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5th RANGER BATTALION:

WEAPONS USED BY THE 5th RANGERS

  • Click below to go to a specific weapon.
  • Click on the photos of the weapon or item(s) to see actual period photos of them in use.

Knife, Trench, M3 with M8A1, M8 or M6 Scabbard
The M3 trench knife or fighting knife was a sturdy edged weapon issued to many troops in WWII including the airborne and the Army Rangers specifically. It was introduced in 1943 and made by nine different firms; some of the most common were Case, Camillus, Imperial, PAL, and Utica.The earlier M3 featured the M6 leather scabbard and it was quickly replaced and issued with the plastic M8. The M8 was further modified into the M8A1 with the addition of the standard M1910 metal belt hook. Post war variants and those scabbards used with M16 and M4 bayonets in Vietnam had a sheet-metal re-enforced tip. Rangers in the 5th Ranger Battalion preferred the M8/M8A1 scabbard 10 to 1 over the flimsy leather M6 scabbard that would fall apart after use and exposure. The M3 in the M8/M8A1 could be worn on the pistol belt; slipped in behind the M1916 leather holster to save space on the belt.

Other private purchase hunting knives, fighting knives and general purpose knives were also acquired by soldiers and carried frequently. Rather in packages sent from the home front or by private purchase; nearly all Rangers carried an edged weapon of some sort.

As a side note; the plastic scabbard M8 modified with the M1910 wire belt hanger is at times refereed to as the M8A1 by mistake and causes confusion. Many M8 scabbards were modified with the wire hanger in the field, as a refit, and/or with a protective metal tip on the end in the postwar years. Whatever the case may by; any scabbard marked "M8" is acceptable, but with the metal tip it is incorrect for WWII and therefore incorrect for our purpose.

 

(L to R) Knife, Fighting, Pal RH 36; Knife, Fighting, Modified, M1; Knife, Trench, M1918; & Brass Knuckles

The Pal RH 36 hunting knife was one of many civilian hunting knives donated to the Army or bought by soldiers prior to the use of the M3. The Pal Cutlery Co. bought out Remington Cutlery in the early 40's but carried on its range of hunting knives. The initials "RH" on the blade are for "Remington Hunting". The handle; like the M3; was made of pressed leather discs.

The modified "M1" fighting knife (middle) was nothing more than a cut down M1, M1942, or M1905 E1 bayonet with a re-ground tip. The locking latch was removed from the grip and the guard was ground down. The muzzle loop was also ground off and the scabbard shortened to the length of the blade. Typical length was around 5" but since these were mostly custom jobs it may vary. The particular model shown here had its origins as a M1905 16" bayonet and still bears the 1908 mfg date.

The "knuckle duster" or "trench duster" M1918 Trench Knife (right) was made during the First World War for the AEF by the French originally. US made versions followed. It was issued during the second World War until it was replaced with the new M3 and declared substitute standard. It featured a double edged stainless steel blade and a crimped sheet metal sheath. Versions of the M8 scabbard were also seen in use with the knuckle knife during WWII.

Brass knuckles were a small; handy bit of weaponry that were purchased privately by a few enterprising GI's and used effectively. They could be carried in a pocket; used when needed; and in some cases you could still fire a weapon with them on your hand. A useful piece for Rangers when on raids for prisoners or getting in close and personal with the enemy.

 

Bayonet, M1; and Bayonet M1905 E1

The M1 Bayonet was the standard short bayonet for the M1 Garand and M1903/1903A3 rifles during WWII. Introduced in March 1943 it featured a fuller that stopped short of the tip; unlike the shortened models. The release button was located at the base of the guard; opposite the muzzle loop. The scabbard was the plastic M7.

Bottom of the photo is the M1905 E1 bayonet. These were made from existing M1905 or M1942 16" bayonets. They were ground down to the standard 10" length with the tip on center. The fuller runs the full length of the blade. While the M1905 and M1942 16" bayonets continued to see use during WWII in un-cut form; the M1 and M1905 E1 bayonets were the standard issue after the spring of 1943.


 

Automatic Pistol, .45 Caliber, M1911 and M1911A1
(Ref. Field Manual 23-35)


Known as "The Equalizer" or simply "The forty-five," this weapon was a recoil-operated, magazine-fed automatic developed in 1911 by John Moses Browning for Colt.


The overall length of the pistol was 8.593 inches. Weight of the pistol with magazine was 2.437 pounds. The M1911 featured wooden "diamond" etched stocks, while the M1911A1 (pictured above) had all-plastic, brown checkered stocks. The M1911A1 (pictured) was an improved version of M1911 released in the 20's. It is distinguishable by the clearance cut in the frame for the trigger finger and the raised and knurled mainspring housing on the rear lower of the grip. Both served in WWII.

The approximate weight of the loaded magazine with 7 rounds of the standard ball ammo was 0.481 pounds. An 11 round "trench" magazine also existed and was fielded in very small numbers. At 25 yards, the velocity of the round was 788 feet per second with a striking energy of 317 foot-pounds. At 25 yards, the round would penetrate 6 inches of white pine. It was quite a man stopper and vastly out powered the 9mm luger para bellum pistols in use by the Germans. Rangers of all ranks could and would carry a sidearm whenever possible. It was not relegated to officers only.

 

Revolver, .45 Caliber, M1917
(Ref. Field Manual 23-35)

The M1917 revolver was produced during World War One to fill a gap in the availability of the M1911 .45 automatic pistol, then the standard U.S. Army sidearm. Colt and Remington were producing the M1911 at capacity, along with many other military arms, when the need for more pistols for World War I became urgent. Production of the M1911 could not meet all requirements, so orders were placed with both Colt and Smith & Wesson for a heavy frame revolver that would be compatible with the .45 ACP cartridge used by the M1911 automatic.

The revolvers chosen by the U.S. Army were the Colt New Service and the S&W Hand Ejector pistols, both being produced at the time for the British .455 Webley cartridge, to be modified for the .45 ACP. Designated the "United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917" for both weapons, Colt and S&W each delivered over 150,000 pistols to the U.S. Government.

The M1917 pistols were standard issue for all U.S. forces during World War I and up until WWII. The vastly greater number of troops and increased production of the M1911A1 automatic relegated the revolver to use mainly by Military Police and security personnel during the war. Some did find their way onto the front lines in the hands of officers and NCO's, and a notable number can be seen in use by troops in pre and early war years; especially amongst signal corps men. After WWII they were phased out, replaced by the M1911A1 in most roles.

The revolver held 6 rounds of .45 ACP ammunition in 2 half-moon clips (3 rounds each). The clips accounted for the rimless ammunition and acted as a rim for which the hand ejector could engage and eject the spent ammo. Half-moon clips could be unloaded after use and new cartridges inserted for re-use multiple times. A full-moon (6 shot) clip also exists but did not come into being until after WWII. Single rounds could also be loaded into the revolver’s chambers without the use of the clips; but after firing had to be removed using a dowel or stick to poke the spent casing out of the cylinder. Clips were carried in pairs, 3 pairs total in the Holder, Clip, M1917. The revolver was carried in the Holster, Hip, M2 which was a cross-draw leather rig with leather loop for hanging on the pistol belt. Due to the heavy frame and barrel of the 1917 revolver, recoil is noticeably light and could be described as “pleasant” by many shooters. A lanyard loop is fitted to the butt of the weapon.

 

Revolver, .38 S&W caliber "Victory" revolver (Smith and Wesson)

The Victory model pistol was a six-shot revolver with a fluted cylinder and wood smooth grain stocks. It featured a lanyard loop on the butt and all models were double action/single action. The standard model used by US forces featured a 4" barrel (top) while a 5" barrel (bottom) also existed and was commonly sent to Britain via lend-lease. The revolver featured the standard flaming bomb proof mark and "US Property" markings on the top strap and barrel.

While underpowered when compared to the .45 the Victory was reliable and certainly better than nothing. It could be seen in use mainly by USMC airmen and Army tank crewman throughout the war; but also by frontline infantry. It was commonly carried in a cross draw shoulder holster or in a hip holster featuring a lift-the-dot closure snap. They were also available to servicemen by private purchase and packages from home. The revolver was carried in either the Holster, Hip, "Victory", M1942 or Holster, Hip, M1943.

An interesting note about the Victory: At the end of World War II the German arms industry was all but destroyed. Lacking suitable domestic small arms to re-arm the civilian police forces; the Victory was issued to German policemen bearing arms in the post-war reconstruction period. It was stamped with a small German proof mark on the back strap bearing the district it served in. The lower of the two pistols pictured here is one such firearm.

 

Carbine, .30 Caliber, M1
(Ref. Field Manual 23-7)


The M1 carbine of WWII was a magazine-fed, air-cooled, gas-operated shoulder weapon that fired from a rotating, closed bolt position. It held 15 rounds in its removable box magazine and unlike the later M2 type of the Korean War its operation was semi-automatic only. It was designed by David M. "Carbine" Williams, a convicted murderer. Williams helped engineers at the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. perfect his basic design. Over 6 million Carbines were produced in WWII, more than any other US small arm. They were produced by numerous makers and subcontractors including Inland, Winchester, Underwood, National Postal Meter, Saginaw, Quality Hardware, IBM, Standard Products, and Rock-Ola Music Corporation.

Designed for troops in rear areas it is a lightweight weapon for use up to 300 yards. It was intended to give more substantial firepower than a pistol, but not weigh as much as the service rifle. The M1 Carbine fit the bill. In Korea, the selective-fire M2 version came about allowing the user to choose either full or semi-automatic operation. Later in Korea, the M3 Carbine saw use with an early type of infrared scope and mount system.
During WWII there were various changes made to the M1 Carbine; especially late in the war. These consisted of parts modifications, and later arsenal re-finishing's and re-fits. An M1 Carbine with "Type 1" hardware is considered "correct" for WWII up into the Fall of 1944, as most of the modifications occurred after that time. "Type 1" simply refers to the first kind of parts used on Carbines in a string of parts that underwent multiple changes. Early M1's had an "I" cut sling/oiler slot in the stock later replaced by a straight cut. They also had a simple "L" shaped flip up peep style rear sight for 150 and a modest 300 yards. Type 1 barrel band, push-button safety, 2-hole hand guard, and "hi-wood" thin stock (not the post-war potbelly M2) are hallmarks of the WWII production carbine. It did not feature a bayonet lug (Type 3) barrel band during WWII for all intensive purposes. Only the type 1, M1 Carbine is correct for a 5th Ranger impression; the M1A1 model with folding stock as used by paratroops is not permitted. Only 15 round magazines should be used; although 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 rounders do exist on the commercial market.

The weight of the weapon with 15-round magazine loaded was about 6 pounds. The weapon had a muzzle velocity of 1,970 feet per second. Maximum effective range was listed as 300 yards, but few men would trust the carbine beyond 100 yards, especially in cold climates where added layers of clothing worn by the enemy would further decrease the stopping power of the weapon. Depending on which veteran you talk to; you'll find the Carbine to be either well loved or extremely disliked. For the most part, it was used by NCO's, rear echelon troops and heavy weapons crews who had other loads to bear.

 

Rifle, .30 Caliber, M1903A3

The M1903A3 rifle was a bolt action long-arm with a 5 round integral (non-removable) box magazine. It was a simplified/improved version of the M1903 rifle that served alongside the M1917 Enfield in World War One. Commonly called the Springfield; it was also produced by other makers such as Remington and was it was the primary rifle of the American soldier up to 1937 when it was replaced with the M1 Garand (although it still saw service.)

The predecessor to the M1903A3 (the M1903) featured very intricate flip up sights for precision work at up to 1,000 yards. They proved too complicated for practical combat use and were replaced by a simplified yet functional peep rear sight on the 1903A3. Many 1903A3's found a place as rifle grenade launching platforms, with rubber recoil boot and M1 launcher attached. The bolt action made loading grenade launching blanks very easy for the user; and still allowed them to fire live ammo without removing the launcher adaptor.

Pictured above; top, is the M1903A3 with the the S or "scant" stock; below that is the more common straight stock as seen on the '03.

 

Rifle, Sniper, .30 Caliber, M1903A4

The M1903A4 was a specifically designed sniper rifle that came about as a result of early U.S. combat involvement in the Pacific. There was a high demand, that could not be filled, for telescopic (sniper) rifles. The Infantry Board and the Ordinance Department conducted an evaluation and recommended that the civilian Weaver 2.5 magnification model 330C hunting telescope be adopted for use on M1903A3 rifles. The rifle was officially adopted on 14 Jan 1943 as the M1903A4 (sniper). All of these were made by Remington and had off-set receiver markings that could still be read with the Redfield Jr. scope mount installed on the rifle. Front sights were removed, leaving the bare barrel visible. Serial numbers have a Z prefix in front. Both the Redfield one-piece base and 3/4" scope rings have parkerized finished, NOT blued. Scopes also included the Lyman-Alaskan, Weaver 330 and M73B1. The M73B1 was identical to the 330C but had the added designation of "M73B1" on the tube. The 330 was also identical to the 330C, except for the click adjustable cross hair on the 330C. The 330 had to be adjusted using a small screwdriver or combo tool. Rifle serial numbers were electro-penciled on the tube in many cases. Scopes featured a cross hair, post, or cross-and-post reticle; with the regular cross hair being the norm.

The M1903A4 (sniper) was an accurate rifle with an effective range of about 600 yards, with the main limit on long range accuracy coming from its very low power scope. From its adoption until the end of the war, the M1903A4 was used extensively in every theater of operation by both the US Army and the USMC. The rifle was again used in the Korean conflict, and even in the early stages of the Vietnam war when sniper rifles were in severe shortage.

The M1903A4 saw use in the hands of skilled Ranger snipers for the duration of the war. A sniper was usually at the squad or at minimum; company level in WWII Ranger battalions.

Pictured above is the M1903A4 with the the S or "scant" stock. In most cases the M1903A4 rifles featured a walnut full pistol grip stock known as the "C stock". Some 1903A4 rifles also had scant stocks as pictured, but not as many. None of them retained straight stocks.

 

Rifle, .30 Caliber, M1
(Ref. Field Manual 23-5)


The "M1" was developed by the Canadian John C. Garand in the 30's and was a gas-operated, semiautomatic shoulder weapon weighing 9.5 pounds. A clip of ammunition contained eight rounds and would be ejected upon firing of the last round, resulting in an audible "ping" sound. It could be fitted with both 10" and 16" bayonets M1905, M1942, M1905E1 and M-1 along with rifle grenade adaptors.

The M1 was produced during WWII by Springfield Armory and Winchester. Harrington and Richardson (H&R) and International Harvester did not produce M1's during WWII. The correct rear sight for a WWII Garand is the Battle/Range "Lock-bar" type rear sight. A machined trigger guard is preferred over the latter stamped model. Production dates can be determined by the maker and serial number located to the rear of the rear sight on the top of the receiver. Many M1's were re-barrelled and re-finished after the war. Barrel dates are visible by retracting the op-rod and looking at the barrel where it meets the receiver. Dates are stamped horizontally on the barrel in this area. The M1 pictured here has the web sling; adopted in 1944.

The M-1 had a reputation for reliability and stopping power. General George S. Patton called it: "The greatest battle implement ever devised". The standard .30 caliber round in WWII was AP, and abbreviation of "Armor-Piercing". Tracer, Incendiary, and Ball ammo was also in existence and issued.

 

Browning Automatic Rifle, .30 Caliber, M1918A2
(Ref. Field Manual 23-15)


The "BAR" was a gas-operated, air cooled, magazine fed shoulder weapon, weighing approximately 21 pounds. The magazine contained 20 rounds and weighed 1 pound 7 ounces when full, further adding to the already hefty rifle. The weapon fired 550 rounds per minute from a closed bolt.

The BAR was a heavy brute, subject to jams when not maintained properly, but when operating smoothly, it was devastating. A carrying handle could also be attached, but due the weight problem it along with the bipod were commonly removed and carried separately or not at all. The flash hider was retained.

BAR gunners carried 12 magazines on their belt; and they could be reloaded from additional ammo in bandoliers usually on 1903 stripper clips. Magazines were not discarded when empty if at all possible.The stock on this model is of a plastic "bakelite" material; with a wide walnut fore grip; whereas the WWI model of 1918 had all-wood stock sets and lacked the bipod. There is also a provision to attach a mono pod to the stock but this was seldom; if ever used.

 

Thompson Submachine Gun, .45 Caliber, M1A1 & M1928A1
(Ref. Field Manual 23.40)


Frequently referred to as the "Tommy gun," this weapon had been portrayed as the favorite weapon of gangsters in the days when Al Capone ruled south-side Chicago.

The M1928A1 Thompson was an air-cooled, recoil-operated, magazine-fed weapon. It would accept a box magazine carrying 20 or 30 rounds or a drum carrying 50. Without the magazine, the weapon weighed 10 and 3/4 pounds; with loaded 50-round magazine, it weighed about 15 3/4 pounds. The M1 and M1A1 variants would only accept the 20 or 30 round box magazines. All models had a 10.5 inch barrel. The M1928A1 was used primarily early on the war; with the M1 and M1A1 Thompson favored by later units such as the 5th Rangers.

Cyclic rate of fire was 600-700 rounds per minute. Both were of the same caliber as the M1911 and M1911A1; .45 ACP. A selector switch allowed the weapon to be fired on semiautomatic or fully-automatic. When fired on automatic, the muzzle of the weapon had a tendency to climb. The Thompson was at its best when used within 50 yards of the target and was favored by the Rangers for its high volume of fire. Anyone in WWII Ranger battalions could carry and use a Thompson SMG if they could get their hands on one.

 

Submachine Gun, .45 Caliber, M3 & M3A1

The M3 submachine gun (pictured at left), also known as the "grease gun" due to its resemblance to the garage implement of the same name, was developed as a cheaper war-time alternative to the famous Thompson M1, M1A1 and M1928A1 submachine guns. The M3 (and latter M3A1) were developed and manufactured by the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors Corp due to their stamped metal experience. The M3 was introduced in 1942, and the simplified M3A1 was introduced in 1944, and remained in service until well after WWII, and also was exported. No M3A1's made it to the ETO before VE day however.

The M3 is full-auto only, blowback operated firearm. It fired at the low rate of around 350 rounds per minute. The receiver is made from steel stampings. The M3 featured spring-loaded ejection port cover (also acted as manual bolt-interrupting safety) and crank-type bolt retracting (cocking) handle at the right side of the receiver. In the M3A1 the designers removed the cocking handle assembly which was prone to malfunctions, and replaced it with a simple finger hole in the bolt body, accessible through an enlarged ejection window. Also, the M3's were able to be converted to use 9mm Luger rounds by replacing the barrel, bolt, and installing the magazine adaptor to use British Sten magazines. These were rarely used in theater. Both M3 and M3A1 fired from the open bolt position.

The retractable stock, made from steel wire, could be used as a wrench for barrel removal, a cleaning rod (when detached), and it also featured a magazine loading tool. Some M3A1s were also fitted with flash hiders into Korea and Vietnam but such attachments did not appear on the M3 during WWII. The sights were fixed, non adjustable, and were located at the top of the receiver.

 

Shotgun, Winchester M1897

Due to the mobile nature of combat in the ETO, there was little place for the shotgun (unlike the PTO where it saw considerable use as a very effective weapon). Despite this, the “trench shotgun” can still be seen in a handful of photos from the ETO, mostly in the hands of Military Police guarding POWs.

The M1897 was designed as a replacement for the trouble-plagued M1893 and turned out to be a tremendous success in World War One. This is a pump-action shotgun with an exposed hammer and a 5 round tubular magazine beneath the barrel. While most saw service in the civilian sector, many of the "trench" versions served with the military police and even more of the riot version were used by law enforcement stateside during WWII. While the barrel lengths of hunting version vary from 26 to 30 inches, riot and trench versions possess 20 inches barrels. The trench model illustrated above has the added advantages of a ventilated barrel jacket that helps protect the barrel and a bayonet lug that allows a 16" knife bayonet to be attached for close combat. Along with the M12 shotgun, the M1897's of the second world war were relegated to training duties and service guarding POW's in the hands of Military Police. The Geneva Convention limited use of the shotgun in combat post-WWI, so very few saw use in the ETO during WWII. The largest fielding of the shotgun took place in the Pacific Theatre in the hands of the USMC.

 

Shotgun, Winchester M1912 & Bayonet M1917
(Ref. Technical Manual 9-2117)

Due to the mobile nature of combat in the ETO, there was little place for the shotgun (unlike the PTO where it saw considerable use as a very effective weapon). Despite this, the “trench shotgun” can still be seen in a handful of photos from the ETO, mostly in the hands of Military Police guarding POWs.

The Model 12 combat shotgun is hammer-less with a streamlined receiver; a 20-inch cylinder bore barrel and a tubular magazine holding five shells plus one in the chamber, for a capacity of 6 total. The action feeds from the bottom and ejects from the right side. Like the closely related Winchester Model 1897, the Model 12 has no trigger disconnector -- with the trigger depressed, shells can be fired as fast as the forearm can be pumped. This practice is known as “slam-fire”.

The M12 had the provision for attaching an M1917 16 inch rifle bayonet to the adaptor fitted to the bottom of the heat guard. The ventilated heat guard; or heat shield as its also called kept the operator from burning the hand on a hot barrel after extended usage. The standard "US" & ordnance flaming bomb are stamped below the ejection port on the right side of the reciever. The weapon was prone to few problems, namely the large bore and large loading and ejection ports were prone to gathering amounts of dirt and debris from battle that could cause a malfunction.

In speaking to a Ranger veteran about shotguns in general, he noted that he could not recall a time when he ever saw a shotgun of any type in theatre from D-Day to VE Day. In relation to re-enacting, we choose not to carry them at any public battle for this reason. They were simply too rare in the ETO. The photo seen when clicking on the trench shotgun above is of a GI with an M12 taking German troops prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge. The psychological effect of this weapon had to have been as great as its muzzle blast.

 

Grenade, Hand, Fragmentation, MK 2
(Ref. Field Manual 23-30)


The primary hand grenade of WWII was the MK 2 fragmentation grenade. About the size of a large lemon, the grenade was made of cast iron.

The outside surface was deeply serrated, both horizontally and vertically, to assist in the dispersal of uniform-sized fragments on explosion. Later tests conducted post-war revealed that the outer serrations did little to aid in the fragmentation upon detonation. The filler of the grenade was EC blank fire powder or TNT.

The weight of the grenade was 20 ounces, and its bursting radius was 30 yards, with a kill radius of 5 to 10. Many post war "practice" grenades can be found with the blue spoon and letters "RFX" molded into the cast body. These are not correct WWII era grenades but are sometimes seen painted to look as such. One of the most distinguishing features of the grenade is its spoon, the metal handle that is retained by the safety pin. It has a Y shaped ridge running down its center axis.

B. The sticky grenade or "Bomb" (Ref. description contained in October 26, 1942, Life Magazine and information from Ranger veterans):

The Sticky Bomb (as the Rangers called it) was promoted by those who did not have to use it as an antitank weapon. One form of this bomb was a soldier's G. I. sock, fill the sock with blocks of TNT, attach a fuse, tie off the top, then cover the sock in axle grease or boot dubbing. The grenade would then be thrown against the side of a tank, where the axle grease could cause it to stick; or not bounce off the hull. The objective was to disable the tank by attacking a vulnerable area such as the vision ports, tracks, or exhaust. From Africa to Italy, the men of the 1st, 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions used a different kind of bomb: glass containers with incendiary fillers. The sticky bomb devised by soldiers in the field is not to be confused with the British Gammon Grenade; a different type of AT grenade with similar intentions.

 

Rifle Grenade Launcher, M7 & Grenade, Projection Adapter, M1

The M7 rifle grenade launcher was attached to the barrel of the M1 Garand; allowing it to project various types of AT and AP rifle grenades such as the M9, M9A1, signal flares, gas grenades, and standard fragmentation grenades using the adaptor (pictured).

A special blank grenade launching round was used to propel the grenade from the launcher; and fitting the projector to the muzzle disabled the gas system on the M1 by depressing the gas screw and cutting off the gas port. To fire the weapon normally; the launcher had to be removed.

The rifle grenade sight, M15 was used on the M1 for aimed fire; but was seldom seen in combat since practice and improvisation would result in suitable practical fire. The M7 along with the rifle grenade was a common weapon encounterd in the Ranger company. It was used to great effect against all manner of targets, and can be seen in good numbers during the D-Day landing.

 

Launcher, Rocket, AT HE, M1, 2.36 Inch
(Ref. Field Manual 23-30)


The antitank rocket launcher was a smooth-bore, breech loading, electrically-operated shoulder weapon of the open-tube type. Depending on the model, the launcher weighed 13-15 pounds and was between 54.5 and 61 inches long. The common variants of the war were the M1, M1A1 and M9 launchers.

The launcher gave direction to the rocket. There was no recoil as the jet action of the propellant powder inside the stabilizer provided propulsion. The result was a nasty back blast that could burn anyone in its wake.

The 2.36-inch rocket launcher had a maximum range for point targets of 300 yards but was most effective within 100 yards. Unlike its German counterparts; the Panzerfaust and Panzershreck; the US "Bazooka" (so named after the musical instrument it resembled) was limited in its stopping power, usually taking multiple hits to soft areas of armored vehicles to score a kill.
 

 

60mm Mortar M2 and M19
(Ref. Field Manual 23-85)


A smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded, high-angle-of-fire weapon. The mortar (barrel) was normally used in conjunction with a bipod and base plate and had an overall weight of 45.2 pounds. It would be disassembled for transport into its three main components.

Maximum rate of fire was 30 rounds per minute, with a sustained rate of 18 rounds per minute.

Maximum range with high-explosive ammunition was 2,000 yards. Other types of ordnance included illumination rounds, smoke, and incendiary.

 

81 mm Mortar M1
(Ref. Field Manual 23-90)


The 81mm mortar was a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon. The 81mm mortar consisted of three units-mortar, base plate, and bipod; like its little brother the M2. It too would be broken down into 3 parts for transport by hand or special cart.

Each unit was considered a separate load. Forty-nine and a half inches long, the mortar and mount weighed 136 pounds, much heavier than the 60mm but harder hitting.

The 81 mm mortar would fire a 6.87-pound high-explosive shell at ranges from 100-3,290 yards. The normal rate of fire was 18 rounds per minute. It was typically held in reserve with the heavy weapons company and brought to bare when needed.
 

 

Browning Machine Gun, Caliber .30, M1919A4

The crew served .30-06 caliber 1919A4 MG fired by means of a short recoiling barrel, with vertical sliding breech lock at a rate of about 600 rpm. It was fed either by fabric belts or metallic disintegrating links holding up to 250 rounds per can. Typically these were loaded with four rounds of AP and one incendiary or tracer round throughout the belt. The links did not see use until later in the war, with the cloth belts (either white or OD in color) being the norm.

The 1919A4 was affixed to the M2 tripod in the infantry support role, although it saw use on numerous vehicle mounts. A later model of this machine gun, the M1919A6 was fitted with a large curved shoulder stock, bipod, and carry handle and used as a light machine gun; despite weighing over 30 lbs. The 1919A4's M2 tripod would fold up for ease of transport; and an ammo bearer carrying the ammunition in their cans helped lighten the load. A traverse and elevation mechanism (or "T&E") on the rear of the weapon attached to the support brace of the M2 tripod and allowed for precise adjustment of where the bullets would fall; known as the "beat zone". The barrel could be changed if it overheated; but it was not a quick or easy task as it required the weapon to be field stripped and special asbestos mittens were needed to keep from burning the operators hands. Most 1919 MG's of WWII featured a distinct aluminum rear pistol grip, that would become worn and shiny with use, as seen above. While reliable; the M1919A4 and A6 were outclassed throughout the war by the German MG34 and MG42 with their lighter weight, quick change barrel, and high rates of fire. In the above photo, the pintle is seen attached just forward of the feedway. The pintle is what mounts the MG to the M2 tripod in this case.

The 1919A4 was used in Ranger Battalions typically in the heavy weapons squads and deployed as needed. The BAR was more popular for patrols and fast action due to its higher mobility and lighter weight. Both saw heavy use. The 1919A4 was the predominate MG in the weapons platoons.

 

 

 

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