Trying to ID part of a .50-cal mount

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Guys,

On the 50 cal mount for the HMMVW there is a bow-shaped structure that comes off the mount near the top. Looks like it rotates around separately from the gun and has a sturdy metal rod at the far end. Am I right in thinking that this is the equivalent of a travel lock for the weapon?

Thanks for your help.

2

I think you are talking about the Traverse & Elevation (T&E) mount. It is used to set a field of fire for the gun and have reference points to aim at. It is usually only used in fixed positions as it limits the arc of fire.

You can see it on the vehicles below.

3

Gino,

I can’t see the photos you attached but here’s one of mine. Is this the T&E mount?

Thanks!

4

I am at work now and can’t see your pic (damn firewall). I’ll take a look at it later when I am home.

5

Thanks Gino.

6

Yup, that is the T&E mount. Same thing that I have pictured.

7

Thanks. For some reason all I can see of your photos is a blue question mark. Probably my squirrelly browser. The thing which attaches the gun to the T&E mount (looks like a rod with a twist tightener), is that attached to the gun or the mount? In other words, where would it be if it is stowed and not being used?

8

Hmm, now I am just getting the dreaded Red X for my pics too. Guess they don’t allow linking.

The rod with the screw knob is the T&E mechanism. It attaches to the bottom of the MG with a pin and then secures onto the bar on the mount with a screw handle. The screw knob raises and lowers the elevation and the hooked end on the bar allows the gun a limited traverse from side to side. The bar has a graduated scale, as does the post on the T&E. You use them as reference points on a range card for a fixed defensive position. By setting the T&E to two predetermined #s on the two scales, you can have predesignated targets that can quickly be used to bring the gun to bear on them.

Looks like this (hope it shows):

It is normally left attached to the MG if it is only temporarily being removed from the mount. If it is on a vehicle that is being used in motion, it normally is not mounted.

9

Thanks so much for your help Gino. It shows up in some of my pix but not in others and I wanted to be sure I had the terminology right. All things being equal, you should see the results of my labor before too long…

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[#ditto] on everything gino stated. from my experience, we always had the T&E and traverse bars hooked up in OIF and OEF. they are really used for fixed positions with range cards and the such as gino stated, but if your hauling butt down the road, you can keep the gun relatively fixed on a certain degree while traveling. (like say when traveling parallel from a mountain ridge, you can keep it fixed on the middle of it until needed, instead of just bouncing around trying to hold on to it) its less time to respond. we always had the travers bar hooked up as this piece is easy to adjust, and the T&E was fitted on, but not locked on in case we had to return fire quickly. when we had the MK 19’s hooked up, we also used it because a 70 pound weapon with another 40 pound ammo crate boucncing around while driving cross country at 15 MPH is really hard to control. its easier to set up the T&E and traverse bar at a desired location, and if you make contact, it only takes milliseconds to unlock the T&E and return fire. from my experience, i have never seen MG’s in OIF and OEF held freehanded. (with HMMWV’s at least) hope this helps.

rooster

11

Rooster,

My photos of OIF HMMVWs with the M2 (as well as a SAW) mounted show the T&E mechanism connected and not connected so I was curious as to how it was used. Guess it was up to the gunner as to whether they wanted to engage it or not.

Thanks for you help.

12

And I thought T&E Mech were just used with the tripods… Thanks for the info Gino [;)]

13

yeah aaron, my experience as a gunner and TC of a gun truck, its normally the gunners choice. like i said holding on to a heavy weapon like that is a real pain in the butt. some will set it at a desired degree, and have everything hooked up, but not have the T&E locked on to the traverse bar. they’ll just hold on to the .50 cal in a downward pull, keeping the gun stabilized, and the gunner something to hold on to as well in the bouncing HMMWV. when they make contact, all he has to do is pick up the weapon and point in the desired location. example: if your traveling cross country, or on afghan roads, you can have everything set up, but not have the T&E locked on the traverse bar. the trucks jumping around, the gunners bouncing around, he’s holding on to the turret with this left hand, and pulling down with his right hand, keeping him stable. when they make contact, he just grabs the .50 cal with the left hand, picks it off the traverse bar, points and shoots. and from my experience with the SAW’s, if your talking about them being mounted with the .50’s or MK19’s on the eagle mount. we never used T&E’s as we had no travers bar for them. they were just hooked up to free pintles. hold this helps

rooster