USMC Stinger Machine Gun: Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima

Published on December 30, 2019
Duration: 16:17

This entry details the Stinger Machine Gun, an improvised WWII US Marine weapon built from aircraft machine guns, M1 Garand stocks, and BAR bipods. It highlights its extreme rate of fire (1400 rpm), portability, and combat use, notably by Corporal Tony Stein on Iwo Jima, who earned the Medal of Honor. The Stinger was never officially adopted due to reliability concerns and its high rate of fire.

Quick Summary

The Stinger machine gun was an improvised WWII weapon used by US Marines, built from AN/M2 aircraft guns, BAR bipods, and M1 Garand stocks. It featured an extreme rate of fire (1400 rpm) for jungle patrols and saw notable action on Iwo Jima, where Corporal Tony Stein earned the Medal of Honor. It was not officially adopted due to reliability and rate-of-fire concerns.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Stinger
  2. 01:18Design Philosophy and Rate of Fire
  3. 03:37Technical Components
  4. 06:04Sights and Ammunition
  5. 07:19Front Assembly and Handling
  6. 10:56Combat History and Medal of Honor
  7. 13:34Legacy and Non-Adoption

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Stinger machine gun?

The Stinger was an improvised light machine gun developed by US Marines during WWII, primarily using Browning AN/M2 aircraft machine gun parts, BAR bipods, and M1 Garand stocks for enhanced portability and firepower.

What was the rate of fire for the Stinger machine gun?

The Stinger machine gun was designed for a very high rate of fire, approximately 1400 rounds per minute, which was double that of standard Browning 1919 machine guns, intended for overwhelming enemy positions.

Who was Corporal Tony Stein and what is his connection to the Stinger?

Corporal Tony Stein was a US Marine awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on Iwo Jima, where he famously used a Stinger machine gun to destroy multiple enemy pillboxes while under heavy fire.

Why was the Stinger machine gun not officially adopted by the military?

Despite its effectiveness in combat, the Stinger was never officially adopted due to concerns about its reliability in sandy environments and its extremely high rate of fire, which was deemed excessive for standard infantry operations.

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