Funnel pointing downward on .5 in machine gun (start screen). What is it?

[DARPA_AFV_v_11_4]

A question for the experts on this forum. What is this thing that on top of or around the 0.5 in machine gun barrel on some US ships? It's featured prominently on the splash screen of the game (0.5.2.x) and I can also see it on the 0.5in AA guns on the USS Nicholas. Is it a cover? part of the liquid cooling mechanism? The intriguing thing is that it ends with some sort of funnel pointing downward.

 

I have been looking for photos on this on the Internet and I cannot find anything.

 

Thank you for your replies!

[thegamefilmguruman]

I've been wondering this myself.  Looks kinda like a teardrop or shoehorn on the bottom of the barrel.

[Tedster_]

looks like some sort of flash hider to me.

[Shipness]

I believe that is a range finder of sorts.

[Lert]

Picture please?

[Cruiser_Swiftsure]

I think the OP is meaning this.

 

Personally, I have no idea either.

If I were to take a guess, it's probably part of the water cooling M2 Browning MG, or a handle for barrel replacement?

 

 

[klymar8]

I think the OP is meaning this.

 

Personally, I have no idea either.

If I were to take a guess, it's probably part of the water cooling M2 Browning MG, or a handle for barrel replacement?

 

 

 

I tend to think so to [edited]they could just pump water ( sea water ) in and let it flow out without having to recirculate it like land units would have to .

 

[Ice_GopherFC]

Lol you NEVER use sea water aboard ship except for your firemain, far too corrosive.

[Drakenred]

That is a water cooled m-1921 with a " boil off" vent.

 

it was suposedly mounted that way (pointed Down and forward) to keep steam/water from the barrel and out of the sight line of the gunner

 

the water cooled AA variant of the M2 used a deferent and Easyer to mass produce design that did not use it, and the M-1921 was replaced by 1933 or 1934.

 

incideataly they got it wrong. It went around a metal ring that was where the barrel is as it came out of the water jacket 

[KiloWhiskey]

That is a water cooled m-1921 with a " boil off" vent.

 

it was suposedly mounted that way (pointed Down and forward) to keep steam/water from the barrel and out of the sight line of the gunner

 

the water cooled AA variant of the M2 used a deferent and Easyer to mass produce design that did not use it, and the M-1921 was replaced by 1933 or 1934.

 

incideataly they got it wrong. It went around a metal ring that was where the barrel is as it came out of the water jacket 

 

Quite very well could be a simi-waterproof sock for the barrel as well to keep sea water out of it (and the gun), much like a tampion for a larger gun. It would explain the shape, size and color. You sometimes see them (normally gray in color) on crew serves today that are mounted but not expected to be used soon.

 

If that's the case then they didn't get it wrong just a detail that is funny to have.

[Drakenred]

No the hard barrel cover was a Different part. Basically It was designed to be "shot off" and did not hang under the barrel. it was quickly replaced by a waterproof canvas bag that could be shot through, because they also used the 1921 as a land mount. Basically from the look of the manuals I've seen for US AA Heavy machine guns and light automatic cannons that they bascialy decided that the gunners were always going to pull trigger before stopping to take off the muzzle cover in a real emergency and even required the first 2-3 rounds of all magazines to be a non explosive Basic or training round just for that reason.

 

(the hard cover resembled a mini tin can, it was droped when they realized that accidentally loading a HE round first and firing it into the muzzle cover just created shrapnel at the muzzle tip, given that the early HE rounds used tended to detonate at the slightest impact as it was (Aircraft were fabric covered at the time resulting in the round being very sensitive)

[KiloWhiskey]

No the hard barrel cover was a Different part. Basically It was designed to be "shot off" and did not hang under the barrel. it was quickly replaced by a waterproof canvas bag that could be shot through, because they also used the 1921 as a land mount. Basically from the look of the manuals I've seen for US AA Heavy machine guns and light automatic cannons that they bascialy decided that the gunners were always going to pull trigger before stopping to take off the muzzle cover in a real emergency and even required the first 2-3 rounds of all magazines to be a non explosive Basic or training round just for that reason.

 

(the hard cover resembled a mini tin can, it was droped when they realized that accidentally loading a HE round first and firing it into the muzzle cover just created shrapnel at the muzzle tip, given that the early HE rounds used tended to detonate at the slightest impact as it was (Aircraft were fabric covered at the time resulting in the round being very sensitive)

Since it looks like a water cooled 50 we don't really have to worry about HE.

 

Really don't know what it is but it looks like a protective cover. It very well could be the vent your describing or the sock that I am. Without the artist telling us what it is we will probably never know.

[IAFHighPockets]

It could be a counter weight.

 

http://www.bmgparts.com/products/CounterWeights.jpg

[80_proof]

Lol you NEVER use sea water aboard ship except for your firemain, far too corrosive.

 

Not true. Seawater is used in all kinds of applications aboard ship. Back in the day, pretty all your coolers and condensers used seawater. Seawater was used run sewage systems, operate reefer systems, wash down decks, and other various things. Not mention you needed to bring in seawater to the evaporator to make fresh water. And don't forget ballast.

 

I sailed a vessel once that used seawater cooling for the propulsion control board. Not sure who came up with that bright idea, they pulled it out after running like that for a couple of years, but yeah. Seawater was/is used in all kinds of ways, not just fire mains.

[Jinxed_Katajainen]

I thought it was a modeling error at first since I could never find a picture of that muzzle, but seeing it in art, now I'm not sure...

The game files calls that the Browning .50cal M2 mod2 if it helps in searching for its identity.

 

Only ones I've been able to find all look like these