Interesting use for an M14
 

Oooooh, that's gonna kick---


SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 29, 2009) Gunner's Mate Seaman Thomas Chapman, from Abeline, Texas, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), prepares to fire a shot line across to the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194) to establish communications during a refueling at sea. Tortuga is part of the Denver Amphibious Ready Group conducting a fall patrol with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino)

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

I've seen something for sale that looks just like that to launch golf balls. You fire it with a blank cartridge.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

That reminds me of when I was 5 and established communications with the kid next door using the tin cans and string method also.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

That M14 is being used as a line thrower with blanks. The concept is basically the same as launching rifle grenades. If I recall correctly Mossberg makes a dedicated line thrower with their Mariner coat 500 pump shotgun. The narrow line gets shot across to the other ship and then it is pulled in to bring across a heavy line or fueling hose.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

I shot rifle grenades in Marine training at Camp Geiger a while back. Even at the time rifle grenades were obsolete because of the M-79.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

I don't know that I would consider rifle grenades obsolete. Surly the 40mm platforms out there make it more convenient with a higher rate of fire but if every rifleman had access to a rifle grenade (as apposed to just a couple of grenadiers per squad/platoon) just imagine the folly. :36_3_13:Bx3

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

...now man the underway replenishment detail. happens every day underway 24/7. no need for port visits. well, happens about once a week for an underway operating forward deployed ship, but it happens rain or shine day and night, weather conditions be damned.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

Aloha All.
The M14 line throwing mechanisim, is a lot more fun to shoot then the old 45-70 caliber Line throwing gun. With the 45-70, blank gun, you had a long rod that went in the barrel, and a plastic projcetile attached to the end. You could put a cylume light inside the float, for night ops. Try not to put the projectile into the rigging, or through the Bridge hatch...LOL Former GM on an AE
Aloha
Turtleguy9

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

Yup and the M-79 was rendered obsolete by the M-203, you Jarheads crack me up! You guys use all that old shit!back in the 80s even the USAF went to the 203! You still have krag rifles for extras too?:cry1:

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

Having no experience with that use of a rifle, but endless curiosity, just how FAR can/does it (reliably) throw that line?

TIA, R.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

I'm talking 1969, no M203's in the Corp then but you're right about the Marines being last to get anything. We were still using M14's in basic.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Jet fuel showers...........
Don't miss it at all.

Re: Interesting use for an M14
 

dont feel bad, we had M-1 Carbines still for Guard duty in Germany, that was in 82! our small air station had mostly M-16s in the armory but a few Carbines and a dozen or so M-14s for the cops.