Ohio Firearms

The M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun was arguably Marine Captain Melvin Maynard Johnson's finest design. The JLMG was primarily issued to the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment but would also serve with the Marine Raiders and First Special Service Force in Europe.

The Paramarines, Raiders and Black Devils who carried the JLMG were quick to praise it's dramatic weight savings over the standard issue BAR. A loaded JLMG weighed around 13 pounds, while a BAR weighed around 22. Both weapons had 20 round detachable magazines, but the side loading feature of the JLMG, while awkward in appearance, was much more favorable for quick magazine changes by an A-Gunner. This design also allowed for a magazine to be "topped off" by 5 round stripper clips after smaller engagements.

Considering the elite level Marines and soldiers who were issued the weapon, the JLMG was one of the first significantly issued "special weapons" of its time, not dissimilar to the weapons used by SOCOM today.