Kimberly-Clark in World War Two
Neenah, WI
1870-1985
Irving, TX
1985-Current

This page added 2-14-2021.

Kimberly-Clark is a paper making company that has many products that are used daily by many consumers around the world.  One of its many products, Kleenex, has become synonymous with facial tissue.  Yet, during World War Two, Kimberly-Clark produced what has become one of the iconic weapons of the war, the Multiple Caliber .50 Machine Gun Mount M45, more commonly known as the Maxson Quadmount.  The Kimberly-Clark M45 gun mount not only served in World War Two, but also in Korea and Vietnam.  In Vietnam, it was used by both the French and the American forces in that long war.

This White-built M16A2 half-track has a Kimberly-Clark-built Maxson Quadmount in it.  They  have most likely seen combat with American forces in Europe and Korea, and the French in Vietnam.  This was one of 413 M16A2 half-tracks that were sent to Korea in 1952 to help defend against human wave attacks.  It was one of four half-tracks transferred to the French for their war in Vietnam.  In 1956 it was transferred to the French Foreign Legion in the Horn of Africa, where the present owner found it while serving with the U.S. Army in 2006.  Author's photo.

This half-track and Kimberly-Clark gun mount were on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, OH.  This was a special limited time display during the first half of 2021.  Author's photo.

This is the only Kimberly-Clark Maxson Quadmount that has been identified to date.  Kimberly-Clark built 5,759 M45 and M45C Quad Mounts during World War Two.  This was 32% of the total built.  Author's photo. 

The Kimberly-Clark Ordnance Division in Neenah, WI won the Army-Navy "E" Award three times.

Kimberly-Clark World War Two Production: 
Neenah Ordnance Division:  278 Multiple Caliber .50 Machine Gun Twin Mount M33s, 4,773 Multiple Caliber .50 Machine Gun Mount M45s, 1,022 Multiple Caliber .50 Machine Gun Mount M45Cs,  fuzes, crepe wadding packing sleeves, and asphalt treated fire resistant insulating material (tar paper).  The Ordnance Division was located in the company's original paper mill in Neenah.
Kimberly, WI Mill:  Liquid chlorine.  In 1943 the plant was producing 390 tons of liquid chlorine per month.
Niagara Falls, NY Mill:  Rotogravure and book waste paper pulp

The Multiple Caliber .50 Machine Gun Mount M45 is more commonly known as the Maxson Quad Mount.  It is named after W.L. Maxson who invented the weapon.  This is one of the few weapons of World War Two that is known by the inventor's name.  The M45 was the second multiple gun mount that W.L. Maxson invented.  The first was the M33 twin .50 caliber mount, which was standardized by Army Ordnance on 2-26-1942 as the Twin Caliber .50 Multiple Machine Gun Mount.  It was primarily mounted on the M13 halftrack.  While W.L. Maxson invented and built prototypes of his gun mounts, his company did not receive the production contracts.  These were won by Kimberly-Clark and Landers, Frary & Clark.  Maxson did produce the variable speed drives for the weapons.

The M17 trailer was one of the methods of transporting the M45 during World War Two.  Author's photo.

 Author's photo.

The most popular method of transporting the M45 was on an M16 half-track.  The Louisiana Army National Guard used this type of weapon during World War Two to shoot down 127 German aircraft.  The 105th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion destroyed the aircraft while operating in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.  Author's photo.

 Author's photo.

This White M16 Halftrack was on display at the now closed National Military Historical Center in Auburn, IN.  Author's Photo.

 This M16 with a Maxson Quad Mount was photographed at the Dayton Airshow.  Author's photo.

This is one of three half-tracks and two M16 versions on display at Camp Blanding, FL.  Author's photo.

 In the M16 the M45 Maxson mounts had spacers between it and the vehicle floor for clearance when rotating.  These were added in 1952 before the half-tracks were sent to Korea.  This allowed the guns to depress to defend against human wave attacks.  Author's photo.

 The internal drive system has been removed.  This view shows that the turret was constructed using metal weldment fabrication.  The unit weighed 2,400 pounds.   Author's photo.

 This is the second M16 on display at Camp Blanding.  Author's photo.

This M16 with a Maxson M45 mount is at the Russell Military Museum in Zion, IL.  Author's photo.

It is not very often that one can frame a photo with an F-15 in the background.  Author's photo.