FM 23-45 Basic Field Manual
24
and may be used on either side of the Phillips cavalry pack saddle in case an extra
ammunition pack horse is utilized to transport ammunition for the light machine guns
of a horse cavalry organization.
■47. CHESTS.—
a. Ammunition chests.
—The ground light machine gun is provided with ammunition
chest M1 which is constructed of light duralumin, lined with leather, equipped with a
leather carrying handle; normal capacity, two 150-round fabric belts (300 rounds).
b. Spare parts chest.—
The light machine-gun spare parts chest is modified from an
M1 ammunition chest by the insertion of a partition accommodating one 150-round
fabric belt in one side and spare parts and accessories in the other. The authorized
contents of the spare parts chest are listed in SNL No. A-6.
■48. C
OVERS.—
a.
The gun cover is s small canvas cover provided to protect the working parts of the
gun in pack. It is removable without taking the gun out of pack and when so removed
may be placed in an ammunition chest.
b.
The spare barrel canvas cover is designed to accommodate an assembled barrel
and barrel extension.
■49. B
ELT LOADING MACHINE (fig. 17).—
a. General.—
This machine is for the rapid loading of fabric (web) belts. It is normally
fastened to a table or bench while in use.
b. To fill a web feed belt with cartridges.—
(1) Fasten machine to a table or bench and turn crank (10) to the
right
until it is
straight down.
(2) Release tension spring hook (28) and raise upper feed wheel (18) as far as it
will go.
(3) Turn belt guide cover (56) to the right far enough to admit belt into belt guide
(53) and raise upper needle bar (45) as far as it will go.
(4) A black thread running along the side of the belt indicates the side for the
entrance of the cartridge. Put two cartridges by hand into the two loops of the belt
nearest the end with the brass tip, and place belt in machine with first cartridge
resting in top groove of lower feed wheel (22), belt passing out at back through belt
guide.
(5) Return belt guide cover to place over belt (being careful to see that the belt is
free to pass under it), and lower the needle bar.
(6) Turn upper feed wheel down upon belt and secure tension spring under hook.
(7) Fill feed guide with cartridges by stripping ten at a time from the paper boxes
in which they are packed.
(8) Turn crank to the right and the cartridges will be fed into the belt ready for use
in the gun.
(9) Place a feed box ready to receive the filled belt and at such a height that not
more than 2 feet of filled belt will be suspended from the feed wheels of the machine.
c. Precautions for using the belt loading machine for web belts.
—(1) Before using the
machine, see that it is well oiled, all screws are tight, and that the needles are properly
set. See that the points of the upper needles are about 0.01 inch vertically above the
points of the lower needles.
