The Krag Rifle and World War One

[Timthinker]

When the United States entered World War One, it was short of everything except patriotism. In particular, the U.S. Army even lacked enough rifles to equip its rapidly growing ranks, so the older Krag rifles were pressed into use as trainers. This situation led me to wonder if any Krags ever saw limited frontline service with U.S. forces in France. I know that the '03 Springfield and 1917 Enfield rifles were the mainstay combat arms for American troops in that war, but I wonder if the Krags somehow saw use as well. Perhaps some of our senior members may know. Thanks in advance.


Timthinker

 

[alsaqr]

I was told by several of my WWI friends that no Krags ever made it to combat.

 

[Ash]

No, but if I'm correct, there were US troops issued with SMLE's (and no, I'm not confusing that with the 1917 Enfields).

Ash

 

[Slamfire]

I know that the '03 Springfield and 1917 Enfield rifles were the mainstay combat arms for American troops in that war, but I wonder if the Krags somehow saw use as well.

I doubt it. At least not in Northern France. The US military worked very hard to ensure that everyone arrived with a rifle. Most of the rifles were M1917's, and you will see Doughboys entering troop ships, each with a M1917 in hand.

What the Navy had, I don't know. If there is a chance of a Krag being used in the War, it would be with a service where the rifle was of secondary importance, and that would be the Navy.

I am not aware of US troops carrying SMLE's and I would like to know the source. Not saying it did not happen, but to find out why it happened would be interesting.

The only other rifle US troops carried into combat was the Mosin. That was used in 1919 in Russia. For obvious reasons, we had a bunch of Westinghouse Nagants, and our troops were being sent to Russia.

 

[kragluver]

Bruce Canfield's excellent book US Infantry Weapons of the First World War states on p87 that 2,000 Krag rifles were taken to France by the 10th-19th Engineers (Railway) but were not used by front line combat units. Some of these Engineer units came under fire, so some combat use of the Krag cannot be ruled out (paraphrased from his book). I've read a similar account in Poyer's book; although he states that 7,600 Krags were issued to Engineer units.

I've attached a picture of US Doughboys taken in London. The unit is not identified, but it was a either an Engineer unit or Supply based on the visible equipment (i.e., older model canteens, etc). The stacked rifles are Krags; so yes, at least a few Krags went overseas in WW1.

The Krag also saw some limited use in WW2 -- by the Filipino's and interestingly, by the Japanese (captured Krags in the Phillipines).

Finally, there were a number of US troops that were issued British SMLE rifles while they were either in the British lines or training with the British. One of these divisions was the 82nd -- Alvin York's division. They traded their SMLEs in for M1917s before his famous fight.

 

[Trebor]

I believe there was a U.S. "Colored" unit (the term used in the era) that served with the French that used French arms and equipment as well.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I distinctly remembering seeing film of some Doughboys debarking from a troop ship in France carrying Krags. I've never heard of them being used in combat, though.

I have also read of US troops in WWI being armed with SMLEs (not M1917s).

 

[Slamfire]

I've attached a picture of US Doughboys taken in London. The unit is not identified, but it was a either an Engineer unit or Supply based on the visible equipment (i.e., older model canteens, etc). The stacked rifles are Krags; so yes, at least a few Krags went overseas in WW1.

Yup, those look like Krags. Well, the good ole Krag got to participate in the Big One!

 

[kragluver]

Trebor -- You are correct. At least one of the colored divisions served with the French and were armed with Lebels.

Another division that was armed with SMLEs for a short while was the 78th (see Make the Kaiser Dance - a good book full of 1st-hand WW1 accounts if you're interested).

 

[Timthinker]

Thanks for the infromation. It confirms my suspicions that precious few, if any Krags, participated in the fighting. Surprisingly, more American troops were armed with 1917 Enfield rifles than Springfields according to accounts I have read.

The small arms logistics for American troops in that war is interesting. Given the unpreparedness of the U.S. for entry into the war, it does not seem implausible that some American units may have been issued SMLEs if they were fighting in conjunction with British forces. And the use of Mosin rifles by Allied troops dispatched to Russia also seems reasonable for logistical purposes too. This is a fascinating topic that may produce some spinoff threads. Thanks once again.


Timthinker

 

[kragluver]

By wars end, approximately 80% of US troops in France were armed with the 1917. There were over 2M of those rifles made between May '17 and Feb '19. I for one like the '17. It may not have the beautiful lines of the '03, but it is rugged and accurate. I have two - one sporter that was my Grandfather's and one milsurp. The '17 has an interesting history; almost as interesting as the Krag

 

[bannockburn]

Trebor

That was the 93rd Division, comprised of the 369th, 370th, 371st, and 372nd Regiments. The French were so short of manpower, and Pershing had promised them four regiments as replacements, so that's how they came to be equipped as though they were French soldiers. They were very effective in combat, earning them the nickname, "Harlem Hellfighters".

 

[Vaarok]

Yep, the Harlem Hellfighters used M1916 French Berthier carbines. And killed lots of Germans with 'em.

 

[Art Eatman]

I imagine that front-line Krags would have been a re-supply problem for ammo.

Since we were already turning out Enfields for the Brits, we just kept on keeping on instead of re-tooling existing lines to make 03s. The only change, SFAIK, was from .303 to '06.

New plants that came on line produced the 03s.

Art