Confused by MK 19 and M2 TMs?

Dear Editor,

I've Found a couple of items in the -23&P TMs for the MK 19 and M2 machine guns that need to be straightened out:

* On Page WP 0050-002 in the MK 19's TM 9-1010-23O-23&P it says the armorer should remove the feed pawls, flat; spring, headless pins and spring housing. But the SMR codes say that only direct support is authorized to disassemble those items.

* On Page WP 0010 00-18 of the M2's TM 9-1005-213-23&P, Step 9 in the Quarterly PMCS tells the armorer to completely disassemble the buffer tube and backplate assembly. But these are also DS tasks according to the SMR codes.

What's right?

Michael Harvey,

Vilseck,

Germany

(Editor's note: Both the WP pages and SMR codes are correct. The armorer is allowed to disassemble these items to inspect, clean, and lubricate them. But if any of these items need to be repaired or replaced that's the responsibility of direct support. The SMR codes refer only to repair or replacement of an item, not inspections, cleaning, or lubing. Hope this clears things up.)