If you were a WWII infantry soldier...

[Pilgram]

My Dad is a Korean War combat vet. As the Sgt in his unit, he was issued a 30 cal carbine and a 45. He told that the first thing he did was trade them for a BAR because he "wanted something that could slow down the Chinese a long ways off." He also told me that he couldn't hit anything with the pistol, so it was pretty much useless.

When he left Korea, he traded the BAR to another GI who complained that it had rusted shut. I guess my Dad didn't fire it much and wasn't a stickler for maintenance.

 

[bodiebill]

Sebastian the Ibis

In the MARINE CORPS ALL MARINES ARE "RIFLEMEN", EVEN POTATO PEELERS.

They actually start out that way in the Army but fail to maintain those skills.

Potato Peelers make a damn poor weapon.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Potato Peelers make a damn poor weapon.

But painful...

 

[possum]

the weapon that i would choose would be as mission specific as possible. so before i can answer honetly i would have to know what the sittuation was. however i will say that i would be really happy with a tompson and a 1911 in alot of the sittuations that i come up with in my mind.

 

[Zundfolge]

If I had to go back and fight WWII, I want a pair of ivory handled Colt Single-Action Armys in .45 Colt.

That way I get to be Patton.

 

[chicharrones]

I've never been a soldier and at my age will likely never become one. I'm sure the US military would choose my weapon for me if I were a soldier back in the day.

As a civilian I have fired the Garand and fired a rented full auto Thompson. Out of those two, the one that still sticks in my mind is the Thompson. It was a point and shoot gun much like a shotgun. I mean you look over the barrel and you may or may not use the sights. The Thompson would be limited to close range of course, but I'd bet any decent shotgun hunter would feel pretty comfy with the Thompson.

As far as weight, the Thompson doesn't feel heavier when firing it. It's so much shorter than the Garand that you have more leverage in holding the Thompson at your shoulder, or hip.

What do I know . . . I've never had bullets coming my way.

 

[Art Eatman]

If you aim a Thompson at the center of a three-foot target at 100 yards, the first round hits near the bottom; the second near the center, and the third near the top.

If it's a fella standing there, you're gonna put serious hurt on his sex life, his appetite and his thought processes.

 

[cleardiddion]

Give me a Garand and I'd be happy as I could ever be.
On the other hand I also have a love for Enfields and Mosins.
All is good.

 

[CZguy]

I've never been a soldier and at my age will likely never become one.

You never met my draft board...............they never turned anyone down.

 

[black_powder_Rob]

hey chicharrones i bet that rented tommy gun was at a place called Top Gun. am I close.

If I were in the thick of it I think I would want the grease gun and a radio to call in air or artillery support.

 

[Terryfromok]

My dad was in the China, Burma. India Theater in WWII. He was issued an M1 Garand when he was doing duties other than second scout, then he chose the Thompson. His group had a number of weapons to choose from as spares so he tried the M3 Grease Gun once but didnt like its accuracy. He trained to use the Thompson when he got to Burma. When firing in full auto, they held the weapon sideways and used the sling to brace against. This handled the climb and made the weapon controllable.

Best regards,

Terryfromok

 

[Robert]

If I had to go back and fight WWII, I want a pair of ivory handled Colt Single-Action Armys in .45 Colt.

That way I get to be Patton.

Rolls die. Moves Panzer Division in to the Ardennes. What now Patton?

 

[GunsAmerica Fan]

For sure an M1 Garand. The ammo is pretty close in weight so there isn't an advantage there either way, and with the .30-06 you can shoot through stuff and far.

 

[bigalexe]

Being that I am pretty physically impaired (I can walk but not far in terms of soldiering, can't handle repeated firing of a +.30 rifle), I would elect for an M1911 pistol and a radio for someone to get me out of there ASAP.

Seriously though I think in a conflict as widespread as WWII the best answer is a Mission Specific firearm, and that could be anything from a M1897 Trench Gun to a Thompson, to a an M1.

 

[chicharrones]

hey chicharrones i bet that rented tommy gun was at a place called Top Gun. am I close.

It was at an old indoor range in Pasadena. It's an old, old converted movie theater. The last time I went there a few years ago, they did have three full auto carbines* for rent when my brother and I chose the Thompson. We had to split it just because a mag full of .45 ACP lasts only about three seconds if you don't burst fire. Anyone that shoots .45 ACP knows it ain't cheap.

*The others were a M3 "grease gun" and some variant of M16.

 

[NMGonzo]

svt-40 scoped

 

[NMGonzo]

In the MARINE CORPS ALL MARINES ARE "RIFLEMEN", EVEN POTATO PEELERS.

They actually start out that way in the Army but fail to maintain those skills.

Potato Peelers make a damn poor weapon.

They make WONDERfUL interrogation devices.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Rolls die. Moves Panzer Division in to the Ardennes. What now Patton?

Rolls die, envelopes depleted Panzer Division with elements of 3rd Army driving around both flanks. Remaning elements drive deep into weakend German rear to prevent counter stroke.(Thanks Hitler for drawing of those forces!) Spoty air cover is used weather permiting.

What now Generalmajor Mellenthin?

 

[Robert]

Rolls die, envelopes depleted Panzer Division with elements of 3rd Army driving around both flanks. Remaning elements drive deep into weakend German rear to prevent counter stroke.(Thanks Hitler for drawing of those forces!) Spoty air cover is used weather permiting.

What now Generalmajor Mellenthin?

Curses lack of fuel, ammo, and piss poor leadership by a short jerk from Austria... Surrenders...