163 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
163 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
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EXTRACT
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FIELD MANUAL 13-69
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WAC, U.S., M1(M1A1)
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1. The WAC, U.S., M1 and M1A1 was designed as an auxiliary
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component to the BLANKET, Olive Drab shade 36. The WAC is a
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breech-loaded, recoil operated, air cooled, pelvic action, ground
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environment weapon. It may be put into action at any time and from
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any position or elevation.
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DESCRIPTION
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2. The weapon has an average overall length of approximately 66
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inches, while the circumference will vary with age and usage fac-
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tors. The weapon is equipped with SHOCK ABSORBERS, two (2) each,
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mounted approximately twelve (12) inches below the weapons sight-
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ing devices. Size and resiliency of the shock absorbing devices
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likewise varies depending on age of equipment and general condi-
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tion of the weapon. The shock absorbers may be used as hand
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grips during firing operations. The weapon's principle com-
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ponent, the breech, will be discussed in a subsequent section.
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NOMENCLATURE & FUNCTION OF THE BREECH
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3. PRINCIPLE COMPONENTS: The breech of this weapon consists of
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three (3) components. The first, COVER, Fur is not essential to
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firing. However, the Cover, Fur is provided as standard equip-
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ment on all models. The second major component is the LIP,
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Breech, Flexible, two (2) each. During firing, these components
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insure a snug fit for the projectile and it casing. Similarly,
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it prevents the entry of dirt or other foreign objects into the
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breech when the weapon is not in use. The third, and most impor-
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tant component is the BREECH, which is designed to accommodate a
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projectile of 38mm (approximately 1.5 inches). Certain models,
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depending on age and frequency of usage, may require a slightly
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larger cartridge. (NOTE: Using personnel are urged to request
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armament technicians to ascertain precise bore size through pull-
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over gage measurements). The length of the projectile is not of
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special significance other than increasing the efficiency of the
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weapon.
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a. The Breech is equipped with a factory-assembled and
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sealed SYSTEM, Internal Lubrication. This subsystem prevents
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hangfires during operation of the weapon.
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b. All newly assembled being brought into the service in-
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ventory are delivered with a tough protective coating which is
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located between the Breech and the Lips, Breech, Flexible. This
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coating can effectively removed by simply loading and firing a
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projectile. Unusual noises accompanying this procedure need not
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alarm the firing personnel as they will soon subside with
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repeated firings.
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LOADING AND OPERATION
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4. GENERAL. The weapon is most efficiently fired by a one-man
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crew. However, it is quite common for the gunner to become
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fatigued while operating the weapon and it may be desirable to
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employ a multiple gunner crew in rotating shifts. (CAUTION: Per-
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mit no more than five men to operate the weapon in a single
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firing to avoid undue and dangerous stress on the weapon).
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Failure to observe the above listed caution normally results in
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extended non-operational time while maintenance personnel rebore
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and refinish the weapon.
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a. LOADING AND GUN DRILL: The gunner's primary firing posi-
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tion is between the mobility devices of the weapon. Mobility
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devices should be flexed at the main joints and spread to an
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angle of 45 to 60 degrees to ensure minimum recoil effects. At
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the count of "one", the gunner assumes the kneeling position,
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projectile in the right hand and aligned with the breech. His
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FINGERS, Hand, Left, are extended forward and downward to main-
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tain balance. On the count "two", the HAND, Right is brought
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smartly away from the projectile (which at this time should be
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secured between the Lips, Breech, Flexible).
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b. FIRING: To fire the weapon, the command "READY, WIGGLE"
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is given. On this command of execution, the gunner briskly slides
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the projectile fully into the breech and immediately commences a
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gradual rocking motion with regular or intermittent lateral mo-
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tion (optional) until the projectile detonates.
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(1) Special care must be taken to make certain that
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fusing is not set for point detonation as such a condition in-
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variably results in a misfire.
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(2) Qualified and proficient gunners are authorized to
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employ variations to the primary firing position outlined above
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in para 4.b. A unique feature of the weapon is the fact that it
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operates equally well in both indoor and outdoor environments in
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an almost infinite variety of firing positions. (NOTE: the
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weapon is somewhat less efficient when operated in a totally ver-
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tical attitude)
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(3) The spent cartridge is withdrawn while the weapon
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is allowed to cool and a new, fresh cartridge is prepared for
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firing.
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STOPPAGES
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5. Once the weapon has been sufficiently and properly broken in,
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stoppages rarely if ever occur. In rare cases, however, the gun-
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ner may find it difficult to insert the projectile into the
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Breech. The immediate field action expedient to correct this
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condition calls for the gunner to manually operate manipulate the
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breech assembly (i.e. Cover, Fur; Lip, Breech, Flexible; and
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Breech) which should activate the System, Internal Lubrication
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(para 3.a.). In extremely rare cases, use of JELLY, Lubricating,
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Type K-Y is authorized and encouraged at the discretion of the
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operating gunner.
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MAINTENANCE
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6. CARE AND CLEANING. A significant design feature on all
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models of the weapon is the minimal crew maintenance necessary to
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keep the weapon in Equipment Serviceability Criteria (ESC) GREEN.
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a. All weapons come equipped with an internally-activated
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MECHANISM, Adjustment and Purging, which like the SYSTEM, Inter-
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nal, Lubrication, is installed and sealed at the point of as-
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sembly. This mechanism functions normally for a period of three
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to five days during each operational cycle of twenty-eight days.
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Normal functioning of the mechanism during these brief periods
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seriously impairs the weapon's functionality and results in an
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ESC rating of RED. Gunners are warned to operate the weapon only
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at their own risk during these normally non-operational periods.
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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
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7. ABNORMAL CORROSION. Gunners may occasionally discover that
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the breech and chamber of selected weapons produce a highly cor-
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rosive effect on the projectiles and cartridges. This is par-
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ticularly likely to occur in using units who fail to maintain
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complete and accurate Weapon Records Data (Form 2408-4a). Where
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corrosion is observed, gunners are required to make maximum use
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of COVERINGS, Latex, Form-fitting, for their projectiles. The
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Covering, a one-time use, expendable device must be locally
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procured.
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8. ABNORMAL BREECH EXPANSION. A swelling condition immediately
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above the breech assembly is a critical safety hazard. Such ex-
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pansion is invariably preceded by a repeated failure of the
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Mechanism, Adjusting and Purging, to activate during successive
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operational cycles. While failure of the Mechanism, Adjusting
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and Purging, to activate and functions in itself only a short-
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coming, such failure, when coupled with the swelling and expan-
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sion described previously, definitely constitutes a deficiency.
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In such cases, maintenance personnel should place the weapon in a
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limited operational status until such time as the weapon returns
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to a fully operational status. The gunner who has been deter-
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mined to, or who is suspect of being responsible for creating the
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subject safety hazard is advised to immediately put as much dis-
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tance between himself and the weapon as current transfer regula-
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tions permit.
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THIS MANUAL IS A CHANGE TO PREVIOUS EDITIONS WHICH MAY BE USED
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UNTIL RESCINDED BY COMPETENT AUTHORITY.
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