Just been reading about WW2 and a "M3 nest" was mentioned. Its German or was used by the Germans. I assume it is a machine gun on a tripod? Can anyone point to a web page with a picture of it? Marek
Just been reading about WW2 and a "M3 nest" was mentioned. Its German or was used by the Germans. I assume it is a machine gun on a tripod? Can anyone point to a web page with a picture of it? Marek Marek: Do you still have the book? If so, a little more information might help. M3 sounds like an American designation (Model 3). German machine guns were designated MG for Maschinengewehr. Some British machine guns, like the Bren, reached to Mk.3. I know of no American machine guns in WWII so designated, although there were other M3 weapons such as a 105mm howitzer. JT
If it is a handwritten item it must be an "MG nest" check if the 3 could be a G. Cheers Definitely a 3.
Besides what JT mentioned, the only M3 I know about was the M3 "Grease Gun". The cheaper alternative to the Thompson.
Besides what JT mentioned, the only M3 I know about was the M3 "Grease Gun". The cheaper alternative to the Thompson. Yeah i hear that its M3 i was just starting to post but i realise that you write it :icon-mrgreenbandit: Its also know as ''Oil gun''
Perhaps the book was written by someone with very little knowledge of WW2 weapons. Where did you read it & who was author?
Perhaps the book was written by someone with very little knowledge of WW2 weapons. Where did you read it & who was author? The author faced the unsafe end of the weapon. He was Polish so maybe they referred to the weapon by a different name/number or just left out some of the letters/numbers. The 'nearest' number I found on the internet was 'Breda M-37'. Was it used by the Germans in Italy?
M37 quite likely to be found in German hands, particularly the SS as a remnant of their peculiar early war lines of supply, It was manufactured specifically in German Ammunition calibres. Still seems a tenuous link to M3 though doesn't it. Been through assorted bunker plans over the last day and none specifically called M3 so far, there are some unusual handwriting styles that write 'g' more like an elongated '3' but I imagine the rest of the text has confirmed (as you say above) that's not the case. Good luck, Adam.
The M2 is the Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun (the official designation for the infantry type is Browning Machine Gun, Heavy Barrel, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible). The M3 was the the heavy tripod configuration. If the writer had had contact with US forces, or knowledge of US terms, he may have used M3 to refer to all heavy machine-gun emplacement, even the enemy's. May be a spurious connection, but so far the only one that seems plausible. MGs on tripods:
The other option, considering the writer was Polish, and so would be serving with the British forces, is that he is referring to a mortar unit. The standard British mortar was the Ordnance ML 3 inch mortar (actually 81 mm), and the standard German mortar was the Granatwerfer 34 (again 81 mm). They look almost identical. Anyway, soldiers' short hand could refer to the 3 inch as M (mortar) 3, and thus the same for the German equivalent.
