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Title:	GUN, MACHINE -  U.S. MACHINE GUN JOHNSON MODEL 1941 .30 SN# 1375
Maker/Manufacturer:	JOHNSON, MELVIN
Date of Manufacture:	C 1941
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 2853
Measurements:	OL:106.6CM 42" BL: 55.8CM 22" 14 lbs.

Object Description:

U.S. MACHINE GUN JOHNSON MODEL 1941 .30 SN# 1375
Manufactured by Cranston Arms Co., Cranston, R.I. - Standard, short recoil, rotating bolt, select fire, 20-round box magazine feed. Fires semi-automatic from closed bolt and full-auto from open bolt. Rate of fire: 450rpm. Weapon weighs approximately 14 lbs. Feed assembly and bipod missing otherwise in good condition. Approximately 10,000 were manufactured.

Markings:
Receiver: Patent #s/LIGHT MACHINE GUN/"JOHNSON AUTOMATICS"/CAL..30-06 MODEL 1941/MADE IN
PROVIDENCE, R.I. U.S.A. Side: CRANSTON ARMS CO.
Stock: Painted on bottom in red: D5.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 29 November 1951.

Notes: "Chambered for the .30-06 cartridge the Model 1941 was fitted with a wooden buttstock while the Model 1944 had a metal stock. Barrel length was 21.8" and the rate of fire is adjustable to between 200 and 900 rounds per minute. Fed by a side mounted box magazine. Weight is about 14 lbs. Produced for the Marine Corps until 1945." - Schwing

"'THEY WOULDN'T TRADE THEM': THE MODEL OF 1941 JOHNSON LIGHT MACHINE GUN. One of the most venerable United States military arms of the 20th Century was the Browning Automatic Rifle, known to several generations of American soldiers as simply the BAR. Invented by the legendary John Moses Browning, the Model of 1918 BAR was fielded in limited numbers during the closing days of World War I, where it soon gained an enviable reputation as a rock-solid and reliable automatic weapon. Even with the advent of the semi-automatic M1 Garand rifle, the BAR was an integral of an American infantry squad. The later production version of the BAR, the M1918A2, saw service in all theaters of World War II and remains one of the better known U.S. infantry arms of the war.
The only other U.S. military arm similar to the BAR fielded during World War II was the Model of 1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun. It was invented and developed by Melvin Maynard Johnson, Jr., a Boston attorney and Marine Corps Reserve officer who dabbled in small-arms design in the mid-1930s. When the M1 Garand was adopted in 1936, Johnson was not overly impressed with the new rifle and felt he could develop a superior semi-automatic service rifle. Rather than base his design on gas operations, Johnson chose to utilize a recoil-operated mechanism. Johnson refined his design and was able to persuade the U.S. Armory Ordnance Department ot conduct a test of the rifle. In addition to its recoil-operated mechanism, Johnson's rifle had some other novel design features including a 10-round rotary magazine that could be readily topped off (unlike the M1) and an easily detachable barrel.
Although Johnson's rifle functioned fairly well in preliminary tests, some weaknesses were revealed, most of which were common to any prototype. Johnson was informed by the Ordnance Department that his rifle was inferior to the standardized M1 and would not be considered for adoption or purchase by the U.S. military Johnson felt, perhaps with some justification, that his rifle had not been given a fair trial because of institutional bias in favor the M1, which had been developed by the Ordnance Department. The inventor was successful in having Congressional Hearings held to explore the issue, but Congress declined to force the U.S. Army to accept the Johnson. Johnson tried to interest the Marine Corps in his rifle as well, but, after some preliminary tests, they decided against its adoption.
While developing his semi-automatic rifle, Johnson was simultaneously working on a light machine gun, actually an automatic rifle, based on the same general operating mechanism. Both Johnson's rifle and machine gun shared a number of components and could be easily manufactured on the same equipment. Johnson's light machine gun design utilized the same basic recoil-operated mechanism and featured an easily removable barrel and buttstock assembly.
It had several advanced design features, including the ability to fire fully automatically form an open bolt (to help cooling when firing) and the capability to fire fromve the 20-round magazine. It was fitted with an easily detachable folding bipod.
One of the gun's most attractive attributes was it light weight (for a machine gun or automatic rifle) of just over 12 lbs., as compared to the BAR, which weighed in at some 20 lbs. In addition to the much lighter weight, the Johnson light machine gun's removable barrel was a distinct advantage over the BAR's permanently attached barrel as it permitted overheated or shot-out barrels to be quickly and easily replaced. Although designated a light machine gun, it is properly classified as an 'automatic rifle. As correctly stated in the publication International Armament, Vol. II, "since the (M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun) did not use a belt feed, the Army and Marines classed in with the BAR and officially considered it an automatic rifle.'
Melvin Johnson also tried to interest the U.S. military in his light machine gun, but it was not formally tested by the U.S. Army, and its reception more or less mirrored that of the Johnson rifle. Not one to be easily deterred, Johnson went to Europe shortly before the outbreak of World War II in an attempt to market his designs to some of our Allies. Little interest was shown in the Johnson rifle, but several countries were impressed with the light machine gun. No orders were initially forthcoming, however, and Johnson returned home and continued this quest for acceptance of his guns.
Ever the optimist, Johnson formed a corporate entity, Johnson Automatics, Inc., to market his arms and he continued to refine his semi-automatic and light machine guns designs. These efforts culminated in the development of production versions of the Johnson rifle and light machine gun, which were both given the designation "Model of 1941." As Johnson was finalizing development of the M1941 rifle and light machine gun, the government of Netherlands Purchasing Commission, contacted Johnson and requested a demonstration. The Dutch were interested in acquiring modern arms for their colonial troops in the Dutch East Indies. Johnson's demonstration favorably impressed them, and orders were placed for quantities of both the M1941 and M1941 Light Machine Gun. Although made under contract for the government of Netherlands, both Johnsons were chambered in U.S. caliber (.30-06 Sprg.) cartridge at the request of the Dutch.
The Johnson organization acquired a former textile machinery factory in Cranston, R.I., for production of the gun. Cranston Arms Co. produced both the M1941 semi-automatic rifle and M1941 Light Machine Gun under contract for the Dutch government. Limited quantities of Johnson rifles, along with a few light machine guns, were shipped to the Dutch East Indies prior to their occupation by the Japanese. Upon the fall of the East Indies, the remaining Johnson rifle and LMG production was embargoed and remained in the United States.
Although the U.S. Army Ordnance Department expressed no real interest in either the Johnson rifle or light machine gun, the U.S. Marine Corps viewed the latter as an arm that could play a role int he USMC parachute units that were being formed in late 1941. In addition to its impressive firepower and light weight, the LMG's easily detachable barrel and removable buttstock mThe M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun weighed just over 12 lbs,. had a 22" barrel and an overall length (assembled) of 42". The straight-line design necessitated a high front sight and the gun had a folding, finely-adjustable Lyman rear sight. It fired fully automatically from a closed bolt. Early M1941 Johnson Light Machine Guns were equipped with a barrel lug designed to mount the same rudimentary all-metal spike bayonet as issued with the M1941 Johnson rifle. This feature was eventually dropped and subsequent Johnson machine gun barrels did not have bayonet lugs.
Arrangements were made with the Netherlands Purchasing Commission and Johnson Automatic Inc., for sufficient numbers of the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Guns to be acquired by the U.S. Marine Corps for issue to the parachute units. In addition, limited numbers were also acquired by the Marines for issue to a few Raider units.
The M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun's baptism of fire in American hands occurred during the Solomons campaign in August 1942 when it was used with notable effectiveness on Tulagi, Gavutu and Guadalcanal, primarily by the USMC's First Parachute Battalion. During the subsequent key battle of the Guadalcanal campaign, known as Bloody Ridge, the Marine paratrooper's Johnson light machine guns were credited with laying down a defensive cross fire at a crucial point in the battle to save Henderson Field. The paratroopers would reportedly fire several magazines from their Johnson light machine guns and quickly change positions in order to confuse the Japanese and avoid enemy counter fire. The Johnson gunners typically carried four or five magazines, which were reloaded with standard M1903 Springfield five-round stripper clips. Although not officially procured by the USMC during this period, 23 M1941 Johnson semi-automatic rifles lent by Melvin Johnson to the Marine First Parachute Battalion also saw combat during the Solomon campaigns.
The Johnson Light Machine Guns were used in several subsequent Pacific battles by the Marine paratroopers and a few Raider units. The campaign that saw the most extensive Johnson machine guns was Bougainville, the northern most island in the Solomon chain. By this time, a number of M1941 Johnson rifles had been procured for issue to the Marine parachute units and some also saw combat action on Choiseul.
While the gun's firepower, dependability, light weight (as compared to the BAR), inherent accuracy and easily removable barrel were distinct advantages. There were some minor complaints. The Johnson's high front sight and side-mounted magazine snagged on vegetations while moving through the jungle. The lack of suitable pouches to carry the 20-round magazines was also cited as a minor problem. A canvas backpack magazine carrier holding 12 magazines was manufactured in very limited numbers but, apparently few were issued, and examples are very rare today. Like the M1918A2 BAR's bipod, the Johnson's LMG's bipod was often removed, and frequently discarded, during combat to reduce weight and made the gun handier.
While the number of Johnson M1941 Light Machine Gun procured and issued by the Marines was much smaller than the number of BARs, the Johnson LMG was highly regarded by most of the Marine paratroopers and Raiders who had occasion to use it in combat. There are numerous contemporary references to the effectiveness of the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun in Marine Corps service during World War II. A typical example is contained in an after action report of a Marine Raider unit on New Georgia Island, which stated: 'Johnson Light Machine Gun, M1941. Operated smoothly under adverse conditions. Very little maintenance needed. Men now armed with them wouldn't trade them for any other. Suitable magazine carriers should be furnished.'
Another illustrative passage regarding the excellence of the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun was contained in a report authored by Marine Lt. Col. Victor Krulak who gave a brief synopsSome individuals have maintained that the Johnson light machine gun was not as reliable or durable as the BAR, but the assessment is not supported by actual field reports and documentation. In combat use, the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun was at least as reliable as the highly regarded BAR." - Bruce Canfield, American Rifleman, July 2005.

"The M41 light machine gun was designed by a Boston lawyer and Captain in the Marine Corps Reserve named Melvin Johnson Jr. His goal was to build a semiautomatic rifle that would outperform the M1 Garand the Army had adopted. By late 1937, he had designed, built, and successfully tested both a Semi-automatic rifle and a prototype light machine gun (LMG). Each shared a significant number of physical characteristics and common parts, and both operated on the principle of short recoil with a rotating bolt.
The Johnson LMG was one of the few light machineguns to operate on recoil operation and was manufactured to a high standard. The Johnson was fed from a curved, single-column magazine attached to the left side of the receiver. Additionally, the weapon could be loaded by stripper clip (charger) at the ejection port, or by rounds fed singly into the breech. The rate of fire was adjustable, from 300 to 900 rounds per minute. Two versions were built: the M-1941 with a wooden stock and a bipod, and the 1944 with a tubular steel butt and a wooden monopod.
When firing, recoil forces along with the mass of the weapon's moving parts all traveled in a direct line with the shoulder of the gunner. While this in-line stock can be seen in the M16 rifle today, it was a novel idea at the time. Since recoil was directed back into the shoulder, muzzle rise was minimized. Due to this design, the sights had to be placed higher above the bore.
Johnson LMG in useThe Johnson LMG has many parallels with the contemporary German FG42. Both had in-line stocks, fed from the left side, and both fired from the open bolt in automatic mode and closed bolt in semi-automatic mode. Both weapons proved somewhat awkward to carry with a loaded, side-mounted magazine (especially the Johnson, which had a magazine with an unnecessarily lengthy single-column design), and this feature tended to unbalance the guns. Despite these similarities, there is no evidence that either weapon had any effect on the design of the other. Both machineguns attempted to solve similar problems, and adopted similar solutions." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M41_Johnson_LMG

"HISTORICAL NOTES
1941-45, World War II - Johnson rifles and light machine guns were first used in combat by units of the Dutch East Indies forces in January-March 1942. The first time U.S. Marines used Johnson's in combat was on August 7, 1942, when the 1st Parachute Battalion landed on Gavutu, and later at Tanambogo and Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands. Johnson's saw further service at New Georgia, Choiseul, and Bougainville. The only reported U.S. Army combat use of the weapons involved the Model 1941 light machine guns with the 1st Special Service Force. The unit employed the gun in the Anzio Area, Italy, April 1944.
1958-59, Cuban Revolution - Castro forces used a wide variety of small arms, including some Johnson rifles and light machine guns, in their successful guerrilla war against the Batista Government. After Fidel Castro's regime turned into a more savage dictatorship than its predecessor, anti-Castro Cubans purchased Johnson rifles and other types of
References:
Johnson, George B. & Hans Bert Lockhoven. INTERNATIONAL ARMAMENT. Vol. II. International Small Arms Publishers, Cologne, Germany. 1965.
Schwing, Ned. STANDARD CATALOG OF MILITARY FIREARMS. Krause Publications. Iola, WI. 2001.