WTK:Romanian ST 61/56 Water Cooled Machine Gun (German MG15)

[762x51]

Does anyone know where and when these weapons were converted from aircraft (air cooled) to water cooled?
If you have any information at all on these guns please share it and thanks in advance for the info.

Here is a scan of the packing list that came with the ST 61/51's transit chest and a line drawing of the converted gun from IMA-USA's web site.

Can someone provide a translation...Thanks...



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[762x51]

More information that I learned today:

Water Cooled conversion was performed at MAS in France in 1943.

Contract was a "commercial" contract.

They were supplied under a military aid program to the Romanian 3rd Army Group on the Eastern Front.

Most were captured while in a rear depot and were never fired.

[inahurry]

A (?) follows the word I’m not sure of or precedes the whole item I’m not sure of. Where I’m even more uncertain about the good translation I skip over:

Rhm. ST 61/56 machinegun inventory – Crate #1

1. Machinegun’s case
2. Machinegun itself

Accessories
3. Reserve barrel
4. Cleaning rod
5. Magazine
6. Oil pump
7. Barrel cleaning device (2 pieces)
8. Bipod
9. Cord of asbestos
10.
11. Shoulder (?) stock
12. Handle for carrying
13. Vaseline box
14. The wrench for the recoil hardener (?)

Tools and spare parts
15. Cloth sachet with:
16. Operating (?) spring
17. (?) Barrel latch
18. Bronze or brass hammer
19.
20. Screwdriver
21.
22. Universal(?!) wrench
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28. Safety catch
29. Shell ejector
30. Case for parts with :
31. (?) Breech bolt body
32. Ruptured case extractor
33.
34. (?) Breech bolt
35. Little pump for sulfur based oil

[Dr_V]

Translation to table in your picture:

1. Storage Box
2. The machinegun

Accesories:

3. reserve barrel
4. cleaning rod
5. magasine
6. oil pump
7. barrel cleaning device (2 components)
8. the MGs support device [? bipod]
9. azbest wire
10. leather (?)bracelets [I really can't find the English word]
11. shoulder piece [? shoulder support]
12. handle
13. vaseline box
14. the wrench for the recoil stiffner

Tools and reserve components:

15. the tools bag with:
16. spring for the recover device
17. aiming device
18. bronze hammer
19. nail
20. screwdriver
21. cleaning device for the recoil stiffner
22. universal wrench
23. 3 components cleaning rod
24. wull
25. angled rod
26. brush head
27. 2 chambers bottle
28. safety rod
29. cartridge tube thrower
30. tools box with:
31. percution device body
32. broken cartridge extractor
33. extractor claws
34. percution nail
35. sulphur-oil pump

[Dr_V]

Quite a challange to translate so many technical terms. You should compare my translation with the one made by "inahurry" to get a more accurate result.

The thing that we both couldn't translate (nr. 10) means something like small cercles of leather ment to be intercalated between 2 components that interlock when assambled, to make the mounting air/waterproof. Like the rubber cercles used when you join 2 water pipes.

[762x51]

Dr_V and Inahurry..You guys are GREAT and I really do thank you for taking the time to translate this list.

Nr. 10 Would be "Leather Gaskets" or in English "Leather O-Rings" would probably be more descriptive. These were used on the rear of the barrel to provide a water tight seal.

I'll combine both translations a little later to see if we can come up with one that we all can agree on.

Again, THANKS

[dragos]

A few suggestions:

11. Butt
16. Operating spring
17. Front sight
28. Safety
29. Ejector
31. Hammer
33. Extractor
34. Firing pin

[inahurry]

I was tempted to put at 34. firing pin too, but from the photo is not very clear it is so. Then 'breech bolt body' would become simply 'breech bolt'.

Operating spring, butt stock, breech bolt, I picked from info associated with other photos of MG or SMG as I was tempted to use more 'direct' translation. I also suspect there are slight variations for some parts depending on the English or American-English terminology used.

[762x51]

With the help of Inahurry, DR_V, dragos, and Hedgehog from www.brenlmg.com, I think I have a fairly accurate translation.
Please take a look at this and let me know if you feel that I have it right or if you see any errors.

Thanks to those that helped me with this.

The Translation ("American" English):

Rhm. ST 61/56 Machine Gun Inventory – Crate #1

1. Transit Case
2. The Machine Gun

Accessories

3. Spare Barrel
4. Cleaning Rod
5. Magazine
6. Oil Pump
7. Cleaning Patches
8. Bipod
9. Asbestos Cord
10. Leather O-Rings
11. Shoulder Stock
12. Carrying Handle
13. Grease Container
14. Booster Wrench

Tools and Spare Parts

16. Main spring
17. Front sight
18. Bronze or Aluminum Hammer
19. Punch
20. Screwdriver
21. Booster Reamer
22. Adjustable Wrench
23. 3 Piece Cleaning Rod
24. Cleaning Rod Eyelet Tip
25. Angled Rod
26. Brush Tip
27. Double Oil Can
28. Safety Ring
29. Ejector
30. Case for parts with:
31. Breech Bolt Body
32. Broken Case Extractor
33. Extractor
34. Firing pin
35. Pump for sulphur based oil

[762x51]

Here is another image of the Water Cooled ST 61/56 (MG15) from a guy in France..

[dragos]

That explains the shape of the magazine (5) in the boxes, which I didn't understand looking at the drawing.

[SethG]

How many guns were contracted for? Is it possible that any were issued on an organized basis? Anyone know the stats for this gun (barrel length, weight, mv, etc.)? I notice that the line drawing has a box magazine, as opposed to the saddlepack type in the photos. Is that a magazine from the ZB 30 LMG?
Seth

[dragos]

QUOTE

I notice that the line drawing has a box magazine, as opposed to the saddlepack type in the photos.  Is that a magazine from the ZB 30 LMG?

No, the magazine of ZB LMG has a straight shape, not curved.

[762x51]

QUOTE

I notice that the line drawing has a box magazine, as opposed to the saddlepack type in the photos.  Is that a magazine from the ZB 30 LMG?                         Seth

It's a modified MG13 magazine. The Doppeltrommel's (saddle) were heavy and hard to load while with a small modification the MG13 magazines could be used. If you'll notice, the sights are offset to the left like the Bren LMG's so the top mount magazine could be used.

[762x51]

I have added more drawings and information at:

http://brenlmg.com/6/ubb.x?a=frm&s=8446044...83&f=1286072974

The following drawing is from "German Machineguns" by Daniel D. Musgrave & Smith Hempstone Oliver and is reproduced here with the kind permission of Ironside International Publishers, Alexandria, VA.