, Fry1989, Gabriel trzy, Howcome, IvanOS, Ms2ger, Nightstallion, Oreo Priest, Ricordisamoa, Rocket000, Rodejong, Sir Iain, ThomasPusch, Warddr,Zscout370, 4 anonymous editsFile:Flag of Bolivia.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Bolivia.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:SKoppFile:Flag of Brazil.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Brazil.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AnomieFile:Flag of Cambodia.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Cambodia.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Open Clip Art Library, first uploaded byNightstallion; redraw the towers of Angkor Wat by User:Xiengyod.File:Flag of Canada.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Canada.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AnomieFile:Flag of Chile.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Chile.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Alkari, B1mbo, David Newton, Dbenbenn, Denelson83,ElmA, Er Komandante, Fibonacci, Fry1989, Fsopolonezcaro, Herbythyme, Huhsunqu, Kallerna, Kanonkas, Klemen Kocjancic, Kyro, Mattes, McZusatz, Mozzan, Nagy, Nightstallion, Piastu,Pixeltoo, Pumbaa80, SKopp, Sarang, Srtxg, Sterling.M.Archer, Str4nd, Ultratomio, Vzb83, Xarucoponce, Yakoo, Yonatanh, Zscout370, 49 anonymous editsFile:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:Drawn by User:SKopp, redrawn by User:Denelson83 and User:Zscout370 Recode by cs:User:-xfi- (code), User:Shizhao (colors)File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: 555, Abner1069,Bestalex, Bigmorr, Denelson83, Ed veg, Gzdavidwong, Herbythyme, Isletakee, Kakoui, Kallerna, Kibinsky, Mattes, Mizunoryu, Neq00, Nickpo, Nightstallion, Odder, Pymouss, R.O.C, Reisio,Reuvenk, Rkt2312, Rocket000, Runningfridgesrule, Samwingkit, Sasha Krotov, Shizhao, Tabasco, Vzb83, Wrightbus, ZooFari, Zscout370, 75 anonymous editsFile:Flag of Colombia.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Colombia.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: SKoppFile:Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Costa_Rica.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Drawn by User:SKopp, rewritten byUser:GabbeFile:Flag of Cuba.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Cuba.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: see belowFile:Flag of Egypt.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Egypt.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Open Clip ArtFile:Flag of El Salvador.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: user:NightstallionFile:Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Ethiopia.svg  License: unknown  Contributors: Aaker, Anime Addict AA, Antemister, Cycn, F l a n k er, Fry1989, GoodMorningEthiopia, Happenstance, Homo lupus, Huhsunqu, Ixfd64, Klemen Kocjancic, MartinThoma, Mattes, Mozzan, Neq00, OAlexander, Pumbaa80, Rainforest tropicana,Reisio, SKopp, Smooth O, Spiritia, ThomasPusch, Torstein, Wsiegmund, Zscout370, 16 anonymous editsFile:Flag of Finland.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Finland.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Drawn by User:SKoppFile:Flag of France.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_France.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Anomie

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 18

File:Flag of German Reich (1935–1945).svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_German_Reich_(1935–1945).svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: FornaxFile:Flag of Germany.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Germany.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AnomieFile:Flag of Greece.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Greece.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: (of code) cs:User:-xfi- (talk)File:Flag of Haiti.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Haiti.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: (colours and size changes of the now deletied versions)Madden, Vzb83, Denelson83, Chanheigeorge, Zscout370 and Nightstallion Coat of arms :Lokal_Profil and Myriam ThyesFile:Flag of Indonesia.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Indonesia.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Drawn by User:SKopp, rewritten byUser:GabbeFile:Flag of Israel.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Israel.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: “The Provisional Council of State Proclamation of theFlag of the State of Israel” of 25 Tishrei 5709 (28 October 1948) provides the official specification for the design of the Israeli flag. The color of the Magen David and the stripes of the Israeli flagis not precisely specified by the above legislation. The color depicted in the current version of the image is typical of flags used in Israel today, although individual flags can and do vary. The flaglegislation officially specifies dimensions of 220 cm × 160 cm. However, the sizes of actual flags vary (although the aspect ratio is usually retained).File:Flag of South Korea.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_South_Korea.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: VariousFile:Flag of Laos.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Laos.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:SKoppFile:Flag of Liberia.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Liberia.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Government of LiberiaFile:Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:SKoppFile:Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Zscout370File:Flag of Norway.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Norway.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: DbenbennFile:Flag of Pakistan.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Pakistan.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Zscout370File:Flag of the Philippines.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Achim1999File:Flag of Poland.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Poland.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Anomie, MifterFile:Flag of South Sudan.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_South_Sudan.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Achim1999File:Flag of North Vietnam.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Anime Addict AA, Antemister,Cycn, Denniss, Fry1989, Gabbe, Homo lupus, Madden, Mattes, Nilfanion, Officer781, Qgnt, R-41, Smial, Zscout370, Владимир турчанинов, 1 anonymous editsFile:Flag of South Vietnam.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_South_Vietnam.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Anime Addict AA, Antemister,Avia, ChongDae, Conscious, Denniss, Editor at Large, Electron, Fry1989, Gryffindor, Homo lupus, Kauffner, Ludger1961, MS05L, Madden, Mattes, Multichill, Qgnt, ThomasPusch,Thorjoetunheim, Wrightbus, Zscout370, 24 anonymous editsFile:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: A1, Ahmadi, Alex Smotrov,Alvis Jean, Art-top, BagnoHax, Brandmeister, Counny, Denniss, Dynamicwork, ELeschev, Endless-tripper, Ericmetro, EugeneZelenko, F l a n k e r, Fred J, Fry1989, G.dallorto, Garynysmon,Herbythyme, Homo lupus, Jake Wartenberg, MaggotMaster, Ms2ger, Nightstallion, Palosirkka, Patrickpedia, PeaceKeeper97, Pianist, R-41, Rainforest tropicana, Sebyugez, Skeezix1000, Solbris,Storkk, Str4nd, Tabasco, ThomasPusch, Toben, Twilight Chill, Xgeorg, Zscout370, Серп, Тоны4, 64 anonymous editsFile:Flag of Sweden.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Sweden.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AnomieFile:Flag of Thailand.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Thailand.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Zscout370File:Flag of Turkey.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Turkey.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: David Benbennick (original author)File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Anomie, GoodOlfactory, MifterFile:Flag of the United States.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AnomieFile:Flag of Uruguay.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Uruguay.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Reisio (original author)

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