Rifle Squad's MG34 ammunition load

[Gary Kennedy]

I'm revisiting an old interest of mine, details of the equipment carried by various Rifle Squads. Looking at the German Rifle Squad of 1939-42 I'm hoping to establish how much ammunition was available for the MG34. From what I can see;

The 1937-39 Rifle Squad had four men in the LMG group. No.1 carried the MG34 with a 50-round drum loaded; No.2 carried two ammunition boxes, each with 300 rounds of unbelted(?) ammunition; No.3 carried the same; No.4 carried two 50-round drums. I'm less certain on this figure but it would make 1350 rounds.

The 1940-42 Squad had three men on the LMG. No.1 carried the MG34 with a 50-round drum loaded; No.2 carried four more 50 round drums, plus an ammunition box with 300 rounds; No.3 carried two 300 round ammunition boxes. I make that 1150 rounds.

Reason I'm wondering how accurate these figures are is reference in items on germandocsinrussia to the MG34 having 2450 rounds per gun, plus 500 rounds in the regimental column, plus 500 rounds in divisional column. Obvious reason would be how much ammunition would be carried on Platoon/Company transport as well as by Squad members.

Cheers,

Gary

[shamirnewell]

I'm revisiting an old interest of mine, details of the equipment carried by various Rifle Squads. Looking at the German Rifle Squad of 1939-42 I'm hoping to establish how much ammunition was available for the MG34. From what I can see;

The 1937-39 Rifle Squad had four men in the LMG group. No.1 carried the MG34 with a 50-round drum loaded; No.2 carried two ammunition boxes, each with 300 rounds of unbelted(?) ammunition; No.3 carried the same; No.4 carried two 50-round drums. I'm less certain on this figure but it would make 1350 rounds.

The 1940-42 Squad had three men on the LMG. No.1 carried the MG34 with a 50-round drum loaded; No.2 carried four more 50 round drums, plus an ammunition box with 300 rounds; No.3 carried two 300 round ammunition boxes. I make that 1150 rounds.

Reason I'm wondering how accurate these figures are is reference in items on germandocsinrussia to the MG34 having 2450 rounds per gun, plus 500 rounds in the regimental column, plus 500 rounds in divisional column. Obvious reason would be how much ammunition would be carried on Platoon/Company transport as well as by Squad members.

Cheers,

Gary

Two sources with different numbers
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Germany/HB/HB-6.html
Forward issue is put at between 1350 rounds and 3450 rounds depending on unit type.

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Sol ... ustung.htm
Theirchart puts it at 3750 rounds from the Division downward with 2500 in Company train or below.

[yabint]

The ammo cans held 250 rounds in five belts. These were joined together to make one belt of 100 rounds and another of 150 rounds. Because the 7.92x57 round is tapered they needed to be packed "head to toe" in the box, hence the need to split them into two belts rather than one continious belt of 250 rounds.

[Gary Kennedy]

Thanks for the replies, the link to the figures on lexicon was particularly useful. I was trying to work out if there was a set way to divide the allocated LMG ammunition between troops and horse-drawn transport. For example if a Squad of ten had 2500 rounds with 1150 rounds carried by the three LMG numbers, I was wondering if there was a specific way the balance of 1350 rounds would be distributed on wagons. Looks likely not. Interesting also to note the switch in the way belts were carried. The US translation of the German Squad manual indicates the ammunition boxes carried loose rounds, not belted, as for duties of No.2 and No.3 it mentions 'refill empty drum magazines and belts with loose rounds from the ammunition boxes'. Obviously it makes more sense to have belted rounds ready to go but the 1500 round cases of 7.92-mm were loose I understand.

Gary

[yabint]

Gary, the 1500 round cases would have been "loose" rounds packed into 20 round paper packets. These cases are too big and in-wieldy for action, and used when distributing ammunition before the fight. Soldiers would have packed rounds into stripper clips and then put them into their belt pouches. I believe that they also carried a couple spare packets in their packs.
The machinegun belts would have been loaded from the loose rounds by a hand cranked belt loader. A good crew would then inspect the belts to make sure that the rounds had been seated properly.