Sven
Senior Member
What GUN for presidential salutes?
What gun do they use for these salutes?
What gun do they use for these salutes?
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What rifle for presidential salutes?
- Thread starter Sven
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Nightcrawler
Member
I'm guessing maybe a saluting cannon of some sort?
Cortland
Member
My uninformed guess is M-14s.
Mike Irwin
Member
I wish it were for Chiraq...
Then I'd say any rifle as long as it can hit a weasel at 500 meters...
Then I'd say any rifle as long as it can hit a weasel at 500 meters...
I've seen all kinds of rifles used in salutes, from M1's to M14's to M16's. Even 1903's.
When we were taught protocol in Marine Corps boot camp, I seem to remember the instructors saying that only the President rated a 21 gun salute, even though they give them for just about everybody.
When we were taught protocol in Marine Corps boot camp, I seem to remember the instructors saying that only the President rated a 21 gun salute, even though they give them for just about everybody.
jrhead75
Member
In my 3+ years as an I&I Marine in the mid-late 70s, we used the M14 for all formal occasions.
I'd guess they'd still use the M14.
I'd guess they'd still use the M14.
max popenker
Member
well, i thought that most spectacular presidential salutes in US were made with Mannlicher-Carcano 
Harry Tuttle
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http://www.usna.edu/USNABand/groups/OldGuard.htm
The 3rd U.S. Infantry Salute Guns Platoon is responsible for rendering honors to visiting foreign dignitaries and heads of state at the White House, the Pentagon and elsewhere in the Washington D.C., area. The platoon also fires the final salutes during many funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. The guns platoon is the only unit of its kind in the Army, and its busy schedule includes more than 300 ceremonies each year. The platoon is equipped with eight 3-inch anti-tank guns of World War II vintage, mounted on 105mm Howitzer chassis. The guns have been fitted with sleeves in the barrels to reduce the calibration to 75mm. Each gun weighs 5,775 pounds and fires 75mm blank shells with 1.5 pounds of powder. Although their primary duty is to render honors at military ceremonies, the Guns Platoon also serves as the battalion’s mortar platoon, providing firepower support during tactical training exercises at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. Most ceremonies require a five-man staff and a two-man team for each gun. The staff consists of an officer-in-charge, who intimates the firing commands; the non-commissioned officer-in-charge, who marches the battery into position and controls the firing of the backup gun; the watchman, who acts as backup; and the counter, who counts rounds and signals "Last Round!" to the gunners. The two-man team at each gun consists of the loader and the gunner. The loader has the most difficult job. He must fit a 75mm shell into the block at a particular angle and he does not have time to place the shell by sight. He must learn to do it by feel and do it quickly. This skill can take up to six weeks to master before the soldier is proficient enough to participate in an actual ceremony. The gunner fires the cannon. Timing is critical in the performance of this task, as he must fire the gun immediate.
The 3rd U.S. Infantry Salute Guns Platoon is responsible for rendering honors to visiting foreign dignitaries and heads of state at the White House, the Pentagon and elsewhere in the Washington D.C., area. The platoon also fires the final salutes during many funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. The guns platoon is the only unit of its kind in the Army, and its busy schedule includes more than 300 ceremonies each year. The platoon is equipped with eight 3-inch anti-tank guns of World War II vintage, mounted on 105mm Howitzer chassis. The guns have been fitted with sleeves in the barrels to reduce the calibration to 75mm. Each gun weighs 5,775 pounds and fires 75mm blank shells with 1.5 pounds of powder. Although their primary duty is to render honors at military ceremonies, the Guns Platoon also serves as the battalion’s mortar platoon, providing firepower support during tactical training exercises at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. Most ceremonies require a five-man staff and a two-man team for each gun. The staff consists of an officer-in-charge, who intimates the firing commands; the non-commissioned officer-in-charge, who marches the battery into position and controls the firing of the backup gun; the watchman, who acts as backup; and the counter, who counts rounds and signals "Last Round!" to the gunners. The two-man team at each gun consists of the loader and the gunner. The loader has the most difficult job. He must fit a 75mm shell into the block at a particular angle and he does not have time to place the shell by sight. He must learn to do it by feel and do it quickly. This skill can take up to six weeks to master before the soldier is proficient enough to participate in an actual ceremony. The gunner fires the cannon. Timing is critical in the performance of this task, as he must fire the gun immediate.
Sunray
Member
An M-14 is not a gun. It's a rifle. Therefore, it will never be used by anyone for a 21 or any other 'gun' salute. That is only done with a cannon of some flavour. Only Royalty or a Head of State rate a 21 gun salute. There are other standard number of gun salutes for lesser people.
A firing party at a graveside is not a gun salute. It's a rifle salute. As far as I know there is no fixed number of rifles in one. I believe the standard number of shots is three for an 8 man firing party. Although it may be 6 rifles.
A firing party at a graveside is not a gun salute. It's a rifle salute. As far as I know there is no fixed number of rifles in one. I believe the standard number of shots is three for an 8 man firing party. Although it may be 6 rifles.
Sven
Senior Member
OK, moving this to general as it may not be a rifles-only thread now...
Nightcrawler
Member
We always did three shots of seven rifles.
Air Force honor guard showed up at my dad's funeral with only six riflemen; I was unhappy about that, as I believe it's protocol that when showing respect for the dead 21 shots is warranted.
You guys are confusing the firing of a gun salute with volleys of musketry.
Dignitaries of various governments and heads of state rate a gun salute. It's fired with howitzers. The rank of the dignitary determines how many guns fire in salute.
The rounds that are fired to conclude a military funeral do not constitute a 21 gun salute. What is fired is volleys of musketry. This tradition dates back to the days when the two armies would declare a truce to attend to the dead and wounded on the battlefield. the signal that the truce was over and a side was ready to continue was the firing of three volleys of musketry into the air. Volleys of musketry are fired to signify the end of a military funeral. Nightcrawler, when you go to drill, dig out a copy of FM 22-5 and look it up. there is a chapter on military funerals and it's all explained there.
Jeff
Dignitaries of various governments and heads of state rate a gun salute. It's fired with howitzers. The rank of the dignitary determines how many guns fire in salute.
The rounds that are fired to conclude a military funeral do not constitute a 21 gun salute. What is fired is volleys of musketry. This tradition dates back to the days when the two armies would declare a truce to attend to the dead and wounded on the battlefield. the signal that the truce was over and a side was ready to continue was the firing of three volleys of musketry into the air. Volleys of musketry are fired to signify the end of a military funeral. Nightcrawler, when you go to drill, dig out a copy of FM 22-5 and look it up. there is a chapter on military funerals and it's all explained there.
Jeff
Gabby Hayes
Member
I worked with the Ft. Bliss, TX honor guard back in 1970-71. We had four 75mm Pack Howitzers for all ceremonies and just fired until we reached the appointed number of rounds. I can remember rolling the guns into position, then jacking them up off the ground so we could rotate the tires until the white "Goodyear" lettering was lined up on all four guns. The 75mm blank brass ammo was expensive, so we practiced with aluminum-cased rounds (the first Blazers?), which wouldn't extract very well, and saved the brass stuff for the big day. I got to meet Willy Brandt when he came to Texas for a visit.
thefitzvh
Member
I worked at the 3d in Fort Myer VA for a few years. It's done with big artillery pieces, not rifles, as was stated above.
Oddly enough, the people firing them aren't artillery guys, but infantry mortermen. They do this for whatever reasons, but I think its because they want EVERYONE to look the same (blue cords, etc)
Its pretty impressive when it's happening.
James
Oddly enough, the people firing them aren't artillery guys, but infantry mortermen. They do this for whatever reasons, but I think its because they want EVERYONE to look the same (blue cords, etc)
Its pretty impressive when it's happening.
James
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