This anti aircraft tripod was produced and promoted after WWII when the production picked up after the late 1940s hiatus. The AA Field Mounting was promoted in several countries, it is easy to erect with a few grips and is one man handled. The AA Field mounting can be used for firing against air targets or ground targets being able to be positioned in a low muzzle height. The only difference of mountings for the various LMGs is merely the construction of the machine gun seating of the pivot. Four pivots were produced but only three were successfully sold and the last on was not produced in large quantities.
Let us take a look at DIS reasons to construct this tripod as stated in the brochure.
‘ For a long time it was the general idea that firing against air-targets with weapons of small calibre (2.62mm = .30”) was not worth the ammunition. However, later years’ events have clearly shown that helicopters, paratroopers and slow-speed planes in low altitudes could be fought successfully with infantry calibre weapons. Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S (Madsen/DISA) has for this reason constructed 2 types of A.A. mountings for light machine guns.
-1: AA Field Mounting (tripod)
– 2: Vehicle Mounting
The mountings are constructed for LMG infantry calibre for instance FN MAG and German MG (MG42/58) as handy easy means to stabilize LMG in positions against airtargets.’
The AA mounting is one man handled and easy to erect with a few grips. It is taking up a minimum of space in a vehicle under transport, folded it measures 86 cm x 29 cm x 26 cm or 33½” x 11½” x 10″.
Erected for shooting the mounting is extremely stable. There are no lateral limits the traversing being possible all-round 360 ° .
Main caracteristics: The AA mounting is one man handled and easy to erect with a few grips. It is taking up a minimum of space in a vehicle under transport, folded it measures 86 cm x 29 cm x 26 cm or 33 ½ ” x 11 ½ ” x 10″.
Erected for shooting the mounting is extremely stable. There are no lateral limits the traversing being possible all-round 360°, and elevation limits from – 10° up to as far as +85° i.e. nearly vertically. A 3rd axis permits a traversing angle of 15° to each side, which means that the gunner by merely moving the upper part of his body is able to follow a traversing air target even at high elevation without having to change position of his feet nor the lower part of his body.
The telescopic legs of the mounting are individually adjustable allowing the tripod to be placed in any sort of terrain.
The AA Field mounting can just as well be used for firing against ground targets being able to be positioned in a low muzzle height within a few seconds.
The only difference of mountings for the various LMGs is merely the construction of the machinegun seating (of the pivot).
The observant reader will notice that this tripod has square legs, not round. This is the prototype and first model that was later (shortly after) replaced by a model with round legs. The jointing of the pull-out legs was not satisfactorily tight in this model. The brochure shows the angular legs in all pictures except one that might be showing the round legs (it is quite difficult to see as the background is blue) see below.
Stats
- Weight, totally…………………………………………………. 10.15 kg = 22 lbs
- Weight, pivot for FN, MAG and MG-1 …………… 2.35 kg = 5 lbs
- Weight, tripod, lower part of mounting ……….. 7.80 kg = 17 lbs
Dimensions: ready for transport
- Length: folded, telescopic legs pulled in, the cylinderhead out……………….1000 mm = 39”
- Length with cylinderhead and pivot folded in between the legs………………860 mm = 33½”
- Width………….290 mm = 11½”
- Height…………260 mm = 10”
Mounted against air target
(legs in normal posision)
- Height to horizontal axis of the gunseating… 1530 mm = 60″
- Base radius over points of support………………. 865 mm = 33″
- Lateral limits: All-round traversing……………. 360°
- Eleation limits with butterstock free of legs.. +75 ° to -10°
- Elevation limits with butterstock between legs… +85° to -10 °
- Traversing angle in the 3rd axis……………………..15 ° to each side
Mounted against ground target
Minimum muzzle height……………………………………. 510 mm = 20”
Base radius over points of support, legs pulled in……… 900mm = 35”
Pictures of mountings for the various LMGs will follow in the next post.