Description
U.S. .30-Caliber Bow Machine-Gun Empty-Cartridge Bag, P/N 7051377
Item Overview
This U.S. military canvas bag was made to collect empty .30-caliber cartridge cases discharged by a tank’s bow machine gun. Its original stencil identifies it as “BAG, EMPTY CARTRIDGE, CAL. .30,” specifies the bow-gun position, and gives part number 7051377. A catalog cross-reference associates this part number with the bow machine-gun installation used in the M3/M5 Stuart light-tank family.
Identification and Features
Part number 7051377 is also cataloged under NSN 1005-00-705-1377 in Federal Supply Class 1005, Guns Through 30mm. The bag is made from flexible canvas so it could be fitted beneath the machine gun without taking up more space than necessary inside the tank. The “M.R.T.” marking indicates that the fabric received a mildew-resistant treatment for storage and field service in damp conditions.
- Official marking: BAG, EMPTY CARTRIDGE, CAL. .30
- Application marking: BOW GUN
- Part number: 7051377
- NSN: 1005-00-705-1377
- Material: Heavy canvas fabric
- M.R.T.: Mildew-resistant treatment
- Purpose: Collection of fired cartridge cases
Historical Background
Empty-cartridge bags were practical fittings in tanks and other enclosed fighting vehicles. A machine gun could discharge a large number of hot cartridge cases in a short time, and loose cases could collect around seats, pedals, controls, ammunition containers, and other equipment. A fitted canvas bag kept the cases together until the crew could empty the bag during a pause in firing or after the vehicle left action.
Function and Operation
The bag was positioned at the cartridge-ejection side of the bow machine gun. As the gun fired, each empty case left the receiver and dropped into the canvas container instead of falling into the crew compartment. The flexible construction allowed the bag to hang beside the gun while moving with the installation and fitting within the limited space around the assistant driver’s station. It served as a brass catcher and was not an ammunition-feed container.
Documented Tank Application
The most specific available catalog match identifies P/N 7051377 as a .30-caliber bow-gun cartridge bag for the Stuart tank. Army TM 9-732 documents the related installation in the M5 and M5A1 light tanks, where a flexible .30-caliber M1919A4 machine gun was mounted in a ball mount on the right side of the front hull. The assistant driver also served as the bow gunner. The part-number record describes the bag itself, while the manual confirms the location and arrangement of the weapon it supported.
M3/M5 Stuart Light-Tank Background
The M3 light tank entered production in 1941 as an improved development of the earlier M2 light tank. British and Commonwealth forces called the vehicle the Stuart, a name later applied to the related M5 series. The M5 replaced the earlier radial-engine arrangement with twin Cadillac automobile engines and automatic transmissions, while the M5A1 added the improved turret first developed for the M3A3. These compact tanks combined a 37mm main gun with several .30-caliber machine-gun positions and were valued for their speed and mobility.
Bow Machine-Gun System
On the M5 and M5A1, the bow-mounted M1919A4 was installed in a ball mount directly in front of the assistant driver. The mount allowed limited movement from side to side and through elevation and depression. Army instructions state that the gun was aimed by tracer fire and operated with its manual trigger. The weapon could also be released from the vehicle mount by removing a pin and placed on a portable M2 tripod carried outside the tank.
History of Use
Stuart light tanks served with American, British, Commonwealth, and other Allied forces during World War II. They fought in North Africa and the Pacific and later performed reconnaissance, screening, security, and infantry-support duties in Italy, Northwest Europe, China, Burma, and India. The bow gun gave the assistant driver a forward-firing weapon for engaging exposed troops and other close targets. Cartridge bags such as this one helped crews manage the steady flow of fired cases while operating within the tank’s crowded front compartment.
Condition
This is a military-surplus canvas cartridge-collection bag with its identifying stencil still present. Visible markings include “BAG, EMPTY CARTRIDGE, CAL. .30,” “BOW GUN,” part number 7051377, and the M.R.T. treatment notation. The markings establish its purpose and bow-gun configuration. Refer to the inventory photographs for the condition of the canvas, stitching, attachment points, and printed markings.
Ideal For
This specialized piece of tank equipment is suited to a Stuart light-tank restoration, M1919A4 vehicle display, museum exhibit, or collection of original armored-vehicle accessories. It also provides a useful example of the small supporting items required to operate a machine gun safely and efficiently inside a confined fighting compartment.
- M3, M5, or M5A1 Stuart restoration research
- M1919A4 machine-gun displays
- WWII armored-vehicle collections
- Tank-interior and crew-station exhibits
- U.S. military canvas-equipment collections
Approx length 12", Approx width 4", Approx height 1", Approx weight 0.4lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item’s general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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