M1944E1/M1945 Johnson Light Machine Gun

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M1944E1/M1945 Johnson Light Machine Gun

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8 жыл бұрын

/ forgottenweapons
After getting his Model 1941 machine gun purchased in small numbers by the US military, Melvin Johnson continued to press for more sales and a general adoption. Following testing results and recommendations from soldiers in the field, he made a number of modifications to the gun and developed the M1944, which was quickly tweaked to become the M1944E1, also called the M1945. This new version included several improvements including:
* Replacing the bipod with a monopod less prone to interfering with barrel removal
* Improved stronger bolt anti-bounce latch
* Metal dual-tube buttstock in place of wood
* and most significantly, a gas-boosted hybrid recoil operating system
This new model of the Johnson was in testing at the end of WWII, and weapons development budget cuts at the conclusion of the war prevented it from replacing the BAR as Johnson and many in the Marine Corps had hoped.
This particular M1945 Johnson is fully transferrable, as came out of the Winchester Museum Collection (now the Cody Firearms Museum) back many years ago when curators would occasionally sell items from the collection to raise money.
Johnson M1941 LMG: • Johnson LMG: History &...
/ forgottenweapons

Пікірлер: 396

@WaukWarrior360 Жыл бұрын

You can see alot of the design elements that got carried over to the AR-10 and AR-15 when Johnson worked with Stoner on the AR design

@Tunkkis 7 жыл бұрын

"Emma"? That's a funny coincidence. We Finns used to (and still do) call the DP28 "Emma".

@drunkenfinnpeltsi5968 6 жыл бұрын

Eetu Tunkkari hyvä että joku muuki huomas :D

@NortyLukey 6 жыл бұрын

Eetu Tunkkari machine guns were codenamed ‘Emma Gees’ during WW1 by the British, so that’s why.

@HandleMyBallsYouTube 6 жыл бұрын

What? No, that's not why, the reason it was called ''Emma'' was because of the record shaped magazine, and the fact that there was a popular song back then known simply as ''Emma''.

@kjknight99 8 жыл бұрын

"There's a cool Christmas surprise for you in the buttstock of the Johnson." -Ian, 2016.

@yo.mama100 7 жыл бұрын

I've always liked the very distinctive front sight on the Johnson

@kalebwait1651 4 жыл бұрын

Yours came with a front sight?

@xcd87 4 жыл бұрын

whaat?? i just aim my johnson instinctively, and yours came with sights??

@hugopepe1722 3 жыл бұрын

@@xcd87 no, you aim with the yellow tracer rounds.

@mikelockey2857 Жыл бұрын

By " Johnson ", I am assuming that is in reference to the firearm ?

@magisterrleth3129 8 ай бұрын

@@mikelockey2857 Mostly.

@pavelthefabulous5675 4 жыл бұрын

Holy cow this Johnson guy not only invented the proto-AR rifle, but also the grip pod!

@ThatOldWarthog 8 жыл бұрын

"Manipulation of the Johnson" Ohhhh myyy

@HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks 8 жыл бұрын

Did you say that in your best George Takei voice?

@jjssousa81 8 жыл бұрын

11:10, you beat me to it. Lol

@AtholAnderson 8 жыл бұрын

Goddamn it Takei!

@cardboard_shaft 8 жыл бұрын

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )

@NoGufff 8 жыл бұрын

I paused immediately and scrolled down to see if it had been mentioned already.

@LittleGoblinBastard 8 жыл бұрын

that's a mighty fine Johnson

@Musicguy1161 4 жыл бұрын

It's been three years and no one has said it. Yeah, it's obvious but it MUST be done. "that's a mighty fine Johnson" (all together now) That's what she said.

@JugglerLou 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your details about this invention. Keep up the amazing work that you do.-Lou Johnson (I’m the grandson of the inventor)

@DementiaGaming69420 3 ай бұрын

Really?!? That’s amazing!!!

@rasheverak 5 жыл бұрын

‘Sup dawg, I heard you like heat shields, so we put a heat shield on your heat shield.

@fuzzydunlop7928 7 жыл бұрын

Ugh, such a worthy weapon. Should have replaced the BAR, or at least found its way into service for Korea.

@seanmac1793 4 жыл бұрын

Problem was spare parts. It's the same reason the p51D was used Korea and not the P51H

@Intrspace 4 жыл бұрын

You know, funny thing is that when I played Rising Storm (WW2 Pacific theater semi-simulator game) back in the day, I remember having the exact same thoughts. If you wanted to go fire support, you had either the clunky M1919 which turned you into a turret, or the BAR which was also too heavy and pretty much just a glorified semi-auto rifle (like the Soviet AVT-40) and you had nothing inbetween. The Japanese were in a better position in this regard with their ZB-26 clones

@trollmastermike52845 4 жыл бұрын

@Evan outdoors its not but we can have our own opinions

@merlemorrison1346 4 жыл бұрын

not really - it wasn't all that reliable when in dirty conditions...

@anonymous8780 3 жыл бұрын

@@Intrspace Nambu Type 96 and Type 99 are based on Hotchkiss machineguns, not ZB or Bren.

@Hostile_Design 7 жыл бұрын

I love all the intricate shapes of of Johnsons guns, they are aesthetically very cool. The fact that they all seam to work well and be of high quality only strengthens my interest.

@fluffywolfo3663 Жыл бұрын

I've always thought it might be cool to see these in Star Wars as, like, a Bigger E-11.

@jessicasimp4459 8 жыл бұрын

Now it's the grandparent of the AR-15, because of the features that are inspired to create the AR-15, especially the selector switch and the buttstock :)

@warlordgonagy143 8 жыл бұрын

Don't forget the bolt design.

@warlordgonagy143 8 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's got most of the internal features of the johnson, just using an intermediate cartridge like the sturmgewer.

@wolfehoffmann2697 4 жыл бұрын

@@warlordgonagy143 There's more features taken than just the intermediate cartridge. The buffer tube, the method of taking the gun apart, the dust cover, extractor system and a few other bits of design were borrowed and improved upon. All by admission of Stoner of himself. It's funny that the AK is called a copy of the Stg-44, and yet it has absolutely no design features in common, but it's always just ignored that Stoner points out exactly what he took from the Stg-44 design for his own works and how he improved them.

@lankey6969 8 жыл бұрын

That front sight is VERY Star Wars looking!

@honorguard7616 5 жыл бұрын

star wars weapons are all based on WW2 weapons

@carlfasnacht9777 8 жыл бұрын

Ian it would be really cool if you did a review of a nerf gun. Including it province and its design the year it was build and that stuff. Also something about its maker. Just for fun.

@sillygoose210_6 8 жыл бұрын

Lol

@matthayward7889 8 жыл бұрын

Expect it at the beginning of April ;)

@compwiz101 8 жыл бұрын

Yes! Excellent to see a video of the Johnson. Kind of sad it never saw wider use/refinement, but at least Johnson went off to work for Armalite

@mikelockey2857 Жыл бұрын

Yeah. Think of how many more it could have killed.

@colsoncustoms8994 8 жыл бұрын

I usually just get my wife to manipulate the Johnson.

@starcoloneldunadansonoft501 8 жыл бұрын

Please never, ever use the words 'surprise' and 'Johnson' in the same sentence again.

@xcd87 4 жыл бұрын

just because of the johnson name, the whole commwnt section turned low key garand thumb here, lol.

@KriegsMeister27 8 жыл бұрын

Come on Ian, I'm sure someone would have paid extra for those plastic flakes that you just casually swept away.

@thescharfchannel 3 жыл бұрын

I don't know why, but I'd say this is one of the coolest guns ever made.

@EzraeL91 3 жыл бұрын

Let's see a new episode of "The American Army totally ignore the best weapon for the worst one!"

@Justicer3792 3 жыл бұрын

Ah yes use the BAR in korea what could go wrong

@hermanwessels9546 7 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video if you are interested in the Johnson guns. First time I've actually seen the details of the gas assist system. This gun would have made an excellent basis for a 7.62 x 51 assault rifle, with a conventional, bottom feeding, 20 round magazine. It would have been superior to the M14, I believe. Compared to the M14 the ergonomics are better, with its straight line lay-out and pistol grip, the barrel can be changed easily to allow longer or shorter barrels to be fitted and the monopod is ingenious and useful.

@ThePandoraGuy 7 жыл бұрын

Can you imagine Private Paula shooting first GSgt. Hartman and then himself with a Johnson LMG?

@andreawars 7 жыл бұрын

The Canadians Devil's Brigade used this weapon! It's badass!

@MrReded69 7 жыл бұрын

Canadian-American Devil's Brigade to be precise. They actually traded the US Marine Raiders a half ton of C4 for them(the Raiders found the M1941 version a bit too sensitive to sand).

@tomlawrence3991 3 жыл бұрын

1st Special Service Force About half Canadian Half American My Uncle served in the Force He was wounded in Anzio His most prized possession His Force knife

@bensigl3766 2 жыл бұрын

@MrReded69 the sensitivity to sand was further exemplified by Israeli experience with the M1945-derived Dror LMG.

@notsoserious0944 8 жыл бұрын

That is so dang cool! Melvin was amazing.

@nickirmen6671 5 жыл бұрын

It's kind of crazy if you look at the receiver and pistol grip and magazine and release in these old guns, like the bar as well they look almost like pre-ARs

@Liamthecomputernerd 8 жыл бұрын

it looks like something out of star wars

@bladehunter90 8 жыл бұрын

well to be fair, most of star wars weapons were world war 2 weapons with a few gizmos added to them

@FIREBRAND38 8 жыл бұрын

Actually the Stormtrooper blasters were L2A3 Sterling submachine guns that weren't adopted by the Brits until 1953 and Han Solo's blaster was based on a 7.63mm C96 Mauser that is more of a WW1 kind of weapon

@peterson7082 8 жыл бұрын

+John Simpson C96 predates WWI... It's in the name "96"... 1896

@FIREBRAND38 8 жыл бұрын

Right, I said more of a WW1 weapon since it saw service in WW1 and although first designed in 1896 it was produced from 1896 to 1937. The point is that they weren't "hacked up WW2 guns".

@lavrentivs9891 8 жыл бұрын

Star Wars also features the Lewis gun and MG34 from WWI and II respectively.

@armedbrit493 8 жыл бұрын

Now you too can bid to have another Johnson to play with...

@Purpmaster 3 жыл бұрын

Wow this thing is a beauty! Such a shame that it was not further developed and adopted.

@mr6johnclark 7 жыл бұрын

"Melvin Johnson"... Did his parents hate him?

@MrReded69 7 жыл бұрын

Remember i his generation men being named Maynard and Edsel was normal.

@davidsolyom5604 3 жыл бұрын

At leadt not Evelyn (Owen).

@williamprince1114 8 жыл бұрын

IIRC the Israeli military of the late 40s or early 50s developed these further and fielded some.

@ForgottenWeapons 8 жыл бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eqt_p5Civr6WY5c.html

@Shepuz 8 жыл бұрын

as in E M M A ? Finns used to call the soviet DP light machinegun back in Winter War and Continuation war as "Emma". And even today when talking about weapons and you mention just "Emma" most people will recognize it as the Degtyaryov DP-28. Although finns didn't call it as LMG, we had/have our own word to describe such low ROF automatic rifle and literal translation would be "Quick-rifle" or "fast-rifle" from Pikakivääri.

@jeffsartain2395 6 жыл бұрын

The Johnson was a far superior to any rifle or LMG in service at the time. The ordinance dept. was deeply involved in other programs and could not allow the Johnson to replace other rifles due to misappropriation of funds. The M1 could not function with machine gun ammo without epic failure thus M2 ball with was a downloaded round for the M1. The Johnson could easily function with ammo up to 75000psi which would destroy an M1. The Johnson was a 10 round weapon that could be topped of at will as opposed to the M1 which had to fire ALL 8 round before reload. THANK YOU for an excellent video and review on an epic weapon.......

@StPaul76 8 жыл бұрын

The Russian DP-27 was called "Emma" by Finnish troops because of it's disc shaped magazine on top and a very popular Finnish war-time ballad was called "Emma" thus the name.

@Tophet1 5 жыл бұрын

The US has never really 'got' lmg's.

@rocketman8476 5 жыл бұрын

Gorgeous gun. Can’t believe it was crafted in the 40’s.

@havareriksen1004 Жыл бұрын

Gas assist on recoil operated weapons are nor really that uncommon. We find them on everything from shotguns to machine guns. The most widespread use of the gas assisted unlocking on recoil operated guns is the MG 42, MG 3 and other versions of this gun. Underneath the flash hider there is a cup that traps gas as it exits the muzzle. This pushes the barrel backwards. After a short travel the cup clears the gas vent holes at the back of the flash hider, and the barrel (that now has unlocked from the bolt) is driven forward by a barrel return spring inside the receiver. This is rather like the gas trap system one found on early semi automatic rifles, but the bolt is moved by the force of the recoil, so it is labelled as recoil operated.

@sierramike5259 2 жыл бұрын

looks to be ahead of it's time. That being said it also looks a lot lighter than a BAR. So then one wonders about shoulder fired full auto fire control-ability, especially considering the lack of muzzle break / compensator.

@Boeing_hitsquad 8 жыл бұрын

still at 0:00, much anticipation for this video as I've & generations of my family on both sides have had personal experience with it (type, not exact individual firearm)... on with the show! EDIT: the monopod at a range, place a pale/bucket full of range soil/sand on the table/bench/stall and 2 sandbags in a U shape around each backside. this works 100%.

@johndoe-vo6wl 8 жыл бұрын

so cool! thank you for showing us this unique piece 😀

@act4306 8 жыл бұрын

What an awesome rifle! Great video, as always.

@mr_ThreeEight_1776 3 жыл бұрын

"Private, whip out your johnson!"

@lazy1451 8 жыл бұрын

Holy Jesus. What is that? What the fuck is that? WHAT IS THAT, PRIVATE PYLE?

@victoriaevelyn3953 8 жыл бұрын

are you John wane

@lazy1451 8 жыл бұрын

+Vector Corbin WHO SAID THAT? WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT?

@glockfan112 8 жыл бұрын

You might want too keep an eye on private pyle, i have a bad feeling about him.

@mrblisterfist 8 жыл бұрын

"Private Pyle! Now choke yourself. Goddamn it, with MY hand, numb-nuts! Don't pull my fucking hand over there! I said choke yourself; now lean forward and choke yourself!"

@timothylevin2661 Жыл бұрын

It seems to help a lot in common with the FG-42

@WaukWarrior360 Жыл бұрын

The hybrid between the Johnson Rifle and LMG was the Daisy Mae.

@JonneTopiRausku 8 жыл бұрын

Fun fact: during WWII, the soviet Degtrajev DP 27 was called "Emma" in the finnish army.

@GamersBar 8 жыл бұрын

I would have liked to see inside the action but good video, I also like the semi gas piston design its nice and compact (well for the time the entire gun is not super fat)

@tillmannfischer 8 жыл бұрын

As Ian said, he already did an in-depth video on the predecessor of this gun (M1941), which is basically the same internally. The Link is in the video description (right at the bottom of it).

@paulshayter1113 6 жыл бұрын

Ian @ 11:24 you said plastic punch but that is in fact a Universal Disassembly Tool. Glad to help.;-)

@jasonsantos3037 Жыл бұрын

There's a lot interesting World War 2 guns never get talked about.

@Darthdoodoo 3 ай бұрын

"smith grab your johnson and give it to charlie !"😂😂😂😂

@Tunkkis 4 жыл бұрын

Ah, so there are two magazine-fed light machine guns nicknamed "Emma". We Finns gave the nickname to the DP 27 Degtjarjova light machine gun, because the rotating pan magazine 'lid' reminded soldiers of spinning records, which in turn reminded them off a popular iskelmä song of the same name

@gauth421 4 жыл бұрын

Love all your reviews Ian!

@Martinlegend 4 жыл бұрын

8:55 good to know when youre fighting in Hell

@chriswp2311 6 жыл бұрын

the MP44, M3/A1 Grease Gun, FG42, and Trench Gun combined into one gun.

@olppano 8 жыл бұрын

During the war Finns called DP-28 Emma too :D

@tankninja1 10 ай бұрын

Considering how much the US government wanted to find cheaper guns for the war, I'm surprised this didn't end up beating out the BAR.

@DETHMOKIL 2 жыл бұрын

Just coming from the Dror videos!

@fatman.reviews 8 жыл бұрын

the history channel needs to give you a show,

@wastedangelematis 8 жыл бұрын

the johnson light machinegun is playable in Heroes n` generals for paratroopers, but its the first model , check it on youtube,

@FabledHeroes3351 8 жыл бұрын

Now this is an interesting light machine gun

@Davidautofull 8 жыл бұрын

that has AR malite all over it. spring in tube with castle nut...

@JamesCallMeJayBoyFrazier 8 жыл бұрын

Oh boy. Id love to get this.

@mobilegoat1 4 жыл бұрын

Would love to see you fire this weapon .

@michaelgraves9462 8 ай бұрын

I remember this one from Medal Of Honor - Pacific Assault

@dak4465 4 жыл бұрын

Its the same mindset as the stoner 63, lightweight automatic firepower for the few willing to take care of it

@jjarechiga Жыл бұрын

This is my Johnson, this is my johnson.

@TheWhoamaters 2 жыл бұрын

Wait did I hear that right? A gun was actually improved and modified based on the recommendations of the people using it in combat, instead of what generals and politicians thought was needed?

@lib556 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for not falling into the trap of so many ignorant journalists and amateur historians who insist on repeating the lie of "the Devil's Brigade". The First Special Service Force (FSSF) was never called that nick name. It was a fabrication invented as the title of the 1966 book about the Force. Unfortunately, the made up name was adopted for the 1968 movie and we seem to be stuck with it. The FSSF was referred to simply as "the Force" and the Germans at Anzio did refer to them as "the Black Devils" due to their prolific night patrols with their faces blackened.

@indestructablelamp778 4 жыл бұрын

There's just nothing like a big heavy Johnson in your hands.

@clydebalcom8252 5 жыл бұрын

It's a beautiful weapon. Marines are notorious for using equipment that nobody wants.

@dak4465 5 жыл бұрын

I really want one of these. Theyre sooo cooooool

@tonyangelo9916 5 жыл бұрын

Beautiful

@user-xm2cn2sq2f 4 жыл бұрын

So it comes with grippod, neat.

@Stellar001100 4 жыл бұрын

I think if Johnson was able to make this gun belt fed, it might have had a better chance of adoption.

@fidelismiles7439 3 жыл бұрын

13:08 Looks like a Sterling SMG, not bad at all.

@PW.6060 8 жыл бұрын

Seems like since the monopod was so long and the sights were so high that the gunner would be pretty exposed when firing while prone. Very interesting gun, though!

@ununius7436 4 жыл бұрын

Awsome weapon..

@crazyfvck 8 жыл бұрын

Now Ian.. Didn't momma tell you not to put your Johnson on the table?! lol ;)

@smartlp3010 8 жыл бұрын

To sad. They maybe could have had a awesome weapon for the Marines. Tell me Ian, did you ever fired one of These guns and if so did you like it? What are your thoughts on it?

@douglasfulmer5483 8 жыл бұрын

For some reason this is just plain cool. I wish I had 50k or 80k to drop on this.

@haroldellis9721 5 жыл бұрын

Emma makes sense to me, the whole Emma Gee thing.

@christhedrinkerofbleach.822 8 жыл бұрын

Great video

@jonmurphy9424 8 жыл бұрын

Do you think that, had Johnson been given the funding, this gun could have been improved upon enough to be a reliable front line weapon?

@crazyfvck 5 жыл бұрын

That thing looks awesome :)

@calvingreene90 5 жыл бұрын

I think that Daisy May would prefer Carl Gustaf as a companion.

@tamahawkins2815 8 жыл бұрын

great videos lately ian,keep it up.I have a non gun related question where you are what is the time I'm only asking as I'm in new Zealand and it's 12:07 am

@_yellow 8 жыл бұрын

The Rock Island Auction is in Rock Island, which is in Illinois, so I assume he is in Illinois.

@ForgottenWeapons 8 жыл бұрын

I am 5 hours ahead of you.

@tamahawkins2815 8 жыл бұрын

+Sᴏᴄɪᴇᴛʏ Pʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍs Sᴀᴛɪʀᴇ thanks. it makes sense

@tamahawkins2815 8 жыл бұрын

+Forgotten Weapons thanks for putting early upload work in for our entertainment

@keithmoore7390 8 жыл бұрын

that was filmed in Illinois but I believe he lives in either California or Arizona, but don't hold me to thatt

@EDSKaR 8 жыл бұрын

I'd find that front monopod more useful if it was hinged further back (just in front of the magwel) and then folded forwards as it would give you a much more handy front grip for 'walking fire'/hip fire and still give good stability when rested. 9:20 11:30 I fear the Forgotten Weapons Precision Disassembly Tool has been replaced... I want a copy of the testing done and the reasons for the replacement and who the high brass idiot that made that decision was.

@BobtheHobo324 6 жыл бұрын

Why did Johnson use a long single-stack magazine instead of a double-stack that could be shorter and still provide the same amount of bullets per magazine? Does the single-stack magazine distribute the weight off to the side in a way that balances the firearm better than the more centralized weight of a double-stack would?

@williambefort5327 3 жыл бұрын

See Johnson's book "Automatic Weapons of the World". The gun was to be used by a 2-man team, like a Bren. The side-mounted mags could be swapped very fast by the AG, and the single-column design w/o feed lips was cheap & efficient, and would also have lent itself well to disposable magazines.

@tjingle29 4 жыл бұрын

Ian: I have a black belt. Public: In what? Ian: *Gun-Fu*

@bobthompson4319 2 жыл бұрын

now I see the resemblance of this and the dror

@ramiabiakar2391 8 жыл бұрын

Instead of making a gas port in the halfway thru the barrel Johnson could have simply used a recoil-boosting muzzle device, as seen in some other recoi-operated weapons of the era.

@DanielSvensson666 8 жыл бұрын

That one looks so cool.:D

@craigscott5661 4 жыл бұрын

Nice gun but I’d still rather have a BAR Browning was a genius far above any other gun maker.

@painmagnet1 2 жыл бұрын

The BAR was a lot heavier.

@Allies_USA 8 жыл бұрын

i use early version of johnson in game name heroes and generals its very good gun especially that low recoil is awesome~

@benjaminhart4354 7 жыл бұрын

I love lmgs so much

@idiotmannen 5 жыл бұрын

Say hello to my little Johnson!

@jhaffel 3 жыл бұрын

So that "monopod" doesn't spin 90 degrees to give a wider stance? Seems weird that it could, and that it makes sense that it would, but that it doesn't...

@stevemiller6766 8 жыл бұрын

Good day Ian. Do you ever get your hands on Soviet weapons? Curious to see you evaluation of the WWII automatic weapons of the day. Cheers

@farmerboy9029 8 жыл бұрын

+Von Mualka it works like a sten

@bennytops8064 6 жыл бұрын

I wish they replaced the bar with this beauty

@elahdivad3433 2 жыл бұрын

With the mag on the side it looks like an fg 42.

@lucianene7741 4 жыл бұрын

Too bad he didn't have the inspiration to make it a genuine battle rifle. It was light enough. He could have just replaced that long an unwieldy single stack lateral magazine with a standard vertical double stack BAR mag, or maybe lengthen that one a little bit for extra capacity. I find that gas assist unnecessary, he could just have added a conical flash hider that would double as a recoil booster to improve reliability. I like that rear sight, very original and practical. And last, the quality of the machining is impressive.