The Chauchat: myth and reality.

[Drydock]

https://www.full30.com/video/5933a44c278a66269fcdf19cde11261c

[pony express]

Interesting video, fits with what I have read on these. The French didn't just hand them out to raw recruits, they had an extensive training program, several months is what I have read. And they were issued to selected troops who had already proved themselves under fire. I'm sure there were a fair share of Doughboys that had the attitude "I'm an American, I know all about guns and I can shoot anything, don't need no training!"

And to all those who still sneer at the Chauchaut, you could ask, just how many Benet-Mercies did the Americans take with them into combat? Had the reputation you could only shoot it in the daytime, so you could see to repair it when it broke.

[Niederlander]

Of course, the Marine Corps had the Lewis, but was forced to give them up for the Chauchaut, because the Army Chief of Ordnance hated Isaac Lewis.  Not the first or the last time U.S. troops were screwed over for political reasons.

[pony express]

True, there was the Lewis, but it wasn't nearly as portable as the Chauchat-nothing was until the BAR(and not until Pershing let the BAR be used). The Chauchat was the "SAW of it's day, while the Lewis would be more like the ...ummm....whatever replaced the M-60...

[Charles Isaac]

Of course, the Marine Corps had the Lewis, but was forced to give them up for the Chauchaut, because the Army Chief of Ordnance hated Isaac Lewis. 

   I read an article in a gun magazine about the Lewis Gun back in the early 70's and the article heavily addressed the "politics" involved and Lewis's superior officer's accusing him of inventing for the sole purpose of monetary gain from his country. He had stated that he would not accept any money from the US government for his designs and the article even had a picture of a check for Lewis Gun fees   written to Lewis for like $3000 or something that HE RETURNED to the US Treasury!!!

  Not the first or the last time U.S. troops were screwed over for political reasons.

    So true. And i just found a link to a document from the whole WWI arms acquirement debacle. Seems the War Department had to be investigated!-Obviously for incompetence! This portion of the investigation addresses Lewis's return of the check and Croziers squirming and crawfishing on the matter. Seems Crozier did not want the check returned because it would "vindicate" Lewis and embarrass Crozier!!!!


   Written in the cryptic language of the day-not an easy read! For me ennyways!  


https://books.google.com/books?id=U9BHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA276&lpg=PA276&dq=lewis+gun+check+returned+to+treasury&source=bl&ots=ATE6Zqze1C&sig=deQA0rv8Un0PvpNpxuhmEMW_pow&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI3aTpsIL5xwIVQfeACh2CHgB9#v=onepage&q=lewis%20gun%20check%20returned%20to%20treasury&f=false

[Niederlander]

Actually, I've fired a Lewis, and it wasn't bad at all to move around.  (Not as light as the SAW, though.)

[Charles Isaac]

Wow, I always wanted to try one! Might not climb a tree to do it though!










   Trivia Quiz-

   Now, what again was that other automatic weapon we used while still armed with Krags that proved to be a major player in the war but we had virtually none of due to the Ordnance Corps politics/resistance to change/dragging feet/personality conflicts etc?   

[Drydock]

Colt Browning M1895 "Potato digger".  Later modified to gas piston actuation and used to arm US aircraft in WW1.  Saw a surprising amount of ground use as well.  I believe the Belgians had quite a few.

[Charles Isaac]

   Ha Ha! True. Although I never really thought it to be a major player in WWI, but that would just be semantics on my part. So there's another one. Tricky- "we used while still armed with Krags that proved to be a major player in the war" A serious major player!

[Drydock]

Ahhh.  The "Maxim Machine Gun, caliber .30, Model of 1904".  Used in the Phillipines alongside Krags.

[Charles Isaac]

    I know huh! We had the US Maxim-in 1904. Amazing.


   

[River City John]

A Cowboy with a Maxim?

Love it!




RCJ

[Niederlander]

Sometimes a single action is just not enough gun!

[St. George]

Not a cowboy, but one of Blackjack Pershing's troopers on the Mexican Border.

'Campaign dress' got somewhat casual, and they used locals.

Scouts Out!

[Drydock]

The hat crease seems to indicate an earlier period than the 1916-17 Mexican incursion.  I read that most of the Maxims got sent to the PI, my guess for the location of this shot.  And is that a kid goat he's holding?

[pony express]

That's what it looks like to me. But that could indicate either Philippines or Mexico.

Caption could be : Nobody's gonna get MY goat!

[Niederlander]

Looks like he's ready to defend the post AND  the start of some good chili!

[Charles Isaac]

     The old school way to keep it fresh-keep it alive till you're ready to eat it. GOAT CHILI!!! That would beat C Rations or an MRE any day!


    I have eaten different types of strange, unidentified saucy meat in the Philippines.  Really don't want to identify it either!

[pony express]

Most of the meat I have come across in the Philippines wasn't too strange, but some of the sauces that go with it......

I've seen practically no wild game animals there, all the world says they eat dogs and monkeys, but you'll not likely find any that admits it! However, when you buy that meat from a vendor in an open air market, the quality might leave a bit to be desired. One thing I can't recommend is Carabao (water buffalo) Tough as rubber, and the longer you chew it, the bigger the lump seems to get. Maybe 4-5 hours in Del's dutch oven might make it tender, but maybe not.

[Niederlander]

Reminds me of Malaysia and Thailand; we'd go to the local meat markets and play "Guess what that used to be?!"