IF.5 MG Wagen 36   TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION   The MG wagon consisted of three main parts. The Vorderwagen (front wagon), the Hinterwagen (rear wagon) and the Zwillingssockel (twin mount). The front wagon, whose design is unique to the MG wagon, was intended to carry two men and a relatively large amount of equipment. On the outside, just below the seat and behind the legs of the two men, are mounted two shovels, a pick axe and a hand axe. On the left side you will find the hand brake lever for the drum brakes and a box to hold a standard issue carbide lantern. On the right side is a rifle rack for the two rifles of the men seated on the limber. On top, just behind the bench seat, there is a rectangular steel frame basket where the hay ration for the horses is kept. A special canvas cover was used to cover the hay ration during inclement weather. The inside of the limber is divided into three compartments, the center compartment being divided into three smaller compartments. The compartment on the left has its own door, while the center and right compartments share a single door. The left compartment contained equipment for keeping up the condition of the horses, spare horse shoes, spare harness parts and related tools and a spare parts box for the carbide lanterns. This is also where the canvas covers for the zwillingssockel and the horses' hay ration were to be stowed when not in use. The far right compartment is solely for the storage of mess kits and rations for the 13 soldiers assigned to each wagon. The two lower compartments of the center section each held a Gürttrommelträger (belt drum carrier). Each carrier holding two of the Gürttrommel (belt drum). Also to be kept in this compartment was the Lafettenaufsatzstück (AA extension post and cradle for the lafette tripod). The upper compartment held a small air pump, spare inner tubes, tire repair kit, and a tool kit for basic maintenance of the limber and wagon. The following manuals were to be kept in this compartment as well: The rear wagon carries the zwillingssockel, ammunition and most of the supporting equipment for the two MG34 machine guns. On the front outside are two doors, one on each side. When opened, they give quick access to 8 of the standard Patronenkasten 34 (ammunition can 34). The manual states that this is the ammunition to be taken by the troops when ground action is imminent. On the right side is found the hand brake which controls the drum brakes for the rear wagon. On the left side are two brackets which hold a spare draw bar for harnessing a horse to the limber. At the rear of the wagon are brackets for hanging two Lafette 34 (ground tripod for the MG34). Each bracket has a special cover to protect the tripod from dust and the elements during storage and travel. The manual states that, when in a combat zone, the covers are to be rolled to give quick access to the mounts at all times. Between the two tripods are two levers. The left lever is marked “K” for Kupplungshebel (coupling lever). This releases the coupling to unhook the wagon from the limber when it is loaded with ammunition. Normally this can be done simply by lifting the wagon hitch off the coupling post after the safety bar is pulled out. The lever on the right is marked “St” for Stützenhebel (support lever). This releases the two curved runners that support the wagon and keep it level while it is uncoupled from the limber. Whenever the wagon was uncoupled it was to be leveled and made ready at all times even when shooting was not anticipated. When the wagon is uncoupled and to be stored it is rested on a skid plate, which is located just under and to the rear of the hitch. The two runners provide a very stable and level platform for the zwillingssockel. The runners do not need to be lowered to begin shooting if the wagon was already coupled to the limber. The coupling design prevents the wagon from rocking back and forth on its axle. Around the top of the wagon are four compartments. The compartments at the front and rear each hold two of the Laufschützer 34 (single barrel carrier). The compartments on the right and left side each hold one MG34 to be used on the zwillingssockel. Each compartment has a special post for holding the butt stock when the two guns are mounted on the zwillingssockel. All four of these compartments could be locked as well as the two doors at the front of the wagon. Inside the wagon, in the center, are 8 threaded studs that fold away into the floor. This is where the zwillingssockel mounts to the wagon. Laid out around the center of the wagon, in a circular pattern, are wooden slats. These allow the gunner to rotate the mount from side to side with his feet. The inside walls of the wagon consist of two levels of shelves designed to hold two types of ammunition cans: the standard ammunition can and the Patronenkasten 36, a special 150 round ammunition can designed especially for the zwillingssockel. The bottom shelf (the floor of the wagon) is designed to hold standard ammunition cans. It will hold six cans in the front and back and four cans on each side, for a total of twenty cans. Two carbide lanterns, one on each side, were also stored on the bottom shelf. Four long rectangular doors, which fold down to the floor, give access to each section of the bottom shelf. The upper shelf on the front and rear of the wagon are identical and are divided into three sections. The right and left section will each hold two standard ammunition cans for a total of eight more. The center section is divided into two shelves and is also designed for the standard ammunition can but is not intended for ammunition storage. The shelf on the bottom will hold a can on its side. The Gurtfüller (belt loader) and the Kleinen Waffenwerkzeugsatz (small armorer's tool kit) were stored in these two positions. The Petroleumskasten (petroleum tin or “P” kit) and the Erganzüngkasten (supplement tin or “E” kit) were to be stored just above, on the upper shelf, one set for each gun. The upper shelf on the right and left side of the wagon had four sections. Each one holding one of the special ammunition cans for the zwillingssockel, for a total of eight cans. Two more of these cans were stored in the mount. The wagon manual states that these 10 cans are to be kept full and with the wagon at all times and were not to be used for ground action. (It is interesting to note that I have several original photos that show these cans in use with the infantry away from the MG wagon.) Canvas covers, on all four sides, hang down to the tops of the 4 doors of the lower shelves. These canvas covers can be secured in place to the lower doors to protect the ammunition from the elements. To sum it up, the wagon was to carry 34 (28 with ammunition) standard ammunition cans and 10 zwillingssockel ammunition cans. The limber with its four belt drum magazines will add a couple hundred more. This makes for a total combat load of 10,100 rounds!