Shipshape shipping.

If you don't ship your M2 and MKI9 machine guns with the correct lubrication and packing protection, you can end up with weapons that arrive in Southwest Asia so corroded they are unusable and unrepairable. Here's how to keep your M2s and MK19s shipshape during shipping:

* Clean 'em. Completely clean your M2s and MK19s like their -10 TMs say to. But no steam cleaning. That surely leads to corrosion because it also cleans out all lubricant.

* Lube 'em for preservation. That means CLP for the M2. For the MKI9, use corrosion preventive compound (MIL-PRF-16173 grade 3), NSN 8030-00-244-1293, cut 50 percent with mineral oil: or use general purpose lubricating oil (MIL-PRF-3150), NSN 9150-00-231-2356; or general purpose lubricating oil (MIL-PRF-32033), NSN 9150-00-231-9062, if it's used with vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI). All three lubes can also be used for the M2.

* Wrap 'em. Wrap both the M2 and MKI9 in VCI paper and secure the barrier with tape. NSN 8135-00-664-0015 brings a 3x600-ft roll of VCI.

Some units have reported problems getting VCI through the supply system. Band-All is another source for VCI bags and will ship them within 24 hours. Their bags can be heat-sealed or taped and come in 31x21x51, 42x36x58 and 58x48x90 inch sizes. Call Band-All at [phone].

Do not use bubblewrap. Some bubblewrap contains a chloride that when mixed with moisture forms an acid that causes corrosion. There's no way to tell which is which, so avoid all of them!

* Box 'em. Put them in weather resistant fiberboard boxes. Put fiberboard or cellulose material in the boxes to keep weapons from shifting during travel. Tape all open seams and edges to prevent VCI from escaping and to prevent dirt and moisture getting in.

For the MKI9, use NSN 8115-00-079-8989 or NSN 8115-00-190-5015 to order boxes. For the M2, use NSN 8115-00-579-8461.

You can also put the MK19s and M2s in heavy-duty plastic containers, which can be found at most large discount stores in the automotive department. These kind of containers normally cost around $35 each.

Your local ammunition refuse yard or DOL receiving area may also have good boxes for shipping weapons.