USMC Stinger Machine Gun: Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima

[@EWLR89]

"They were all probably left on Iwo Jima" F I E L D T R I P

[@kurumachikuroe442]

The correct answer.

[@EWLR89]

@Gabriel Murray With the frizz? No way!

[@angrygamer45]

@@EWLR89 Cruisin' on down Main Street You're relaxed and feelin' good Next thing that you know you're seein' Octopus in the neighborhood!

[@bsmaster7]

Yeah only 70 odd years of surf and sand, that'll be worth it.

[@tr4nsg0th1ca]

@@bsmaster7 the historical worth of any original weapons is priceless, even if they are corroded husks by now

[@counterstrifekid]

"Which Gun would you want to take to Iwo Jima? A B.A.R., an M1919, or a M1?" "Yes"

[@MarvinT0606]

The irony is this LMG could have been a lot more useful in Europe where they had to deal with MG42s on a daily basis. Imagine the look on the Germans' faces when GI's start firing at them with something faster than their infamous Buzzsaw

[@benlaskowski357]

Sure. Call it the Chainsaw. The Krauts'd be wetting their drawers.

[@MarvinT0606]

@@benlaskowski357 "Roosevelt's Chainsaw"

[@benlaskowski357]

👍

[@justinebautista1383]

@@kanyewhite429 The 30 caliber version could fire in 1500 a minute so yeah same speed as the 42. The 50 cal version can fire in a ridiculous 850 rpm now imagine that handheld

[@leiloan7677]

US Army : this is stupid, don't do it Marine Corps : Lmao that's a dank idea

[@michelangelo5903]

browning go bur bur bur aircraft browning go burrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@comunistubula4424]

Jarhead "Boss, I have moar dakka" Boss: "Wachu got there, you git?" Browning ANM2 goes Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Boss: "Warboss....this git here has moar dakka!!!"

[@casualobserver3145]

US Army: This is stupid, don’t do it. USMC: Hold my beer.....

[@bismarckandthekriegsmarine9711]

sounds like the story of the v22 Osprey

[@clonescope2433]

US Army later: hey we have this cool gun called the M1919A6 Marine Corps: hey you copied us.

[@adog7787]

My grandfather used one of those weapons. He described it to me years ago that he had a “ belt fed machine gun with a bipod”. He was wounded but survived after 24 days on Iwo. We have for years ( he passed away about 3 years ago) have tried to figure out what he used. The closest that fit his description was the 1919, but those didn’t fully fit. This fits his description 100%. This is so cool! Thank you for posting this

[@kiwisteve6598]

Your grandfathers gun might have been a M1919A6. And God bless him for his service.

[@raflystiansahlatif5293]

may your grandpa rest in peace

[@LuqmanHM]

We need to know your grandfather's name

[@jackdundon2261]

Your granda, what a hero! If too have any other stories, you need to write them down, soon you will be gone, and along with you, are the first hand accounts, Of those 24 days.

[@MrSpudz2]

Steve Cantwell, the 1919a6’s all went to the ETO, WW2 Marines we’re lucky to get uniforms and food most of the time.

[@kensei1972]

"Why back in my day, we used to run a .30-06 at 1400 RPM. FROM THE HIP!"

[@LipColt]

Accuracy by volume, I see

[@christopherhitson136]

Quanity has a quality all its own

[@motorcyclekidd2131]

You don't aim at targets. You pick a cardinal direction.

[@ODellEng]

The measured rate of that one is 1390 so you are exactly correct. It also runs like an original Singer sewing machine and is remarkably controllable once you get accustomed to the "push". It is not the pounding you get off of an MG42, it is much more a steady push which you can manage more easily (it isn't easy but its definitely smoother than the 42) with a bit of practice.

[@smartyrdumb4681]

Bill Conner ships were wood and men were steel! 🤣

[@emperormarcusaureliusanton5995]

"[On Iwo Jima] Grevick had one himself" well of course he would assign one of those babies to himself lol

[@ygslyn6732]

Hello emperor

[@thomasdillon7761]

He was willing to stake his life on what he had helped create and his brother Marines would be using. In so doing he gave his last full measure of devotion.

[@markgolden1418]

I sure as hell would that is such a wicked peice. If I'm ever in ottawa I'm going to go there and ask to see it lol.

[@jordanwilliams9297]

I mean who wouldn’t want it

[@charlesbukowski9836]

hahaahh you know it homie..

[@8076A]

When the Marines Frankenstein together a better gun than they got issued.

[@D0ng1]

Being the smallest branch with the smallest budget of the DoD means we’ve gotta do more with less. Marines have a pretty innate ability to Frankenstein stuff to work. I remember my SGT telling a story about how he was in charge of 20 Humvees for his section, and all were deadlined (unable to operate) except for one. But that one couldn’t be driven cause it didn’t have a canvas (short explanation; it was like an essential piece to have for operating apparently) and the Motor T guys were dragging ass to get one ordered for him. So, being a skilled mechanic, he took all the parts he needed (headlights, belts, brake pads, wires, spark plugs, etc.) from the good truck to get all the other 19 trucks good. All the bad parts went into the previously good truck for appearance sake and it was known as the Frankenstein truck. He tried to get it to run once and it literally came on for like 5 seconds, blowing white and black smoke out the exhaust before dying immediately

[@ingwarostapenko6874]

@@D0ng1 Man.. That's a nice damn story. I am engineer myself(merchant marine). I love to hear about people overcoming hard situations

[@campkira]

it don't work well without cold air..... it is made for a fighter plane...

[@Tanman-yl4oj]

Ok boomer.

[@MM-qi5mk]

“ If you want logistics , join the Army. Marines make due “

[@mattsullivan78]

"This is brilliant" *points at an MG42* "But I like this" *points at the Stinger MG*

[@gorgan4714]

MG42 was a mounted MG. It was the most effective mounted MG in the war yes but the whole point of this gun was 1 man could carry and operate this gun without need for a AG.

[@mattsullivan78]

I was actually going for both the commonality in them both having high RoF, and thr MG42 is way more recognisable for people, than the MG34.

[@Magnus_Kieler]

kirk stinson There was a time in WWII an American paratrooper used an captured MG-42. All the other paratroopers shot at him because they thought he was a German. So that’s why.

[@tedarcher9120]

Ground modified mg-15 is EVEN BETTER

[@benlaskowski357]

Wonder how MG42s would've done on Iwo . . .

[@32a34a]

27 Medals Of Honor were awarded at Iwo Jima. 4 of these were given to Corpsmen. 14 were received posthumously.

[@VampireQueen375]

o7

[@stephenhood2948]

Corporal Stein survived the events he was awarded the MOH for, but died 10 days later after leaving a hospital ship to go help his unit take part in what would become the taking of Mt Suribachi.

[@FolgoreCZ]

Ian: "1919 can't be fired from hip wery well." John Basilone: "Hold my beer."

[@russellskalla6658]

Hoorah

[@user-njyzcip]

He was using an 1917 too

[@FolgoreCZ]

@ネプギアGO: He did on Guadalcanal, when he earned the MoH. On Iwojima, he was hip-firing an 1919 (at least in The Pacific series, which I hope was accurate in that regard).

[@cpt.awesome7281]

@@FolgoreCZ Based on what guns were used at both times in the war, yes.

[@JimBrodie]

Vickers K: "Bless your cotton socks, child."

[@jackandersen1262]

And so marks the start of a sudden increase of 1919 “Stinger” conversions.

[@Shitbird3249]

Jack Andersen and so starts a bunch of loans to buy 1919s.

[@Bustin_cider00]

Damn Dirty Ape i saw that episode! “I wanna shoulder fire my 1919 so i can shoot it in a competition with my friends”

[@Sseltraeh89]

I want to see people utilize what's left of the guns used for this conversion.. Garand with m1919's pistol grip instead of stock, under US law registered as .30-06 pistol.

[@erikcrouch7881]

@@Sseltraeh89 It wouldn't even need reclassification without a barrel under 16" but I bet shooting it would be.. Interesting, to say the least.

[@edm240b9]

I went to an MG shoot in Vermont a while ago and some guy was in the process of actually building one, but wasn’t finished because he wasn’t sure if they used Garand or Carbine stocks.

[@marshallscot]

A little bit of trivia: on Camp Pendleton there is located at 3D LAAD BN a small memorial dedicated to Cpl Stein, right next to the stinger missile training facility.

[@johnbrennan8611]

Anyone who runs barefoot back to the beach for ammo then back into the battle 8 times to take out pillboxes deserves an entire monument in my book.

[@joshuaredhorse4030]

This is what you get when a marine says to himself; "needs moar dakka!"

[@Hubert_Cumberdale_]

WAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!

[@LoneWolf051]

more dakka for bigger boom shakalaka

[@starslayer8390]

There's neva enuff dakka.

[@UnNuclear]

Dis shoota iz rubbish! 'Ent got enuff dakka!

[@JumpinJoe]

Marines always say, "Needs more dakka." It's in their nature.

[@bruensal7182]

Simple History: No Stingers are known to exi- İan: *SO İ FOUND THİS GUN IN MY GARDEN*

[@xlibshua]

It's a recreation not an original

[@syncmonism]

That doesn't mean that it's not a Stinger.

[@jamesmccrea4871]

@@syncmonism It kinda does. In the same way that battle-ready Renfaire sword isn't a real medieval sword. It's a sword, it's 'renfaire battle-ready', but it's not a real 12th century sword.

[@TheAngryRedGummyBear]

Don't lie, he found it after the boating accident in the lake. Its a shame it will be lost the next time Ian goes to the lake.

[@rachelleanndeleon5629]

I was just from that video rn

[@trashcompactorYT]

BFV was obsessed with obscure guns and has an Iwo Jima map and yet they never thought to include this absolute gem of history. Mindblowing.

[@invictusangelica]

Because DICE Sweden doesn't give a shit anymore and it's shown ever since BF4's launch. Hell, the writing is on the wall already with BF1's DLC cycle

[@TheBananamonger]

Bro they reused so many obscure WWI rifles in BFV because they had the assets from BF1. BFV was developed by a skeleton crew who were barely invested.

[@DStecks]

It would have been too OP

[@broitsmikey]

Because battlefield 5 was ass

[@gunnercooper9405]

I mean they didn’t even add the Russians to a game about ww2 so I’m not surprised

[@QuintonMurdock]

This is such an aggressively American gun.

[@Nedula007]

Hehehe :)

[@fuccingdye]

It screams "America!" every time you pull the trigger.

[@89thaharmaiiioptreshenanig3]

USMC forged from the ground up

[@donniemontoya9300]

What happens when enlisted marines take issues into their own hands.

[@rosesmellpoo]

**angry gopnik noises**

[@gabriellockhart]

And yet some how it still weighed less than the BAR.

[@edm240b9]

gabriellockhart A2 BARs clock in around the same weight. Since the USMC had a lot of older BARs as well, average weight clocks in around 19-20 ibs. Plus, removing alot of the other parts also reduces the weight of the gun.

[@theiceman3713]

*than

[@gabriellockhart]

@@theiceman3713 Corrected ;)

[@gabriellockhart]

@@edm240b9 Sarcasm, my man.

[@tarmaque]

@@calska140 Yo Mama weighs less than a BAR... Which isn't exactly saying much.

[@shankarramachandran3661]

Marine : " We need MG-42s" Other Marine : " We have MG-42s at home" MG-42 at home :

[@DiggerDeeper01]

Marine: Nevermind I like this more.

[@rhyswatkins7545]

Few things beat home cooking.

[@brianstabile165]

@@rhyswatkins7545 what about kfc’s secret spices

[@Alex-rw9bd]

Better

[@notablediscomfort]

Marine: "eeeeeeeeee."

[@rigsby556]

so stop me if you have heard this one, a Garand, and a 1919 walk into a B.A.R.

[@grayeaglej]

Ooof xD

[@benn454]

@@grayeaglej The Japanese guy died.

[@benlaskowski357]

Dumb question: what's the punchline?

[@gilbertyzaguirre7311]

Borderline dad joke but it's good

[@namtar223]

@@benlaskowski357 A B-29 taking off from Iwo Jima to firebomb Tokyo

[@owenwilliams9746]

Simple history: its unknown if any stingers still exist. Ian:So yea I was talking to my gun wizards and they gave me this.

[@NAAHexe]

Gun jesus strikes again

[@jackmoules159]

3:31 none exist

[@macbrown6138]

It’s a reproduction

[@NAAHexe]

Did you miss the joke forreal?

[@WeAreSoBackBros]

@@jackmoules159 the simple history video said no examples exist. A reproduction is an example no?

[@7curiogeo]

They get called crayon eaters, but note their personal initiative , improvisation, and carry on and get the job done. Always impressive.

[@TheWanderersLibrary]

Heeyyyyyy. Everyone needs snacks.

[@Stacy_Smith]

My favorite brand: Crayola My favorite colors: Red and yellow

[@BeingFireRetardant]

Forest Green tastes like mint...

[@freeholdtacticalmed]

Marines are riflemen first, I guess being a machinist who has the time , the parts and an idea (and no doubt access to the machine shop on ship). Just because they eat crayons is no reason to pick on a warrior.

[@toastedt140]

@@freeholdtacticalmed as a person constantly surrounded by marines due to where I live. Understand there's a difference between career marine and the brain dead "warriors" who make up the majority

[@RGC-gn2nm]

In "The Pacific" you can clearly see Marines fighting with thier early water cooled .30s. The air cooled required heavy gloves, assistant gunner to feed ammo and a tripod to use. They improvised a variety of ammo racks, wire barrel handles, and BAR bipods before the Stinger showed up. Gotta love Marines.

[@TheAKgunner]

If the Navy and the Army won't give them what they need, Marines will improvise what they need, and prove themselves right!

[@JustusPradana]

@@TheAKgunner or they just tactically borrow it

[@gearswarrior902]

You want logistics? Join the Army. Marines MAKE DO.

[@snakeeyes941]

i wonder what the quartermaster thought when you asked for a Browning m3, a M1 garand and a BAR and than you return to him carrying this...thing.

[@olvedilaszlo-levente6423]

He mentioned the weight of 23 pounds.

[@KonradSeverinHilstad]

@@olvedilaszlo-levente6423 To be fair, it's only about 8-12 lbs heavier than the MG34 and MG42. Though I wonder why no one thought of making it more compact by giving it a stock and pistol-grip configuration similar to the Vickers-K MG, which was also repurposed similarly to this (From an aircraft gun to ground-service)?

[@baronobeefdipyes5181]

@@KonradSeverinHilstad the original MG34 was somewhere between 23-26lbs, the MG42 was around 25 lbs so its actually about the same, without the attached box of course. Funnily enough the comparatively newer m249 isn't much lighter at around 17 lbs unloaded.

[@BillB23]

@@KonradSeverinHilstad Probably because it was cooked up en route to the theater and they used what was available to the Navy at that time. Remember that the USMC is, to this day, part of the Department of the Navy.

[@baronobeefdipyes5181]

@@KonradSeverinHilstad There was an attachment made for the 1919A6 that had a metal stock with a pistol grip, I'm kinda curious how it compres to this one with the wooden stock

[@crazygamerkasten446]

I love improvised firearms. Its just so cool that some soldier was just like "I HAVE AN IDEA"

[@behindthespotlight7983]

MARINE …not soldier

[@lincolnnoronha4128]

"He was KIA, which, unfortunatly, tends to happen to people who do stuff that merits the medal of honor" Lol. awesome soldier, but too true, brother. too true.

[@bp968]

Yah its something ive commented on before. That I have far to active of a self preservation instinct to ever get a fancy medal. Of course id still be alive and likely telling stories about that crazy medal of honor winner who died saving our platoon.

[@sethmoyer]

@@nobudgetcomments2742 I feel like the answer to every clue in that category is "What are TSA agents."

[@XPsychowaffleX]

@@nobudgetcomments2742 coast guard has in fact joined combat on numerous occasions throughout the 20th century and could still stack bodies quicker than you bud.

[@firstnamegklsodascb4277]

One guy who got the medal of honor thought CMH stood for "casket with a metal handle"

[@FIREBRAND38]

@@nobudgetcomments2742 hate to break it to you but in WW2 the Coast Guard was landing troops on D-Day in the ETO and various islands in the PTO. 8,000 Coast Guardsmen wound up serving in Vietnam www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/the-u-s-coast-guard-s-role-in-the-vietnam-war. The Coast Guard also served in the First Gulf War in Desert Shield/Desert Storm coastguard.dodlive.mil/2016/07/the-long-blue-line-coast-guard-operations-during-the-persian-gulf-war/ But you knew that.

[@CCW1911]

Those Marines "SAW" a need and fulfilled it.

[@therealamerican99.76]

Noice

[@bhight100]

🤣

[@thelastjohnwayne]

I "SAW" what you did there.

[@hmshood9212]

This is the way

[@Dark_Daedalus]

The Ian saying of “No truly new ideas in warfare” really rings true here.

[@thesqueezeboxcomedygroup3183]

"Additionally, we constructed a rifle using the inverse parts from the weapons used to make the stinger.... It's.... It's not great..."

[@dudebroski9460]

I laughed my ass off at this comment. Just wanted you to know, that was awesome.

[@DerplingKing]

Now I'm just imagining a spade grip and spider sight on a Garand barrel and BAR magazines.

[@shootymcshootfacekoff7972]

@@DerplingKing how bout a en bloc fed BAR barrel with garand sighting and action with m1919 tripod

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

It’d be a BAR without its rear sight with spade grips no bipod and a M1 Garand receiver

[@Rid_Of_Thee]

A beautiful comment good sir

[@billylin5404]

Cpl. Stein definitely "improvised, adapted, and overcame." A courageous hero he was!

[@tadhgmcelligott3693]

Dude was also a whizz at killing snipers. He killed 5 snipers over the course of ww2 but unfortunately a sniper is what ended up killing him.

[@Cortesevasive]

@@tadhgmcelligott3693 or he faked statistics as a jew he was

[@emperorfaiz]

@@Cortesevasive Good joke

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

MG42: Who're you? Stinger MG: I'm you but American. Ian, next chance you get, try and fire this lovely thing. I want to see that 1,400 RPM in full display.

[@The_Mimewar]

Enrico Paolo Coronado Seconded

[@felixmunk8213]

MG45: let me introduce myself...

[@drakethornix6954]

The show Weapon Hunter had an entire episode on the Stinger, where they build it and fire it at the end. Season 2 Episode 6

[@connerp6903]

Enrico Paolo Coronado indeed, but put it against the MG42 for comparison.

[@karlkyle]

unfortunately in canada theres pretty much no way to shoot that legaly

[@nonotherthanme8313]

Stinger: fired at short bursts to avoid overheating Marines: so anyways I started blastin'

[@natrone23]

RIP Cpl. Tony Stein🌹. A true hero.

[@RamBam3000]

I suspect what got him killed was trying to do all that again. Medal of Honor winning behaviour is not something you can pull of twice. and certainly not a third time. Semper fi, Cpl Stein.

[@MrJeepmarine]

Semper Fi leatherneck.

[@conradpickl1921]

Simple History released a video about him and this gun.

[@RamBam3000]

@Stripey Arse and I suppose, too, that it's in the nature of Marines, and especially Marines like Corporal Stein to keep pushing their luck.

[@IndianaSmallmouth]

@@RamBam3000 Sniper got him.

[@TheShalomstead]

Ooh Rah and Semper Fi! When I was a waiter for a retirement community, one of my favorite residents was a Marine Veteran who served on Iwo Jima. He had some of the best stories and we would often sit from the end of breakfast to the start of lunch, getting lost in his reminiscing. Thanks for sharing Ian, this one had me a little choked up thinking about that old leatherneck!

[@f.k.burnham8491]

My uncle was a Corpsman on Iwo Jima. The human carnage really affected him. He was never the same after. He was so emotionally torn that he couldn't help many wounded because of the severity of their wounds. It really got to him.

[@akmarksman]

"You want logistics, join the Army. Marines make do.." Lt.Fick - Generation Kill. One of the best "war movies" I've seen.

[@randomnepali7772]

Hmm yes. Garand-stock MG.

[@kabob0077]

@@slaughterround643 If God is Love then we can call him Cupid.

[@ProfessorYana]

@@kabob0077 There's a saying I'm particularly fond of: "Close air support covereth a multitude of sins." (Yes, it's a variation on the saying about love.) If God is love, and love covereth a multitude of sins, and close air support likewise covereth a multitude of sins... then by applying the transubstantiative property, we can say that close air support is God. (And anyone who disagrees has most likely never benefited from the thunderous salvation that comes with the precision deployment of life-saving munitions from on high.)

[@kabob0077]

@@ProfessorYana Did you just say

[@gosonegr]

Girls goint to the beach: I'll tan and drink Boys going to the beach: I stole a few aircraft mgs and broke my m1 furniture dude, let's roll it

[@dak4465]

@@calska140 none of us do

[@diligentone-six2688]

Girls be like: *Wut?*

[@candlesofchallengeboy5838]

LETS ROLL IT lmao

[@MrTimb0860]

I read about Tony Stein back while I was in grade 8, and was amazed at his acts of bravery. Iwo had many great acts of bravery, including Jack Lummus, another MoH winner.

[@alexboehm3919]

Was it just a coincidence that this was perfectly timed with Simple History’s video on Tony Stein?

[@yorn2577]

Same me too , when he created this shit

[@explosivefreak666]

Alex Boehm : Was brought here by the same Channel.! Long live the Stein vid from Simple history.!

[@patrickscott1815]

damn, people catchin on the same topic, i was just watchin tony stein

[@deanwilson7118]

"i built one so i want one" seems fair to me

[@Hawk1966]

Damn skippy it's fair.

[@MarvinT0606]

Or "Hey I built this thing, if you get technical issues I'll be right over here"

[@GhostBear3067]

I have a feeling his was not originally meant to be built. Marine: "Hey Stein, you can stop working now, we built all the guns they asked for." Stein: "Well yes but those are yours, this is one is mine." Marine: "Oh, alright then..."

[@dcorica79]

I concur

[@ruthlessrubberducky5729]

Totally fair. Same deal I would arrange. Can't hurt having one of the designers who know it inside and out operating it, either.

[@horsekondom96]

And that’s what I would call a “legendary weapon”

[@booqueefious2230]

It kinda looks like something youd make using the "any mod any weapon" mod in fallout 4

[@RedSunUnderParadise]

Right down to the Low Drop rate and being isolated on some island. A certified Borderlands Classic, this one.

[@ekscalybur]

1400 rounds per minute, 100 round belt box. This thing spent more time reloading than firing. I love it!

[@xtangero]

That's like 4.5 seconds, based on my rough maths

[@ericpode6095]

A gun you load all week & fire on a Sunday (briefly)!

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Well, with that rate of fire all you have to do is point it in the right direction and it's pretty much guaranteed to remove the threat, giving you time to reload. And by "remove" I mean "shred into a million peices". 😉

[@Nightdare]

@@xtangero 4.3 seconds actually Most of us have let out farts that go on longer than that

[@colinfew6570]

Yeah but you don't just hit the trigger and scream "suppressing fire".

[@kingofwishfulthinking2490]

“Why wasn’t this adopted by the entire US military? There was actually some testing done by Springfield Armory-“ Oh. Say no more.

[@TraceyAllen]

But they did adopt a very similar weapon later on that versions are still in use today, by FN. M-60, M249, and M240.

[@bordenfleetwood5773]

@@TraceyAllen - Agreed. This thing looks like the bastard love child of an M240G and an M249.

[@SSFhighcommandJOHN]

I do not support the killing of Historical Arsenals. I support the purging of management.

[@kingofwishfulthinking2490]

Tracey Allen That was meant more as a comment on Springfield Armory’s tendency to screw the US soldier out of the best weapons available i.e. the whole M14 thing

[@manictiger]

They did, it just took them several years to catch up, with the beginning of the designing of the M60.

[@GenMaj_Knight]

"They didn't want to weld a rear sight there to permanently modify the gun." Ah, good on them. I was thinking maybe the M1 garand stock, trigger system, or the bipod might've been too much, but the sights definitely were overboard.

[@Darwinist]

All of those mods are reversible - you could take this gun apart and be left with the original machine gun. But once you start welding....

[@GenMaj_Knight]

@@Darwinist Why would they ever need to remove them? Is the US Military refurbishing A/NM2's?

[@Darwinist]

​@@GenMaj_Knight This one is owned not by the US Military but a museum up in Canada. And museum types tend to not be comfortable with permanently modifying old stuff of any stripe.

[@zhankazest]

@@justforever96 this was 1 year ago and it seems like they already understood.

[@justincancelosa5773]

Ian: “. . . The guns were presumably left on Iwo Jima after they completed their goals” Me: Well I’m going to Iwo Jima boys be back when I find one of these monsters

[@FuttBuckerson]

I'll contribute to your GoFundMe for this. My goal is to be save more money for college this year...but honestly...this seems like a better use of my finances

[@leifvejby8023]

Take two and I'll pay your trip

[@ACIDRAIN2142]

Man I hope this actually inspires someone to find on of these amazing historical pieces of art.

[@austintruly]

lol you cant just go to Iwo Jima, its closed to the public.

[@elricrichter2565]

Not to mention what salt air does to metal I'm shure if there are any still there they are probably so badly rusted it's not salvageable

[@waffmann]

Kid: Grandpa isn't that the gun you have in the attic? Grandpa: shhhhh you heard gun Jesus all where leftover in a landfill in Iwo Jima ;) ;)

[@ethangoldsmith9332]

Heehee

[@AreGeeBee]

@@douganderson7002 They're breathable, alright? That's why!

[@MesaperProductions]

Granpa knows what he's about!

[@jerrygoldstein3028]

Lol Nazi the poster is actually German and has a Nazi name WAFFEN

[@BigRig003]

Marines: fire it in short bursts Stein: no... no I dont think I will

[@TactaGhoul]

Somewhere on the beaches of Iwo Jima, one of these things has probably been rusting away for 75 years in the sand.

[@Deaddriftbum]

“Combat loss M1, BAR, and M1919” is how this was explained to the Armory. This is what happens when Marines are bored lol

[@themastermason1]

It's either this or the barracks get burned down.

[@jeffreytam7684]

The Browning is more likely scrounged from either a damaged/downed aircraft, or a spare gun from a depot somewhere It’s a specific model from airplanes

[@iroquoispliskin6077]

Marines should be given a little more control over their job and allowed to do things like this more often. They know how to fight, why let the suits decide exactly how they do it? To a point of course, some ideas are truly dumb but this and many others save lives.

[@garywheeler7039]

The good old days, when they had metal shop in high school and junior high, plus American ingenuity.

[@Gottaculat]

My Marine and Army buddies have told some interesting tales about converting an Abrams tank into a mechanical bull, as well as some unsanctioned drone modifications when they got bored, lol! Can't say I wouldn't get creative if in that situation.

[@christianharris5489]

MG42: You can't defeat me. M1918 BAR: I know. But he can. *Stinger*

[@TheDn32]

"Overheated Barrel" MG42: But can you do this? (Quick Change Barrel) Stinger: ......

[@happyjohn354]

@@TheDn32 With further modification it actually could...

[@magnus303]

Tony Stein was from Dayton, OH. I went by his memorial on the street named after him almost every day on my way to work when I lived there.

[@micahdadbeh5955]

Damn I can only imagine what the Japanese were thinking when I saw This amalgamation of different guns laying down a hail of bullets.

[@rotwang2000]

"Inconceivable !!!"

[@Hesric]

Chances are, they didn't even acknowledge the gun. Being under heavy fire tends to set your priorities straight, I would assume.

[@reignick1133]

Generally, we can only assume the words "HOLY SHIT!" albeit in Japanese were the first words leaving their mouths.

[@emperorfaiz]

reignick1133 More like “NANI?!!”

[@BillB23]

@@rotwang2000 I don't think that word means what you think it means.

[@ElCrab]

Two years late (I don’t know how I missed this when it first dropped), but this firearm is the perfect example of why I subscribe to FW. We get the story of how a Franken-gun was somehow devised and assembled out of innovative need, and then its effectiveness is covered ably by accounts of its use. Splendid video.

[@Nordic67]

Thank you for the great video! My great uncle served in the Marines during WWII. On the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima he was on a Higgins boat when the ramp went down he jumped out into the water and was shot in the shoulder from what he believes was a Japanese sniper. Since he was in the water when he was shot he was so weighted down he started to drown. The driver of the Higgins boat jumped out into the water and pulled him up on to the boat. The driver under fire reversed the boat and drove back to the ship where my uncle was treated for his injuries and survived the war. From what I understand the Higgins landing boats could under full throttle go in reverse as well as forward. Iwo Jima saw many casualties my uncles unit suffered a 95% casulitity rate. The events that day more than likely saved his life if he wouldn't have been injured. As far as I know no has the mans name that saved his life that day but I wanted to share that bit of History with you since were both History nuts. Love your videos and everything you do. Keep up the great work! Happy New Year!

[@splunky6314]

Imagine being a Japanese soldier and some yank charges you with an aircraft gun gun Edit: I don't think I put enough "guns" in there...

[@FeyTheBin]

It's an aircraft gun gun, it's a gun that shoots a gun that shoots an aircraft.

[@GMlilEASTSIDEcharlie]

I think he meant it’s a gun that’s also an aircraft gun

[@vaclavjebavy5118]

@@GMlilEASTSIDEcharlie It's a gun made from a gun.

[@sub-brotherhood8990]

But I have tank gun

[@polygondwanaland8390]

the only downside is that it's not 20mm

[@damonc88]

Marines know one thing: combat effectiveness. May it never change.

[@bamboozlednoodle6513]

This is a very Marine-esque solution to a problem

[@Edax_Royeaux]

Except for the fact that the Marines reduced the dakka of the Tommy Gun.

[@unclestone8406]

Improvise, Adapt, *Overcome.* Marine Corps.

[@princessofexplosionmagic]

Oorah intensifies

[@benlaskowski357]

Agreed.

[@QuintonMurdock]

Shoulder fire a fucking aircraft .50 cal made out of some of the most American guns available during the war. It’s as marines as it gets

[@eizol568]

Respect to all the Marines that fought in the Pacific. Damn hard job they did.

[@minimalistic_banhaus]

By rule, to fire this gun, you had to sit on the shoulders of another man who was running and flapping his arms like a bird

[@euansmith3699]

I think that the lower soldier should also be shouting, "NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWmmmmmmm!"

[@epauletshark3793]

Flying off a cliff.

[@epauletshark3793]

And throwing bombs.

[@TomasPabon]

"Sure I'll help....I get to carry one tho" Tony Stein, American Legend

[@garywheeler7039]

23 rounds per second, the 100 round box empty in about 4 seconds.

[@mr6johnclark]

Damn... I've only seen this in pictures I never thought there were some that actually existed.

[@corrigan0543]

mr6johnclark he called it a reproduction.

[@mr6johnclark]

@@corrigan0543 Well either way Reproduction or not... never thought anyone remade these!

[@edm240b9]

A couple of these had been remade: one of them was made for Flags of Our Fathers, but the Tony Stein scene was actually cut so the gun never used on screen; the other one was built on a show called “Weapons Hunter,” which Ian actually recommended they do.

[@finnie9223]

@@edm240b9 do you know if theres any way to find that cut scene from Flags of Our Fathers?

[@martinshamion8002]

Edm240b I actually know the host of The Weapon Hunter. Actually a really cool guy

[@thomasjones1687]

“Grandpa what did you do in the war?” “I made possibly the best hate spewing object in the whole damn Marine Corps”

[@TheAleutiansolution]

As a machinist in the military, I can confirm that that exactly how that transaction would’ve gone.

[@andrewzernovak56]

"garand stock mg can't hurt you, it isn't real" garand stock mg:

[@annextheupforwisconsin7088]

Andrew Zernovak yeah it looks gross but it works well

[@laynethebreadlord7373]

@@annextheupforwisconsin7088 Speak for yourself, it looks amazing

[@Xachremos]

Its very real and it can hurt you 100 times

[@nannesoar]

9:33 the fact that it's really comfortable to hold it that way is one of those firearms things that I feel like you would never be able to predict

[@jhay3966]

"Uncle Sam's Buzzsaw" that might've been a cool name

[@benlaskowski357]

YES!!!

[@manictiger]

Sam's Buzzsaw.

[@nazarderkach9320]

Sorry, couldn't like because 69 likes.

[@benlaskowski357]

Wow. Thanks, everyone.

[@thatwhichbinds1727]

"Uncle Sams Chainsaw"

[@gizmophoto3577]

Truly, a weapon that would be forgotten, but for your efforts and the museum’s. Thank you!

[@Impulse21s]

My late Grandfather was a machine-gunner in the 45th Inf in WW2. He said he shot his 1919 from the hip a bunch, but when they hit Sicily, the German 42's sounded like tearing a piece of cloth, and said his MG went "Putt-putt-putt". His words. He would have loved this thing for the fire rate alone, much less the carrying capability. Very cool.

[@mukmuk723]

"When he proposed this to his CO in Bougainville, he was shot down, so to speak." As usual, COs become less cool the further they are from the front line.

[@Nightdare]

You do know Bougainville WAS the front line at that time?

[@mukmuk723]

@@Nightdare Ah, I was assuming it was just the name of the ship he was assigned to before the Iwo Jima campaign.

[@jai4085]

I remember the history channel show “shootout” did an episode of Iwo Jima. They covered Stein’s CMOH action and went into some detail about the stinger. They did what marines do best: Improvise, adapt, overcome.

[@boomerisadog3899]

I was not aware that marines could create things. Considering their capacity for destruction, I figured construction was out of their purview.

[@MandalorV7]

@@boomerisadog3899 Well this is more hacking up several guns and cobbling them together. It's not like they fabricated a new gun from scratch.

[@boomerisadog3899]

@@MandalorV7 So they destroyed 3 guns to make one? Now that sounds like my marines.

[@john-paulsilke893]

Marines are all riflemen. It stands to reason they will try to make any gun into a rifle.

[@brucetucker4847]

@@boomerisadog3899 What, you thought the Navy gave them the tools they needed to get the job done?

[@adamdeforest495]

This video makes me insanely proud to have earned the title. Both for Cpl Stein's bravery, and for the absolutely incredible ability of Marine grunts to improvise.

[@mikemurley8656]

The Ordnance Department said "that wasn't invented here" and that was that.

[@as-jp5cl]

Just like they did over and over when shown nearly anything new.

[@fuzer909]

@@as-jp5cl A veteran I knew said he saw tons of Allied hybrids during the island hopping, heard rumors of a BAR firing .45 cal.

[@Agentcoolguy1]

*US base, Bogainville Island, 1943:* Sgt Grevich: *reading book about German weapons.* Sgt. Grevich: "Man, we really need a high rate of fire machine gun like the MG42 that can be fired from the hip to fight against all these ambushes." Random Marine: "Good luck with that." Sgt. Grevich: *Looks at half disassembled ANM2* Sgt. Grevich: "I have a crazy idea."

[@scowler92]

When the Idea Fairy actually has a good idea.

[@booqueefious2230]

The Idea Fairy is too scared to give the Marines a bad idea

[@strikeforce1500]

"what gun do you want?" "Yes" "What?" "I said, yes"

[@yurimodin7333]

Ron Swanson "Give me ALL the guns you have"

[@Momo_Kawashima]

I have a dream: see the Stinger industrially produced

[@derickpoteet7502]

"They were just left" Plans a suprize trip for the family*

[@nicholasmosley2851]

derick poteet unfortunately we can’t go to iwa to nowadays

[@eddiespaghetti54321]

df Santa Why

[@nicholasmosley2851]

Eddiespaghetti it is a ww2 grave site only people who go there are marines for heritage reasons

[@chrisperrien7055]

Sadly , hard to get to Iwo, unless you are a US or Japanese gov official, or family meber of part of the lsot garrison, or US worker on a gov sponsored trip. Perhaps a mega-millionaire doing their own thing might make it a little while and use their lawyers to blow off the impass; But the rest of the world? no. The USMC would probably have junked these things off of their ships out of their arms-rooms , after Coronet didn't happen and then the end of war. If one original one exists, it was smuggled or mailed home and must still be a good or forgotten secret

[@Korpiainen]

Interesting, how troops in the field without any experience of MG42 appreciated its most distinctive feature: really high rate of fire, which many argue was a disadvantage...

[@bigvinnie3]

@@justforever96 the part about the ammo isn't entirely true any trained gunner especially German mg42 gunner isn't going to be mag dumping they fire in quick 3-7 shot bursts. But it still does go through ammo quicker its just not a total ammo eater as sometimes portrayed unless used incorrectly. The high rate of fire is excellent for firing at fleeting targets and keeping heads down. But like anything there's pros and cons. Low ROF has pros and cons high ROF has pros and cons.

[@289hipo]

IMAO "too high rate of fire" is akin too "too much horsepower".....said no one ever. You can always dial back your ammo consumption by disciplined shooting, but there's no downside to putting a lot of lead on your enemy quickly.

[@doncheechako8084]

High rate of fire, wastes ammunition. However if you just jumped over a hedge row in Normandy, and one of those German 'ammunition wasters' opens up on you. You may think differently, if you live.

[@bravo_cj]

@@289hipo The thing is, with a lower rate of fire, you can get a longer "trigger time". If a machine gun fires 300RPM constantly, it will not consume a lot of ammo while it absolutely locks down the entire region it is shooting at since no one would risk their lives to run into a MACHINE GUN.

[@289hipo]

@@doncheechako8084 True, and there's also the issue of barrels overheating.

[@philipwarren7335]

In the immortal words of Gunny Highway “ improvise, adapt, overcome.”

[@fallskjermjeger.]

And the future doctrine of the 240 gunner is born

[@fnerXVI]

When I was in the Marine Corps we had a PT based on Cpl Stein's Medal of Honor citation. I totally slayed my Lt. Col. It was a great time 10/10 would haze my command again.

[@mark-ib7sz]

RIP "Tough Tony" Stein" Semper Fi

[@hodor292]

I’m surprised this gun wasn’t nicknamed “Frankenstein”

[@TheLordArion]

Or mr potatohead

[@Mr.Mosquito89]

Do you think Marines *read?*

[@jesuslovesme9138]

A Marine named Tony Stein fought with one of these guns and won a Medal of Honor (received by his widow) but, was killed by a sniper. Ironic you would want to name it "Frankenstein"!

[@jacquesblaque7728]

In some quarters, Frankengun.

[@bisonmini]

Frankgunstein*

[@bebebutterbub1344]

Stein also killed 5 snipers and was already a war hero prior to receiving the ANM2 or Medal Honor; and he was a master tool maker back home, so he alone was entrusted with the mg, some experience with it already. Thanks for showing us this beautiful piece 💜.

[@TheWirksworthGunroom]

Most interesting. Quite staggering really that even by 1944 the US hadn't got a proper LMG at section/squad level. Hat's off to these guys for making their own.

[@TheSaxyG]

Imperial Army Troops: Thank the Emperor we have this nice pillbox E5 Mafia: BRRRT BRRRT GET SOME GET SOME

[@Oh-uk5ee]

Garrett Pierman except it’s e-4 mafia

[@smallerfreeze]

Yea i was about to say... im a 2nd award e3 cuz i like marijuana... point being no e5 is gonna let this duty get past e3 or e4

[@mondaysinsanity8193]

No e5 Carrie's the mg thats a privates job

[@m3m3lina47]

Grevich: "This is such a monstrous weapon. Only a true beast can yield its firepower." Stein: " Hold my beer."

[@LoneWolf051]

That front sight is literally the genesis of the red dot

[@theguy1506]

IT IS A RED DOT

[@A-G-F-]

Red dots already existed in WW1, i dont quite remember the name though. In WW2, "Reflector" (Holograpic-parallax free) sights were becoming a thing. That kind of tech is pretty darn old

[@BBossman1]

Easily one of the most interesting reviews you've done.

[@ThommyofThenn]

is your profile pic a ballsack

[@Mace907]

@@ThommyofThenn that's nuts dude

[@BBossman1]

@@ThommyofThenn Why res... yes it is...

[@ThommyofThenn]

great replies every one lmao

[@dirtylatte]

The name "stinger" comes from their use on the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber. They were mounted facing the rear in the rear cockpit, hence the plane's stinger. Later models of the Dauntless had a twin mount of the 1919. Famous Japanese fighter ace Saburo Sakai was badly wounded by the stingers of some SBD's he pounced, and nearly killed, but lived to fight again and survived the war. I was not aware of the modification of salvaged stingers for ground use! Awesome post, very cool info on this unique mod. Thanx!

[@TheMoose126]

Ian: Canada: Hey there Bud, check out this cool gun we have, shes a real beauty eh?

[@millicentsquirrelhole582]

Canuck amendment to Hey there Bud: 'Hey there Bud, so, like good day, eh...(Canucks always say, so, like good day, eh'...even their Nancy boy, Pierre...so, like step off, eh)

[@matthewadami9092]

I love how Simple History is like no Stingers exist and Ian’s like “Hold my Beer”

[@Mr.WhiteCat_YT]

Because *reproduction* =/= OG survived guns

[@chrisgrant7026]

That's "Hold my Canadian beer." You're welcome here any time, Ian.

[@waltershumate5777]

I'm not sure why anybody would expect anything less from a Marine. One of the main skills that they teach them is to adapt and overcome. This is another fine example of marine ingenuity! Nice job guys! You couldn't find a big enough can of whoop-ass, so you made your own... new size! Get 50% more FREE!!

[@TM-nd9om]

This has been one of the coolest guns you've looked at recently, Ian. Great video!

[@PitFriend1]

That thing weighs 23 pounds? My “lightweight” M60 weighed the same.

[@shadowwolf7622]

I volunteered to carry ours. I have no regrets.

[@A-G-F-]

I cant see where all the weight went in the M60, this thing is a brick of milled steel

[@PitFriend1]

Handsome Jack So is the M60 for the most part. It is an old 1950s design.

[@A-G-F-]

@@PitFriend1 But this looks like a Van, the M60 looks UTE in the same context!

[@georgespear8899]

Pit Friend the stinger has a tad more firepower

[@jamespuffer2889]

This is incredible! I love the attitude Stein had, as well as the superiors who finally supported him. You *really* had to hate the Japanese during WWII to have spent so much time and effort to build 6 of these guns, to even come up with the idea and be willing to execute it. Ingenious and crazy, I love it! Stein just ripped the gun off of an airplane, said “that’s about right”, tacked a stock on and went to work in Iwo Jima. I’m amazed at the amount of ingenuity, courage and fearlessness Stein displayed, truly an American hero and a legend for designing this weapon!

[@ncr1strecon528]

That hip fire stance! It’s an M56 Smartgun!!

[@tawlguy123]

this is the most marine corps weapon i have ever seen

[@1BeGe]

Legend has it that it sounded like a company mumbling "errrah" every time it fired.

[@Lord_Ronin_The_Compassionate]

As a Royal Marine Commando that’s had many dealings with our younger cousins in the USMC, I used to think that their abilities to cobble non-standard stuff together as well as barter for some of our gear was pretty odd, that is until they offered some of their stuff to us (British MoD/politicians have always been tight as a ducks arse at paying for appropriate gear, but that’s another dit for another time). It eventually became clear that as the USMC understood as they used a lot of the training that Bootnecks had been subjected to from the original formation in 1664, and as everyone realised we all bleed green for our respective Corps whether we’re Limeys or Yanks. Best bunch of lads I’ve ever fought alongside and my dream setup would be USMC on one flank and those terrifying nutters with the kukris the Gurkhas on the other flank. Totally unstoppable combo. The battle on Iwo Jima was ferocious beyond belief, but it wasn’t too surprising that the USMC did what they always do - win. Big shout out of Semper Fi to all those marines that I met and befriended between 1978-2008 - would love to visit again and catch up but health issues prevent it. Survived all those years with everyone from the IRA to the Argentinians, Iraqis (x3), Sierra Leone, Afghanistan Taliban trying to kill me and my men and survived with a several bits of supersonic bling being fitted internally which makes for interesting times in airport security lol - new wife thought I was spinning a dit until she heard the commotion, then stood there pointing and laughing her socks off. Women!? can’t live without them, can’t (legally) kill them either, but as mine is a doctor she could definitely bump me off and not get caught. I might be 6’3”, but she’s 5’3.5” and is scary! As my terminal cancer finally metastasised from Stage 3 to Stage 4 I’m on my final yomp (or TAB for other branches) and I’ll be crossing the bar soon enough. The thing that keeps me going is being a bloodyminded Bootneck and using the examples of every Marine past and present, so when the skeletal guy with the robes and scythe turns up he’s going to get a shock. Thanks for all your videos Gun Jeebus (Ian), your wealth of detailed knowledge is absolutely fecking amazing, though I’m not so sure that the other patients in this hospice appreciate the type of subject matter! There’s a few that aren’t completely drugged up to the eyeballs, but the Gucci drugs we get for free are damn good. They join in and have also started watching you as well! It gives us something to talk about although the conversations tend to be very, very, very, dark gallows humour but it’s to be expected. Thanks again Ian.

[@custink22]

Tell those pricks in hospice to stuff it and give em the ol two finger salute. Youve earned the right to watch what you want. May the Reaper run in fear of you until you are well and truly ready to greet him kindly, and may you rest easy when that time comes.

[@Lord_Ronin_The_Compassionate]

@@custink22 cheers Justin, I’ll probably try to do that and thanks so much for the thought. The awkward thing is that my wife just happens to be the Palliative Care Consultant here (part of the team that decides which of the Gucci pain meds get issued) and though I’m 6’3” (110lb down from 230lb) she’s 5’2” and scarier than most of the training staff at Lympstone. As for the guy with the scythe, if I see him nearby then there’s always a Fairbairn&Sykes knife usually within reach (assuming wife hasn’t found it again). Take care mate, all the best to you and yours.

[@Momo_Kawashima]

When is so difficult to tell who's the father of the baby:

[@chrisperrien7055]

"Neccesity is the mother of invention"

[@higgydufrane]

Momo Kawashima - exactly

[@Omicron9999]

"This gun kills you, THIS gun kills you and everybody in the room."

[@disconnectedsoul8250]

And the room itself too.

[@bradcurtis5324]

Stein came up with the gun and a machinist helped him finished it. It was used pre Iwo in a very crudely made version for jungle patrol on Bouganville. When planes using them were shot up beyond repair they would take the gun and adapt it. Excellent in clearing an area of jungle quickly during ambushes. They improved it at Hawaii and displayed it to the brass. Stein Took out 4 or 5 pill boxes with it on Iwo. Everytime he ran out of ammo he would go back picking up a wounded man he found on the way with him. He was leading a 19 man squad later and was killed by a sniper. He won the medal of honor.

[@redhammer92]

The natural lighting looks nice. Seems like a beautiful day out! :P

[@Predator42ID]

In the middle of Winter?

[@redhammer92]

@@Predator42ID Must be pre-recorded eh?