FM 23-45 Basic Field Manual
21
stoppages immediately without attempting to analyze the cause. Immediate action is
performed by the gunner. All personnel required to fire the machine gun will be
proficient in immediate action.
b
.Procedure.—The procedure for immediate action is shown in the following
diagram:
IMMEDIATE ACTION
The gun fails to rife
Pull the bolt to the rear, release it, and attempt to fire
If gun still fails to fire
Tap the cover, pull the belt to the right, hold the left hand on the belt at the point
where the cartridge enters the feedway, and pull the bolt to the rear and release it.
If the belt feeds If the belt does not feed
Attempt to fire Raise the cover, remove the
first round from the belt,
If the gun still and look or feel for a
Fails to fire cartridge in the gun
Charge the bolt If the cartridge is:
In the gun Not in the gun
Remove it Reload, relay and fire
Reload, relay and fire
NOTES.—1. If the procedure outlined above does not place the gun in action, the gunner must inspect the feed mechanism and the
working parts of the gun to include inspecting the chamber for a ruptured case in order to locate and reduce the stoppage.
2. II the bolt stops just short of home, frequently it can be pushed fully forward and firing continued without application of immediate
action. Caution: Release the trigger before pushing the bolt forward.
3. Stoppages caused by defective feed' mechanism can sometimes be remedied temporarily by pulling the belt to the right with just
sufficient force to assist the feed mechanism in positioning the leading round.
S
ECTION VI
TRIPOD MOUNTING
■43. L
IGHT MACHINE GUN TRIPOD MOUNT M2.—
a. This tripod (fig. 15) is a simple mount for the light machine gun and is designed to furnish the
gun with a stable mount embodying the maximum strength and rigidity consistent with desired light
weight. It is portable, easily packed, and may be used for the delivery of accurate fire on ground
targets.
b. The tripod consists of three tubular steel legs articulating in a tripod head, the two trail legs
being joined and additionally supported by a traversing bar, forming a simple Atruss, and serving as
a rear support for the mounted gun. The tripod head furnishes a front support for the mounted gun, it
being in turn supported by the short front leg.
c. Incorporated in the tripod head (fig. 16) is a bronze bushing, mating with the tapered steel
pintle permanently secured to the receiver of the light machine gun. The pintle is secured in its union
with the bushing by engagement of the pintle latch of the tripod in its corresponding annular groove
