[SG-WW2] BAR

Just on the topic of squad support weapons, what exactly was the BAR? I've
gotten the impression from Saving Private Ryan *duck* that it was basically
what we'd recognise today as an assault rifle, although used as a Squad
Automatic Weapon.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

The BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) was as you thought, the squad support
weapon for US infantry squads. It was a great weapon for it's time, but it had
it's drawbacks. Probably it's biggest weakness was that it had a fairly high
rate of fire, but it was magazine fed, not belt fed. This meant a lot of
reloading. It was also damn heavy, weighing in at around 18 pounds.

Also as you mentioned it basically fits the bill as an assault rifle and this
is how John Browning first envisioned it being used. The army had other ideas
though.

Bill
*************Reply separator*************

"Donogh McCarthy"

<donoghmc@hotmail.com> To:
gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Sent by: cc:

                    owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Be       Subject:     Re:
[SG-WW2] BAR
rkeley.EDU

                    03/01/02 08:26 AM

                    Please respond to gzg-l

Just on the topic of squad support weapons, what exactly was the BAR? I've
gotten the impression from Saving Private Ryan *duck* that it was basically
what we'd recognise today as an assault rifle, although used as a Squad
Automatic Weapon.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

Donogh

The Browning Automatic Rifle was used tactically as a squad automatic weapon.
TOE was 1 per squad, although veteran squads frequently managed to scrounge 2
per squad, and units that technically weren't authorized them by TOE (like
armored infantry and airborne rifle squads) managed to get ahold of them in
quantity as well. It was a very popular weapon with
US forces, reliable and accurate, wasn't replaced in first-line units
until the appearance of the M15 (the heavy-barrel version of the M14) in
the early 1960's and soldiered on with the National Guard and Reserves until
the late 1960's at least. I fired one on several occasions during
1966-68 when I was in ROTC, and it's a pretty nice weapon, if a trifle
heavy. It was one of the original light automatic weapons, having been
designed in 1917-1918, the same approximate time frame as the Lewis gun
and the Chauchaut. It fired the same .30-06 round as the M1 Garand
rifle. It's only real flaw was that it lacked the sustained fir! e! capability
of a true light machine gun, like the BREN, which was also
magazine fed, but it was handier and didn't require a two-man crew. I
consider it the ancestor of all modern SAWs, and in fact it would still be a
serviceable SAW today if you could increase the magazine capacity over the
original 20 rounds.
> gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu wrote:
Just on the topic of squad support weapons, what exactly was the BAR? I've
gotten the impression from Saving Private Ryan *duck* that it was basically
what we'd recognise today as an assault rifle, although used as a Squad
Automatic Weapon.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

Donogh

> From: bbrush@unlnotes.unl.edu

> The BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) was as you thought, the squad

IIRC, didn't it fire the .30-06 round?  I love that round - it was
designed for military use, but makes a damned good derr hunting round.

2B^2

bob_eldridge

> The Browning Automatic Rifle was used tactically as a squad automatic

That's an aspect of veteran units I forgot about that adds to their
effectiveness - their ability to "procure" equipment not in their
official TO&E. Interesting. Not that it changes any game mechanics for me, but
it does make for nice flavor.

2B^2

Yes it did fire the .30-06 round.  I have to agree, it's an excellent
caliber for general purpose hunting. A little heavy for small game though.
Great for breaking concrete block with full-metal jacket rounds too.
:-)
Last time I was out shooting I ran about 2 and a half boxes through my
Dad's '06 and had horrendous bruise on my shoulder.  :-)

Bill
************Reply separator***************

"Brian Bilderback"

<bbilderback@hotmail.com> To:
gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Sent by: cc:

                    owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Be       Subject:     Re:
[SG-WW2] BAR
rkeley.EDU

                    03/01/02 09:31 AM

                    Please respond to gzg-l