Hotpoint Type E-11 Trainer Aerial Gunnery M2 Machine Gun Trainer 1943

Item Description

"In the spring of 1943 the Army was looking for an antiaircraft machine gun trainer for Infantry use. The desired device was to reproduce, in miniature, the curved trajectory effect of tracer ammunition fired at standard ranges. One trainer considered was the MacGlashan E-3. The MacGlashan Air Machine Gun, because of its high muzzle velocity, consequent flat trajectory, and almost invisible BB shot, failed to produce the desired curved trajectory effect, and was considered unsuitable for Infantry use. To sum up the comparison between the MacGlashan gun and the [real] machine gun, the MacGlashan gun appeals as a toy or amusement device, not as a training device for machine gun fire. When firing an actual machine gun against a towed target The group who had trained on the MacGlashan gun were at a disadvantage. They had found in their practice that if the trainer was aimed at the target the pellets hit the target. This fault was shown by their tendency, as a group, to fire behind and below the sleeve." This brings us to the Hotpoint trainers such as the example up for auction here; the type E-11, specification #24855, 3/8" (36) caliber Aerial Gunnery trainer. "These electrically operated guns approximate the size and appearance of the .50 caliber machine gun. Type E-10 is used for fixed mounts such as turrets, while Type E-11 is designed for flexible or pivot mounts. A red or white 3/8 inch plastic pellet is used and may be reused until broken. The red material used flouresces in "black" light to give the tracer effect. The white pellet in white light against a white background will give an invisible effect which forces the student to use the sight provided." Most all of these training "air guns" have been lost to the scrap yard for a steel hungry post WWII industrial America, a tragedy now in hind sight but a necessity at the time. This Hotpoint up for auction here is the only one that we know of as we have been unable to find any others at all and even finding information on them if very challenging. As shipping of this item will be difficult given it's size and the need for a custom crate to be built, the shipping will be included in the sale price. This is a chance to own a rare piece of WWII history that we can all but guarantee, your friends down the street will not have.