A myth of WW2(M1 Garrands)

[AKWARRIOR]

Sometimes I just cant stand the lack of information or inaccuracies TV and books will give you on military weapons and history.Many military documentaries and books will tell you that the M1 Garrand was the sole rifle used by U.S. Soldiers in WW2.This is far from the truth.The M1903 Springfield 30 caliber was used by many Army infantry units in the Italian and Pacific theatres through the whole war.Many of these frontline units never being issued Garrands at all.On the home front as well most military police were issued the M1917 Enfield and M1903 Springfields.Just somthing I thought Id share for all the WW2 history students/buffs out there and anyone else interested.:D

Regards,

[1 Patriot-of-many]

If I'm not mistaken M1 Carbines were also used....

[AKWARRIOR]

The M1 Carbines were intended to be a replacement for the pistol.Whole units were not issued these although quite a lot of officers and paratroopers carried them as well as service,support,
and staff in the rear where a rifle was really not needed.

Regards,

[Richard Simmons]

AFAIK they used the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, BAR, M3A1, M1903, M1903A3, Thompson, Johnson, Reising. Just look at Saving Private Ryan. While a movie I understand it to pretty correct in it's portrayal. I watched it with my daughter, who will be 20 on St Patricks day. She had never seen it. "Wow dad, you've got that gun and that gun". It shows quite a bit of what both sides were using.

[neilwest]

1. Hell at the beginning of the war they didnt even have enought Colts 45 service, the airmen in the Pacific were issued standard S&W 38 military revolvers. We used everything. M1s while great really didnt make inroads until the latter part of the war. during the big offensives. But there were many types of arms out there. A logistics nightmare im sure. Thats why NATO fought for standard rounds.

[AKWARRIOR]

You guys missed my point,

All those weapons were used but my main point of this post was to inform others that the M1903 Springfields were used by some U.S. Infantry units through out the whole war as the main rifle issued in whole.Again,these units having never recieved M1 garrands at all,ever.Most people would believe that by WW2 the M1903 would only be used as a snipers rifle in the 1940's.This is not the case.I have read much over the years on this subject.

Regards,

[neilwest]

1. great inputs, but now I see your point. Yes the Springfield was used in quantities all the way into Vietnam. A little known point was that after we converted we issued to the Turks, and other countries mass quantities of the Springfields to fight Communisim. This was in the mid 50s so you can still see some countries using them.

2. I agree thats why I own a 03 Springfield. Much history, great gun and very revered by moi.

[AKWARRIOR]

Ok Neil now you can sell me yours:D I dont have one!:(


Regards,

[neilwest]

1. Mine was a low number. They have swirling controversy over the low number receivers being brittle. Mine is beautiful, but I dont want to play Russian Roulette.:cryeyes:

[HomerTHX1138]

Another quote from "Seven Roads to Hell" written by an Airborne grunt in the battle of the Bulge (check it out if you need a good read):

We all kept moving, walking forward to meet the enemy to test them and see who would live and who would die. The trooper with the stick no longer stepped to the center of the road, but stayed close to his buddies who were better armed. If they killed a German at close range or one of them went down, he would at least have a chance to get a rifle. The stick wouldn't run out of ammunition, but a rifle is a lot more effective as long as it has rounds, then it can be used as a stick. But a stick is a stick is a stick.

[AKWARRIOR]

Homer,

Sounds like an excellent book.Have you ever read "A Blood Red Dimmed Tide"?Excelent book about the battle of the bulge with many first hand accounts and view from both sides.German and American.Im going to be looking out for the book you suggested.



Regards,

[HomerTHX1138]

AK,

I haven't but I will look for it. Both side first hand accounts would be a perspective I haven't read from on WWII.

I am always looking for good war reading material. In fact, I think I go to barnes & noble and look around in a few.

[zouavexx]

My Grandfather was drafted almost immediately after Pearl Harbor.

In boot camp they had ONE rifle per company, that rifle was a P14 Enfield. For firing practice he says that they used a "broomstick" (possibly one of those '03 trainers) and the Sargent would stand over his shoulder and tell him where he "hit".

He never had a rifle issued to him until he was stationed in Pearl Harbor 4 or 5 months later. There he also had an Enfield. He tells me just about all the Navy issue rifles were Springfields. In the war in the Pacific he was issued a Garand (40 years later he still could field strip it blindfolded). Later during the Final Big Battle, Okinawa he actually had a M1 Carbine (oddly in my mind as he was a Tech Corporal) which he used throughout the Battle.

He much preferred the Carbine over any other weapon he used during the War. (light and fast)

He was with the 10th Army, and every one of his buddys died at Okinawa. He rarely talks of the "Real War" and still is suffering from the wars affects 50+ years after. He will tell you all you want to hear about picking Pineapples for the Col's Girlfriend, or waiting on line for the government run Brothel.

I have promised him never to reveal the horrors he survived, but one thing I can tell you is that for sure bayonets were used in 1944-1945.

He volunteered for the Invasion of Japan. Thank God they dropped the bomb...

[Faulkner]

The United States was the only major combatant in which a semi-automatic rifle was the primary issue weapon of line troops in WWII. But you are right, a great many troops were issued (and some preferred) their 1903's throughout. In fact, the USMC were not issued Garands until well after the Guadalcanal campaign, and it was the army replacement troops who first showed up on the island with them.

The M1 carbine was not designed as a main battlefield rifle in league with the 1903, M1 Garand, or Lee Enfield, but it was used as such, with somewhat limited success. I believe Audie Murphy noted in his autobiography that he used his M1 carbine as such at times.