U.S. small arms of WWII – What would you carry?

[Happyshooter]

I was an MP, and I carried both the A2 and the M9 at the same time.

I voted for the Garand and 1911, but I would not carry both unless I was in the same type of unit. When carrying a rifle extra ammo is more needed.

The only reason for a pistol while packing a rifle is special circumstances such as walking up to a car or searching people.

 

[1911JMB]

Model 12 and DUH a 1911.

 

[kd7nqb]

BAR and 1911 that should do me good but if I got stuck with an M1 Garand I would not complain.

 

[bogie]

Something with ivory grips.

 

[Nhsport]

Yeah ,yeah,yeah us armchair experts are all going to choose the Garand and the 45 but I expect the average soldier would have grabbed the 30 carbine given the chance. From what I read the average "FOOT" soldier did a whole heck of a lot of hoofing it carrying all kinds of stuff and didn't think a whole lot for the weight and kick of the garand. Remember that the average GI was a child of the depresion and for that reason or whatever only weighed an average of 150lbs.
I didn't follow the rules and picked the Garand as primary and the m1carbine as backup use.
If I had to pick a pistol I would grab a 38revolver because I know I shoot revolvers better.
Very interesting post however,thanks.
Something I wondered about for some time. I have understood that the m1carbine was supposed to be for support troops and others who would have trouble with a full sized rifle and still do their designated job. Whenever I have seen a movie or old photo all sorts of guns seem to be carried . Is this just a case of the rules being enforced less the farther from headquarters or what?
We all can immagine what a group of soldiers with Garands who have anything further than the most basic training can do against a similar sized group of germans or japs with bolt rifles. How often would that really come about when there wasn't a mix of heavy machine guns or arty or mortars that actually caused most of the injury and death?
I imagine fighting through the streets of some french town or walking in some nasty jungle somewhere in the pacific and I am not sure the m1 carbine would have had its uses as a weapon that was faster to get into action even with its wimpy cartridge (compared to the 06)
God bless that whole generation who died,got all smashed up,or just put their lives on hold for the duration.
I think of just my fathers family, not a military family but my father was a Radio operater for the Army Air Corp in the Caribian,his brother a corpman in the navy at Bethesda,One of his sisters married a guy who got shot up in north africa,another sister married a guy who was a radio operator in flying boats on anti sub patrols on the east coast and the caribian.One cousin of my father served in Europe and another cousin was widowed when her sailor husband was killed.Keep in mind that these same folks had for the most part had a harsh life growing up in the depression

 

[Tommygunn]

Something I wondered about for some time. I have understood that the m1carbine was supposed to be for support troops and others who would have trouble with a full sized rifle and still do their designated job. Whenever I have seen a movie or old photo all sorts of guns seem to be carried . Is this just a case of the rules being enforced less the farther from headquarters or what?...
I imagine fighting through the streets of some french town or walking in some nasty jungle somewhere in the pacific and I am not sure the m1 carbine would have had its uses as a weapon that was faster to get into action even with its wimpy cartridge (compared to the 06)

The M-1 Carbine was intended for support troops and not as a primary battle weapon, but it wound up being pretty successful. This caused it to find its way from rear echelon up to the front.
One rather well noted marine said of the Pacific war theater, that the carbine was "the ace weapon of the war."
Aside from arming "support" personnel, it also was used by commissioned officers as well as NCOs, who often would be up on the front or near the front.
"Whenever I have seen a movie or old photo all sorts of guns seem to be carried." Sure. A particular soldier might start out being issued one type of firearm, and then pick up another in the field. Thompsons could be picked up occasionally this way, and I've read stories of particular revolvers going through hands as one owner after another was succesively wounded.
As far as popularity, the carbine was both loved, and cursed. That depended, I suppose, on who was using it, and whether or not he was using it for what it was intended for. I imagine someone using a carbine on real long shots (where the Garand would be a better choice) might wind up cursing it, while OTOH, he might like it for close-in work, where it's 15 rnd. mag and quick handling might make it more efficient than the Garand.
Different soldiers, therefor would have different opinions, depending on their personal experiences in the war.

 

[jaysouth]

So instead of an organized fighting force that can accomplish its mission, we let everybody pick what they want to carry and wind up with an armed mob going up against disciplined enemy troops.

Interesting that the posters that seemed to have actual combat experience voted to leave useless pistols at home or back in the arms room. Interesting how TV influences our perception of reality. The thompson was so expensive to manufacture, limited in capability and lethality, and such a maintenance hog that it was abandoned without a whimper from anyone.

If you are ever faced with the possibility of seeing the elephant, forget about pistols and make friends with the other 9 guys in your squad. They make much better backup.

 

[KINGMAX]

Thomnpson 45 and 1911 colt 45 pistol

I would like the have a Thompson in .45 acp and a side arm of the same caliber, ie,.. Colt mod 1911 in .45 acp. I would look to the side of just having to carry one type of ammo, and the .45 acp is my choice of PPR's. (personal protection rounds)

 

[SMLE]

So instead of an organized fighting force that can accomplish its mission, we let everybody pick what they want to carry and wind up with an armed mob going up against disciplined enemy troops.

Considering that all the weapons listed at the beginning of this WERE issued to US forces in WWII, I think our "armed mob" of Soldiers and Marines did a pretty good job against Hitler and Tojo's "disciplined enemy troops".

 

[jaysouth]

Kingmax

Sounds like a cool combo. But what would you do if some enemy troops a couple of hundred yards away were shooting at you? How would you support your buddies if they were depending on you to lay down an effective base of fire? What good is the pistol going to do?

 

[atblis]

1911s

Did 1911s actually work back then?

 

[Geno]

Garand and 1911A1. As good as life gets. This is what my uncles carried in WWII.

 

[Bigjake]

before today, i would've picked the 1919a2, but the damned thing is SO heavy, after a few miles you'd get sick of humping it.

 

[Desert Dog]

Ma Deuce and a Thompson... Assuming of course the M2HB is mounted to something mobile...

 

[Jubjub]

Johnson M1941 light machine gun and a couple of grenades.

 

[byf43]

M1 Garand and a 1911-A1.

 

[statelineblues]

Thompson M1A .45 and, of course, 1911A1 .45

But if I really had my choice, I'd opt for the 1903A4 Sniper & 1911A1. I'd much rather reach out and touch 'em from long distance!

 

[shep854]

Atblis, "Back then" was when the M1911s DID work!

Many said that they lacked for accuracy, but they were good at going "Bang." The problems were when someone tried to make the pistol something it wasn't designed to be, or when it got zero maintenence.

 

[loose cannon]

a bit of elaboration on my choice of revolver 45acp over slabsides;my problem with 1911s of ww2 era was they were mostly minute of barn door accurate. the 1917 wheel would do much better.

my choice of long gun being a bar there are times i may not be carrying it and just have my sidearm on me.

place my enemy at 150yds and set a loose 1911 auto and a 1917 double action wheelgun b4 me and guess what ill pick.

im not as good as elmer was but i know i can do better longrange work with a thumb cocked triple lock even with 230grains of rainbow trajectory.

 

[Lambo119]

1911 and the Thompson. Same ammo and lots of it!