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Post by tom on Nov 18, 2005 23:49:23 GMT 1
Hi folks
I am still looking for any photos of the bipod fitted GOs as used by the SS Brigade on D-Day.
I've been doing a bit of research on the subject at Leeds and have everything i need to do a short article on the subject except I haven't been able to find out which of the two types of ground version was the main one produced. Even a half decent pic would tell me as the differances where quite distinctive.
I haven't forgot about the DD(E)s Of the Tools etc Richard, I just thought I'd wait until this new batch of Parts Lists have been finished, nearly there.
ATB
Tom
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Post by Richard Fisher on Nov 19, 2005 0:09:41 GMT 1
Hi Tom,
A couple of us with K guns in my Living History group are actually going to produce the No. 2 kit to put on our Ks so that when we 'do' Commando again, we can have the properly converted K's. This conversion will be based around the pictures in the RAF Armament publications for the stock and pistol grip etc. and then the illustrations in Mike Chappels book for the bipod. However, they will be best guesses and I would appreciate any information you have on both bits.
In 2002, about 30 of us went to Normandy and took the route from Sword inland to Pegasus and I took it upon myself to carry the K (with a mock-up bipod converted from a Bren one) and I can honestly say that is the nastiest piece of kit to carry as it always wants to bite into you somehow! Our Unit can field three original Ks so it would be nice to have them properly converted.
I am presuming you have the picture of the K section at Riva Bella at Ouisterham. If not, I will email it to you.
Bye for now,
Rich
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Post by tom on Nov 19, 2005 9:54:36 GMT 1
Hi Rich
I've only seen one blurry pic (gun over the shoulder so I can't see the details!) off the net so anything will be grately recieved!
Oh I think you will like some of the info I have, I will contact you off forum...
ATB
Tom
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Post by tom on Nov 12, 2012 12:32:34 GMT 1
Hi Folks Comms off line at home so doing this on wife's iPad thingy. Does anyone know where ths pic of the "commando" VGO came from? world.guns.ru/machine/brit/vickers-go-machine-gun-e.htmlI tried contacting th site but had no joy. It's the only clear pic of a bipod fitted ground gun I've seen in many years of looking. ATB before this thing goes offline again! ATB Tom |
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Post by Richard Fisher on Nov 12, 2012 22:33:24 GMT 1
The photo is apparently from the Dutch Army museum. Max emailed me back this evening.
Regards
Richard
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Post by britplumber on Nov 12, 2012 22:50:15 GMT 1
The one in the photo is missing the Bren Mk1 type butt spoon from the butt.
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Post by tom on Nov 13, 2012 11:48:59 GMT 1
Cheers!
Luckily I have a contact who knows the curator of fire arms there and he has given me his e address. I've sent him a message but I may be out of luck with regards to getting a quick reply as at present they are moving the museum from Delf to Soesterberg and the chap may just not have the time or energy.
Since the roofers are still doing their thang the computers are in storage so I cant access the D.D.(E) for either the model A or B conversions so off the top of my head cant find out if both of their butts had the Bren spoon fitted.
I can't remember if the late /post war modded No.2 guns had the spoon, since they didnt have the ground sights, bren barrel handle on the bottom or dedicated bipod (they just welded a Bren gas cylinder to the front of the hand grip and slapped a Bren bipod on). Thats the sort in "Theirs is the Glory" (which by rights should be a plain unmodified aircraft gun but I digress) about Arnhem. To avoid the long winded description I'll refer to these as "type C" guns until a official designation is found.
ATB
Tom
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Post by Richard Fisher on Nov 13, 2012 18:42:02 GMT 1
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Post by tom on Nov 13, 2012 20:13:39 GMT 1
Excellent, any one able to translate or do I need to get my Dutch mate onto it, his English is a lot better than mine!
ATB
Tom
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Post by tom on Nov 13, 2012 20:50:33 GMT 1
Just heard back from him and yup it means they have a real example there! Bad news is that it may already be crated up and may not see the light of day for 2 years but the good news is that they were doing new photographs of them all before boxing them. My mates going to see what they have.
So there it is, possibly the only example left anywhere!
ATB
Tom
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Post by britplumber on Jun 9, 2013 0:31:05 GMT 1
Watched a good movie tonight, Theirs is the glory, filmed in 1946, with the real veterans from Normandy playing themselves. www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3e6S8rg9_c18:30 mins and 20:mins in show some good footage of an officer with a commando K, bipod looks to be a Bren Mk3 type. |
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Post by tom on Jun 9, 2013 14:57:16 GMT 1
Technically that's not a Commando Go as used on D-day and at Walcheren which had special ground sights, modifications to the butt and a bren barrel handle welded to the underside of the gun to carry it as well as dedicated bipod. Only about 64 true Commando guns were converted by REME as far as records show. The one in the film although converted from the correct ground version of th GO/K is a later conversion were they just welded a bren gas cylinder to the front of the fore grip and slapped a bren bipod on it, a much simpler and practical conversion in my opinion.
The actual GOs used at Arnhem on the Recce Squadron jeeps were unmodified air guns with the spade grip and no bipods.
Ill chase up my Dutch contact about that surviving gun they have over there.
ATB
Tom the AR!
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