 Boxes, Ammunition, Caliber .30, M1 |  Boxes, Ammunition, Caliber .30, M1 & M1A1 |
Link, Metallic Belt, Caliber .50, M2 : this link is specifically designed to hold cal .50 cartridges (it differs slightly in design from the M1 link, being larger) and meets the shape of the relevant cartridges . It must withstand an extraction pull of 10 to 25 pounds . Caliber .50 links are packed 10 per carton and 100 cartons (1,000 links) per box (dimensions, either 18 ¾ x 11 ¼ x 10 1/8 inch (wood), or 18 7/8 x 11 1/8 x 10 inch (wire-bound crate) . The volume of the wooden box is 1.22 cubic feet and the weight 53 pounds; while volume of the wire-bound version is only 1.15 cubic feet and its weight 49 pounds . The number of cartridges per metallic link belt in cartons is 100, while total number of rounds link belt assembled cartridges is 200 .
Remarks : Metallic Belt Links for either caliber .30 or .50 cartridges can be loaded by Machine, Link Loading, Cal .30, M3 (loading rate-1,040 rds per hour/per man) and Machine, Link Loading, Cal .50, M2 (loading rate-1,040 rds per hour/per man), respectively . Cal .30 & .50 linked belts were also packed in the standard wooden small-arms ammo boxes . These could contain 265 x cal .50 linked cartridges (either plain ammo or combined types such as 2 x AP + 2 x INC + 1 x TR), and 1200 x cal .30 linked cartridges (either plain ammo or mixed such as the cal .50 version, but also a combination of 4 x AP + 1 x TR cartridges . (or 1500 cal .30 belted cartridges) .
FABRIC BELTS
Lengths of woven material designed for holding a number of cartridges for continuous feeding of machineguns . This feed belt is made of woven (at first, white, later olive drab colored) fabric with loops to hold individual rounds, and has no metal parts, except for a brass strip at each end to facilitate loading of weapon . During WWII, woven fabric belts were in use for either 50 – 100 – 150 or 250 rounds, although for cal .30 ammo, 250-rd belts were more widely used, while for cal .50 ammo, the linked belt containing 105 rounds was more widespread than other versions . Major versions in use during WWII ;
| feeding Caliber .30 ammo by means of an M1917 olive drab fabric Ammo Belt (belted 4 Armor Piercing - 1 Tracer), weapon is the M1919A4 Cal..30 (aircooled) Browning Machine Gun |
Belt, Ammunition, Caliber .30, M1917 : standard fabric (white and/or olive drab) belt for holding 250 rounds of std. cal .30 ammunition . Used throughout WWII .
Belt, Ammunition, Caliber .50, M2 : standard fabric (olive drab) belt for holding 100 rounds of std. cal .50 ammunition . Manufacturing discontinued in 1945 .
Belt, Ammunition, Fabric, Caliber .50, M7 : standard fabric (olive drab) belt for holding 100 rounds of std. cal .50 ammunition . Manufacturing discontinued in 1945 .
Belt, Ammunition, Fabric, Caliber .50, M7 : standard fabric (olive drab) belt for holding 110 rounds of std. Cal .50 ammunition . Manufacturing also discontinued in 1945 .
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Chest, Ammunition, Caliber .30, M1917 + Boxes, Ammunition, Caliber .30 M1 & M1A1 + Fabric Belts (white & olive drab) containing 4 x Armor-Piercing + 1 x Tracer Cartridges and plain Ball Cartridges (demil) |
Remarks : Combined use of different types of cartridges was possible, such as 4 x ball + 1 x tracer, or 2 x armor-piercing + 2 x incendiary + 1 x tracer, or 2 x armor-piercing + 2 x incendiary + 2 x tracer . As stated before belted ammo was usually packed in metal ammo boxes, which were subsequently packed in wire-bound crates, and finally in wooden shipping boxes .
AMMUNITION BANDOLEERS
Purpose of the Bandoleer is to afford an easy means of carrying extra rifle ammunition in an accessible manner . The Bandoleer is made of cotton cloth (first light khaki-colored, later olive-drab) and is divided into 6 individual pockets . A shoulder strap of light webbing and one safety pin are attached to provide an easy means of carrying it on the serviceman . A reference card is inserted in one pocket of the Bandoleer, indicating type, ammunition lot number, manufacturer, and powder lot . Standard practice in the field is issue of 2 Bandoleers per man . Extra cardboard inserts to protect the clips themselves were also added during the war .
Bandoleer, M1906 : this olive-drab cotton ammunition carrier is designed to hold a carton (cardboard insert) of two 5-round cal .30 ammo clips in each pocket . This means one M1906 bandoleer has a total capacity of 60 extra cartridges. The packed Bandoleer weighs approximately 4 pounds .
| M1906 khaki cotton Bandoleer, for 12 x 5-rd Clips Caliber .30 Ammunition for use in M1903 Rifle, with Inspection & Data Card, and Safety Pin |
Bandoleer, M1 : this olive-drab cotton ammunition carrier is designed to hold a carton (cardboard insert) containing one 8-round cal .30 ammo clip in each pocket . The capacity of one M1 Bandoleer represents 48 extra cartridges . The packed Bandoleer weighs about 3 ½ pounds .
| M1 khaki cotton Bandoleer, for 6 x 8-rd Clips Caliber .30 Ammunition for use in M1 Rifle, with Inspection & Data Card, Cardboard Inserts (protection), loose Clips, and Safety Pin |
Remark : a total of 25 M1906 Bandoleers (holding 12 x 5-rd Springfield clips) or 28 M1 Bandoleers (holding 6 x 8-rd Garand clips) are packed in the standard wooden boxes (older packings only provided for 20 Bandoleers per box) . Please read other remarks listed under ‘Ammunition Clips’ . By the end of WWII, only one type of bandoleer was retained, i.e. the M1 type which either contained 2 x 5-rd cal .30 clips and/or 1 x 8-rd cal .30 clip per pocket . During WWII no Bandoleers were used for the M1/M1A1 Carbine.
| Bandoleer, M-1 & M-1906 (provision for 2 x 5-rd Clips or 1 x 8-rd Clip per individual Pocket) |
