Warning: session_start(): open(/var/cpanel/php/sessions/ea-php74/sess_fae7c07b10194bf101e2088db7e340333eda66f89972e574, O_RDWR) failed: No space left on device (28) in /home/devwehrmacht/public_html/forums/includes/vb5/frontend/controller/page.php on line 71 Warning: session_start(): Failed to read session data: files (path: /var/cpanel/php/sessions/ea-php74) in /home/devwehrmacht/public_html/forums/includes/vb5/frontend/controller/page.php on line 71 Besa or MG37(t) ? - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums
AlsacDirect

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Besa or MG37(t) ?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Besa or MG37(t) ?

    I have this nice can which is a mystery to me..
    The links inside appear to be from the MG37(t) or the BESA derivative.
    Can appears to be a British 'brown' on the outside but a bit brighter on the inside.
    Maker stamp appears to be eastern European.?
    I thought British BESA at first, as it it has a clear 7.92 marking on the lid to clearly identify against the standard .303 in service at the time. (the 7.92 BESA was used in British tanks during WW2).
    What do you think ?
    Richard
    Attached Files
    Tags: None
    #2
    more
    Attached Files

    Comment

      #3
      and more
      Attached Files

      Comment

        #4
        Israel - could feasibly have used either Besa or MG37
        This one is in Tel Aviv - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...y-haosef-3.jpg
        Last edited by pitfighter; 07-28-2015, 06:59 PM.

        Comment

          #5
          Yes its Hebrew. Still investigating.....

          Comment

            #6
            That makes it clear, then. I was wondering what it was. Thanks for the info.

            Carles

            Comment

              #7
              Just to further the inquiry, BESA belts are very different, using canvas as the main belt part with two piece steel clamshell links held together with tabs to hold the rounds. The will work in a 37 as well.
              Ammo box is typical for the 37s and is a derivation of the German boxes.

              Bob Naess

              Comment

                #8
                I understand from reading that the BESA started out with the all metal belts and the canvas derivative was developed later on. ?
                Richard

                Comment

                  #9
                  >I understand from reading that the BESA started out with the all metal belts and the canvas derivative was developed later on. ?<

                  If I recall, the BESA was put into service in 1940 by the Brits and during development probably used the standard ZB53 all steel continuous belts. I would assume they lost their sources for metal belts and so were forced to design and make their own and the design probably was less expensive and used less strategic materials than the ZB style. The production numbers of BESA guns was very high so a domestic source of belts was imperative.
                  The ZB loader is interesting in that it loads two cartridges at a time and is extremely well built and efficient, which is a great benefit for shooting the gun. I have not tried to load a BESA belt in the standard ZB loader, but will give it a try just to see if it works. I have never come across a belt loader specifically made for the BESA belts and question how these belts were loaded by tank crews in the field. Maybe someone else will comment about this.

                  Bob Naess

                  Comment

                  Previous template Next

                  Users Viewing this Thread

                  Collapse

                  There is currently 0 user online. 0 members and 0 guests.

                  Most users ever online was 10,032 at 08:13 PM on 09-28-2024.

                  Working...
                  X