was there an mg13 belt pouch for magazines?

[blckwlfny1]

I know that the standard method of carrying the mg13 magazines was either in an ammo can or in a bandoleer that fit like a life jacket around the neck and over the shoulders.
but i am looking to verify or debunk a rumor that there were also leather belt pouches worn by the gunner to keep some immediately on his person.

does anyone have any information on this?
thanks

[pitfighter]

There are none but the ones you mentioned listed in the Dreyse MG13 accessories list in Musgrave and Olivers book.

4. Suspenders and pouches for 8 magazines.
5. Steel ammunition box for 8 magazines.
6. Sling for two ammuntion boxes*

*Indicates item originally used with the MG08and MG08/15

A few pages later it has the chart MG.13 illustrating all accessories, echoing the above list in illustration form.

Perhaps in Portugal?

Frankly it would make sense - those sling around the neck affairs are uncomfortable and impractical for anything but standing still.

However, I haven't seen any myself, which means little - I do collect imagery on line and stills of the MG13 in use, as I have one in the collection, with the suspenders and pouches for 8 magazines and the mag box.

But there are more learned scholars here.


Pit.

[me6_130]

These (not the red arrows, though) are the MG13 ones. Perhaps you mean some kind of pouches used by FJ... but i don't think they have anything to do with the MG13.

Carles

[blckwlfny1]

thanks for the input.
from personal experience: I carry one at reenactments and i can tell you that those 'maye west" style bandoleers are not very practical for immediate availability of the magazines and you cant hope to carry one AND fire the gun. Hence, if you're ever caught more than arm's reach from your crew, you're screwed. It would seem strange that they never remedied this problem. especially with the "everything in its place" mentality of the German army.

[me6_130]

Well, that's why they were organised in squads, to protect the machinegunner and feed the machinegun. The gunner had a side arm for self-protection and the rest of the squad had rifles. I guess the gunner would carry a couple of mags in his pockets MG13s were considered obsolete very early in the war, and handed to second line and static (bunker) units, and replaced with MG34s.

you cant hope to carry one AND fire the gun.

I don't think this kind of mag pouches was designed for the MG gunner, they would interfere with the gunner tool pouch and make his pistol inaccessible.

Carles

[me6_130]

Well, having a look at a manual, I should say I was mistaken, the MG gunner would carry a set of pouches but no when shooting. The gun was not thought to be used "at the run" but positioned on the bipod.

Carles

[blckwlfny1]

I was looking at that in the manual as well.
It seems to me that the manual suggests a logical plan if not an unrealistic one.
trust me, when you advance, the gun is locked, loaded and at the ready unless you are running full tilt. Granted, a four-foot, 30 lb gun with a 25 round clip is less than ideal, but it beats dropping it to use your sidearm.
Much of the information is probably already lost to history, But would have been interested to speak to any of the gunners (spanish, portugese, or german) who actually used the MG13 in combat. Id love to find out what they did to carry and change the magazines.

[blckwlfny1]

i just noticed that the gunner is also wearing the bayonet troddel ..."by the numbers" eh ?

[pitfighter]

His bipod is moving position, too.

Do you have a full-auto or semi MG13?

How does it run with blanks - mine is going to semi-it took an eternity to find a cut receiver for it.



Clearly the fact the suspenders and pouches do not attach to the belt is so that they can be used in the manner that the manual that Carles posted.

Remove and lay them at the ready - they obviously thought this was an innovative idea - they would have seen the WW1 BAR pouch, which could have been enlarged and worked fine. They are not much fun to wear.